Not every college football recruit booms right away. Several players still have the opportunity to avoid the bust label with a last hurrah in 2023.

From offensive playmakers to defensive stalwarts to oft-injured veterans whose careers have been derailed by injuries, comeback candidates abound across the country.

To make this list, prospects had to be 247Sports composite 5-star recruits from the 2018-20 recruiting classes. While a few of these players have experienced success as starters and even in some cases posted decent stats, they've fallen far below elite expectations and are approaching their final opportunities to do big things.

A few quarterbacks have started, lost their jobs and are looking to take advantage of new opportunities in new places (including one player who is on his fourth college following a topsy-turvy career). Others just need to be a part of the depth chart.

In some cases, potential stardom is expected in 2023. In others, just being a part of the picture would be a move in the right direction.

Chris Braswell, Alabama Edge

There's no shame in not cracking Alabama's starting lineup considering how much talent head coach Nick Saban cycles in year after year. But edge-rusher Chris Braswell, the No. 19 overall recruit from the 2020 class, likely expected more.

This year, he should get the opportunity to showcase the talent that made him a high school star.

Braswell has played in 26 games over the past two seasons, registering 34 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. But he has never started a game for the Crimson Tide.

This year, with Will Anderson Jr. off to the NFL, Braswell has a clearer path to start at the "Jack" outside linebacker spot. He has bulked up to 6'3" and 255 pounds, so he is physically ready to lead.

Braswell is the type of player whom Saban has watched blossom throughout his tenure at Alabama. Some guys may be slower to break out or are blocked by elite players, but they prove to be top-tier stars once they get on the field. Braswell will line up opposite Dallas Turner and should form a fearsome duo that could wreak havoc quarterbacks.

Although he's listed as a senior on Alabama's roster, Braswell could play a few more seasons in Tuscaloosa. But even with all of the exciting, young edge-rushers and outside linebackers on Alabama's roster, Braswell could also boom this year and head to the NFL.

Logan Brown, Kansas Offensive Tackle

In 2019, Wisconsin thought it hit on one of its biggest recruiting wins ever when it landed 6'6", 305-pound offensive tackle Logan Brown. The No. 17-ranked player in the 2019 never took off for the Badgers, though, and Wisconsin interim coach Jim Leonhard dismissed him last season after he struck a teammate during practice, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jeff Potrykus.

"It was not a choice," Leonhard told reporters. "He was dismissed from our program. ... It was an unfortunate incident. At this point, it's more of a family matter we had to deal with internally."

Brown transferred to Kansas, where he hopes to be a stalwart for the up-and-coming Jayhawks. He still has time to prove he can be a big part of a quality offensive line.

Brown appeared in 26 games (three starts) with the Badgers after redshirting in 2019. Kansas has him listed as a redshirt junior, which means he should have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

If Brown stays out of trouble, he could be a key piece of Kansas' offensive line in 2023. He has the size, ability and now the opportunity to prove he can live up to his massive high school expectations.

JT Daniels, Rice Quarterback

Few well-known college players have had a road as long and winding as JT Daniels.

Daniels was one of the first prospects to reclassify and skip his senior year of high school. He enrolled at USC after being heralded as the No. 16-ranked player and second-rated quarterback in the 2018 class.

Daniels started for the Trojans as a true freshman, but he tore his ACL in the first game of his sophomore season, ending his year and effectively his USC career. Kedon Slovis took over under center, and Daniels left for Georgia.

Daniels' spotty play in Athens gave way to the Stetson Bennett era, and the Bulldogs won back-to-back national titles with the latter under center. Daniels then moved on to West Virginia, where he started much of the 2022 season before losing his job.

Daniels is now at his fourth school and is facing his last chance to catch the eye of NFL scouts. He will help usher Rice into the AAC and build on a career that already includes 29 starts.

Daniels has completed 62.9 percent of his 937 career passes for 6,947 yards, 45 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. But he's effectively lost the starting job at three schools. Can he prove he's the man at Rice?

"I feel like I've recruited him for 10 years," Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren told the Rice Thresher's Daniel Schrager. "I guess it's only been eight years, but I've known him forever and have wanted to coach him forever … I think he is maybe the most talented kid at quarterback I recruited in my time at Stanford."

This is Daniels' last chance to tap into that talent.

John Emery Jr., LSU Running Back

Most recruiting experts thought running back John Emery Jr. was a can't-miss prospect. He was ranked as the No. 13 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting class.

Emery seemed to be ticketed for big things at LSU, where he hoped to help the Bayou Bengals recapture some of the rushing power they had with Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice in the backfield. That has yet to happen, though.

Emery is now reportedly away from the team to focus on academics, according to Koki Riley of the Lafayette Daily Advertiser. Whether or not he has another opportunity to show out for the Tigers depends on how (or if) he handles his business.

