College football's recruiting cycle for the Class of 2021 has finally concluded with Wednesday's national signing day being the final day that prospects could sign their national letters of intent at their respective schools.
Now that schools have their recruiting classes solidified, we can examine which top prospects are likely to make an difference on the field on day one next fall.
This list of impact freshmen for 2021 is based on what we know now. The NCAA has afforded each player an extra year of eligibility, which could alter the need or opportunity for each prospect at his respective school. There could be more roster movement between now and August as well.
But for now, we break down 10 top recruits who can make an immediate impact during their freshman seasons.
DE Jack Sawyer
Ohio State Buckeyes
ESPN 300 ranking: 1
Sawyer decided to forgo his senior season to focus on being as prepared as possible to produce for the Buckeyes' front four next fall. The added time has -- and will continue to --develop his body for the rigors in the trenches at the next level.
DE Jonathon Cooper leaves a void at one end spot (opposite of rising star Zach Harrison), and junior DE Tyreke Smith has at times been an inconsistent performer. Ohio State has established depth up front.
But not all linemen have Sawyer's rare physical tools, particularly as a pass-rusher. With added weight, strength and a midyear enrollment, expect the explosive 6-foot-5, 230-pound No. 1 prospect to see the field early and often.
DE Korey Foreman
USC Trojans
ESPN 300 ranking: 3
Foreman is simply better than what USC currently has on the edge. It will be exciting to see him team up opposite his former high school teammate Drake Jackson, arguably the best defensive end in the Pac-12 not named Kayvon Thibodeaux at Oregon.
A powerful big man with active hands and good mobility, when Foreman turns it on, he's as good as anyone in the class. USC is losing some impact players from this team, and the Trojans need the No. 3 overall prospect to be as advertised and help take some pressure off Jackson on the other side.
OT J.C. Latham
Alabama Crimson Tide
ESPN 300 ranking: 5
It won't be surprising if Latham is the latest Alabama true freshman offensive lineman to take the field regularly in the 2021 season, following a path similar to Andre Smith, Jonah Williams, Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Wills Jr., to name a few.
While he projects to tackle in the long term, Latham could play at guard (like fellow IMG Academy grad Evan Neal did as a freshman) to not only fill a need, but also put him in a position to maximize his strengths while he gains experience.
At 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, Latham's blend of sheer mass and athleticism are unique and like his counterpart Neal, the No. 5 rated overall prospect has a very high ceiling for development.
DE Keeshawn Silver
North Carolina Tar Heels
ESPN 300 ranking: 8
Myles Murphy and Desmond Evans were Mack Brown's two big targets along the defensive front, an area the Tar Heels had to improve on to compete with Clemson in the ACC, in the 2020 class. They saw limited duty this past fall and have shown promise.
Enter Silver, a five-star end that comes to Chapel Hill more physically advanced in stature than Evans at the same stage. However, the 6-foot-5, 255-pound end did not get to play his senior season with in-state Rocky Mount Senior High School, and we would expect him to develop more physically as an early enrollee to compete this spring. He is also an outstanding basketball prospect.
RB TreVeyon Henderson
Ohio State Buckeyes
ESPN 300 ranking: 9
With the news of Trey Sermon's departure to the NFL draft, Henderson's involvement in the offense just got ramped up.
He had a remarkable junior season at Hopewell High School, but he, too, lost valuable time on the gridiron this past season as Virginia moved its football season to spring 2021. That said, Henderson is a talent and has gained 15 pounds as he prepares for the fall.
He will be battling several talented ball carriers with more experience, including Master Teague III, but as a smooth runner with big-play speed and good ball skills, the top-rated running back will bring an added dimension and be very tough to keep out of the mix.
WR Mario Williams Jr.
Oklahoma Sooners
ESPN 300 ranking: 16
Imagine another Marvin Mims on the field for Oklahoma: a nightmare for opposing defenses. That is Williams' potential for the Sooners.
They lost Charleston Rambo, who transferred to Miami, and WR Jadon Haselwood seems to still be slowly returning from a leg injury he suffered before returning in November. Theo Wease must also become more consistent.
Williams is a competitive wideout and can be a problem in space. Expect him to have a similar role as Mims did this past fall.
RB Will Shipley
Clemson Tigers
ESPN 300 ranking: 21
The loss of Travis Etienne is monumental in terms of production and talent. Couple that with freshman Demarkcus Bowman deciding to leave the program last fall and Lyn-J Dixon being the only returning player with significant experience, and the door is wide open for Shipley to make a splash.
Shipley can hopefully add a new dimension to the offense, and he comes in with much better ball skills than Etienne had when he arrived on campus. Shipley, whom Dabo Swinney compared to Christian McCaffrey, also has the added luxury of being a midyear enrollee.
WR Jaquez Smith
Indiana Hoosiers
ESPN 300 ranking: 143
Indiana is starting to catch fire in recruiting. The Hoosiers knew they were losing senior Whop Philyor, which opens the door for the four-star Smith to make his presence known early and often.
Smith is Indiana's lone ESPN 300 recruit, but he can team up with underrated four-star WR Jordyn Williams, who can be a dangerous vertical threat and quick contributor as well.
Some of Indiana's reserves are of the bigger body, red zone types, and the 6-foot, 191-pound Smith can bring a little more needed explosive playmaking juice to the unit.
CB Isaiah Johnson
Arizona State Sun Devils
ESPN 300 ranking: 182
The Sun Devils are losing production on the perimeter despite CB Jack Jones taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility and returning for the 2021 season. CB Chase Lucas is gone, and the reserves behind both corner spots are young.
That leaves the door open for Johnson to make his move. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound corner has terrific length and could play on the inside as well. He's tough, versatile based on the scheme -- meaning he can contribute in a variety of roles -- and is confident in coverage.
DE/OLB T.J. Bollers
Wisconsin Badgers
ESPN 300 ranking: 201
Bollers is intriguing because he's a fit at two positions the Badgers have become very productive at: defensive end and tight end. He could be a realistic option on either side of the ball.
Both defensive ends for Wisconsin are seniors, and one of them, Garrett Rand, announced he is stepping away from football altogether. The defense needs a boost in its pass rush after only posting 11 sacks in a shortened 2020 season, and this is where Bollers could be most effective. However, his pass-catching abilities could be a huge boost for QB Graham Mertz as well.