Class of 2018 Rivals250 rankings update: Biggest movers

NEW RELEASE: Updated Rivals250 for Class of 2018

The updated 2018 Rivals100 was released on Monday with four new five-star prospects in WR Mark Pope, CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart, LB Teradja Mitchell and ATH Devon Williams moving up to that elite status.

Today, we take a look at the entire 2018 Rivals250 with a focus on the biggest movers up and down.

Related: Class of 2019 Rivals250

Movement: +39

Analyst’s take: “Copeland’s explosiveness is notable and his solid size makes him a nice target. He’s committed to Florida.” – Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst Rob Cassidy

Movement: NR to 109

Analyst’s take: “Reese is raw but his impressive physical attributes give him giant upside. He is currently committed to Florida and one of the most powerful linebackers in the class.” – Cassidy

Movement: +30

Analyst’s take: “Salahuddin continues to impress at every event he attends, regardless of the competition. This rankings update, the USC commit moved from running back to all-purpose back because of how dominant he can be as a receiver. Salahuddin has great hands and can make huge plays in the open field after the catch. He is a true every-down back.” – Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst Adam Friedman

Movement: +81

Analyst’s take: “Cota has proven to be one of the fastest and most dynamic receivers in this class through the summer and he deserved a significant bump in the rankings. If he played in a high-profile state we might even be talking about one of the better overall receivers in the entire class. He can get open seemingly at will and he has excellent hands. Oregon has to be considered a frontrunner since his dad played there but Notre Dame and others are involved.” – Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney

Movement: +38

Analyst’s take: “What stands out most about Tindall is his athleticism. Although he’s not a big linebacker and still needs to add mass, Tindall moves so well and gets from Point A to Point B with suddenness. He’s also excellent in space and in coverage. South Carolina is the leader for Tindall but Georgia, Auburn, Florida State, Florida and others are involved.” – Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell

Movement: NR to 136

Analyst’s take: “Stealing a line from Shakespeare, ‘And though (he) be but little, (he) is fierce,’ perfectly describes Dedich, who was as good as any interior lineman at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by adidas this summer. I was told some schools backed off Dedich because he’s a couple inches short but that’s their mistake because he is tough, strong and super competitive. I love how he plays and USC got a fantastic center for years to come.” - Gorney

Movement: NR to 143

Analyst’s take: “Kaho is a really intriguing prospect because he doesn’t show up to much but when he’s on the field the BYU commit is absolutely phenomenal. He plays great in space, he’s excellent in coverage and he does all the things you want to see from a special linebacker. Alabama, Oregon, UCLA, Utah and BYU make up his top five.” - Gorney

Movement: NR to 146

Analyst’s take: “Ojulari was good in 2016, but he has really taken his game to the next level. Everywhere he has competed in 2017, he has shined. He is an athletic edge rusher with so much room to grow. He recently committed to Georgia.” – Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst Chad Simmons

Movement: NR to 157

Analyst’s take: “I had cooled a little bit on Togiai after seeing him at the Under Armour camp in Los Angeles where I didn’t think he got the best leverage and didn’t show off tremendous power but that seems like a one-time occurrence. He was dominant at the Ohio State Friday Night Lights camp, he’s super fast off the ball and gets into the backfield at will. The Buckeyes are considered a favorite with Washington and some other Pac-12 schools in the mix, too.” - Gorney

Movement: +54

Analyst’s take: “Smith shows up, competes and wins much more than he loses. He is not big, but he has length, he plays with toughness and he is not scared to go against the best. The Georgia commit shined at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge.” - Simmons

Movement: +38

Analyst’s take: “Oweh is one of the most athletic prospects this cycle but is still so new to football. This move up the rankings was in response to the 4.4 40-yard dash, 4.29 shuttle, and 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump he put up at Penn State recently. Oweh will end up signing with the Nittany Lions, Ohio State or Notre Dame.” - Friedman

