Feeling good about your knowledge of the 2014 class? Looking for some beach reading and a chance to get ahead this summer? Well, you're in luck, because you can get a jump on the 2015 class with the release of the initial ESPN Junior 300. As you begin to look over these rankings and get a feel for some of the talented prospects who will be available, here are 10 things to know about the 2015 class:
Back to the top: Regardless of the year, a good place to start is at the top. As always, we put a premium on certain impact positions when assembling rankings -- quarterbacks, defensive linemen, offensive tackles and cornerbacks -- and previous player rankings have reflected that. The 2015 player rankings reflect that as well with DE Jashon Cornell (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) earning the top spot. The battle for the top spot for 2015 is in the very early stages, but as in 2011 with Jadeveon Clowney, 2012 with Mario Edwards and 2013 with Robert Nkemdiche, a defensive end tops the ESPN 300.
Good follow-up: The states of Louisiana and Virginia are no strangers to producing talent, but both states have particularly strong classes in 2014. Six of the top 11 players in the 2014 ESPN 300 hail from either state, including three of the top four -- RB Leonard Fournette (New Orleans/Saint Augustine), who is No. 1 overall; DT Andrew Brown (Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Frommel Smith) at No. 3; DE Da'Shawn Hand (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) at No. 4.
Now, producing six five-star players between the two states is a tough act to follow, but don't expect a big dip in 2015. Louisiana currently has the fifth-most prospects in the initial 2015 ESPN 300, and Virginia is close behind at eighth, led by another promising defensive lineman in Tim Settle (Quicksburg, Va./Stonewall Jackson). The 2015 top 10 might not be heavily represented by players from these two states, but both are still well represented in the 300 rankings.
Coming to America: The best talent comes from the United States, but that doesn't mean there aren't promising international prospects. A recent example of that is former 2010 four-star prospect and recent first-round NFL draft pick Bjoern Werner. A native of Germany, he played football at the Salisbury School in Connecticut before signing with Florida State.
In the 2015 class, two of the most promising prospects are from Europe as well. A native of Sweden, Kevin Dillman (La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada) has shown excellent athleticism playing multiple positions while also flashing real promise as a quarterback in limited action during his freshman and sophomore seasons here in the States. Ohio also holds a promising defensive line prospect in Hjalte Froholdt (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding), a foreign exchange student from Denmark who showed very nice upside during his sophomore season. Dillman and Froholdt -- if he can return to the United States for his junior season -- are two to watch.
Island power: It is not a shock to find some good talent in Hawaii, but 2015 could represent one of the strongest groups to come out of Honolulu in recent memory. The initial Junior 300 includes four prospects from Hawaii, led by Canton Kaumatule (Honolulu/Punahou School), a defensive end with a nice blend of size and athleticism. The other three promising prospects also reside in the trenches, with DEs Breiden Fehoko (Honolulu/Farrington) and Mika Tafua (Honolulu/Kamehameha Schools), and OL Fred Ulu-Perry Jr. (Honolulu/Saint Louis School).
The place to be: In most years, one or two high schools will stand out for boasting several FBS prospects. For 2015, Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian Academy is currently home to a trio of players in the top 100 of the initial ESPN Junior 300. The talented group is led by LSU commit CB Kevin Toliver II, who is No. 2 in the initial release. Also out of Trinity is currently top-ranked OLB Jeffrey Holland and top-five OG Kendrick Norton. Certain programs such as Trinity Christian will draw some extra attention from recruiters during the process.
The usual suspects: The 2015 class, like many of the classes before, will see a lot of good prospects from familiar spots. States such as Florida, Texas, California and Georgia once again will be home to deep pools of FBS-level talent. Each of those states has more than 25 players in the initial 300, with Florida and Texas leading with more than 35. Of the top 10 prospects in the ESPN 300, six are from one of those four states. Things can certainly change, because there is still plenty of evaluating to do and good talent will be found throughout the country, but nobody should be surprised that these states are once again key producers of talent.
Battle of the RBs: The battle between the RB prospects in the 2015 class could be a closely contested one throughout the rankings process, much as it was in 2013, when seven prospects finished within the top 60 nationally and five within the top 40. Arguments could be made on the order. We could see a similar situation with this 2015 group. In this initial release, there are 32 RBs, and six in the top 30. The group is led by Nick Brossette (Baton Rouge, La./University), but he likely will see some tough competition for that spot.
Front seven: It's shaping up to be a potentially strong year for front seven prospects. There are close to 60 defensive line prospects, with 30 linebackers also in the ESPN 300. Despite having two five-star defensive tackles, it's not a particularly strong year at the position for the 2014 class, but for 2015 it's looking like it will be a little stronger and deeper of a crop, led by prospects Trenton Thompson (Albany, Ga./Westover), Settle and Daylon Mack (Gladewater, Texas/Gladewater). With the linebackers, a pair falls within the initial top 15 overall: OLB Holland and ILB Jahvoni Simmons (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes), and more than 20 projected OLBs are part of the initial ESPN 300.
No offers, no problems: They might be young, but there are already plenty of 2015 prospects reporting offers, some boasting an impressive list as they head into their junior season. While some prospects don't have many or any offers, that is no reason to dismiss them. These prospects show promise and likely will see their offers grow. Some examples of ESPN 300 prospects who don't have many offers at this point but are still worth getting to know: Aramis Alexander (Burke, Va./Lake Braddock), a big, strong receiver who displays good speed, and QB Kyle Kearns (Pleasanton, Calif./Foothill), a pocket passer who displays good mechanics and a strong arm. You shouldn't get caught up on who supposedly has offers and how many and who doesn't for many reasons, one of which is that it's still early in the process. Instead, dig into this list and see who could potentially emerge from the pack down the road, and you can then tell your football buddies: "Welcome to the party. I knew about that guy last summer."
It's still early: This initial release of the 2015 ESPN 300 is a great introduction to some of the talent who will be available in that class. While a good deal of effort and evaluation went into the assembly, it's key to remember it's still early. There is still plenty of film to watch and research to be done, and as we learn more, these rankings will change several times by signing day 2015. So if you see a prospect absent from these rankings or think someone is too low or high, remember a lot can and will change. Some on this list might not be on it in updates, and new names will emerge as more film becomes available. In this ever-accelerating world of recruiting, it doesn't hurt to get familiar with the future.