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Inside the Rivals.com state rankings

VISIT THE FULL LIST OF UPDATED STATE RANKINGS

The final Rivals.com rankings are in the books, including the rankings for each individual state. Here are some notable tidbits from the rankings as well the complete list for each state.

2017 Rankings: Rivals250 | Team | Position | JUCO

DOWN YEAR FOR QUARTERBACKS IN CALIFORNIA?

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USC QB commit Jack Sears
USC QB commit Jack Sears

The state of California is known for producing quality quarterbacks on a yearly basis but this year the highest-ranked quarterback in the state, USC commit Jack Sears, doesn’t enter the rankings until No. 15 overall.

The state still boasts depth at the position, with Nebraska pledge Tristan Gebbia checking in at No. 17, Oregon commit Braxton Burmeister at No. 27 and California commit Chase Garbers at No. 29. The last time the state of California didn’t have a quarterback ranked in the top 15 was in 2010 when Stanford signee Brett Nottingham was the highest ranked at No. 18 overall.

WILL ALABAMA'S BEST BE A STAR?

The No. 1 prospect in the state of Alabama, LaBryan Ray
The No. 1 prospect in the state of Alabama, LaBryan Ray

The last time a No. 1 player from the state of Alabama went onto to be the top pick in the NFL draft was in 2015, when former 2012 state of Alabama No. 1 player Jameis Winston was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This year, Alabama’s top player is LaBryan Ray, who has yet to announce his college decision. Ray’s finalists include Florida, Tennessee and Alabama. If he were to leave the state for the Gators or Vols, he would be the first Alabama No. 1 overall player to leave the state since Winston and just the third all time in the Rivals.com era. In 2003, both the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the state, Chad Jackson (Florida) and Jayson Swain (Tennessee), both left Alabama for bordering states.

HEISMAN HOPEFUL

The state of Florida's No. 51-ranked player, Marcus Williamson
The state of Florida's No. 51-ranked player, Marcus Williamson

In the Class of 2015, Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson was ranked as the No. 51 player in the state of Florida. Obviously that turned out well for both him and Louisville. Ohio State fans are hoping for a similar path for defensive back Marcus Williamson, who is this year’s No. 51 player in the Sunshine State.

RUNNING BACKS RULE THE DAY

Najee Harris tops the California state rankings
Najee Harris tops the California state rankings

It’s a great year for running backs in 2017. Players at the position hold the top spots in California (Alabama commit Najee Harris), Mississippi (Florida State commit Cam Akers), Massachusetts (Boston College commit A.J. Dillon) and Virginia (Florida State commit Khalan Laborn). Three of the four prospects are ranked as five-stars, with Dillon ranked as a four-star prospect.

QB COUNTRY

Stanford commit Davis Mills is one of two five-star quarterbacks in the state of Georgia
Stanford commit Davis Mills is one of two five-star quarterbacks in the state of Georgia

The state of Georgia has two five-star quarterbacks in Davis Mills and Jake Fromm, and they are ranked No. 1 and No. 4 in the state of Georgia, respectively. Georgia has never had two quarterbacks ranked in the top 10 in the state, let alone the top five. The closest was in 2007, when then-Florida signee Cam Newton (No. 2) and Georgia Tech signee Josh Nesbitt (No. 11) both cracked the top 12.

OHIO BORDER WARS

WR Danny Davis
WR Danny Davis

The state of Ohio has always produced quality talent, but with Ohio State recruiting nationally under Urban Meyer some of the top prospects in the Buckeye State won’t be signing with Ohio State this year. Including uncommitted wide receiver Danny Davis (No. 3), six of the state’s top 10 players are likely headed out of state. The biggest benefactors have been Kentucky (No. 4, ATH Javonte Richardson; No. 7, ATH Lynn Bowden) Penn State (No. 5, QB Sean Clifford), Michigan (No. 9, DE James Hudson) and Michigan State (No. 6, TE Matt Dotson). Even so, the Buckeyes still hold commitments from the No. 1 player, offensive tackle Josh Myers and the No. 2 player, athlete Brendon White.

TEXAS TURMOIL

The state of Texas' No. 14 prospect, Anthony Hines
The state of Texas' No. 14 prospect, Anthony Hines

It’s also open season on the Lone Star State, with eight of the top 10 prospects committed to programs outside of the state of Texas. In fact, the highest-ranked player from Texas committed to an in-state school is No. 14 Anthony Hines, who is pledged to Texas A&M. Ohio State has been the biggest benefactor, nabbing players from No. 3, linebacker Baron Browning; No. 4, defensive back Jeffrey Okudah and No. 7, running back J.K. Dobbins.

WILSON HOPES TO REPLICATE EDWARDS' SUCCESS

Five-star DL Marvin Wilson is the top-ranked player in the state of Texas
Five-star DL Marvin Wilson is the top-ranked player in the state of Texas

Five-star prospect Marvin Wilson is the No. 1 player in the Texas, becoming the first defensive tackle to be No. 1 in the state since Mario Edwards in 2012. Edwards went on to win a national championship at Florida State and was a second round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2015.

VISIT THE FULL LIST OF UPDATED STATE RANKINGS

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