Class of 2018 Rivals250 rankings update: Biggest movers
After a busy spring evaluation period, including every regional Rivals 3 Stripe Camp presented by adidas, there were plenty of changes to the new Rivals100 that was released on Tuesday.
The same could be said for this Rivals250 release. Here is a look at all of the significant moves up in the rankings in this latest round of rankings.
RELATED: Updated Rivals250 for Class of 2018
Movement: +104
Analyst’s take: “Smith started his prep career focused on basketball and did not play his first varsity football until last fall. That season was cut short by injury, and yet Smith proved repeatedly this off-season that he is far more than just an athlete playing football. He lists a top 12, but does not plan to make a final decision on his college future until he has taken all five official visits.” - Josh Helmholdt, Rivals.com Midwest Recruiting Analyst
Movement: +41
Analyst’s take: “Young is a beast on the field and is as physical as safeties come. He does a great job controlling the middle of the field and is so explosive when he closes on the ball. Young plans on releasing a top five soon with a commitment coming later this month or next month. Penn State, Ohio State and Clemson will make the cut.” - Adam Friedman, Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst
Movement: +47
Analyst’s take: “Clemson, LSU and Texas A&M seem to be at the front of his recruitment for now, but O'Neal is heavily considering numerous national offers. As a player, O'Neal has proven to be a bullet coming out of the secondary in run-defense and is athletic enough to make a play on a pass anywhere in the secondary.” – Rivals.com Texas Recruiting Analyst Nick Krueger
Movement: +59
Analyst’s take: “Adams is a rangy and subtle target on the outside that has no trouble getting open. He is an explosive route runner but is sneaky fast and creates a lot of separation. Adams has a knack for making tough catches and usually comes down with the jump balls. North Carolina leads Clemson for his commitment, which will come later this month.” - Friedman
Movement: +83
Analyst’s take: “Reese is a safety who can lay the wood and run the alley or he is an athletic linebacker who can cover. He has a great frame, he plays aggressive and he is always looking for contact. Reese has been committed to Michigan almost a year, but Florida, Georgia and LSU are schools he still has interest in.” – Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst Chad Simmons
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Ford's recruitment took off this winter and he made a quick decision to commit to Arkansas. Although he resides in the lightly-recruited southern Illinois area, college programs quickly found Ford due to his outstanding combination of size, athleticism and ball skills. His junior film was very good, but getting to see Ford against top competition this spring showed his ability was four-star caliber.” - Helmholdt
Movement: +65
Analyst’s take: “There hasn’t been a running back as good as Salahuddin from Washington D.C. in a long time. He has great size, agility, explosiveness and elusiveness. Defenders have a very hard time getting a hand on him in the open field and he has the toughness to pound the ball up the middle. USC, Maryland, North Carolina and Clemson are just some of his top contenders.” - Friedman
Movement: +43
Analyst’s take: “Stills has always been an active and explosive defensive lineman, but he has really developed from a technical standpoint. He’s gotten stronger and his pass rushing moves have become much crisper. West Virginia, Oklahoma and Florida have been doing a great job recruiting Stills so far.” - Friedman
Movement: +31
Analyst’s take: Copeland impressed at the New Orleans stop of the Rivals 3 Stripe camp series. He was in the running for MVP honors until the end. Copeland hold a number of offers from major conference schools. – Rob Cassidy, Rivals.com Florida Recruiting Analyst
Movement: +37
Analyst’s take: “Chase has made his move up the rankings as he has added some more speed to his already impressive game. He has consistent hands and is a great route runner and that, combined with his improved quickness, helped him make a move up. LSU, Kansas, Florida State and others are in the mix to land his commitment.” - Woody Wommack, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “We rated Tatum before he had earned his first offer because we had seen enough to know he was Power Five caliber. This spring, Tatum showed us that he was progressing faster than even we had projected and earned a bump into the Rivals250. The Oklahoma native is committed to Texas.” - Helmholdt
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “The Columbus Rivals 3 Stripe Camp was deep at the defensive back position, but Brents established himself as the alpha dog early on en route to MVP honors. Brents is able to utilize his height and length without suffering from the stiffness that tends to plague taller cornerbacks. He lists a top five of Cincinnati, Iowa, Indiana, Louisville and Vanderbilt.” - Helmholdt
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Martinez had impressive junior film, had a strong showing at the Under Armour Future 50 and has been great whenever we’ve seen him, so a bump was deserved especially after comparing him to other quarterbacks in this class. He’s committed to Tennessee.” – Adam Gorney, Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “If you have attended a 7-on-7 that Jackson has competed at this spring, then you likely left talking about how impressive he was. He has been a star the last few months showcasing his strong hands, his quickness and his ability to make plays in space. He is great after the catch. No favorites yet for Jackson, but Auburn, Georgia and Ohio State are three schools he definitely has his eye on.” - Simmons
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Faalele, who is yet to play in an actual game, is ranked on potential. He looked to be on a solid trajectory toward reaching that potential during his spring game. Faalele holds major national offers despite being new to football.” - Cassidy