Emery was suspended for the entire 2021 season and for the first two games of 2022 due to academic issues. LSU head coach Brian Kelly told Riley that Emery has "marks that he needs to hit" before he can rejoin the team.

Across his three seasons in Baton Rouge, Emery has amassed 941 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, but he's never had more than 378 rushing yards in a season. He's been productive in his limited opportunities (5.0 yards per carry), but he hasn't consistently earned playing time.

The classroom has been Emery's biggest hurdle since he arrived at college. LSU fans can only hope he'll get another chance to have a big year for his home-state school.

Justin Flowe, Arizona Linebacker

When Justin Flowe came to Oregon with fellow 5-star recruit Noah Sewell in 2020, he was supposed to form half of a formidable linebacker duo that would lead the Ducks into the future. Flowe was the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, while Sewell was No. 13.

As it turned out, Sewell starred for three seasons and is now off to the NFL, while Flowe has battled injuries throughout his career. Across three seasons, he has only 50 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss.

Flowe is now headed to Arizona to finish his collegiate career. The 6'2", 246-pound linebacker hopes to resurrect his NFL dreams and help make the Wildcats bowl-bound.

"I just see it as adversity," Flowe told Tucson.com's Justin Spears of his injury-riddled career at Oregon. "Adversity happens to everybody, so (it's about) the way you get through it. I'm just planning now to thrive this year and be the best I can be."

Though he flashed at times when healthy, those moments were few and far between. There's no questioning Flowe's ability, though. He will be one of the most talented defenders on the Wildcats' roster.

Despite his ups and downs so far, Flowe still has a chance to be a catalyst on a Pac-12 defense.

Arik Gilbert, Nebraska Tight End

Arik Gilbert took the college football world by storm during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. He finished with 35 catches for 368 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a freshman at LSU.

After the 2020 season, Gilbert decided to transfer back to his home state of Georgia to play for the Bulldogs. That's where his collegiate career hit the skids.

Gilbert couldn't stay healthy, he didn't get on the field over Brock Bowers or Darnell Washington, and he became a forgotten man. In mid-January, he announced that he'd be transferring to Nebraska, a program desperately trying to rebuild to a level of respectability it hasn't had since joining the Big Ten.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule is tasked with turning around the Huskers where Scott Frost couldn't. Rhule has made some transfer portal pushes to expedite that process, including signing quarterback Jeff Sims to compete with Casey Thompson.

Having elite athletes like Gilbert and incoming freshman wideout Malachi Coleman will elevate the talent level of Nebraska's offense. It may be just what Gilbert needs to turn his career around and realize his huge potential.

Lorenzo Lingard, Akron Running Back

Lorenzo Lingard's collegiate career hasn't gone the way he'd hoped. What started as an injury-plagued campaign at Miami continued with depth chart challenges at Florida.

The talented speedster never could crack the rotation for either former Florida head coach Dan Mullen or current head coach Billy Napier, and he's finally decided to get out of the Sunshine State.

The MAC's Akron Zips likely weren't what Lingard had in mind when he was the No. 25-ranked player in the 2018 recruiting class. He now has one final chance to perform under head coach Joe Moorhead, who was Mississippi State's head coach in 2018 and 2019 sandwiched between offensive coordinator stints at Penn State and Oregon.

A player with Lingard's speed and ability should thrive in the offensive backfield of a MAC team, but he has to prove it. He had only 150 yards on 26 carries in three seasons with the Gators.

This is Lingard's final opportunity to make something of a college career that has yet to get off the ground.

Trey Sanders, TCU Running Back

When Trey Sanders signed with Alabama as the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2019 class, everybody was buzzing about the type of career he'd have in Tuscaloosa. After all, head coach Nick Saban had helped mold Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry into Heisman Trophy winners, and Sanders had all the skills needed to be a star.

But a torn ACL sidelined Sanders before his career could get off the ground, and a serious car accident in November 2020 nearly ended his football career. In parts of three seasons, Sanders compiled 528 rushing yards and three touchdowns while averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

The 6'0", 214-pound runner is no longer as explosive as he was in high school, and on a roster chock full of talent, Sanders never could find the light of day on the depth chart. He decided to transfer to TCU in January in an attempt to revitalize his career.

Sanders has a prime opportunity to be firmly in the Horned Frogs' rotation. Leading rushers Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado have both declared for the NFL draft, which means plenty of reps are available.

Can Sanders be enough of a threat to prove he's an every-down back? Emani Bailey should get some run this year for the Frogs as well, and with so many key pieces gone from last year's national runner-up team, head coach Sonny Dykes has to find playmakers.

