National Signing Day: 5 recruits with No. 1 NFL Draft pick upside

Travis Shaw, DL, North Carolina

Walter Nolen may be ranked as the top defensive lineman in the 2022 recruiting class, but Travis Shaw is not too far behind.

The Grimsley High School defensive lineman is ranked as the second-best defensive lineman and fourth-overall prospect in the entire class. In his four-years, Shaw recorded 260 total tackles (180 solo), 62 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries through 39 games, per MaxPreps.

Shaw has already committed to playing for Mack Brown and the North Carolina Tar Heels. He has the chance to play with a top college football program and build up his NFL Draft stock. Teams in need of a disrupting defensive lineman will definitely consider taking one with the first-overall pick. If Shaw plays at a high level throughout college, he has the chance to become a No. 1 pick.

Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

For regular followers of the NFL Draft, they know that quarterbacks are more likely than not to be selected first overall. There are always going to be teams in need of the position and will trade up to secure who they think can be their face of the franchise.

Westview quarterback Ty Simpson has the potential to be taken off the board first.

Simpson is the third-ranked quarterback prospect and 24th-overall in the nation in the 2022 recruiting class, per 247 Sports. He can throw the ball and make plays with his feet, and it caught the attention of 37 schools. Ultimately, Simpson committed to Alabama this past February.

Considering he will play for the Crimson Tide, he is going to get a ton of attention in the very near future. The program has seen quarterbacks such as Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones get selected in the first round. Bryce Young became the first Alabama signal-caller to win the Heisman Trophy and is a future first-rounder whenever he declares for the draft. The sky is the limit for Simpson.