Five-Star Challenge: Ten programs that should be watching closely

All eyes will be on the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge Presented by Under Armour later this week at the Georgia Dome. There are many programs that should pay attention with all the top talent that will be in attendance. Here are 10 that might be watching extra closely.

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The Buckeyes already have the top recruiting class nationally and they’re the only team with two five-star commitments, but coach Urban Meyer has never been one to take his foot off the gas pedal. Many top prospects that will be in Atlanta this weekend are serious about Ohio State. Five-star Trevon Grimes, who narrowed his list to six this week, and four-star Tyjon Lindsey are two of the top targets at receiver. Top-rated safety Jeffrey Okudah, another five-star, is high on the Buckeyes as is Lamont Wade, a five-star and the best cornerback in the class. That’s just the start of the targets for Ohio State.

The national champs will be mentioned heavily by prospects from all across the country and many could have dominant performances during the event. Big surprise. Five-star commit Najee Harris has never been slowed down, but this should be the stiffest competition he’s seen yet. Four-star receivers Jerry Jeudy and Devonta Smith are high on Alabama’s wish list. Commits Alex Leatherwood and Vandarius Cowan will also be working out. New QB commit Mac Jones will be in attendance. Then there is No. 1 overall prospect Marvin Wilson. The Crimson Tide are in the running and Wilson is coming to Atlanta to back up his ranking.

The commitments alone are enough to pay attention to with four-star quarterback Lowell Narcisse, four-star offensive line Austin Deculus and five-star defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin all expected in Atlanta. Then there is former commit Dylan Moses, who’s still looking at the Tigers, as the five-star continues through the recruiting process. Wilson, the No. 1 overall player, is the big fish out of Houston (Texas) Episcopal. Alabama, LSU and others are still involved but there’s no way coach Les Miles and his staff are backing down from a talent like that. Four-star safety Todd Harris is another big LSU target who will be at the Five-Star Challenge along with Smith, four-star Grant Delpit and many others.

First-year coach Mark Richt and his staff have a lot of top targets coming to the Georgia Dome. Commit Navaughn Donaldson will be there. As for uncommitted players, the Hurricanes have defensive end Owen Carney, offensive lineman Kai-Leon Herbert, 2018 four-star defensive backs Al Blades and Asante Samuel and Grimes, the top-rated receiver who named Miami in his new top six. There are plenty of others, too, as Richt looks to rebuild The U into a national power.

Coach Charlie Strong is on the hot seat but if he could land some of Texas’ top targets who will be at the Five-Star Challenge, then the Longhorns could become a national powerhouse again. It starts with new five-star offensive tackle Walker Little and five-star linebacker Baron Browning, both in-state guys. Four-star offensive tackle Chuck Filiaga is moving from California to Texas this summer and he’s already visited the Longhorns. Moses would be huge for Texas if the Longhorns could swing it. Then there are a bunch of 2018 in-state studs like tight end Mustapha Muhammad, Anthony Cook and B.J. Foster who are on the radar.

When isn’t Michigan football in the news these days? That won’t change in Atlanta, where a bunch of top recruits will be in attendance and many of them are serious about the Wolverines now that coach Jim Harbaugh is in charge. Five-star Donovan Peoples-Jones is the top guy, but four-star Tarik Black is also coveted at receiver. Soft USC commit Stephen Carr loved his visit to Ann Arbor in the spring as did four-star offensive guard Brett Neilon. Four-star center Cesar Ruiz has the Wolverines on top and four-star linebacker Drew Singleton has Michigan in his top two. There are many others as well, so Michigan should be mentioned frequently throughout the weekend.

Carr will be in Atlanta looking for his fifth-star and after his outstanding spring, there’s a chance he could earn it. He’s the only Trojans’ pledge in attendance but many top prospects will be there, including the Los Angeles Hawkins duo of Joseph Lewis and Jalen Hall. They’re by no means locks to USC as some believe, but being from literally down the road doesn’t hurt. Neilon also has significant family connections to the Trojans and USC is recruiting more and more in the Southeast, so a bunch of recruits will be watched closely.

Four-star quarterback commit Chris Robison will be in Atlanta after an outstanding showing at the Rivals Camp Series in Dallas and the Sooners will also be well-represented in the secondary as well. Pledges Tre Brown and Trajan Bandy might be a tad undersized, but they’re bulldogs, tough as nails and ready to compete. Then there is Delpit and Cook, along with four-star linebacker Jacob Phillips, who might have Tennessee out in front but the Sooners are involved as well.

It’s looking good for first-year coach Kirby Smart if the prospects headed to the Five-Star Challenge live up to their hype. A bunch of commits, including four-star linebackers Jaden Hunter and Breon Dixon, will be participating at the Georgia Dome, along with a whole host of top targets. There is four-star running back D'Andre Swift and four-star wide receiver Mark Webb, both unstoppable at the Rivals Camp Series in New Jersey. Plenty of linebackers, too, with K.J. Britt, Will Ignont and Tyler Taylor expected. Athens is only about 90 minutes from Atlanta. Can Smart and his staff see that far?

Four-star quarterback Jake Allen is the only Florida commitment that will be at the Five-Star Challenge, but plenty of in-state talent will be there and many of them are serious about the Gators. Grimes has Florida among his favorites – top two almost certainly – and then 2018 wide receiver Brian Hightower is also serious about the Gators early on. Don’t forget another huge receiver target in five-star James Robinson. That’s just the start of a long list that is looking at Florida among many other schools especially in the Southeast.