College football recruiting predictions for every 2021 5-star recruit

College football recruiting predictions for all 27 of the 2021 five-star recruits who will be the future of college football.

The 2020 college football recruits have signed, sealed and delivered their letters of intent to play with the programs of their choosing. Now, the recruiting trail turns to 2021 and beyond for the best high school athletes in the nation.

Recruiting never slows down when it comes to college football and the 2021 class is loaded with great talent like every other class. There are 27 five-star recruits that will be up for grabs on National Signing Day.

Commitments are one thing, but nothing is official until the pen is put to paper and a letter of intent is signed. The aforementioned 27 recruits are going to be the most highly sought after. Those are the recruits that can take a good class to a legendary one.

To land even one would put many programs over the top, to land multiple puts a school in a completely different discussion. Where will the five-star 2021 college football recruits land? Here’s a prediction for each recruit.

Note: Recruiting rankings reflect the 247Sports Composite Rankings. 

• High School: Hopewell (Hopewell, VA)
• Composite Rankings: No. 27, No. 2 RB

The number-two running back in the nation is one of the most elusive as well. TreVeyon Henderson is a quick running back that can cut in any direction at any given moment. The former Virginia Player of the Year is also a track athlete with great speed.

His technique and footwork make him a headache to bring down let alone trying to keep up with him. Landing a dynamic player like Henderson, who can also catch the ball offers plenty of variety for an offense.

His choices are vast and he does have a visit to Michigan lined up in June. The Wolverines have quarterback J.J. McCarthy committed for next year’s class. Adding a weapon like Henderson next to him would be a major haul for Jim Harbaugh.

Prediction: Michigan

• High School: Miami Palmetto (Miami, FL)
• Composite Rankings: No. 26, No. 3 CB

Jason Marshall is a bonafide number one cornerback at the next level. At 6-foot-2, Marshall has the ideal size to match up with any receiver he goes against and a lean build at 180 pounds to go with his height.

Marshall is a two-sport high school athlete. In 2019, Marshall had an impressive season for Miami Palmetto. He finished with 15 pass breakups and five interceptions. Being able to effectively shut down one side of the field makes things easy for a defense.

He will look to bring those intangibles to the next level. The big question is whether he’ll stay at home and go to Miami or go somewhere else in-state like Florida or Florida State or leave the state entirely.

Prediction: Miami

• High School: Dudley (Greensboro, NC)
• Composite Rankings: No. 25, No. 3 DT

The second-ranked recruit out of the state of North Carolina is Payton Page. The 6-foot-4 defensive lineman is a 315-pound behemoth that will serve as an anchor along the defensive line on Saturday’s.

He’s a strong individual that should see time right away at the college level. Page has yet to make a commitment, but schools such as Clemson, North Carolina, LSU and many others have already made offers to him.

Right now, there’s no better bet than going to Clemson and being developed by Brett Venables. Dabo has ruled the recruiting game when it comes to the front seven and going from the state of North Carolina to South Carolina seems like a natural transition.

Prediction: Clemson

• High School: Pinson Valley (Pinson, AL)
• Composite Rankings: No. 24, No. 2 CB

One of the top cornerback recruits in the nation, Ga’Quincy McKinstry is a raw talent with plenty of room to develop into something special at the college level. McKinstry has shown out as a cornerback at the high school level, with an ability to force turnovers.

At 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, McKinstry will need to pack on some more size as he continues to mature. Still, he’s been shown enough to warrant a five-star recruit status. He also plays receiver as well and has a great knowledge of both sides of the field.

The Alabama product will certainly be in the middle of a recruiting war between both Auburn and Alabama. Other schools such as Clemson are also after McKinstry. Tuscaloosa is a little closer than Auburn, so let’s give the nod to the Tide for now.

Prediction: Alabama

• High School: St. Joseph’s (Philadelphia, PA)
• Composite Rankings: No. 23, No. 4 PRO QB

The Ohio State Buckeyes have another talented quarterback coming their way in 2021. Five-star pro-style quarterback Kyle McCord out of Philadelphia has already made his commitment to play for Ohio State.

He’s a pocket passer with a good arm at 6-foot-3. He has the ideal size that coaches and scouts love in a quarterback. He’s not the most mobile of quarterbacks but he stands tall and delivers a strike.

Ohio State has had some great quarterback play recently with the likes of Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields lighting up the scoreboard on Saturday’s. Adding another top-tier recruit should keep the status quo in Columbus.

Committed to Ohio State

• High School: Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA)
• Composite Rankings: No. 22, No. 2 OLB

Mater Dei for years was a direct pipeline for USC. Will that be the case in 2021? More specifically in regards to linebacker Raesjon Davis? The versatile linebacker is one of the most sought after in his class.

He had 43 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 10 pass breakups this past season, which highlights his ability to do a little bit of everything. Players like him that excel in multiple areas are rare and far between typically, so Davis is going to be a major land for one program.

Right now, the consensus is either LSU or USC. Many years ago, it would be a guarantee the Trojans would land a Mater Dei product. However, those days have long since passed and bigger programs have tapped into Southern California.

Prediction: LSU

• High School: Menlo-Atherton (Menlo Park, CA)
• Composite Rankings: No. 21, No. 3 WR

The wave of great California high school football players bolting for the SEC instead of the Pac-12 has become a very real thing. With the SEC several steps ahead of the Pac-12, they’ve dug their heels into California and are finding great recruits for their programs.

Troy Franklin is one of those great California recruits that could find his way to an SEC team. The 6-foot-2 receiver is going to be dynamite on the field as he’s explosive and dangerous any time he lines up.

His speed is his biggest asset right now and if a program can continue to refine his other receiver skills, he could become one of the best in the nation. Former USC head coach Steve Sarkisian has recruited him hard for Alabama. Wouldn’t that be a bit of irony?

Prediction: Alabama