Six Class of 2019 top recruits set to emerge this season

Not every top recruit has immediate success or is in position to leave for the NFL after three (or sometimes even four) college seasons.

For some, whether it’s due to injuries or other circumstances, it takes longer before becoming eventually high-level contributors.

Here are six Class of 2019 top recruits who haven’t already been significant contributors who are set to emerge this season (listed alphabetically).

Michigan State DE Khris Bogle

Recruiting ranking: No. 4 EDGE, No. 54 overall prospect in the 2019 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking

Michigan State expected Bogle to be an impact player last year before he ultimately played in just four games due to injury.

Now, a year later, the Spartans staff is once again enthusiastic about Bogle and his outlook heading into the season.

He’s set to be a starter and key contributor.

The former Florida transfer posted 11 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack in the four games he played in for Michigan State last season. He tallied 69 tackles and eight sacks from 2019 to ’21 at Florida before joining the Spartans last year.

Kansas OL Logan Brown

Recruiting ranking: No. 3 offensive tackle, No. 16 overall prospect in the 2019 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking

Brown, the second-highest ranked player to sign with Wisconsin during the modern recruiting era, was dismissed by the Badgers last October after making just three starts in four seasons (all of which came early last year).

Within two weeks of the dismissal, Brown committed to Kansas and is now in position to be a factor along the offensive line for the Jayhawks, whose six wins last year was their highest win total since 2008.

Kansas returns four starters along the offensive line, but the 6-foot-6, 320-pound Brown has impressed the Jayhawks staff with his intelligence, maturity and approach to go along with his length and athleticism.

He got reps at multiple spots along the offensive line for Kansas during the spring. 

Texas Tech TE Baylor Cupp

Recruiting ranking: No. 1 tight end, No. 55 overall prospect in the 2019 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking

The Texas Tech staff believes Cupp could end up being one of the better tight ends in the Big 12 this season after making six starts and recording 12 catches in his first year with the program.

The 6-foot-6, 260-pound Cupp transferred to Tech from Texas A&M, where he missed his first two seasons with injuries before appearing in 10 games with one start but no stats for the Aggies in 2021.

UCLA WR Kyle Ford

Recruiting ranking: No. 6 wide receiver, No. 34 overall prospect in the 2019 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking

While California transfer and soon-to-be breakout star J. Michael Sturdivant will be the No. 1 target in the UCLA passing game, Ford is in position to be another starter and top option.

Ford, who transferred to UCLA from rival USC, caught 39 passes for the Trojans the last two seasons after missing 2021 with a knee injury and a large chunk of 2020 due to a different knee issue.

He ranked fifth on USC last year with 365 receiving yards while making 20 catches and scoring two touchdowns.

TCU RB Trey Sanders

Recruiting ranking: No. 1 running back, No. 10 overall prospect in the 2019 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking

TCU needs a new starting running back after losing Kendre Miller to the NFL.

It could end up being Sanders.

Either way, the Alabama transfer is primed to be a top figure within the Horned Frogs’ running back rotation.

Sanders closed the spring on such a high note that at least some at TCU believe he could end up being in the running for Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. He had two touchdowns in the the Horned Frogs’ spring game.

At Alabama, Sanders was set back by a season-ending injury in 2019 and then a serious car accident in 2020. He rushed for 314 yards and two touchdowns in 2021 and then 80 yards and a TD on 14 carries last season.

Missouri WR Theo Wease

Recruiting ranking: No. 4 wide receiver, No. 23 overall prospect in the 2019 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking

Wease was a starter for Oklahoma in 2020 but then missed almost all of 2021 due to an injury before tallying just 19 catches last season.

Now, he’s at Missouri, where he’ll be a top option in the Tigers’ passing game to go along with others such as star sophomore Luther Burden.

With Burden in the slot, Wease seems to be regarded at Missouri as the team’s best outside receiver.