2015 Dandy Dozen: top college football prospects

Here's a look at The Tennessean's 2015 Dandy Dozen, featuring the top 12 college football prospects in the Midstate area.

This year's crop of seniors is a talented one, and with the abundance of prep standouts throughout Middle Tennessee's 2016 recruiting class, some of these selections were no-brainers. Others weren't so clear cut.

Regardless of where the area's top players end up, this group of recruits will have a lot to live up to. Last year, 18 Midstate athletes — 10 from the Dandy Dozen — signed Southeastern Conference football scholarships, and 16 more signed with Football Bowl Subdivision programs.

THE TENNESSEAN'S 2015 DANDY DOZEN

No. 1—DANIEL BITULI

• School: Nashville Christian

• Position: Linebacker

• Ht., Wt.: 6-foot-4, 235 pounds

• College plans: Committed to Tennessee on July 18

• 2014 stats: Tennessean All-Midstate selection recorded 61 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

No. 2 — JOEJUAN WILLIAMS

• School: Hendersonville; ineligible to play this season after transferring from Father Ryan

• Position: Cornerback

• Ht., Wt.: 6-foot-2, 195 pounds

• College plans: Considering scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, LSU, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt, among others.

• 2014 stats: Registered 48 tackles, two interceptions and 11 pass-breakups at Father Ryan.

No. 3—BRYCE MATHEWS

• School: Brentwood Academy

• Position: Offensive tackle

• Ht., Wt.: 6-foot-5, 280 pounds

• College plans: Committed to Ole Miss on July 24.

• 2014 stats: Tennessean All-Midstate selection helped pave the way for a powerful Eagle offense that racked up 406 points and nearly 5,000 yards in 11 games.

No. 4—RYAN JOHNSON

• School: Brentwood Academy

• Position: Offensive tackle

• Ht., Wt.: 6-foot-6, 280 pounds

• College plans: Committed to Tennessee on July 19, 2014.

• 2014 stats: Tennessean All-Midstate selection helped pave the way for a powerful Eagle offense that racked up 406 points and nearly 5,000 yards in 11 games.

No. 5—TYREL DODSON

• School: Centennial

• Position: Linebacker

• Ht., Wt.: 6-foot-2, 235 pounds

• College plans: Committed to Texas A&M on June 5.

• 2014 stats: Tennessean All-Midstate selection recorded 74 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.

No. 6—RONTAVIUS GROVES

• School: Pearl-Cohn

• Position: Wide receiver

• Ht., Wt.: 5-foot-11, 175 pounds

• College plans: Considering scholarship offers from Ole Miss, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and West Virginia, among others.

• 2014 stats: Tennessean All-Midstate selection hauled in 48 receptions for a team-leading 1,223 yards and 19 touchdowns.

No. 7—GABE ANGEL

• School: Cookeville

• Position: Tight end

• Ht., Wt.: 6-foot-3, 212 pounds

• College plans: Committed to Ole Miss on Nov. 30, 2014.

• 2014 stats: Hauled in 18 receptions for 275 yards and two scores; also rushed for 493 yards and seven touchdowns.

No. 8—TYLIN ODEN

• School: Spring Hill

• Position: Quarterback

• Ht., Wt.: 6-foot-5, 180 pounds

• College plans: Committed to Louisville on May 25.

• 2014 stats: District 12-AA Athlete of the Year tallied more than 1,800 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns, 11 of which came via the pass.

No. 9—IKENNA OKEKE

• School: Smyrna

• Position: Safety

• Ht., Wt.: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds

• College plans: Considering scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Penn State, Stanford, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, among others.

• 2014 stats: Registered 62 tackles, five interceptions — one of which he returned for a touchdown — and two fumble recoveries.

No. 10—JEREMY DARVIN

• School: Father Ryan

• Position: Defensive tackle

• Ht., Wt.: 6-foot-2, 280 pounds

• College plans: Considering scholarship offers from Tennessee, Louisville, Cincinnati and Middle Tennessee State, among others.

• 2014 stats: Recorded 42 tackles — eight behind the line of scrimmage — two sacks and a pair of pass deflections for the Irish.

No. 11 — NATE JOHNSON

• School: Independence

• Posititon: Wide receiver

• Ht., Wt.: 5-foot-11, 172 pounds

• College plans: Committed to Purdue on June 25.

• 2014 stats: Tennessean All-Midstate selection hauled in 62 receptions for a team-leading 1,290 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Eagles.

No. 12 —JORDAN WILSON

• School: Montgomery Bell Academy

• Position: Tight end

• Ht., Wt.: 6-foot-5, 215 pounds

• College plans: Committed to UCLA on July 22.

• 2014 stats: Finished as the Big Red's second-leading receiver, snagging 21 catches for 317 yards and a touchdown.