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Published Jun 4, 2016
Five-Star Challenge: Players with something to prove
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Adam Gorney  •  Rivals.com
National Recruiting Director
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@adamgorney

The Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge Presented by Under Armour is only days away. Here are 10 players expected in attendance who have something to prove, whether it’s moving up in the rankings or confirming their top spot. The Georgia Dome will be the site for them to grasp their opportunity.

DE Owen Carney

Carney might be one of the lesser-known prospects coming to the event in terms of national prestige, but he has the talent to compete and will get his opportunities to show it. The Miami Central standout has been offered by the Hurricanes but the other top-flight Florida schools are still waiting, as are many SEC and ACC teams. With a big performance in Atlanta, Carney could land many more offers and shoot up the rankings. He’s going to face stiff competition among offensive linemen, though.

OL Obinna Eze

After moving from Nigeria, the Nashville Davidson Academy prospect was forced to play junior varsity football last season because of Tennessee transfer rules. So the question remains whether Eze has tremendous amounts of untapped talent or if there are still serious issues about his development heading to his senior season. Eze is 6-foot-8 and 283 pounds so size is not a problem. One way or another, Eze will find out exactly where he stands at the Five-Star Challenge.

DB B.J. Foster

Foster is an elite talent on offense and defense for his Angleton, Texas team, and there is a good possibility that he is the 2018 version of Jeffrey Okudah. That is tremendously high praise since Okudah is a five-star prospect and the top-rated safety in the 2017 class. Both Okudah and Foster will be competing at the Five-Star Challenge, probably in many of the same drills together, so we’ll get a great look to see if the comparison holds up.

QB Davis Mills

The Five-Star Challenge will be Mills’ opportunity to enter into the argument as the top pro-style quarterback in the class. The Stanford commit currently sits at a respectable second behind Clemson pledge Hunter Johnson, who will also be competing inside the Georgia Dome. Mills hasn’t been on the circuit for as long or done as many national events as many of the other top-rated quarterbacks, but he might be just as good - or better. Johnson is fantastic, though, so Mills will have to bring his ‘A’ game.

DE Micah Parsons

Parsons is a 2018 prospect and one step away from being ranked a five-star, so this could be the Penn State commit’s opportunity to reach that most elite level. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound prospect is fierce and relentless coming off the edge, but Parsons will be dealing with some of the best offensive tackles in the country who have seemingly unlimited amounts of power. This will be a test for him, but if he comes through it with shining colors that could only mean good things for the future.

LB Avery Roberts

In a moment of questionable Tweeting, Roberts said this past week that if LSU running back Leonard Fournette came around the corner against him, he would put him to sleep just like anyone else. Roberts later deleted the tweet. This is offseason ball so playing in pads won’t be possible, but the four-star Nebraska commit will have an opportunity to show his physical play and his cover abilities against some of the nation’s best. It won’t be a snoozer either way.

QB Chris Robison

The Oklahoma commit was solid at last year’s Five-Star Challenge in Baltimore and looked especially good during the 7-on-7 session. A few months ago, Robison backed up that performance by looking great at the Dallas Rivals Camp. In Atlanta, the four-star will have an opportunity to prove he’s one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. He’s one of the top players at that position already, but if Robison delivers again there’s no telling where his ranking could go.

WR James Robinson

This could be Robinson’s chance to prove he’s right at the top of the list among Florida receivers, which would put him right there with others across the country. The five-star prospect from Lakeland, Fla. is already ranked as the third-best receiver in the country, but he’s behind Trevon Grimes from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas and Donovan Peoples-Jones out of Detroit Cass Tech. Luckily for Robinson, both of those receivers will be in Atlanta so he can test himself in head-to-head action.

DB Jacoby Stevens

Stevens is a great-looking safety who has a terrific offer list that he recently trimmed down to LSU, Florida State, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Clemson. He looked the part in terrible conditions at the Columbus camp, but the competition level is going to be worlds better in Atlanta. Can Tennessee’s top-rated prospect rise to the occasion?

WR Bryan Thompson

Thompson is one of the best-looking receivers in the West, and he’s had some outstanding performances on the 7-on-7 and camp circuits so far this offseason. The four-star has quickly landed a bunch of offers, but some major Pac-12 teams and other national elites are still holding back. Fast and athletic with great hands, Thompson will have an opportunity to separate himself in Atlanta but he’s going to be challenged like never before.

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