The final rankings meetings for the 2019 class have concluded and the updates are being released this week. During those meetings, not all analysts agreed on every topic or every ranking. One of the discussions that generated differing viewpoints centered on which of two offensive weapons - one a wide receiver and the other a tight end - boosted his stock the most. Rivals.com Florida Analyst Rob Cassidy and Midwest Analyst Josh Helmholdt have two opposing takes on the topic.
RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Monday: Top 10 revealed
Tuesday: Rivals100 released | Mind of Mike | New Five-Stars
Wednesday: Rivals250 released
Thursday: Position rankings released
HELMHOLDT'S VIEW: Cornelius Johnson
From Day One of All-American Bowl practices, we noted the physical development we saw from Johnson. Earlier in his career, Johnson was very lean and had trouble with the physical aspects of his position, but by the time he arrived in San Antonio, the future Michigan Wolverine was one of the most physically impressive wide receivers at the entire event.
"We made the comparison to five-star Jadon Haselwood, who has always been considered a specimen at the position, after seeing the two standing side-by-side. The added muscle and overall physical development has also made Johnson a more explosive receiver who is now able to handle press coverage and fight defenders for the football. There was no need to fight off defenders on his two touchdown receptions late in the All-American Bowl game, however, as Johnson found himself wide open on both plays after running great routes.
"The football-specific benefits that resulted from Johnson’s physical growth have boosted Johnson’s stock in this final update of the 2019 rankings."
CASSIDY'S VIEW: Keon Zipperer
The knock on Zipperer is always his lack of speed. And while I won’t sit here and tell you the guy is a burner, he was certainly fast enough to run away from a stout St Thomas Aquinas defense in the state title game. The film isn’t hard to find. I’ve always been pretty high on the Lakeland (Fla.) High School tight end’s upside, but the four-star prospect helped me help him by looking great in all-star workouts in front of the other members of the analyst team. Zipperer knows how to use his wide frame and fits the H-back role more than that of a traditional tight end. If used correctly, he could be a dynamic weapon at Florida and deserves to be solidly in the Rivals250.
