Five-Star: Mid-Atlantics best
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It was very difficult to pick between Gary and Dexter Lawrence, because both played very well. In the camp setting, Gary looked just a shade better. It's just amazing to see someone that big, fast and aggressive. He finished every one-on-one rep at the quarterback whether he won the rep or not. A lot of times, you'll see skill position players with a bounce in their step. Gary has the bounce and that's pretty rare in big defensive tackles.
3
DL
Wake Forest, N.C.
The newly minted No. 1 player in the Rivals100 lived up to the hype. Lawrence beat the best offensive linemen in the country and won when it counted, in the final round of the Big Man Challenge. His quickness for being 6-foot-5 and well over 300-pounds is exceptional. Lawrence has a large arsenal of pass rushing moves and his rip move was very effective because of how low he stays throughout the rep and how he uses his leverage.
4
RB
Khalan Laborn (2017)
Virginia Beach (Va.) Ocean Lakes
Laborn is one of the most athletic running backs in the country. He has great burst and made a lot of big plays in the seven-on-seven tournament. Laborn seemed to glide around the field and made some impressive catches that many other backs his size could not have made. He has a knack for the big play and flipping the momentum in his team's favor.
5
OL
Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha
People knew Davis was a very good offensive lineman going into the Five-Star Challenge, but he really opened eyes with his aggressiveness. His strong punch and hand placement helped him control the defensive lineman he was facing. That punch knocked many defensive linemen off balance and Davis continued to drive them back until the echo of the whistle.
6
WR
Egg Harbor City (N.J.) Cedar Creek
Mitchell showed a lot of grit and toughness playing through multiple injuries. He was still very explosive and has a smooth stride. Mitchell's length in his arms helped the quarterbacks get him the ball in tight windows. Even after the catch, Mitchell showed the ability to make defenders miss in the open field and pick up chunks of yards.
7
DB
Devon Hunter (2017)
Chesapeake (Va.) Indian River
One of the signs of a good defensive back is that you don't call his name very often. That's exactly what happened with Hunter in the seven-on-seven tournament. Hunter has great range and did a good job of covering slot receivers and tight ends in space. In one-on-ones, Hunter stayed with all the wide receivers he matched up with and made it tough for quarterbacks.
8
LB
Chesapeake (Va.) Indian River
Alabama's newest commitment, Yulee showed good speed for an inside linebacker of his size. As long as he stays around 230- or 235-pounds, Yulee should be able to run sideline-to-sideline with the best. During the seven-on-seven tournament, Yulee seemed to always be in the right place at the right time. He dropped two pick-sixes that were right in his hands, but it was good to seem him get deep enough in his drops in time to make a play.
9
TE
Philadelphia (Pa.) Imhotep Institute Charter
It took a little while for Upshur to start dominating like he wanted to, but it came at the right time for his seven-on-seven team. In the championship round, Upshur caught a few touchdown passes to propel his team to the win. His size isn't a concern and he uses his body well to shield defenders from the ball. Upshur's speed for a tight end is very impressive and linebackers have a very hard time keeping up with him.
10
OL
Southern Pines (N.C.) Pinecrest
Pollard's versatility was on full display. He successfully played multiple offensive line positions. Pollard was very aggressive and used his hands well. Pollard held his own against massive defensive linemen like Kendell Jones.
11
OL
Hudson (N.C.) South Caldwell
Dickerson's performance at Rivals Camp Series: Charlotte propelled him to an invite for the Five-Star Challenge and, while he did not have as much success, he still won a lot of reps. He played guard and tackle, and will likely play guard in college. He won some reps against Lawrence and Gary using good hand placement and sliding to stay in front of them.
12
DE
Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha
Simmons was probably the most athletic defensive lineman at the Five-Star Challenge. Most of his success came when he used his speed to beat offensive linemen to the outside. Simmons used an outside rip move and stayed low to get below the offensive lineman's hands and finished at the quarterback. His inside moves still need some work, but there is no doubting his potential.
Adam Friedman
Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst
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