The Rutgers football program has four recruits signed and already on campus prepared to participate in spring football as early enrollees. The freshmen will officially enroll Wednesday and begin what they hope to be highly productive collegiate careers on the banks.

Three of the four additions are offensive linemen, while one plays along the defensive line. But with the foursome receiving a jump on fellow freshman teammates, is there a chance that any of them can contribute in year one?

College coaches always say that the closer a prospect plays to the ball, the longer it takes to adjust to the next level of play. So lets find out if that holds true with Rutgers' four most proactive class of 2017 recruits.

NJ.com has evaluated each of the prospects and their chances for early on-field success. And we'll start with St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.) offensive tackle Micah Clark, the No. 1 ranked player in New Jersey, the top player in Rutgers' 2017 class and a four-star recruit.

Micah Clark, St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.), 4-star

A 6-5, 270-pounder, Clark is certainly athletic enough to contribute from day one. The question is which position he will play, and is he physically prepared to play whatever position the staff settles on. Despite being an offensive tackle recruit, Clark has gone on record about Rutgers head coach Chris Ash's preference to play him on defense. And it makes sense as Clark projects to a number of positions including offensive tackle, guard, defensive three-technique, five technique, tight end and defensive end.

But thinking outside of the box, I believe Clark has the tools to be the premiere center in the Big Ten. Before you laugh it off, think about it. He's long and athletic, so most scouts naturally project him to tackle, where he plays primarily in high school. But I haven't really seen him kick slide, jump set or do some of the more technical tackle things that the prototypical guys do best. Be he can do a number of things that most guys his size can't.

In watching Clark throughout the year, his greatest gifts are his short area burst, leverage and explosion. He has great feet, leg drive, can explode through contact, great flexibility, can trap block, down block, kick pull, skip pull and protrudes top-tier leadership acumen. And what also stands out is his ability to get out of his stance and get hands on defenders quickly. And once he locks on, he wins those battles, and has the balance to work to the second level. He's a wrestler, so although long, defenders don't often get underneath his pads. He would just need to continue to fill out, get stronger and gain experience inside.

I could see Clark potentially morphing into a Kevin Mawae, who was long for a center but a master of the short area, and played in the National Football League for sixteen years. Mawae was an eight-time All-Pro -- seven-time first team pick -- eight-time pro-bowler and a member of the NFL's 2000s All-Decade team. And his leadership propelled him to serve two terms as NFLPA president, most notably throughout the 2011 NFL lockout.

Putting the NFL on hold

Samuel Vretman, Cheshire (Conn.) Academy, 3-star



Not only does Vretman have a great frame at 6-5, 305 pounds, but we found out at Nike Camp last year -- where he won OL MVP -- how surprisingly technical he is with his kick slide, patient hands and hand location during pass pro. And that combination gives him a chance to compete for playing time at right tackle within Rutgers' two-deep, especially considering the head start he'll receive getting to campus in time for spring practice.

He also has some position versatility. Coaches prefer to recruit linemen who can start out at tackle and kick inside to guard if tackle doesn't work out. And that's what Rutgers has with Vretman, who appears just athletic and technical enough to operate outside, yet probably projects best in a phone booth where he can utilize his brute strength, toughness and won't have to depend as much on mobility.

I also like his ability to finish in the run game once he gets hands on defenders, as he has the nasty attitude that accompanies all good linemen. However, he must continue to work on his balance, pad level, redirect anticipation and fight against playing tall which is easy to do when inexperienced and one of the largest players on the field.

Brendan Bordner, DE, Hilliard (Ohio) Bradley, 3-star



Defensive ends who can rush the passer have a legitimate chance to play early as most teams rotate fresh bodies off the edge, as it's essential in this day and age of gunslinger spread offenses. Bordner can certainly add to that depth, but I wouldn't say pass rushing is his greatest strength. He takes as much pride in getting off blocks and stopping the run as he does sacking the quarterback, while he can also anchor down and resist push at the point of attack.

Bordner excels at disengaging from contact, utilizing hand technique, awareness and anticipation. He has some filling out to do, but has enough functional strength to contribute now, although I'd anticipate he'll endure a red-shirt year.

However, starting out off the edge will buy him time to physically develop while potentially contributing to the team. And I believe he eventually moves inside to three-technique once he fills out as he's already 6-5, 240 pounds.

Jamaal Beaty, OL, St. John Vianney (Holmdel, N.J.), 3-star

Offensive line coach A.J. Blazek has expressed to Beaty that open competition will take place throughout spring camp. Hence, Beaty will have as good an opportunity to earn a role as anyone as he can be a dog in the trenches and showcases good competitiveness. But if I had to guess, the 6-3, 285-pound three-star will probably utilize this spring and a red-shirt year to settle in at offensive guard, learn the playbook, physically develop and adapt to the scheme as he projects best as a developmental prospect with upside.

He can be a seam creator at times but can be top-heavy and lunge as opposed to bending at the knees rather than the waist. But the toughness and fight is always present.

Beaty seeing the field earlier than expected depends on whether or not he can outwork his upperclassman counterparts. And that would be a tough task, although not impossible by any means.

Todderick Hunt may be reached at thunt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TodderickHunt. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.