Ahmad Gardner, who goes by the nickname “Sauce,” was a first-team all-state and All-Detroit selection as a senior at Martin Luther King High School, leading his team to a state championship with two receiving touchdowns in the title game. He was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2019, returning two of his three interceptions for touchdowns, breaking up eight passes and recording 31 stops in 14 games (six starts). Gardner collected 28 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups as a sophomore in nine games (missed the bowl game vs. Georgia due to a back injury) in 2020 to earn second-team Associated Press All-American and American Athletic Conference accolades. He switched from the No. 12 jersey to No. 1 for 2021 and played like the nation's top corner while garnering first-team Associated Press All-American and American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades (40 tackles, 4.5 for loss with three sacks, three interceptions, four pass breakups in 14 starts). Gardner didn't allow a receiving touchdown during his three-year career. -- by Chad Reuter

Wilson grew up around Columbus but his family moved to Austin, Texas, for his dad's job in 2011. He starred at Lake Travis High School and earned the All-American Bowl Man of the Year Award as a senior (1,151 yards, 19 TDs despite missing time due to injury) for his community service, education and athletic distinction. He also received Division I college basketball scholarship offers. His father, Kenny, is among the top scorers in Davidson's storied history. The five-star prospect enrolled at Ohio State a semester early and played in all 14 games as a key reserve true freshman in the fall (30-423-14.4, five TDs receiving: 14-86-6.1 punt returns). Wilson started all eight games for the Buckeyes in 2020, receiving first-team All-Big Ten Conference accolades (43-723-16.8, six TDs receiving; 7-51-7.3 punt returns). He was a second-team Associated Press All-American and second-team all-conference selection in 2021 after tying for eighth in the FBS with 12 receiving touchdowns in 11 starts (70-1,058-15.1) and returning punts (13-68-5.2). Wilson missed one game in concussion protocol during the 2021 season and then opted out of the team's bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. -- by Chad Reuter

Johnson did not qualify academically coming out of Eden Prairie High School in the Twin Cities metro area, so he began his collegiate career playing two seasons at Independence Community College, where he was featured on the Netflix series "Last Chance U" and eventually rated the top overall junior college prospect after racking up a total of 12.5 sacks. Johnson was a reserve pass rusher for the Bulldogs in his first year in Athens with 20 tackles, three for loss with 2.5 sacks in 14 games (one start). He started three of seven appearances in 2020 (16 tackles, five sacks). Johnson wanted more playing time, so he transferred to Florida State to help former South Carolina end Keir Thomas replace departing veterans Joshua Kaindoh and Janarius Robinson. He did much more than that as a leader for the Seminoles, receiving ACC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference honors and ranking tied for eighth nationally with 18 tackles for loss with 12 sacks among 70 total stops with two pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 12 starts. -- by Chad Reuter

Hall garnered second-team All-Big 12 honors as a freshman (186-897-4.8, nine TDs rushing; 23-252-11.0, one TD receiving in 12 games, seven starts). He led the FBS with 1,572 rushing yards (279 carries, 5.6 per; also 23-180-7.8, two TDs receiving in 12 starts) and rushed for 21 TDs in 2020. Hall was the first unanimous All-American in Iowa State history, finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting and was a runner-up for the Doak Walker Award (top collegiate running back). He was a Doak Walker finalist, first-team Associated Press All-American and once again the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, ranking seventh in the nation with 1,472 rushing yards (253 carries, 5.8 per) and tying for third with 20 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 36 passes for 302 yards and three scores in 12 starts before opting out of the team's bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. Hall set an FBS record with 24 straight games with a rushing touchdown. Hall's cousin, former NFL RB Roger Craig, starred at Nebraska and was a major contributor to the San Francisco 49ers' championship teams of the 1980s. Hall's stepfather, Jeff Smith, also was a running back at Nebraska, as well as for the Chiefs and Buccaneers. -- by Chad Reuter

The 2017 New York State Gatorade Player of the Year and USA Today first-team High School All-American (13 receiving TDs, 13 sacks on defense) was rated the top tight end prospect in the country before signing with Ohio State. As a true freshman, Ruckert played in 12 games as a reserve but only made one catch for 13 yards. He started three contests for the Big Ten champs in 2019, grabbing 14 passes for 142 yards (10.1 per rec.) and four scores in 14 appearances. Ruckert was an honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference selection in 2020 (13-151-11.6, five TDs receiving), making one of the team's best plays in the national title game with a one-handed 36-yard catch (his lone reception on the night). He was an honorable mention selection again in 2021, setting career bests with 26 receptions for 309 yards (11.9 per rec.) and scoring three times in 12 games (10 starts). -- by Chad Reuter

Mitchell was a two-star recruit who eschewed an offer from Northwestern State before signing with another home-state school in Lafayette. He played in all 14 games as a reserve his true freshman season and then started all 14 games (seven at left tackle and seven at right tackle) in his sophomore campaign. Sun Belt coaches named him second-team all-conference in 2020 for his work in 10 starts (eight at right tackle, two at left tackle). He missed two weeks (one game) due to COVID-19 in September, though he was asymptomatic. Mitchell's play in all 14 games at right tackle earned national respect in 2021, garnering third-team Associated Press All-American honors along with a first-team all-conference nod. -- by Chad Reuter

Clemons was rated among the top 25 JUCO prospects in the country after one year at Cisco and chose to sign with the Aggies. He played in all 13 games as a backup in 2017 (19 tackles, three for loss with one sack) but, unfortunately, suffered a foot injury during the 2018 preseason camp that cost him the season. Clemons came back to start nine of 11 contests played as a junior, compiling 28 tackles and 2.5 for loss. He was again limited in the 2020 season with 14 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and four sacks, in five games before missing the remainder of the season with an ankle injury that required surgery. Clemons was suspended for the first game of the 2021 season after an August arrest on multiple charges, including unlawful carrying of a weapon and marijuana possession. In nine starts in 10 games played, Clemons posted 32 tackles, 11 for loss with seven sacks, and two pass breakups. He also led the team with 46 QB pressures (fourth-most in the SEC, per Pro Football Focus). The team could not play in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl due to COVID-19 issues on the squad. -- by Chad Reuter