Five-Star Challenge: Stars of 2012

With the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge Presented by Under Armour coming up this weekend, it reminds us of the first big event we put on back in Atlanta in 2012. Not only are there the great memories of beginning an amazing tradition unlike any other, but many of the alumni from that event have gone onto amazing college success and are clearly on the NFL radar. Who has shined the brightest to this point? Who has the best chance at future stardom? Here is a look at the top 20 players from the 2012 event who are already college stars.

Best of 2012

1. S Quin Blanding - Virginia Beach (Va.) Bayside - Virginia

Blanding was a five-star in the class of 2014, the No. 5 recruit nationally and the No. 1 safety nationally.

Participating as an underclassman at the 2012 Five-Star Challenge, Blanding impressed everyone in attendance. He finished the event as one of the top defensive backs in attendance, if not one of the top overall players. Great things were expected from him at Virginia and he has more than met those expectations.

Blanding had a remarkable 2014 season, finishing with three interceptions and 123 tackles, which placed him second in the ACC and 12th nationally. The 123 tackles also set a freshman record at Virginia, which was previously held by Ahmad Brooks. As a reward for his efforts he was named the ACC Defensive Rookie of The Year and many project him to be a three-and-out talent.

Even more will be expected out of Blanding this coming fall with the departure of safety Anthony Harris to the NFL. Along with producing statistically, Blanding will be counted on to be a team leader from the secondary. He has done nothing but impress to this point and there is no reason to believe that he won't be able to continue to raise his game to higher levels.

2. WR Tyler Boyd - Clairton, Pa. - Pittsburgh

Boyd was a four-star in the class of 2013, the No. 103 recruit nationally and the No. 12 wide receiver nationally.

He used the 2012 Five-Star Challenge as a platform to prove himself to us and to people all across the country. After mainly playing quarterback/running back during his junior season, Boyd entered the event with a few question marks regarding his game as a wideout.

He left the event with all of those questions answered and firmly entrenched himself as one of the top receivers in the country in 2013.

At Pittsburgh, Boyd has continued to excel. After a freshman season that saw him finish with 85 receptions for 1,174 yards and seven touchdowns, Boyd continued to impress last fall with 78 receptions for 1,261 yards and eight touchdowns. Boyd's accomplishments in 2013 and 2014 made him the first player in ACC history to finish with more than 1,000 yards receiving during their freshman and sophomore seasons.

Look for another big season out of Boyd this fall as he prepares to make the move to the NFL as a three-and-out guy.

3. CB Jalen Ramsey - Nashville (Tenn.) Brentwood Academy - Florida State

Ramsey was a five-star in the class of 2013, the No. 10 recruit overall and the No. 3 cornerback nationally.

Walking away with the overall MVP at the 2012 Five-Star Challenge, Ramsey outshined everyone and cemented the fact that he would be a difference-maker at the next level, and he has done just that at Florida State.

Moving over to safety for the Seminoles, Ramsey has become one of the top players at the position in the country. After starting all 14 games as a freshman during Florida State's run to a national championship, Ramsey took his game to yet another level last fall.

He finished with 79 tackles, 12 pass breakups, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. His accomplishments on the field earned him numerous All-American honors.

An obvious early draft pick in 2016, he will look to impress scouts even further during the 2015 season.

4. CB Kendall Fuller - Olney (Md.) Good Counsel - Virginia Tech

Fuller was a five-star in the class of 2013, the No. 9 recruit overall and the No. 2 cornerback nationally.

He was one of a very strong group of defensive backs at the 2012 Five-Star Challenge and he proved himself to be among the best. While he was not tested often at the camp, when he was he rose to the challenge.

At Virginia Tech, where his brothers Vincent Fuller, Corey Fuller and Kyle Fuller had already put the family name in the spotlight, the youngest Fuller brother has continued the family dominance on the field.

Fuller won the ACC Freshman of the Year Award in 2013 after totaling 58 tackles and six interceptions, and picked up several postseason All-American honors after the 2014 season when he finished with 54 tackles, two interceptions, 15 pass breakups and two sacks.

With his performance over the past two seasons in Blacksburg, Fuller is currently seen as one of the top available cornerbacks in the 2016 NFL Draft.

