Class of 2019 state rankings: Top storylines

The class of 2019 is officially on the clock and the more the analysts at Rivals.com have a chance to see players perform, the more the rankings come into focus. But it’s not just about ranking the top 250 players in the country. This week’s rankings update also saw major changes to rankings at the state level.

Today we take a look at some notable storylines and trends in the new state rankings updates, as well as reveal the new lists for each state.

CLASS OF 2019 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position | Team

High school football in the state of Texas is known for having dynamic pass-heavy offenses and the state often produces top quarterbacks and wide receivers. The top two spots in the Lone Star State are held by five-star wide receivers Theo Wease and Arjei Henderson. The pair, along with Jordan Whittington (No. 4), Jalen Curry (No. 7), Marquez Beason (No. 11) and Trejan Bridges (No. 12), have a chance to be special pass catchers on the next level.

Assuming one of the wide receivers holds onto the top spot, it would be the first time in the Rivals.com era that a wide receiver finished in the top stop in the Lone Star State. The state of Texas also already boasts more five-stars (three) in 2019 than the 2018 class (two) finished with last month.

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It typically takes a little longer for stars to emerge on the West Coast but this year’s crop of talent at the top of the California state rankings already has quite the impressive resume. The Golden State has three five-star prospects, highlighted by defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux. The state would have had four five-stars, if it weren’t for five-star quarterback J.T. Daniels electing to reclassify into the 2018 class in time to sign with USC earlier this month.

Without Daniels in the fold, the top-ranked quarterback in the state, Jayden Daniels, sits at No. 17 overall. If he holds that position or another quarterback doesn’t move up, it will be the first time since 2010 that a quarterback hasn’t ranked in the state’s top 15. That year, the highest-ranked quarterback was the state’s No. 18 player, Stanford signee Brett Nottingham.

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Five of the top 10 prospects in the Georgia state rankings have already made verbal commitments, including the state’s No. 1 (WR Jadon Haselwood, Georgia) and No. 2 (DE Christopher Hinton, Michigan) players.

Currently Georgia holds commitments from three of the state’s top nine players and six of the state’s top 50. Michigan holds two commitments (No. 2, No. 36) as does Clemson (No. 18, No. 62). The Wolverines and Tigers are currently ahead of Georgia Tech in the state, with the Jackets' lone commitment in the top 100 being No. 84, safety Jeremiah Smith.

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The state of Florida already has 51 players ranked as four-stars or higher, led by No. 1 overall player Trey Sanders. While the number might seem large, it’s become common place for the Sunshine State to produce an incredible amount of elite talent, with the addition of IMG Academy and out-of-state transfers only adding to the large numbers.

In 2018, there were 73 players ranked as four-stars or higher in the final state rankings, an all-time high. If things continue at their current trajectory it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the state beat the record high for four-stars in a year set last year.

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The state of Ohio rankings are highlighted by five-star defensive end Zach Harrison. Assuming Harrison holds onto the top spot, it would be the first time since 2015 that an offensive lineman wasn’t the No. 1 player in the Buckeye State and it would also mark the first time since 2007, when Tennessee signee Ben Martin was No. 1, that the top player in the state was a defensive lineman.

Fans worried about Ohio’s standing as a producer of top-flight offensive linemen need not worry, though, as four of the state’s top 12 players are offensive guards. The group is highlighted by the No. 3 player, Michigan commit Nolan Rumler.

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The state of Arkansas isn’t known for having a deep pool of Power Five talent on a yearly basis but this year the top of the state rankings features four four-star players. The group is headlined by four-star wide receiver Treylon Burks.

The state already has double the amount of four-stars that the 2018 class had and if the current numbers hold it would be the most four-stars the state has had since 2015, when there were five four-star players. That year, the Arkansas coaching staff was able to keep four of the five players in state, with the lone holdout being Ohio State signee K.J. Hill.

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