Movement: NR to 181

Analyst’s take: “The No. 1 player in the state of Kansas hails from a sparsely-populated region of the state and this summer was our first seeing him live. Everything we saw on film from the North Carolina commit was confirmed, and his progression merited the move into the Rivals250.” – Rivals.com Midwest Recruiting Analyst Josh Helmholdt

Movement: NR to 189

Analyst’s take: “Martin is one of those hybrid defensive ends/outside linebackers who are becoming more useful in defensive schemes. He’s physical enough to put his hand down and be a lethal edge rusher and he’s athletic enough to stand up and play in space. Either way, I suspect he’s going to find the field early in his career and be really productive. Alabama, Texas A&M, UCLA, Oregon and others remain in the mix.” - Gorney

Movement: +42

Analyst’s take: “Vann committed to South Carolina after his three-touchdown performance Saturday and the Gamecocks are getting a playmaker. He is explosive, he snags the ball out of the air and he is sneaky fast. He could continue to ascend in the rankings in 2017.” - Simmons

Movement: NR to 202

Analyst’s take: “Jamison is committing on Oct. 14 and is likely deciding between Texas and TCU. Jamison nearly cracked the top 200 after showing at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge his scrappiness and versatility in coverage. He's a resourceful corner that also likes to occasionally ball-hawk at safety and has been one of the most consistent and competitive defensive backs in the country over the summer.” - Rivals.com Texas Recruiting Analyst Nick Krueger

Movement: NR to 206

Analyst’s take: “Bell was honestly a kid who slipped under the radar this offseason because he didn’t attend any camps and really trained his tail off in preparation for Alabama’s camp. He went to Tuscaloosa and absolutely blew the coaches away. They offered and he committed to the Crimson Tide. Bell is an interior offensive lineman with a mean streak – which I love – who trains all day long, is on video pulling trucks, that type of offensive lineman. He’s got a big future.” - Gorney

Movement: NR to 222

Analyst’s take: “Leary hung with the best of them at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge this offseason and his move into the Rivals250 is well deserved. The N.C. State commit throws a very catchable ball and it really pops off his hand. Receivers liked getting paired with Leary and he didn't make many mistakes with his passes.” - Friedman

Movement: NR to 223

Analyst’s take: “Davis is a massive lineman with the tools to excel on either side of the ball. As a defensive tackle, he has the ability to destroy an offense's game plan because he has the size, strength and quickness to beat his man and consistently play in the backfield. Even if he ends up an offensive lineman, Davis still has a chance to be a Rivals250 prospect. North Carolina, N.C. State, Michigan, Georgia, Miami, South Carolina and Florida State are all working hard to land his commitment.” - Friedman

Movement: NR to 228

Analyst’s take: “Douglass was another prospect who kind of slid under the national radar because he plays at a high school that doesn’t traditionally pump out high-level prospects but watching his film and seeing him work out, it’s clear he has a big future ahead. He’s tough and physical at the line of scrimmage but what really stands out about Douglass is his athleticism to get to the second level and block downfield. He’s committed to USC.” - Gorney

Movement: NR to 238

Analyst’s take: “McGrone took most of the off-season to rehabilitate an ACL injury and this was the first evaluation period we have seen him since last season. Although our evaluation of the Michigan commit was limited, he showed excellent bounce-back off the injury and could be in for a bigger move off his senior season.” - Helmholdt

Movement: NR to 242

Analyst’s take: “I liked Webb a whole lot during the spring and then saw him more this summer and decided to move him up in the rankings. His performance at Oregon’s Saturday Night Live camp sealed the deal. He’s a massive target who can run, he consistently beats linebackers downfield and has the ability to make the tough catch. He’s committed to the Ducks and he should be perfect for that offense.” - Gorney

Movement: NR to 246

Analyst’s take: “Tisdale was in an earlier version of the Rivals250 and now makes his return after showing lots of offseason improvement. The knocks on the Virginia Tech commit were his lack of size and that he didn't play with physicality. Tisdale has made major strides in those areas and has a great chance to take his game to another level this season.” - Friedman

