Five to watch in 2018: Southeast
The Southeast is never short on talent. So while early five-stars are in short supply at such an early stage for the 2018 class, the region features plenty of prospects that could attain such status down the road should things go their way. Below are five such players.
Recruiting wrap: Jones has a lead group that includes Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Clemson.
Why we should watch: It’s still very early, but the multi-talented Jones has drawn comparisons to Clemson five-star quarterback Deshaun Watson. While it’s still too early to tell if he will have as illustrious of a high school and college career, there’s no doubt that Jones is a very talented and exciting player to watch.
Who he’s up against: Matt Corral, Trevor Lawrence, Phil Jurkovec. While Corral and Lawrence are both pro-style quarterbacks, they are the high bar when it comes to quarterbacks in the class. Jurkovec is the class’ top dual-threat, so he will be compared to Jones quite a bit going forward.
Recent Recruit Comparison: Watson, Clemson, 2014
Recruiting wrap: Alabama, Georgia, Auburn and Clemson are already battling for Salyer.
Why we should watch: Salyer has spent the spring making a name for himself on the camp circuit, dominating older and more heralded prospects in impressive fashion. This comes after he started for his high school team as a sophomore and played a vital role in a state championship victory.
Who he’s up against: It take a little longer for offensive linemen to emerge than it does players at other positions, but Marquan McCall appears to be Salyer’s biggest competition for the nation’s top guard spot.
Recent Recruit Comparison: Javon Patterson, Ole Miss, 2015
Recruiting wrap: A one-time Miami commit and a Hurricane legacy, Blades is expected to re-commit to Miami after taking a look around.
Why we should watch: Blades is the definition of a high-upside prospect. He has a long, athletic frame and incredible work ethic to go along with an impressive pedigree. The cornerback seems to get better with each passing month, as he’s becoming a more physical corner and more confident in his skill level. There’s really no ceiling on what Blades could become in the years ahead.
Who he’s up against: Blades plays on the same high school team as Asante Samuel, another highly rated cornerback. Samuel is probably a bit ahead of Blades at this juncture when it comes to pure cornerback skills, but Blades has the length and physical gifts. He will also be compared to Patrick Surtain Jr., another in-state prospect with incredible size and a family history of greatness.
Recent recruit comparison: Jalen Tabor, Florida, 2014
Recruiting wrap: Gatewood is committed to Auburn.
Why we should watch: Gatewood is a rare prospect. He has a certain Tim Tebow aura to him, as quarterbacks with such a perfect blend of size and speed don’t come around very often. Gatewood has a massive build and a strong arm but is also a dangerous weapon in the run game. If his throwing mechanics develop in the year ahead, he could become something special.
Who he’s up against: Pennsylvania-based quarterback Phil Jurkovec. The class’ top dual-threat quarterback, has the same length as Gatewood but lacks the strikingly wide frame. That said, Jurkovec might have a slight leg up in the mechanics category for the time being. But as Gatewood develops he may surpass Jurkovec, who doesn’t come with the same massive upside. Texas-based quarterback Jalen Mayden, a much smaller prospect, is another player to whom Gatewood will likely spend time being compared.
Recent recruit comparison: Nobody recently. Gatewood’s frame is not something that’s represented in many classes. He’s Josh Freeman with the running ability Freeman lacked.
Recruiting wrap: Lingard is uncommitted but considered a Florida State lean. Florida and Georgia are also heavily involved.
Why we should watch: Lingard is as well-rounded a back as there is at his age. He does a number of things extremely well and runs with impressive power for a player that also has enough agility to be a massive threat in the passing game. It’s hard to categorize Lingard as a certain type of player, and that makes him interesting. He can hurt a defense in a number of ways.
Who he’s up against: Like every 2018 running back, Lingard will start out chasing five-star Zamir White. Lingard and White are actually similar prospects. White may be a little more powerful than Lingard at this stage, but that could change. What Lingard shows after contact during his upcoming junior season could determine a lot when it comes to the quest to overtake White.
Recent recruit comparison: Altee Tenpenny, Alabama, 2013