Sanders should have every opportunity to prove he belongs in TCU's backfield rotation. It would be a great story if he can resurrect his career in Fort Worth.

Sav'ell Smalls, Washington Edge

The Washington Huskies' pass rush could be a key component to a potential sleeper College Football Playoff run this season. But Sav'ell Smalls, the nation's No. 30-ranked player from the 2020 recruiting class, isn't among those being mentioned as must-see TV.

Bralen Trice is a 6'4", 267-pound first-team All-Pac-12 selection from last season and is all over NFL teams' radar. Zion Tupuola-Fetui exploded during the 2020 season and has flashed at times through his career. Both of them are definitive starters.

Meanwhile, Smalls is just trying to get on the field. The fourth-year reserve is a bit of a "tweener," and he's trying to find his role for the Huskies.

"I didn't play as much that I would like, obviously," Smalls told Dawgman.com's Josh Wodka before Washington's bowl win. "We are 10-2 so the team did good, the program is headed in the right direct. Obviously, I didn't see the field as much I would have liked and playing time as much as I would have liked. I know what I added to my bag and I know what I got better on this year. Stuff to look forward to."

Smalls has a lot of speed and ability and could work his way into being a dependable reserve. The 6'3", 257-pound edge rusher played in all 13 games last year, registering 14 tackles and his first ever tackle for a loss.

Smalls has 32 total tackles in three seasons, but he could play at Washington for another few years.

Xavier Thomas, Clemson Edge

Xavier Thomas was a havoc-wreaking force when he arrived at Clemson. The No. 3 overall prospect in the 2018 recruiting class racked up 16.5 tackles for loss and five sacks across his first two seasons with the Tigers and seemed destined to head to the NFL.

But a bout of COVID-19 in 2020 and a foot injury this past season relegated the edge-rusher to a rotational piece over the past few years. Other players have leapfrogged him on Clemson's depth chart.

Season-ending foot surgery quelled Thomas' chance for a big 2022 campaign. He now has one more opportunity to get his collegiate career back on track.

"I am returning to Clemson University to play college football, not only to play, but to dominate," Thomas said in a video announcing his decision to return to Clemson, per the Post & Courier's Jon Blau, "and be the best defensive prospect in the country and lead this team to win another national championship."

With the Tigers losing several stars in their defensive front, Thomas will have the chance to prove himself in front of one of the best linebacking corps in the nation.

DJ Uiagalelei, Oregon State Quarterback

The past three seasons have been a roller coaster for quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. He excelled in backup duty for Trevor Lawrence as a true freshman but couldn't live up to his 5-star status once he took over the starting reins.

After multiple opportunities and votes of confidence from Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, Uiagalelei lost his job last year to freshman Cade Klubnik. That prompted Uiagalelei to head back west and transfer to Oregon State.

Though he has to beat out Ben Gulbranson for the starting job, Uiagalelei has a few seasons left to prove he is good enough to be a Power Five starter.

Uiagalelei wasn't awful at Clemson, but his inconsistency and lack of explosiveness cost him the starting gig. He completed only 59.8 percent of his 861 passes for 5,681 yards, 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

Uiagalelei also rushed for 913 yards and 15 touchdowns, and with his big body and strong arm, he has all of the tools he needs. If he can win the starting job at Oregon State, he may settle down and finally begin to live up to expectations.

Theo Wease Jr., Missouri Wide Receiver

When Theo Wease Jr. took the field for the COVID-shortened 2020 season as a sophomore, he seemed destined to reach the greatness that made him the No. 21 overall prospect and third-ranked receiver in the 2019 recruiting class. He caught 37 passes for 530 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games that year.

At the time, it looked like Wease may be the best of the bunch from the Sooners' star-studded pass-catching 2019 class that included Jadon Haselwood and Trejan Bridges. But a foot injury cost him all of the 2021 season, and he never could quite get going last year under first-year head coach Brent Venables, catching only 19 passes for 378 yards and four touchdowns.

Wease is now off to Missouri to finish his career playing in the SEC. He will essentially replace Dominic Lovett (who transferred to Georgia) and could wind up the No. 1 or No. 2 receiver for the Tigers, depending on the progression of star sophomore Luther Burden III.

The combination of Wease and Burden should be a nice duo for whomever wins the Mizzou quarterback race between Brady Cook (who is missing this spring after surgery), dual-sport athlete Sam Horn (who is also banged up) and Miami transfer Jake Garcia.

Wease is a 6'3", 205-pound receiver with quality speed and hands. If he settles in quickly at Missouri, he could wind up being one of the conference's best transfer portal finds.

All stats courtesy of CFBStats and Sports Reference unless otherwise noted. Recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.

Follow Brad Shepard on Twitter, @Brad_Shepard.