8/26/2015 football Edit

Four-stars outside the Rivals250

Rivals.com

Publisher

Only the best of the best can make the Rivals250, but that doesn't mean there weren't plenty of other players who helped their stock during the summer camp evaluation period. Our team of national analysts identified seven players that earned their fourth star, and while they didn't quite crack the R250 this time, they are still worthy of being recognized for impressive summer showings. Here's a recap of who moved up and why their stock is on the rise.

Eubanks looks the part. He also moves relatively well for his massive size (6-6, 208). He's established himself as a threat in the passing game, but will need to develop as a blocker before he arrives on a college campus. -- Cassidy

Tomon Fox

Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill

Fox committed to North Carolina over the summer, but not before he camped at as many schools as he could, often turning in stellar performances. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound prospect is lightning fast off the edge and has the type of athleticism that could allow him to play with his hand in the dirt, or standing up if required at the next level. That type of versatility, combined with his athleticism and pass-rushing skills, made Fox an easy candidate for the move up to four stars. -- Woody Wommack, Southeast Analyst

Velus Jones

Saraland, Ala.

Jones' long arms and lean frame allow him to play bigger than his 6-foot frame. He has a knack for hauling in offline passes and has the dexterity to contort himself to make incredible catches. Jones' strength is his power and athleticism, but it's not as though he's slow either. Jones has enough speed to make corners pay for attempting to press him. -- Rob Cassidy, Southeast Analyst

Vavae Malepeai

Mililani, Hawaii

The shifty back had a good showing at The Opening earlier this summer, making defenders miss in open space and demonstrating the quick burst that is a constant throughout his junior highlight film. There were concerns given the bump up in competition, but the Oregon commit easily diffused those. The upside as a ball carrier is there, yet what could make Malepeai dangerous at the next level is his ability to catch the football out of the backfield and create mismatches against linebackers. -- Blair Angulo, West Analyst

Brandon McIlwain

Newton (Pa.) Council Rock North

McIlwain was better than expected since the last rankings update. He was in better shape than the last time we saw him, seemed to throw better passes on deep outs and was able to power the ball into tight windows with good timing. McIlwain's accuracy has always been impressive and he is mechanically sound. He has been dominant during the season over the past few years against subpar competition, so putting up big numbers again this year will be important. -- Adam Friedman, Mid-Atlantic Analyst

Kyle Meyers

New Orleans (La.) Holy Cross

Meyers may be skinny, but he showed his physical side a few times in some big summer showdowns. He was quick to jam receivers at the line and made play after play on the ball. He has a long wingspan, which allows him to close ground and get a hand on the ball. His quickness, physical play, and consistency definitely drew attention. -- Jason Howell, Mid-South Analyst