Five-Star: Look back at 2014 stars

The annual Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge Presented By Under Armour gives prospects a fantastic opportunity to further prove themselves against top-level national competition. This could mean a substantial boost in their ranking or a major drop, so it's a risk-reward and for competitors only. With an important senior or junior season still ahead for a majority of the participants, plus national All-Star games after that, the rankings process is fluid and far from over for 2016 and 2017 prospects. Let's take a look at what happened to some player rankings after the 2014 Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge.

Three recruits earned their fifth star in the August ranking last year after a great summer and a strong Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge performance. And, more importantly, they maintained that lofty status. Offensive lineman Drew Richmond of Memphis (Tenn.) University School made the biggest jump of these three by making the leap from No. 40 to No. 27. Richmond proved to be very light on his feet for someone with his size, which led to his bump. Another dominant performance at the Under Armour All-America Game propelled Richmond even further up the charts as he finished at No. 12.

For athlete Ray Ray McCloud III of Tampa (Fla.) Sickles, he had already begun his ranking move prior to the Five-Star Challenge. Having already jumped from No. 105 to No. 26 prior to the event, McCloud then made the move to No. 18 after showcasing his versatility and explosiveness in Baltimore as well as elsewhere during the summer. McCloud finished off at No. 23 after impressing again at the Under Armour All-America Game.

The third recruit who made the move to five-star status was wide receiver Christian Kirk of Scottsdale (Ari.) Saguaro. Kirk actually only moved up one spot, from No. 30 to No. 29, but it was enough to make him a five-star. He solidified his status at the Under Armour All-America Game, when he proved to be one of the more dynamic all-around athletes in attendance. As a result, Kirk finished the class of 2015 recruiting cycle at No. 16.

One recruit who saw a substantial jump in the rankings after the camp last year in Baltimore was linebacker Chad Smith of Sterling (Va.) Dominion. Smith actually started his meteoric rise prior to the event, as he became a four-star and moved into the Rivals250 at No. 180 last May. At the Challenge, he outperformed several linebackers who came into the event ranked ahead of him and because of his impressive athleticism and frame, he made a huge move all the way to No. 33 during the ensuing ranking update. Smith carried that No. 33 ranking, which was just outside of five-star range, into his senior season. Since a majority of opposing teams schemed against Smith, which resulted in a lack of productivity and a lack of development in some areas, he saw a drop of 23 spots to No. 56. But once again he proved himself when placed against elite competition, as his work at the Army All-American Bowl moved him back to his final position of No. 48.

Another recruit who made a big move up the rankings after the 2014 Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge was tight end Chris Clark of Avon (Conn.) Avon Old Farms. As with Smith, Clark was gradually moving up the rankings heading into the camp, but after proving to be one of the most productive tight ends in Baltimore, Clark jumped from No. 146 to No. 56. However, Clark would rise no higher as an average and injury-marred senior season and unspectacular performance at the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game led to him sliding to No. 79 for his final ranking.

Similar to Clark in that respect was offensive lineman Richie Petitbon of Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga. Petitbon's move up was not as pronounced, since he was already a Rivals100 prospect coming into the Challenge, but his performance did see him jump from No. 57 to No. 35, which placed him just outside of five-star status. But Petitbon never took that next step. He did not play to the level of a five-star during his senior season, plus during the week leading up to the Under Armour All-America Game, he struggled against some of the top-level defensive linemen.

An example of a recruit who received a big bump after the 2014 Five-Star Challenge and was able to maintain that ranking until the end is linebacker Nick Connor of Dublin (Ohio) Scioto. Connor had already made a jump from No. 241 to No. 218 prior to the event, but his impressive performance catapulted him all the way to No. 120. Connor, who was a late replacement last year for Justin Hilliard at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge, made the most of his opportunity and actually went home as the linebacker MVP. Connor maintained his level of play through his senior season and then into the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl, finishing up as the No. 128 recruit nationally.

For wide receiver Trent Irwin of Newhall (Calif.) Hart, the 2014 Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge was the beginning of his steady move up the rankings. Irwin came into the event as a Rivals100 recruit at No. 89. In Baltimore, Irwin dominated a very impressive group of defensive backs, which earned him the wide receiver MVP. A bump to No. 70 followed, but after an awesome senior season and equally impressive week leading up to the Army All-American Bowl, Irwin continued his upward trajectory. After first making a move to No. 42, he finally earned his fifth star during the final update of the year and finished up at No. 31.

While Irwin earned his fifth star at the end, defensive back Deionte Thompson of Orange (Texas) West Orange-Stark lost his. Thompson first earned his fifth star after a fantastic performance at the 2014 Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge. He came into the event as a safety, but showcased coverage skills of a cornerback. However, during his senior season, he experienced some difficulties and then during the week leading up to the Under Armour All-America Game, he continued to struggle in coverage. As a result, Thompson slipped from No. 27 to No. 44, finishing off as a high four-star.

For running back Ronald Jones II of McKinney (Texas) McKinney North, his rankings journey was more of a roller coaster. Jones arrived in Baltimore last summer at No. 43, which definitely placed him into a group of recruits who could've easily earned five-star status with an impressive performance. However, Jones did not stand out and the result was a slip to No. 66 and later a further drop to No. 79. Unlike other recruits though, Jones rebounded nicely. He proved to be one of the more dynamic offensive players at the Under Armour All-America Game and concluded the recruiting season by getting a bump back to No. 63.

The Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge also annually gives a few underclassmen an early opportunity to prove themselves against older competition. Six of the top 10 underclassmen from last year's event are making their way back to Baltimore this summer to further prove their status, with only five-star defensive back Levonta Taylor, five-star quarterback Jacob Eason, five-star running back Dylan Moses and four-star defensive back Brandon Jones missing out. Five of the six returnees are 2016 recruits and all five are in the Rivals100, with athlete Demetris Robertson leading the charge as a five-star at No. 7. Rounding out the seven returning top underclassmen is class of 2017 five-star defensive back DeAngelo Gibbs. Joining Gibbs this year will be 18 other 2017 Rivals 100 recruits. Which of these 20 Rivals100 2017 recruits will take their game to the next level against elite competition? We will all find out this weekend.

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