20 for 20, Part 2: An early look at top players in the 2020 class
We haven’t even done a numerical Rivals100 for the class of 2019 yet, but with so many offers going out for the class of 2020 as the recruiting cycle continues to speed up, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at some of the top rising sophomores in the country. We call it 20 for 20 and will roll out four a day this week for you to keep an eye on. Today’s list is led by an elite running back from the Lone Star State.
RELATED: Rivals 20 for 20, Part 1
This second group has a ton of high end potential from Jase McClellan who has great size for his age and runs with power to Sheridan Jones, who is a highly coveted tall, long cornerback which is what every team wants these days. Arik Gilbert could be the next freak tight end in the mold of O.J. Howard as he continues to develop while Johnny Wilson has great size for his age, high points the ball well and stars for one of the fastest-rising teams in California.
What stands out to me the most about this foursome is the trends at the position they fall into. In the last many years, taller yet physical running backs have been a priority, freakishly athletic tight ends who can flex out have been coveted, tall wide receivers with a great catch radius and body control are all the rage and tall corners who could easily play outside or cover the slot in college are getting early offers. Look back at guys like Todd Gurley, Howard, AJ Green and Jalen Ramsey and you can see where these players perhaps got their inspiration.
“McClellan already has the power and size that is desired in top running back prospects in 2018 even as a 2020. His decisiveness and burst get him to the open field quickly and his speed takes care of the rest. He's shown this spring how comfortable he is as a pass-catcher and trending towards being one of the most well-rounded backs in his class. McClellan has an impressive list of early offers, and most recently added Michigan, Nebraska and Oregon State to his list.” – Nick Krueger, Rivals.com Texas Recruiting Analyst
“Gilbert is scary. Nobody that sees him live can believe he is just a freshman. He towers over many, he is very athletic and his ceiling is extremely high. He is still raw, but he has really developed a lot over the past year and he is likely to take a big step this fall in production. Georgia was first to offer and he likes the Bulldogs, but Alabama, Florida and Michigan among others are on his radar early.” – Chad Simmons, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst
“Wilson has long arms and excellent hands so his catch radius is outstanding and he can bring in poorly thrown passes. As a freshman with a loaded Calabasas offense featuring UCLA signee Darnay Holmes, Nebraska signee Keyshawn Johnson Jr. and others, Wilson still stood out and was a favorite target on the outside. Wilson needs to continue to improve his speed to become a really elite prospect, but his route running is great, his hands are excellent and he completely takes over against smaller cornerbacks. Nebraska, Oregon, UCLA and USC are among his early offers.” – Adam Gorney, Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst
“Cornerbacks over 6-feet tall are at a premium, especially when they are as fast and instinctual as Jones. His length, footwork, and ball-hawking skills make him one of the top prospects in the 2020 class. Receivers always have trouble when they face Jones because he is so physical, knows how to read them, and makes a lot of plays on the ball. His offer sheet features Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, and many others.” – Adam Friedman, Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst