RCS Atlanta: What to watch for
The Rivals Camp Series Presented by Under Armour rolls
into Atlanta this weekend for what is usually one of the most talent-rich stops
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on the entire circuit. This year's event will feature no shortage of talent,
with players from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana, North
Carolina and Tennessee all expected to attend. With so many big names, there will
be plenty of storylines to watch. Here's a breakdown of what we're looking
forward to seeing when things get started on Saturday at Lambert High School.
How will Brown handle the big stage?
Derrick Brown impressed at the Elite 50 Experience
Presented by Under Armour.
After a strong showing at the Elite 50 Experience Presented by Under Armour,
Sugar Hill (Ga.) Lanier defensive tackle Derrick Brown earned his fifth star and
vaulted into the top 10 of the Rivals100. The 6-foot-3, 293-pound Brown is extremely
athletic for his size and is a nightmare for blockers. But last summer at the
Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge Presented by Under Armour in Baltimore, Brown had his share of difficulty going
against older, more experienced offensive linemen. Now that he's the big name,
will Brown rise to the challenge and dominate like he did at last year's Atlanta
stop? That's the expectation, as Brown is hoping to earn a repeat trip to
Baltimore and cement his status as a five-star prospect.
Will Alabama steal the show?
Several of Alabama's top stars will be making the trip to Atlanta to compete and
there has already been some talk among prospects about a "Peach State takeover."
With three five-stars from Alabama expected to attend, there will be plenty of
star power in attendance. Lyndell Wilson, a
linebacker, and defensive end Marlon Davidson headline the Alabama five-stars.
Both are coming off impressive performances at the Elite 50 Experience and there
are many that believe Davidson could push for the No. 1 overall spot in the
Rivals100 by the time
the 2016 recruiting cycle is over. Joining them will be five-star linebacker
Ben Davis. The
long, rangy Davis also put on a show at Elite 50 and his rivalry with Wilson will be a fun one to watch at the linebacker position. Several
four-stars from Alabama will also be in attendance, including Rivals250
defensive back John Broussard and four-star linebacker Jeremiah Moon.
Rising underclassmen
The event is loaded with talent in the 2017 class, with more than 40
prospects with Power Five offers expected to be in attendance. The field is loaded
with future stars, but who will be the best of the best when paired up with
other elite underclassmen as well as a loaded field of 2016 prospects? Versatile
athlete Jamyest Williams has excelled at Rivals Camp Series events in the past,
including last summer's Rivals250 Underclassman Challenge. Class of 2017
linebacker Nate McBride has been collecting offers while putting up impressive
numbers as a track athlete, but we will be watching to see how his skills
translate to a camp environment, especially considering this will be his first
major camp event. Other names to watch include Tennessee standouts Ty Chandler
and JaCoby Stevens as well as 2017 defensive back Isaiah Pryor.
Quarterback barometer
Zerrick Cooper committed to Clemson in
October.
Georgia isn't a state known for producing a ton of quarterbacks on a yearly basis, but talent in the state continues to grow and there will be a number of big names on hand Saturday. Four-star
Clemson commit Zerrick Cooper headlines the field and is looking to repeat after impressing as an underclassman last year. After missing the
2014 season with a knee injury, Cooper is fully healthy and looking to earn his way back into the Rivals250. Three-star quarterback
Josh White will also be in attendance and is looking to help his stock with a strong showing. The class of 2017 will also be well represented at the event, with Arab, Ala., quarterback
Daulton Hyatt expected to attend, as well as fellow Alabama resident Jake Bentley. Both
young prospects already hold Power Five offers and are
considered two of the best
prospects at their position in the class.
Stock market
The field is loaded with three-stars hoping a strong showing will put them over the edge for four-star status. Highlighting the group is versatile athlete
Tadarryl Marshall, a quarterback in high school whose skills could translate to several different positions
in college. Where he works out and how he performs could go a long way toward showing his long-term potential. Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove linebacker
Elysee Mbem-Bosse has added several offers over the past few months and will have his first chance to shine at a major event on Saturday. Memphis (Tenn.) White State wide receiver and
Oregon commit Dillon Mitchell will also enter the event with a chip on his shoulder and is eager to compete with some of the South's top talent. Other names to watch include tight end
Christian Roberson and versatile athlete Brittain Brown.