2/3/2015 football Edit

Sleepers: Three-stars that could surprise

Rivals.com

Publisher

Leiato has some of the best film of any linebacker in this class as he flies around the field with reckless abandon and consistently hits people hard. Not only is Leiato a fantastic linebacker, but he's so fast down the field to make plays on special teams, he could become an immediate asset at Oregon in more than one phase. There was some consideration to make him a four-star based off film alone but we just didn't see enough of him to bump up that ranking.

Trevon Hill

Virginia Beach (Va.) Salem

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Hill is a long defensive end with a lot of room to fill out and an excellent mean streak. The best thing about his game is his quickness. Hill's first step is faster than any offensive lineman he faced and if he can keep that quickness while he gets bigger and stronger at Virginia Tech, the sky is the limit. The Hokies have a history of developing great players on the defensive side of the ball and Hill could be next in line.

Elijah Sullivan

Tucker, Ga.

Sullivan was the highest-ranked three-star player in the state of Georgia, narrowly missing four-star status. After transitioning from running back to linebacker full-time this season, Sullivan had a monster year, showing that he's only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. He will play a different role at Auburn under Will Muschamp than he might have when he originally committed to the Tigers, but with his football instincts, he won't have any problem getting on the field down the road.

Alex Delton

Hays, Kan.

Delton's throwing motion isn't pretty and he spent his high school career playing soft competition, but he has plenty working in his favor. Speed is the first thing you notice about Delton, who also shined as a sprinter at the high school level. His arm is certainly strong enough, too. He's a perfect fit for Kansas State's system and will have every opportunity to succeed in Manhattan. Delton isn't likely to see the field as a true freshman, but his name is one to watch for down the road.

Jayson Stanley

Fairbun (Ga.) Creekside

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Stanley had an excellent offseason, going from a relative unknown to a highly-desired talent. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury in the first game of his senior season, hampering any chance he might have had to earn a bump up in the rankings with a dominant season. Assuming he's healthy, the Georgia commit will have plenty of opportunities to earn early playing time with the Dawgs -- he's coming in at a position of need. Talent combined with circumstance could afford him the ability to outplay his ranking.

Joe Gaziano

Westwood (Mass.) Xaverian Brothers

There isn't great football in Massachusetts, but Gaziano would stand out if he were playing anywhere in the country. Northwestern isn't known for producing a lot of defensive linemen, but Gaziano could put them on the map. He is a fierce competitor that can throw offensive linemen around. For as big as he is, Gaziano has impressive quickness and balance.

Deontay Burnett

Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra

Burnett is a silky pass-catcher who is overlooked because he plays on a Serra team that features five-stars Rasheem Green and John Houston and is loaded with nationally-recruited underclassmen such as Brandon Burton, CJ Pollard and Oluwole Betiku. Serra's offense also features a running quarterback, so Burnett's numbers weren't jumping off the page every week, but the Washington State commit has the tools to be a stand-out at the next level.

Eddy Wilson

West Bloomfield, Mich.

Based on his junior and senior season films, it really was a head-scratcher why the 6-foot-4, 265-pound Wilson was not getting more attention from Power Five schools. He committed to Bowling Green in August and it looked like the Falcons were going to get one of the MAC's biggest steals, but in January the Big Ten schools came calling and he eventually decided on Purdue. Wilson's combination of size, quickness and agility should allow for him to play several positions along the Boilermakers' defensive line.

Jordan Griffin

Seffner (Fla.) Armwood

Playing behind Byron Cowart, the nation's No. 1 overall player, Griffin didn't get the headlines that he might have in another year considering how well he played as a senior. Even with Cowart on the squad, he served as the leader of his team's defense and made several key plays as his team came up just short in its quest for a state championship. Griffin is committed to Wisconsin, but also looking hard at Vanderbilt, and regardless of which school he chooses I like his chances to come in and contribute not only because of his football acumen but his physical abilities as well.