The top players in the 2025 recruiting class have their new schools and, in some cases, will soon be starting spring football.

The perfect harmony between skill and scheme can lead to production and wins on the field. Here’s how the top 10 2025 recruits at each position could fit at their new schools:

Jump to a position:
RBs | QBs

Running backs

Harlem Berry, LSU | ESPN 300 No. 27

Inside and outside zones are staples of LSU’s scheme. Berry thrives in both because he’s slippery in tight creases with excellent acceleration. He sets himself apart from other running backs because it’s almost impossible for defenders to get a clean, direct shot on him. He’s so light on his feet and has a combination of vision and lateral agility to make tacklers miss in the hole. Berry runs a 10.57 100-meter dash and a verified 4.37 40-yard dash, the fastest in the class. He excels at bouncing the play outside, turning the corner and winning footraces down the sideline. He could be a great change-of-pace back alongside Caden Durham.

Akylin Dear, Alabama | ESPN 300 No. 38

Alabama needs a back who can press the hole and is also an open-field threat. Dear is a shifty, downhill runner who does not dance or hesitate. At 6-foot, 205 pounds, Dear has good height with a thick frame and the lower-body strength to break tackles in high-traffic areas. He’s also agile enough to bounce or cut back with acceleration, and he pairs his agility with the vision to identify daylight. Alabama needs to involve its running backs more in the passing game, and Dear can make a difference in that part of the game. He has the athleticism, speed and ball skills to become an all-purpose back.

Gideon Davidson, Clemson | ESPN 300 No. 59

Davidson excels on zones, split zones and counters, and his great vision and speed should fit nicely into Clemson’s scheme and lead to explosive plays. The 6-foot, 195-pounder isn’t as big as former Clemson running backs Phil Mafah and Will Shipley, but he adds a different dimension as a home run threat. Clemson could utilize him quickly as a change-of-pace, all-purpose back. Davidson’s traits are similar to those of former Clemson star and current running backs coach C.J. Spiller.

Anthony Rogers, Ohio State | ESPN 300 No. 91

Rogers shares a lot of traits with former Buckeyes star Ezekiel Elliott. The Buckeyes want running backs with big-play ability but also the power and stature to grind out tough, downhill yards. Rogers can jump-cut in the hole and then lower his shoulder and run through defenders. Ohio State’s gap run scheme was successful late in the season, and Rogers has the patience and vision to become a solid counter runner in 2025.

Jordon Davison, Oregon | ESPN 300 No. 97

The 6-foot, 215-pound Davison is more LeGarrette Blount than LaMichael James. He’s a bruising, physical runner who loves to engage in contact. Oregon loses 1,200-yard rusher Jordan James to the NFL draft but brings back Noah Whittington and other reserves. Davison could be a great short-yardage and red zone package player whom the Ducks can deploy when they need to push the pile. Davison gets downhill in a hurry and exploits cutback lanes, making him an ideal inside zone and split-zone runner.

Byron Louis, Florida | ESPN 300 No. 112

Freshman Jadan Baugh last fall allowed Florida to become a power run team while it brought fellow freshman DJ Lagway along at quarterback. Now, Louis joins the Gators’ running back mix as a slashing, assertive, high-speed runner who is terrific at the second level. Florida could utilize Louis as a sub-package back and change-of-pace runner who adds a spark to complement Baugh’s power. Florida has several upperclassmen as well, so expect stiff competition at running back.

Marquise Davis, Missouri | ESPN 300 No. 125

Davis runs with a galloping, upright style that is different from both Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll, who were Missouri’s top two rushers in 2024. At 6 feet, 205 pounds, Davis is also bigger than both backs, who were seniors this past year. He should see playing time in 2025, just as freshman Jamal Roberts did last season, because the Tigers must also replace the rushing production of quarterback Brady Cook in addition to Noel and Carroll.

Bo Jackson, Ohio State | ESPN 300 No. 130

Jackson, like Rogers, is a fast, physical and durable player who can produce chunks of yards in spurts or push the pile. His explosiveness and penchant for contact make him a terrific option carrying the load in short-yardage and red zone situations. Both Jackson and Rogers will compete with incoming West Virginia transfer CJ Donaldson Jr. and sophomore James Peoples for playing time.

Ousmane Kromah, Florida State | ESPN 300 No. 142

At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Kromah is a power back in the mold of former Florida State running back Trey Benson, although Kromah isn’t quite as nimble or sudden on his feet. Florida State’s offense under Gus Malzahn will feature multiple power runners in Roydell Williams, Kam Davis and others. Kromah has an opportunity to develop behind that depth and potentially work himself into some reps in 2025.

Dierre Hill, Oregon | ESPN 300 No. 144

Hill’s running style and stature contrast with Davison’s. Where Davison seeks out contact, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Hill is more reminiscent of the traditional scatback or all-purpose back Oregon has successfully developed in the past. Hill posted a 21.5 mph max speed and is dangerous once he reaches the second level. Both Hill and Davison are joining a crowded Oregon running back room.

