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Published Feb 10, 2018
Rivals Camp Series Miami: Five predictions
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Rob Cassidy  •  Rivals.com
Recruiting Analyst

The first event of the 2018 Rivals 3 Stripe Camp Series presented by adidas will take place on Sunday in the Miami area. The event includes a stacked field of elite prospects from the South Florida region and beyond. Every camp stop has its own story, however, and Rivals.com takes a stab at guessing how the upcoming weekend may unfold. Below, are five predictions on what will take place at the series’ first stop.

MORE: RCS 2018 SCHEDULE

CLASS OF 2019 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position

FORMER FLORIDA PLEDGES WILL SHINE

It’s already been a nice offseason for a trio of former Florida commits and logic dictates that the trend will continue through Sunday’s event in Miami. Wide receivers John Dunmore and Frank Ladson in addition to defensive back Tyrique Stevenson were all committed to the Gators at one point but have since backed off those pledges.

Each has impressed over the course of the past year, and one or all could land invites to this summer’s Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by adidas with strong performances over the weekend. The Gators are still in the mix to land every member of the trio, but there’s a strong what-could-have-been factor at work here.

THE LOCAL SCHOOL WILL DOMINATE THE CONVERSATION

Miami finished with the state’s top 2018 recruiting class and the momentum it used to build it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Mark Richt’s program is clearly the most desirable one in the region and the talent in South Florida seems to be lining up once again. It seems likely that UM will be the buzzed about program at the elite camping taking place less than 30 minutes from its campus, as buzz continues to build around the team expectations build for the 2018 season.

The Hurricanes already have 10 commits in the 2019 class and five of them are from South Florida. Class headliner Brieon Fuller will be in attendance at the event, as will the class’ other South Florida-based prospects. Recruiting buzz tends to be infectious, and that will certainly be the case here.

THE LINEMAN TALENT WILL CATCH SOME OFF GUARD

South Florida is known for its speed and its skill position prospects, but this weekend’s camp will have an impressive group of linemen. The group is led by Rivals100 defensive end Derrick Hunter, who boats 31 offers and four-star offensive tackle Dontae Lucas who already has major programs such as Miami, Georgia, Florida and Auburn lining up. The group’s depth is as impressive as the names at the top. Rivals250 defensive Khris Bogle and Miami defensive tackle commit Denzel Daxon are sure to impress. As is four-star Mark Fox. A group of talented 2020 lineman will able in position to steal the show, as there are a number of buzzed-about sophomores headed to the event.

The group has a chance to be one of the better groups of linemen in the history of the RCS’ Miami stop.

YOUNG RECEIVER WILL BREAK OUT IN A BIG WAY

Freshman Jarcorey Brooks has played justly one season of college football, but his 6-foot-3, 168-pound frame makes him look like a high school senior. It’s not as though he’s a total unknown as things stand, but the class of 2021 prospect has the chance to put his name front and center on the recruiting marquee this weekend. Brooks has already made some waves this offseason, as he’s already received offers from Florida, Miami and Tennessee, but he stands to make a statement against top-flight competition at the RCS stop in Miami. Physically, Brooks looks every bit as good as the elite receivers in the 2019 class and he’s likely to make a name for himself by outperforming many of them on Sunday.

GEORGIA QB STEALS FLORIDA HEADLINES

Just a freshman, Georgia-based prospect Aaron McLaughlin may be the most sought-after quarterback at Sunday’s camp. The class-of-2021 prospect already holds 18 scholarship offers, including ones from Florida State, Louisville, South Carolina and USC. McLaughlin is all of 6-foot-5 and is no stranger to top-flight competition, having participated in last year’s Rivals Camp Series.

College coaches have high expectation for the young McLaughlin, who will benefit from the wealth of wide receiver talent in Miami.

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