Five to watch for 2018: West Region
RELATED: First Rivals100 rankings release for 2018 class | Five to watch Midwest | Five to watch Southeast | Five to watch Mid-Atlantic
The 2018 class has already proven to be an outstanding group in the West with two early five-stars in quarterback Matt Corral, who’s committed to USC, and Los Angeles Hawkins wide receiver Jalen Hall. Many others from the region made a debut in the initial Rivals100 release.
Here is a look at five who could be vying for five-stars in the future.
Recruiting wrap: Jaiden Woodbey has no clear frontrunners yet but Arizona, Cal, LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee, UCLA and USC among others have offered.
Why we should watch: A transfer to Bellflower St. John Bosco from Upland, Calif., Woodbey is entering one of the toughest conferences in high school football but should have the chance to excel on both sides of the ball. He’s athletic, a big hitter, fast and physical, and by playing for one of the best teams in California, Woodbey will be showcasing his skills on the biggest stage possible.
Who he’s up against: Tyreke Johnson, Derrik Allen, B.J. Foster and others. While Woodbey is listed as an athlete because he can contribute all over the field, his long-term position is probably safety. There are a bunch of equally-rated players at that position and Johnson is a five-star so Woodbey will continue to have to prove himself at that highest level to move even higher in the rankings.
Recent recruit comparison: Ykili Ross, USC, 2015
Recruiting wrap: Colorado State and UNLV are his two offers but many national programs including Michigan, Ohio State, UCLA and others are interested.
Why we should watch: Thompson-Robinson is in an incredibly unique situation where he’ll be the backup again to Texas A&M commit Tate Martell but is still receiving serious interest from a bunch of top programs. That’s because Thompson-Robinson is a physical specimen with a really live arm who can deliver the ball all over the field. He’s also super athletic so he can get outside the pocket when needed. Thompson-Robinson is a tremendous talent who could really shoot up the charts once he gets more exposure.
Who he’s up against: Joey Gatewood, Phil Jurkovec and others. Thompson-Robinson won’t be able to climb the rankings too quickly because he will be a backup quarterback this season. It sounds odd but he’s still a phenomenal quarterback who just happens to sit behind Martell for the moment. But when given his chance, Thompson-Robinson could be one of the best in the country.
Recent recruit comparison: Malik Henry, Florida State, 2016
Recruiting wrap: Stanford and Notre Dame probably have the early edge in his recruitment. The St. Brown brothers have long liked the Cardinal and Equanimeous St. Brown plays for the Irish so those will all be factors moving forward.
Why we should watch: St. Brown is the third in a long line of talented receivers and the 2018 prospect could be the best overall talent. He has phenomenal speed to break big plays, excellent hands to make tough catches, and the desire and confidence to take over games. One concern was his size but now he’s over 6-foot, still growing and could be a dynamic mid-sized receiver who is a tremendous playmaker.
Who he’s up against: Jahan Dotson, Camron Johnson and others. St. Brown has a tremendous pedigree and plays at one of the best high school programs in the country so he’s tested every day in practice and in games. Comparing him to the 6-foot-4 and taller receivers in this class isn’t fair but against slot receivers, there might not be many better. The comparison to Mitchell is not exactly perfect since St. Brown could continue to grow to be a much bigger receiver.
Recent recruit comparison: Steven Mitchell, USC, 2013
Recruiting wrap: USC is considered to be in a good position early for Robertson, who also has offers from BYU, Illinois, Miami, Oregon State and Utah.
Why we should watch: Robertson is fun and exciting to watch because he plays with reckless abandon and goes after players like an old-school linebacker. He’s aggressive and fierce, athletic and tough and can track players all over the field to make the tackle. Sometimes, Robertson overruns plays because of that pursuit, but he’s always around the football and always playing with a physical edge.
Who he’s up against: Palaie Gaoteote, Teradja Mitchell and others. Robertson could move inside because he plays downhill and could be a linebacker who comes up to stop the run in the middle. He’s certainly not afraid of contact. But Robertson is also so good at getting to the edge, tracking players to the sideline and with his speed, playing outside could make more sense.
Recent recruit comparison: Caleb Kelly, Oklahoma, 2016
Recruiting wrap: Rising is taking the recruiting process slowly. Oklahoma State is the newest offer but a bunch of Pac-12 schools including Arizona, ASU and Cal have offered and others are interested. LSU, Michigan and Nebraska have also offered so far.
Why we should watch: First, Rising threw for more than 3,000 yards with 40 touchdowns and one interception as a sophomore. That says he makes good decisions, puts the ball only where his receivers can catch it and is wise beyond his years in a competitive league. Rising has a strong arm, zips the ball all over the field and can make all the throws. Plus he’s smart and doesn’t turn the ball over.
Who he’s up against: Matt Corral, Trevor Lawrence, Emory Jones and others. Quarterback looks to be a top-heavy position in 2018 with two of the first five five-stars. But Rising is not far behind. He can hold his own against any quarterback in the initial top 100 and he’s someone with great accuracy, arm strength and numbers heading into his junior season.
Recent recruit comparison: Jake Browning, Washington, 2015