Enrolling early can give prospects a jump-start to their college career by getting on campus and adjusting to a new team. Every year there are names that surface that are making the most of their January enrollment, and this 2018 class is no exception.
Here is a look at some of the early enrollees from the 2018 class who could get on the field very early in their careers at their respective schools.
Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence
This doesn't come as much of a surprise because Lawrence was the No. 2 overall player and top pocket passer. He comes into a depth chart that includes incumbent starter Kelly Bryant and ESPN 300 quarterback Hunter Johnson, as well as four-star Chase Brice. That isn't the easiest depth chart to move up, but Lawrence has already shown, with 122 yards and a TD in the spring game, that he'll be right in the competition to play this season. Combine his talent with what people around Clemson say are the raves about his spring performance and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him on the field very early for Clemson.
Florida QB Emory Jones
Jones has Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask to compete with and is still raw and has some work to do, but Jones' ability to run and make plays with his feet will help as he adapts. The quarterback competition is still up in the air, but Jones, ranked No. 59 in the ESPN 300, has every opportunity in the summer and fall to take it from the other two.
Georgia QB Justin Fields
Fields was the No. 1 overall player in his class, and there was talk of him potentially unseating incumbent starter Jake Fromm before Fields even got to campus. He decided to enroll early and hasn't missed a beat. Fields threw for two touchdowns with 207 yards on 18 completions in Georgia's spring game, only adding fuel to his case to take over as the starter. If he continues on the path he's on, it's going to be tough for coach Kirby Smart to keep him on the sideline.
LSU OL Damien Lewis and Badara Traore
Lewis and Traore were junior college prospects, but Lewis has been talked about quite a bit around LSU. At 6-foot-3, 326 pounds, Lewis is a mammoth offensive lineman coming in at a time when the Tigers need help up front. The opportunity is there for both to earn playing time, and Lewis could be in line for a starting job. Linebacker Micah Baskerville, a three-star out of Shreveport, Louisiana, is another name who keeps coming up when speaking to people around the Tigers. He has a few names in front of him on the depth chart, but he has surprised his coaches with his spring performance.
Miami DE Gregory Rousseau and QB Jarren Williams
Rousseau arrived at 6-7 but weighing only 228 pounds. He is north of 250 pounds now and has turned a ton of heads in Coral Gables. He was a three-star and someone the coaching staff thought would eventually make an impact for them, but he has already cracked the two-deep and is pushing to earn playing time this fall. He has had dominant flashes during the spring and his development is way ahead of where the staff thought he would be.
For Williams, the quarterback position is still in flux, and he has inserted his name into the mix quickly. The ESPN 300 quarterback might not win the starting job this season, but he is certainly ahead of schedule.
Michigan QB Joe Milton
Ole Miss quarterback transfer Shea Patterson might be grabbing all the headlines right now, but Milton is quietly making a name for himself in Ann Arbor. Milton, who was ranked No. 119 overall in the 2018 class, was viewed as someone with a ton of potential, a strong arm and athleticism that would project well a few years out. Since his arrival on campus in January, he has taken the potential out of that assessment and has people talking about how quickly he could see the field. Since Patterson was granted immediate eligibility, he and Brandon Peters will likely be at the forefront for playing time this season, but Milton should be in the conversation next season. If he progresses on the path he's on now, he could be looking at starting in his second year on campus.
Notre Dame DB Houston Griffith
Griffith decommitted from Florida State and eventually signed with Notre Dame, giving the Irish an outstanding defensive back to help fill a big need on the roster. He has lived up to what the coaching staff was hoping it was getting in the No. 87-ranked prospect, and he has an excellent chance of getting on the field very early. Griffith has already taken some first-team reps at safety in the spring and should keep getting better as fall approaches.
Ohio State DT Tommy Togiai
Togiai wasn't the highest-ranked defensive tackle in Ohio State's 2018 class, but he was still very well regarded. Ranked as the No. 4 tackle in the country, Togiai has already been showing impressive ability inside for the Buckeyes. He could help fill a big need on the depth chart as the staff is losing quite a bit up front defensively from last season.
Texas DBs B.J. Foster and Caden Sterns
Texas addressed its defensive needs heavily in the 2018 class, with seven of its top 10 signees coming on the defensive side. That included the No. 1-ranked prospect in the state of Texas in safety Foster, the No. 2 ranked in-state prospect and fellow safety, DeMarvion Overshown and the No. 3 Texas prospect in Sterns, another safety. Foster and Sterns enrolled early and could make an immediate impact in the secondary for the Longhorns this season. Foster had four tackles and almost snagged an interception in the spring game.
Oklahoma DB Brendan Radley-Hiles
Radley-Hiles was ranked No. 101 in the class and was a big get for Oklahoma's secondary. The Sooners' defense needed a boost and Radley-Hiles could be one of the names who helps this season, especially with a pass defense that ranked 87th in pass yards per game, giving up 238.4 yards through the air. His ability to play corner and safety should help keep him on the field and help as safeties Steven Parker and William Johnson are gone from last season.
Penn State LB Micah Parsons
Parsons was the No. 7 overall player and was scouted as a defensive end but has unbelievable athleticism and is going to start out as a linebacker for Penn State's defense. According to a few people around the program, Parsons is living up to the hype and should get on the field very early as linebackers Jason Cabinda and Brandon Smith are no longer on the roster. Many of the Penn State early enrollees have impressed, but Parsons continues to be the name mentioned as the player who could make the earliest impact in Happy Valley.
UCLA WRs Chase Cota and Kyle Phillips
The Bruins are losing receivers Jordan Lasley, Eldridge Massington and Darren Andrews from last season. Lasley and Andrews were the two leading receivers on offense, and that production will need to be replaced. Getting both Cota and Phillips on campus early was a big deal for UCLA as it installs new coach Chip Kelly's offense and can get the two receivers acclimated quicker.
USC DBs Chase Williams and Talanoa Hufanga
USC isn't losing much on defense, but Chris Hawkins and Matt Lopes are gone and Williams and Hufanga are making the most of their head start and could help create more competition on defense. USC ranked 82nd in passing yards per game last season, so adding in Williams at cornerback and Hufanga at safety can only help.