Movement: NR to 249

Analyst’s take: “There is a lot to like about Harrison’s game because he’s so versatile whether at receiver or defensive back. He’s actually used a lot as a downfield blocker and I like that he seems to enjoy that part of the game. With the ball in his hands, he’s electric and explosive, and he plays with a confidence that seems contagious. Harrison is committed to Oregon.” - Gorney

Movement: NR to 250

Analyst’s take: “Mallory is committed to Miami and was beyond impressive running routes at the Hurricanes’ paradise camp. He may need a redshirt year to develop a tight end’s body but he’s well on his way.” - Cassidy

Movement: -51

Analyst’s take: “Taylor is still refining his receiver skills and just has not proven to be a consistent pass catcher yet. The Tennessee commit needs to continue developing his ball skills and that’s especially important because Taylor does not get tremendous separation from elite cornerbacks at times.” – Farrell

Movement: -60

Analyst’s take: “McClain is an athletic linebacker on the smaller side who is known for his movement in space and versatility. He struggled some in coverage at the Rivals100 Five-star Challenge where we thought he'd excel. With his size, that needs to be a strength in his game. Auburn and LSU are the favorites to land McClain.” - Simmons

Movement: -48

Analyst’s take: “Williams’ hands fail him from time to time, but the fact that he can create separation with ease make him a high-upside prospect. If he improves when it comes to making catches, he’ll be nice addition to the Alabama offense.” - Cassidy

Movement: -64

Analyst’s take: “Moore’s explosiveness is his calling card and he showcased it in his team’s preseason Kickoff Classic Game. The Georgia commit had a tremendous offseason and could be in line for a big senior year.” - Cassidy

Movement: -76

Analyst’s take: “Schwartz is considered a Florida lean. His speed is unmatched. He’s one of the fastest players in the country but is still earning how to become a wide receiver. His technique has a ways to go to match his potential. That said, he could take multiple steps forward as a senior.” - Cassidy

Movement: -75

Analyst’s take: “Babb was having another outstanding summer and his stock continued to elevate, but his senior season was lost with an early camp ACL injury. He lost part of his junior season to a leg injury as well, and will have played just six games over his last two high school seasons. Babb remains uncommitted, with a top nine schools that includes LSU, Nebraska, Ohio State and USC.” - Helmholdt

Movement: -108

Analyst’s take: “Watkins has been committed to LSU, Florida State and Texas but is now uncommitted. He had a relatively quiet offseason. His explosiveness is impressive but his limited size makes him a bit of a question mark. That said, his upside remains.” - Cassidy

Movement: -99

Analyst’s take: “Tarburton has been resting up this offseason but his speed has become a bit of a question mark. The Penn State commit isn't as fast as originally expected and there is a possibility of him moving from inside linebacker to defensive end if he doesn't correct this issue.” - Friedman

Movement: -56

Analyst’s take: “Brents' performance at the Columbus Rivals 3 Stripe Camp was sensational and our reaction off that camp may have been too aggressive. He has not been as dominant in events at which we have seen him since, and his rating was corrected slightly. Brents favors Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Michigan State and Vanderbilt, with a decision expected soon.” - Helmholdt

Movement: -105

Analyst’s take: “A Miami commit, Hightower is an interesting prospect but his development has slowed in the last year. There’s a reason he’s still ranked in the Rivals250, as he brings solid length and decent speed to the table. He’ll benefit from a redshirt year to add muscle and become a better route runner. His potential is high.” - Cassidy

Movement: -52

Analyst’s take: “Virginia Tech fans should be very excited about Chatman but he still has to work on some things before getting playing time in Blacksburg. His tendency to look in the backfield has cost his team a few times in 7-on-7 tournaments this offseason but there is no doubting his ability to make plays on the ball.” - Friedman