Ranking the class of 2017

The recruiting game is speeding up, anyone who covers or follows it knows that. Prospects are getting offered in middle school now and select freshmen and sophomores have numerous offers already. So, to stay with the times, Rivals.com -- the biggest and most respected service in the recruiting industry -- is making history with our earliest release ever with the class of 2017 Rivals100 Presented By Under Armour. There are eight initial five-stars, but obviously the most famous of the bunch is Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab linebacker Dylan Moses, who has been on everyone's radar since middle school.

Let's make one thing clear -- this is not a numerically ordered Rivals100 like the others. We've done alphabetical watch lists in the past, but those days are gone. However, we don't feel we have enough data yet on these prospects to put them in sequential order. After all, we are going off sophomore film and in-person evaluations on prospects that are still growing into different positions and haven't come close to their potential.

But I will admit, the talent in this class, based on those evaluations, is off the hook. Moses, an LSU commitment, is an obvious freak of nature who could end up as a huge running back, a linebacker or a defensive end. He gets bigger each time I see him and doesn't lose any of his quick-twitch ability. He is joined as a five-star by a few other prospects who could grow into different positions as well, including Suwanee (Ga.) Peachtree Ridge safety DeAngelo Gibbs and Chesapeake (Va.) Indian River safety Devon Hunter, who both could grow into linebackers or stay as elite, massive safeties. Offensive tackles Calvin Ashley from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy and Josh Myers from Miamisburg, Ohio were arguably the two best offensive linemen at the Elite50 Presented By Under Armour in January and are elite prospects at their position regardless of class.

Rounding out the five-stars are Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver Trevon Grimes, a big and agile receiver for his age, defensive back Darnay Holmes from Newbury Park, Calif., a big, thick corner, and Antioch (Calif.) Antioch Senior running back Najee Harris, who reminds me of Derrick Henry a bit at the same age, although a bit more explosive.

A few of the high four-stars were also in discussion for an early five-star. Clairton, Pa. athlete Lamont Wade, is an exceptional prospect who could play defense or offense in college and is very under recruited still at this point. Santee (S.C.) Lake Marion safety Davondre Robinson has amazing sophomore film, and Brownsburg, Ind., quarterback Hunter Johnson is emerging as a potentially special signal-caller. There are many others as well, too many to name really.

Perhaps the most interesting duo on the list is Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman quarterback Tate Martell and his teammate, wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey. Both might be undersized for their respective positions, but you can't question their ability or the results on the field. Many feel Martell could be the next Johnny Manziel at the college level and Lindsey could be a DeSean Jackson-type if he gets a little bigger.

A quick look positionally at the 2017 class and it's clear, at least this early, that safety is a top heavy position, wide receiver and running back have good depth and offensive and defensive tackle are loaded. However, it's the athlete category that is the one to keep an eye on as many of those prospects, Wade included, will eventually find more specific positional homes.

This will not only be the earliest ranking in Rivals.com history, but it will also be the most fluid as some initial five-stars could end up as low fours (or lower) and many players not on this list will emerge as superstars. A quick look back at our first 2015 release and you see that prospects like Clemson offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt ended up barely losing that fifth star while South Carolina defensive end Shameik Blackshear and Alabama defensive end Mekhi Brown fell from five-stars for numerous reasons. And where was No. 1 Byron Cowart on our first 2015 list? He was a mid-level four-star at the beginning, so our No. 1 player for 2017 could very well be lurking in the middle or at the bottom of this list or might not be on it all.

Stay tuned for a wild ride as we rank the class of 2017 many more times until that first Wednesday in February of 2017 when they will presumably all sign on the dotted line.