Quarterbacks

Bryce Underwood, Michigan | 2025 ESPN 300 No. 1

Underwood’s fit depends on how quarterback-centric Michigan wants to make its offense and whether that happens this season or in the future. The Wolverines could use a shift similar to how Ohio State utilized Justin Fields: Move the pocket, change the launch point and utilize the QB run game.

Underwood’s physical attributes will be superior to those of every other quarterback on Michigan’s roster, which makes him the most difficult to defend when the offense is designed around him. The Wolverines will likely get him on the perimeter often — whether it’s run or pass — to threaten defenses in space. His arm strength will also allow Michigan to stretch the field more often.

Keelon Russell, Alabama | 2025 ESPN 300 No. 2

Three words: Vertical passing game. This offense wants to go deep and score fast. That means pushing the ball downfield with more overall accuracy than Alabama had with Jalen Milroe. Russell has intangible traits, and the learning curve should not be too challenging. Add in Russell’s physical attributes and the personnel around him at Alabama in Kalen DeBoer’s offense, and it’s a very exciting recipe for elite-level success down the road. Russell is likely the player most ready to play right away, and the scheme only helps.

Tavien St. Clair, Ohio State | 2025 ESPN 300 No. 10

At 6-4, 225 pounds, St. Clair draws physical comparisons to former Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, but St. Clair needs to be far more accurate. He will be much different from Will Howard, who just led OSU to a national title, and Julian Sayin, a former five-star he’ll be competing with. St. Clair has Howard’s size and Justin Fields‘ skill set. St. Clair is an exciting prospect because he is nowhere near a finished product.

He’s big, athletic and can make all the throws. His film as a senior showed improvements compared with the previous two seasons, which means he’s progressing. Quarterback runs need to play a big role for new offensive coordinator Brian Hartline when utilizing St. Clair, especially if he sees action early.

Julian Lewis, Colorado | 2025 ESPN 300 No. 12

Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was often criticized for holding on to the ball too long and taking too many negative plays. Lewis will be more decisive. He will likely see more RPO plays. This is an RPO-based, horizontal screen scheme, which combines with the run game to set up deep shots downfield.

Quarterbacks in this system need to change their arm angle and release points considering how quickly they are asked to make decisions off token fakes in the backfield. Lewis is a strong fit because it’s a quarterback-friendly scheme, and he might not need to play right away with the incoming transfer of Kaidon Salter.

Deuce Knight, Auburn | 2025 ESPN 300 No. 40

Knight is a left-handed passer who is a dynamic runner and improviser, two traits the Auburn offense has lacked under Hugh Freeze. This offense has been more effective when defenses need to account for the quarterback’s legs.

Knight is a tall and lanky athlete but also a bit raw, so he could face a tougher learning curve. He’s likely to provide support behind Oklahoma transfer Jackson Arnold while he’s brought along slowly.

Husan Longstreet, USC | 2024 ESPN 300 No. 44

Athletically, Longstreet is in the same mold as former Lincoln Riley pupils Caleb Williams and Jalen Hurts. Longstreet is a dynamic athlete who can make all of the throws and change arm angles. Longstreet might be more of a sudden athlete as a runner than previous USC signal-callers, which could mean more quarterback runs like we saw from Hurts and Kyler Murray at Oklahoma.

Longstreet should not have to play right away and was a great late pickup in this cycle for the Trojans to develop and allow for his run/pass threat to mature.

Akili Smith Jr., Oregon | 2025 ESPN 300 No. 79

Smith is not too dissimilar from his father, who played for Oregon in 1997-98. He has an extremely strong arm but might not be the runner or creator both Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel were for the Ducks. He’s a tall, nimble pocket passer who can drive the ball into every place on the field. Smith will need to work on his arm angles and twitchiness as a passer to reach his peak in Oregon’s RPO and quick-passing game.

Malik Washington, Maryland | 2025 ESPN 300 No. 134

Washington has some of the higher upside of any player in the class. He has a swagger and feel for the game that new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton will love to work with. Hamilton brings an NFL background to College Park and should be excited about Washington’s creativity and natural instincts as a passer.

Washington excels at changing arm angles and making off-platform throws. The arm-angle side of it will really enhance the RPO portion of the Maryland offense. Maryland needs a quarterback to transform the program, and Washington might just be the guy to help the Terrapins turn the corner.

Carter Smith, Wisconsin | 2025 ESPN 300 No. 155

Smith can be unorthodox in his passing traits, but he’s very productive and will be a more serious running threat than the Badgers have had in years. He has a cool, poised demeanor with a quiet swagger.

When things break down, Smith becomes dangerous. New offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, who was the line coach at Auburn with Cam Newton and the offensive coordinator at BYU with Zach Wilson, will find ways to employ Smith’s athletic ability.

Bryce Baker, North Carolina | 2025 ESPN 300 No. 200

It’s still a bit of a mystery what North Carolina’s offense will look like under new offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens. But Kitchens was an analyst under former coach Mack Brown, so he’s intimately familiar with Baker’s game.

Kitchens brings an NFL background of over 20 years and has watched the spread offense thrive under both Phil Longo and Chip Lindsey in Chapel Hill, so expect NFL concepts — which likely helped keep Baker in the fold once Bill Belichick was hired — and spread influences. Baker is a legitimate runner with upside in the passing game.