5. QB Christian Hackenberg - Fork Union (Va.) Fork Union Military Academy - Penn State

Hackenberg was a five-star in the class of 2013, the No. 24 recruit overall and the No. 2 pro-style quarterback nationally.

At the 2012 Five-Star Challenge, Hackenberg showed the skills and poise that have positioned him to be one of the top available quarterbacks at next year's NFL Draft. He efficiently led his team to the 7-on-7 title at the camp and proved to be a leader.

At Penn State, after breaking several freshman passing records, with 2,955 yards and 20 touchdowns, he statistically regressed last fall.

Some of that can be contributed to a weak offensive line, but no matter the reason, more will be expected out of him in 2015.

While some people are looking for more consistency out of him in Happy Valley, the natural abilities are all already there.

6. LB Jaylon Smith - Fort Wayne (Ind.) Bishop Luers - Notre Dame

Smith was a five-star in the class of 2013, the No. 3 recruit overall and the No. 1 outside linebacker nationally. Usually camp settings are not made for linebackers to excel, but Smith did exactly that in 2012. He proved his athleticism during drills and then tormented running backs, tight ends and quarterbacks with his coverage skills during the 7-on-7s.

At Notre Dame, Smith has started all 26 games that he has been on campus. As a freshman, he finished with 67 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and an interception.

Then as a sophomore he totaled 112 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and an interception.

Earning several postseason honors and being a finalist for the Butkus Award after his sophomore season has brought about a great deal of expectations for Smith this fall.

7. WR Laquon Treadwell - Crete (Ill.) Crete Monee - Ole Miss

Treadwell was a five-star in the Class of 2013, the No. 5 recruit overall and the No. 1 wide receiver nationally.

Several of the bigger wide receivers at the 2012 Five-Star Challenge experienced some difficulties; however Treadwell was not one of these. He came in with lofty expectations and met all of them. This has carried over to his play at Ole Miss.

As a true freshman Treadwell totaled 72 receptions for 608 yards and five touchdowns. He was having another impressive season last fall, with 48 receptions for 632 yards and five touchdowns, when a horrific injury that resulted in a broken fibula and dislocated ankle ended it prematurely in the ninth game against Auburn.

Treadwell's recovery seems to be going very well at this time, but you can be sure that all eyes will be on him this fall to see how quickly it takes him to get back to 100-percent.

8. ATH Jalin Marshall - Middletown, Ohio - Ohio State

Marshall was a four-star in the class of 2013, the No. 35 recruit overall and the No. 1 athlete nationally.

After mainly playing quarterback at Middletown, Marshall arrived at the 2012 Five-Star Challenge with something to prove. Mostly lining up as a slot receiver during the 7-on-7's, his quickness, explosiveness, route-running and hands made him tough to check by even the most elite defensive backs.

At Ohio State, Marshall redshirted during the 2013 season, but quickly made an impact last season. Finishing with 38 receptions for 499 yards and six touchdowns, Marshall developed into one of the more exciting offensive players in the Buckeyes' potent offense. Now with Devin Smith making his way to the NFL, Marshall will likely take on an even bigger role in the Ohio State offense this fall.

Look for Marshall to be used in a similar fashion as Percy Harvin was used at Florida, as coach Urban Meyer will look to utilize his exceptional athleticism in open space.

9. LB Raekwon McMillan - Hinesville (Ga.) Liberty County - Ohio State

McMillan was a five-star in the class of 2014, the No. 19 recruit overall and the No. 1 inside linebacker nationally.

For a big linebacker, McMillan more than held his own at the 2012 Five-Star Challenge as an underclassman. He moved very well in space and also managed to use his size to jam most running backs.

While McMillan arrived at Ohio State with a great deal of hype, I'm not sure too many people expected him to be as productive as he was as a true freshman. Finishing with 54 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception, which he returned for a touchdown, McMillan became an important part of the Ohio State defense.

He will become even more important this fall when he likely becomes the full-time starting middle linebacker after the graduation of Curtis Grant.

Considering McMillan outplayed Grant during portions of last season, Ohio State fans should be very excited with what they will likely see in 2015.

10. RB Leonard Fournette - New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine - LSU

Fournette was a five-star in the class of 2014, the No. 4 recruit overall and the No. 1 running back nationally.