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Chatman is getting looked at as a wide receiver and a defensive back. He is fantastically athletic and has a very high ceiling on both sides of the ball. Chatman, a big Maryland and Virginia Tech target, has been working as a wide receiver for most of his high school career because could have a brighter future as a cornerback or safety.” - Friedman
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Corbin is a big-framed back that does a lot of different things well. He can be effective on sweeps and will bring versatility to FSU's recruiting class.” - Cassidy
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Horn has been locking wide receivers down since he moved to Georgia over a year ago. He has the body of a safety, he is strong at cornerback and he does not shy away from competition. He has good instincts, he is physical and his ball skills are a strength. Alabama had the lead early in the spring, but as we head into the summer, South Carolina has taken over at the top.” - Simmons
Movement: +77
Analyst’s take: “I’m not sure where Williams plays at the next level – whether it’s receiver, safety or linebacker – but with his length and athleticism he could be something special. Williams is great on offense where he can stretch the field and make tough catches and his future is probably there. USC, UCLA, Alabama, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon and many others are involved.” - Gorney
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Tindall is a physically impressive linebacker prospect who can cover quite a bit of ground in space as well. His ability to move at his size makes him highly coveted by college staffs and also helped him make a move up the ranks. Auburn, Georgia and South Carolina are among the schools in the mix for Tindall.” – Wommack
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Dean is getting better and better. He has great length, he covers a lot of ground and at one time he looked to be a lock at safety, but he has really improved in coverage. His footwork has improved, he is quicker and he is playing with more confidence on the back-end of the defense. Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina are three schools high on Dean's list. He is likely to make a decision in June.” - Simmons
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Craig was phenomenal at a recent camp and is starting to emerge as one of the top offensive linemen in the West. He has excellent feet, he’s powerful and Craig is technically sound, so as he continues to develop physically, he could become an outstanding prospect down the line. Many Pac-12 programs are in the mix, including Oregon, UCLA, Utah and others.” - Gorney
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Sherwood has incredible size. He has maintained enough quickness to remain at safety despite some fears of him growing into a linebacker. Miami and Florida seem like the most likely landing spots for Sherwood.” - Cassidy
Movement: +37
Analyst’s take: “Already a member of the Rivals250, O'Rourke moves slightly higher in this ranking after we had a chance to see his progression this spring. The Northwestern commit has a great frame for the defensive end position and his height allows him to negate offensive tackle's leverage advantages. He combines that with good speed and he's improving at the point of attack.” - Helmholdt
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Shough had a strong showing at the Rivals 3 Stripe Camp in Los Angeles and with his size, physical skills and arm strength, he could become one of the top quarterbacks in the West. Michigan, South Carolina and many other national programs are involved. It’s surprising to see Pac-12 teams taking this long to get in the mix.” - Gorney
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Rangy, athletic and long, Addison is a phenomenal playmaker on the back end who is proving to be one of the better safety prospects in the West. He still needs to add weight and prove he can provide that knockout punch from his safety position, but Addison gets his hands on lots of passes and with his length he makes it tough for any receiver across the middle. USC, UCLA, Nebraska and Oregon stand out.” - Gorney
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Cunningham took off late last season and he has only gotten better this spring. He is likely a nose guard on the next level, but with his quickness, defensive tackle is not out of the equation. He is dominant up front with strength, owning his area and winning the head-to-head battles in the trenches. All signs point to Alabama with Cunningham, but he lists Georgia and Ole Miss as well.” - Simmons
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Pitts has been putting in his time over the last year and earned a lot of respect this spring. A new four-star and member of the Rivals250, Pitts has phenomenal hands and knows how to get open down the field. Florida, Virginia Tech and Tennessee all have the inside track with Pitts.” - Friedman
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “The South Carolina commit continues to add weight to his 6-foot-5 frame without losing any of the athleticism that makes him an elite prospect. Iyama's footwork and technique have also improved, helping him make a move into the Rivals250.” - Wommack
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “The defensive scheme could play a role in where Miller plays. He is quick enough and strong enough to play the five-technique on the outside, but he could be dominant inside at the three-technique too. He is very strong at the point of attack and he has good agility. Being a top prospect in Alabama, it is likely to be an in-state battle in the end, but Florida, Georgia and few others are hanging around.” - Simmons
