Five-star prospects are most always considered instant-impact players. There are only 32 or so in the entire country.
But lower-rated prospects also can make instant splashes during their first seasons, too.
We look in the SEC East and attempt to identify five instant-impact players who were rated four-stars or lower exiting high school:
CJ Conrad, TE, Kentucky: CJ Conrad reminds me of Arkansas tight end Hunter Henry, who could be a Jason Witten-type player in the NFL. Conrad was one of the Cats’ top signees, and he’s ready to make an impact day one. He’s 6-5, 245 pounds, and he’ll add weight with his nice frame. The one word that comes to mind with Conrad is upside. And he has a lot of it. Similar to Bud Dupree, Conrad could have a rather great career in Lexington and go on and become a high priority for NFL teams in the draft. I like Conrad to make an instant splash in Lexington.
Jonathan Ledbetter, DL, Georgia: With a spring already under his belt, early enrollee Jonathan Tucker has a leg up on the competition. Ledbetter actually shed weight the offseason at Georgia — he’s about 250 pounds, and he’ll have to bulk up to become an everyday player in the future, but he’s simply too good to leave on the sidelines this season. He probably won’t start, as he has senior Josh Dawson ahead of him, but look for Ledbetter to get more minutes as the season goes along.
Drew Richmond, OT, Tennessee: If there’s one five-star offensive tackle outside of Florida’s Martez Ivey I’m looking forward to the most, it’s the 6-5, 305-pound Drew Richmond. The Vols return for of their five starters along the O-line, and Richmond will have to earn playing time in fall camp. That shouldn’t be a problem; he’s very talented. It’s not set in stone where he’ll play his first season — right tackle or left — but I really look for him to earn more and more time as the season goes along. He’s a potential first-round NFL draft pick in three years.
“My expectation is for me to start,” Richmond told 247Sports.
“I feel like I can get in there and develop pretty good. I feel like I’m pretty good, and once I get the coaching that the college level offers, I think I can be ready Day One. I expect to start. I just feel like I’ve got the talent to do it, and the situation is good, and I’m going to try to take advantage of it.”
Jordan Scarlett, RB, Florida: Outside of five-stars Martez Ivey and CeCe Jefferson, Jim McElwain’s get of running back Jordan Scarlett was massive. Scarlett is from the rich South Florida area, and he reminds me of a cross between Trent Richardson and Alex Collins. While Florida returns Kelvin Taylor and Adam Lane at the position, Scarlett could have more upside than both. He’ll be too good for McElwain and Doug Nussmeier to keep off the field. Now, the one thing that could hold Scarlett back is the lack of an adequate offensive line. At 5-11, 205, he’s ready to play game one.
Preston Williams, WR, Tennessee: As the wild card of the bunch, Preston Williams is in the middle of rehabbing an ACL tear he suffered in high school. While Tennessee has a loaded receiving corps and is very talented at the position, it’s been a rather disappointing start for both Marquez North and Josh Malone. That could change in 2015, or a player like Williams, who’s as talented as both, could step in and take some playing time away from either. Williams is a big-time player who reminds me a lot of former UT receiver Justin Hunter.
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