Fournette actually attended both the 2012 and 2013 Five-Star Challenges and showed nice progress from year one to two. Back in 2012, he excelled during the drills and showed nice hands and acceleration during the 7-on-7 portion of the camp. He blossomed the following year and showed that improvement and much more as a true freshman at LSU last fall.

After struggling for the first few weeks, Fournette quickly hit his stride by the end of September. Rushing for 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns on 187 carries, he gave a glimpse of what he is capable of at LSU and beyond.

While he prematurely gave the Heisman pose during his first game last fall, it is not out of the question to think that he may actually compete for the trophy this coming season.

11. WR Marquez North - Charlotte (NC) Mallard Creek - Tennessee

North was a four-star in the class of 2013, the No. 37 recruit overall and the No. 2 wide receiver nationally.

North's performance at the 2012 Five-Star Challenge produced a mixed bag of results. After dominating during the first day, he had his problems with Jalen Ramsey on the second day and then had to bow out because of a concussion.

At Tennessee, North has been a starter since he set foot on campus. During his freshman season he finished with 38 receptions for 496 yards and one touchdown.

He followed that up with 30 receptions for 320 yards and four touchdowns during his sophomore season.

The potential is there for North to have a breakout season this fall, especially with Joshua Dobbs now firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback for the Vols.

12. WR Demarcus Robinson - Fort Valley (Ga.) Peach County - Florida

Robinson was a four-star in the class of 2013, the No. 52 recruit overall and the No. 5 wide receiver nationally.

Robinson impressed in 2012, proving to be one of the smoothest receivers at the event as a late addition to the roster. He was also equally effective going over the middle or stretching the field.

After seeing minimal playing time as a true freshman, Robinson exploded onto the scene last fall with 53 receptions for 810 yards and seven touchdowns.

This is even more impressive considering Florida's lackluster play at quarterback in 2014. The highlight of his season was when he tied a 45-year-old school record with 15 receptions in an overtime victory over Kentucky.

Robinson returns as the unquestioned top receiver for the Gators, so it will be interesting to see if he is able to improve his game further this fall while being a priority of opposing defenses.

13. CB Jalen Tabor - Washington (DC) Friendship Collegiate Academy - Florida

Tabor was a five-star in the class of 2014, the No. 10 recruit overall and the No. 3 cornerback nationally.

Tabor is another two-time participant at the Five-Star Challenge, making his first appearance in 2012 as an underclassman.

Even back then, Tabor possessed the confidence and athletic ability to make him a top-level cornerback.

As a true freshman at Florida, Tabor played in all 12 games and started five times at cornerback. He ended up leading all freshmen Gators with 31 total tackles on the season, plus he chipped in with an interception, eight pass breakups, four tackles for a loss and two sacks.

Because of his athleticism, length and instincts, Tabor is a matchup nightmare for most wide receivers. As long as he continues to develop his game, he should be a name to remember for the 2017 NFL Draft.

14. DE Malik McDowell - Southfield, Mich. - Michigan State

McDowell was a five-star in the class of 2014, the No. 26 recruit overall and the No. 2 strongside defensive end nationally.

At the 2012 Five-Star Challenge, McDowell was one of the more physically imposing players in attendance, despite being a year younger than most. During drills and 1-on-1s he showed great potential, but lacked consistency.

He has definitely found that consistency at Michigan State. In his first season with the Spartans, he played in all 13 games at defensive tackle and was named to several postseason Freshman All-American teams. He finished with 15 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. These stats are not jaw-dropping, but he showed flashes of brilliance for a true freshman defensive tackle.

As he continues to mature, strengthen and develop his game, he has the potential to be special.

15. CB Eli Apple -- Voorhees (N.J.) Eastern - Ohio State

Apple was a four-star in the class of 2013, the No. 89 recruit overall and the No. 8 cornerback nationally.

While Apple did not have a bad performance at the 2012 Five-Star Challenge, he was simply outshined by other cornerbacks such as Jalen Ramsey, Kendall Fuller and Jalen Tabor.

