Rivals Camp Series: The biggest names to compete in Florida

The Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour gets underway this weekend as we hit Orlando and Miami, two traditional stops on the tour. With so much talent having donned the Under Armour gear and competed, we thought it would be a good time to take a look back at some of the biggest names who have participated in those RCS stops.

The skinny: Cowart's recruiting process was hectic from the beginning all the way until his National Letter of Intent finally arrived at Auburn. Fans of both Auburn and Florida were left on the edge of their seats for hours on National Signing Day after Cowart chose Auburn on national TV but didn’t send in his letter until later in the day. After all of the drama subsided, Cowart’s play on the field during his freshman season was a bit underwhelming. Auburn is looking for Cowart to take a major step forward in 2016 after he finished with six tackles in eight games, .

Farrell’s take: Cowart ended up as our No. 1 prospect based on many factors, among them his ability to adjust and take advantage of opponent’s tendencies as a student of the game. Cowart had all the physical tools and a great motor, but he also loved to learn and was very coachable. He always brought a lot of energy to the camps and was impossible to stop. He was too big, strong and explosive.

The skinny: Ivey grew up a fan of the Florida Gators and most assumed that he would end up in Gainesville from the start. While this did become reality, there were moments during his recruitment when it seemed as though Auburn might become his future home. In fact, Florida fans had to wait until National Signing Day for Ivey to actually give his commitment to the Gators. As a true freshman, Ivey saw playing time at both left tackle and left guard while dealing with a knee injury. Look for him to make a permanent move to tackle sooner than later.

Farrell’s take: Ivey was always a talented lineman with great footwork and length and he used those attributes to his advantage. Ivey came as an underclassman to the camp series and more than held his own despite being a bit raw with his technique. He improved more and more as he matured and it’s no surprise to see him as a freshman starter.

The skinny: James proved to be a rarity in recruiting as he committed to Florida State almost three years before his own signing date and firmly stayed with his word throughout. The Seminoles quickly benefited by James’ addition to the secondary as he proved himself to be one of the top true freshmen in the country in 2015. Finishing with 91 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, James’ future is looking extremely bright.

Farrell’s take: James is the most athletic safety I have ever scouted; I’ve said that over and over again and will continue to do so. He could solo cover on the outside as a corner, close on the ball with explosion and quickness as a safety and he was dominant at camps. The fact that he’s one of the most dominant freshmen in the country is no surprise at all.

The skinny: Ridley committed to Alabama almost 10 months before his National Signing Day. Despite having offers from coast-to-coast, and amidst swirling rumors that he was looking at other schools, he stuck with his word and signed with Alabama. Ridley immediately became an integral part of Alabama's offense this fall, finishing with 75 receptions for 893 yards and five touchdowns.

Farrell’s take: Ridley is a record-setter for Alabama, no small task, but that’s no surprise to me. He was so fluid in and out of his breaks and had such great hands that he made everything look effortless. In fact, if there was one issue with Ridley at camps it was that he appears bored and unchallenged at times. He was older for a high school prospect, that we know, but he would have been light years ahead of many despite that advantage.

The skinny: Rudolph made his commitment to Florida State at the 2014 Under Armour All-America Game and stuck with his word despite serious pressure from Florida leading up to National Signing Day. Before his commitment he also took official visits to Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State and Tennessee. Rudolph has already had two productive seasons with the Seminoles. After totaling 38 receptions for 555 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman, he improved his productivity in 2015 with 59 receptions for 916 yards and seven touchdowns.

Farrell’s take: Rudolph was a guy who got better and better each time you saw him. He was not the polished product at the camp that we saw at the Under Armour All-America Game. The same is happening in college as he works his way up the charts in the ACC and should have a huge season this year after a breakout year last year. Fluid, smart and an excellent route-runner, Rudolph was like Ridley a bit when it came to making things look easy.

The skinny: Cain committed to Clemson leading up to the summer before his senior season. He did take an official visit to Auburn during the weekend leading up to National Signing Day, but still signed with the Tigers he picked first. Playing in Clemson’s potent offense as a true freshman, Cain finished with 34 receptions for 582 yards and five touchdowns. Unfortunately, Cain’s freshman season may be more remembered for a failed drug test that caused him to miss the National Championship game against Alabama.

Farrell’s Take: The big question about Cain was his ability as a wide receiver after playing so much quarterback in high school. However, especially at the camp, he showed he was a natural with ball skills that belied his lack of overall experience catching the football. With good size and explosive speed with an extra gear, he was tough to check for anyone.

The skinny: After trimming his list down to Florida State, Florida, Alabama, Ohio State and Texas A&M, and taking official visits to both Tuscaloosa and College Station, Patrick committed to the Seminoles during his senior season. With Dalvin Cook receiving a majority of the carries for Florida State, Patrick did not receive a ton of opportunities, but did show his potential when he did. He finished with 63 carries for 314 yards and five touchdowns, to be the second leading rusher behind Cook.

Farrell’s take: Patrick was a big running back and we questioned his speed, but he proved us wrong at the camp. He showed too much burst for linebackers and also worked outside as a wide receiver and showing great downfield speed.

The skinny: Jefferson's recruiting process created plenty of stress and chaos among Florida Gator fans on National Signing Day. Finally, amidst plenty of drama, Jefferson did fax in his National Letter of Intent and officially became a Gator. All of the anxiety Florida fans went through on National Signing Day has been worth it so far, as Jefferson has already showcased the abilities that made him a five-star. Finishing with 27 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble, Jefferson improved as the 2015 season progressed and has positioned himself nicely for 2016.

Farrell’s take: Jefferson was an inside guy in high school, so we questioned his ability to play as an end, where his size would dictate in college. He showed us at the same camp Cowart dominated that he wasn’t far behind as a pass rusher, showing the ability to flatten around the edge and be quick enough to use that shoulder dip to his advantage. He never really developed a great cross-over move, but as he gains experience in college, he will continue to get better and his freshman season was a clear indication he could be special.

The skinny: Thomas committed to Miami leading up to his senior season, but still took official visits to Florida State and Alabama in January 2014. The two visits gave Thomas something to think about, but at the end he still decided to stay local and play for the Hurricanes. After playing in only five games as a true freshman while battling through an injury, Thomas became a bigger part of the Miami defense in 2015, finishing with 18 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Farrell’s take: Thomas showed up as a skinny underclassman but quickly showed his speed and quickness off the snap and to the outside. He’s the opposite of Jefferson as Thomas was an end who played inside his senior year and held his own showing surprising strength. But Thomas is at his best in space and using that length and athleticism to make plays.

The skinny: Gardner committed to Florida during the spring after his junior season, but still took official visits to Alabama, Georgia and Notre Dame during his senior season. Being an early enrollee, Gardner weighed all of his options after his visits and decided to stick with the Gators. As an early enrollee, Gardner has a very good chance of earning early playing time this fall in Gainesville.

Farrell’s Take: Gardner was an underclassman when he graced the field at our camps and showed that confidence and the ability to back up his trash talking with excellent instincts and good size. He reminds me a lot of Mackensie Alexander and Gators fans hope he has a similar career.