Class of 2019 Rivals100 update: Five-stars jump up the board
RELATED: Rivals100 update for class of 2018
The second numerical Rivals100 is out for the class of 2019 and with that comes the addition of numerous five-stars with the conclusion of their junior football season. Here is a look at the changes near the top, as well as the six new five-star prospects.
California quarterback JT Daniels remains the top-rated prospect in the country and could be hard to unseat in the 2019 class with his production and upside. However, North Carolina athlete and new five-star Quavaris Crouch jumped 13 spots to No. 2 and is a freaky specimen. New five-star Darnell Wright, from West Virginia, also made a jump up 12 spots to No. 5, while Virginia running back Devyn Ford jumped double digits, as well, to No. 10. Beyond that, there wasn’t much shuffling in the national Top 10.
The number of five-stars in the 2019 class increased by six and now stands at 14 overall, with the additions of Crouch, Wright, Ford, Louisiana cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., Florida running back Trey Sanders and Ohio defensive end Zach Harrison.
Our regional analysts take a look at each new five-star in depth ...
“Crouch is a throwback football player who plays anywhere and does anything to help his team win. His primary position is running back and that's what he'd like to play in college. Crouch is tough between the tackles with good vision and the ability to break two or three tackles on a single play and still take the ball the distance. He also has the measureables and skills to be a successful defensive end or linebacker in college. At defensive end this season Crouch has shown the ability to quickly get around the edge and be a constant disruption in the backfield while holding up at the point of attack when teams try to run at him. His offer sheet is pretty long, but schools like Michigan, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, N.C. State and a few others are in good position with Crouch.” – Adam Friedman, Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst
“Already the highest rated player from West Virginia in the Rivals era, Wright has the physical tools and skill-set that college coaches are dying for from their offensive tackles. The aggressiveness, coachability and knack for being able to adjust on the fly are all there, and Wright's pass-blocking technique - one of the hardest things for high school prospects to develop - is is already very advanced. What pushed Wright to five-star status was the improved athleticism he displayed this year. He's been playing defensive end this year, as well and we get a much better idea of the athlete Wright is by seeing him move more in space, knock down passes at the line of scrimmage and pick up and run with fumble recoveries. Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Alabama and few others have already made big impressions on this impressive prospect.” - Adam Friedman, Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst
“Ford is the complete package at running back. Just shy of 6-feet tall, he has the size and strength to make tough runs between the tackles, but also has the speed to get to the edge of the defense on runs to the outside. Ford's vision and cutback abilities have improved dramatically this season and, as a result, he has been breaking more tackles as well. He also affects the game as a receiver out of the backfield and as a return man on kickoffs and punts. Ford is taking a hard look at Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Clemson and North Carolina, among others.” - Adam Friedman, Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst
“Stingley has everything you look for in an elite cornerback: size, speed, playmaking ability, not to mention a family history of elite football players. The one-time LSU commitment had a huge junior season, recording double-digit interceptions. The Tigers continue to be a factor in his recruitment, but Stanford and Alabama are among the other schools to watch.” – Woody Wommack, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst
“Sanders in a long-time Alabama commit, but is likely to take visits to a number of schools in the year ahead. Sanders was one of the stars of what is probably America’s most talented high school team, and looked downright dominant against top-flight competition. He’s a rare blend of speed and power.” – Rob Cassidy, Rivals.com Florida Recruiting Analyst
“The combination of raw physical tools that Harrison brings to the table are rarely seen. He is still learning how to turn those tools into being a great football player, but there is nothing that is holding him back from reaching his potential. The work ethic is there, the coachability is there and all that is needed is some time. Harrison will be tough to pull from the hometown Ohio State Buckeyes, but schools like Penn State, Michigan and Notre Dame are giving it a try.” – Josh Helmholdt, Rivals.com Midwest Recruiting Analyst