At Ohio State, after redshirting during his freshman season, there were still questions surrounding Apple as the 2014 season began. None of these questions are still lingering, as he became a starter for the Buckeyes and finished the season with 53 tackles, seven pass breakups and three interceptions.

Now the unquestioned veteran of the cornerback group, Apple looks ready to step up as a team leader while also taking his game to the next level.

16. OT Kent Perkins - Dallas (Texas) Lake Highlands - Texas

Perkins was a four-star in the class of 2013, the No. 41 recruit overall and the No. 3 offensive tackle nationally.

At the 2012 Five-Star Challenge, Perkins was not as polished as some of the other offensive linemen, but physically he looked the most college ready.

Perkins used his physicality to earn immediate playing time as a true freshman with the Longhorns, playing in six games and starting one. Last season, Perkins proved to be a huge piece of the Texas offensive line puzzle. He started all 13 games, with 10 coming at right guard and three at right tackle.

Coming into the 2015 season he will be the starting right guard, and while it is unlikely that he would leave early for the NFL at this point, scouts are already well aware of his potential.

17. LB Deon Hollins Jr. - Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall - UCLA

Hollins was a four-star in the class of 2013, the No. 206 recruit overall and the No. 18 outside linebacker nationally.

At the 2012 Five-Star Challenge, Hollins was one of the surprise performers, proving that despite his impressive size he was still able to stick with most of the tight ends and running backs in coverage.

Hollins played as a true freshman at UCLA, but in a reserve role and on special teams. This made his 2014 performance even more surprising to some. He played in all 13 games, while starting 12. His nine sacks led the team, plus he was third with 10 tackles for loss.

He left his best performance of the season for the bowl victory over Kansas State when he finished with three sacks.

Now he is in position to become the next big UCLA star at linebacker, following Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks and Myles Jacks, who he will team up with this fall to form a very formidable duo.

18. RB Justin Davis - Stockton (Calif.) Lincoln - USC

Davis was a four-star in the class of 2013, the No. 62 recruit overall and the No. 9 running back nationally.

At the 2012 Five-Star Challenge, Davis had his good moments and his bad moments. He showcased great athleticism, feet and quickness, but had difficulty in the passing game. That difficulty proved to be an anomaly as he has already become a dual-threat for the Trojans coming out of the backfield.

As a true freshman, Davis immediately slipped into the backup role at USC, finishing with 361 yards and six touchdowns on 53 carries, before an ankle injury cut his season short after seven games.

He continued to flourish last fall, playing in all 13 games and rushing for 595 yards and four touchdowns on 129 carries. Davis was also showcased in the passing game with 13 receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

19. DE Torrodney Prevot - Houston (Texas) Alief Taylor - Oregon

Prevot was a four-star in the class of 2013, the No. 163 recruit overall and the No. 7 weakside defensive end nationally.

Prevot came into the 2012 Five-Star Challenge undersized for the defensive end position, which resulted in him having some difficulties. At that point it looked like a move to linebacker would be advantageous to him in college and that is exactly what happened at Oregon.

As a true freshman Prevot definitely showed some signs of stardom for the Ducks, but it wasn't until last fall when he truly found his niche.

Being used as more of a pass-rushing specialist off the edge, Prevot finished the season with 30 tackles and five sacks.

Prevot has a chance to take on a bigger role with the Ducks this fall, but we will have to wait to see if grabs the opportunity in front of him.

20. LB Josh Banderas - Lincoln (Neb.) Southwest - Nebraska

Banderas was a four-star in the class of 2013, the No. 182 recruit overall and the No. 14 outside linebacker nationally.

Playing his high school football in Nebraska, Banderas arrived at the 2012 Five-Star Challenge looking to prove himself to everyone. He definitely accomplished that, as he was another large linebacker who managed to stick with most of the tight ends and running backs during 1-on-1 drills.

He also showcased a great frame that he has been able to fill out at Nebraska.

With the Cornhuskers, as a true freshman he played in all 13 games and started four. He finished with 28 tackles and two sacks. Last season, Banderas played in 12 games with six starts. He finished the season on a personal high note, with a career-high 14 tackles against USC in the Holiday Bowl.

Banderas will look to carry over this impressive finish into the 2015 season, where he will likely be the starting middle linebacker for the Cornhuskers.

Click Here to view this Link.