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Harris is such an athletic linebacker. He has great football speed, he is a big hitter and he can play inside or outside on the next level. He is good in space and he can come down hill inside the box. Ohio State is in front by a large margin with Auburn and Georgia next on his list. He visits Ohio State in June and a decision while in Columbus is possible.” - Simmons
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Fitzpatrick is known for his great inline blocking to the offense he plays in, but he has showcased his hands, his ability to run routes and his fight for the ball on camps this spring. He has great size and his mobility surprises some. His ceiling is high at tight end. There is a long list of schools in the running, with Alabama and Georgia and getting summer visits.” - Simmons
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Oweh is a truly gifted prospect but has limited knowledge when it comes to technique. His combination of size, explosiveness, and aggressive attitude make him a very valuable player that could have a long career. Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and Harvard have the best chances of landing his commitment.” - Friedman
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Walker is an athletic linebacker who projects as a stand-up linebacker on the next level. He is a true edge rusher, but he is strong against the run as well. He chases the ball, he plays hard and he is likely going to end up playing in the 240-245 pound range. Alabama holds the lead and Auburn is likely the No. 2 school for Walker.” - Simmons
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Smith is a competitor. He looks for any place to compete and he always wants to go against the best. He has good length, he has great awareness in coverage and Smith has shown the ability to play on and off coverage. Smith is committed to Georgia.” - Simmons
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “The LSU commit had a great camp season showing off an improved physique to go with his already impressive skill set as a linebacker. Clark can cover a lot of ground in pass coverage but he's also a great tackler, a, pair of skills that will serve him very well at the next level.” - Wommack
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “I loved Angilau at the Under Armour camp in Los Angeles and his tape proves he’s a two-way standout lineman with a huge mean streak. Angilau was awesome at defensive tackle during the camp where I saw him and he’s also being recruited as an offensive tackle. He’s tough, hard-nosed and huge – which helps. Alabama, Texas, USC, UCLA, Utah, Washington and many others are involved. He’s not narrowed his list yet.” - Gorney
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Takacs was uncoverable at the Miami stop of the Rivals 3 Stripe Camp Series. He's a rare blend of size and speed that will serve him well at the tight end spot. Takacs has major national offers and is strongly considering Florida, Georgia, Notre Dame and others.” - Cassidy
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Originally ranked as a defensive tackle, Vakalahi has proven this offseason to be one of the best interior offensive linemen in the West. He’s powerful and plays with a mean streak, moves his feet well and has dominated at some recent camps. Washington is the frontrunner but Utah and others are involved, too.” - Gorney
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Vann is so quick. He is in and out of his cuts in a blink of an eye and he is tough to stay with. He is likely a slot receiver on the next level, but he could be used in multiple ways. He has large hands and he is about as reliable as they come when the ball is thrown his way. Georgia and South Carolina are the top two schools for Vann with Michigan, Oklahoma and a few others in the picture.” - Simmons
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Perkins has been on the cusp of four-star status since the first rankings of the 2018 class, and he gets the bump in this update after showing good progression this off-season. A versatile defensive lineman who could play inside or outside, Perkins features both size and athleticism. He recently released a top 12 that featured Georgia, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and USC, among others.” - Helmholdt
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “At the beginning of the year St. Julien was a sleeper with no stars and no offers, but his fortunes have changed dramatically this offseason. Several programs have entered the mix for his recruitment, including Georgia and Ole Miss, and he's shown in a camp setting that he's not only capable of running the ball effectively but he's also dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield.” - Wommack
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Enis remains the top-rated prospect in Arizona and for good reason. The outside receiver can stretch the field with his speed or overpower smaller cornerbacks on shorter routes. The four-star can go up high for jump balls and he wins a lot of 50/50 balls as well. His father, Curtis, played at Penn State, so the Nittany Lions, Arizona State and a bunch of others remain on his list.” - Gorney
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Basketball was Earlington’s first love, but playing defensive end in college could really take him far. He has strong hands and has very effective inside and outside moves. There is a lot to like about having his athleticism on the edge of the defensive line. Penn State, Duke, North Carolina, Georgia and Rutgers are some of the schools that Earlington has taken a liking to.” - Friedman
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: Ericson is a nasty offensive lineman. He is very physical, he loves to finish his blocks, and while he is a good tackle in high school, he could be a top guard on the next level. He is able to pull, he plays with power and once he locks his hands in, it is over. Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina are Ericson's top three schools and a decision could come this summer.” - Simmons