Rivals Rankings Week: Biggest debates in latest 2025 update

Adam Friedman: Right now there are 22 running backs in the Rivals250 but it's hard to make sense of that number when only once in the last five years have more than 20 running backs been picked in the NFL Draft. That being said, James Simon is one running back who should be solidly in the Rivals250, but just closer to No. 200 than No. 100. The Texas commit's elusiveness, vision, physical running style, and burst are impressive enough to stay ranked in the top 12 of the running back rankings.

John Garcia Jr.: Carter Smith at No. 94 overall. The Michigan commitment has one of the top athletic profiles of any quarterback in the class, ranked fittingly as a top-five dual threat passer at this stage, but he has less passing prowess compared with just about every other top-ranked quarterback in the class. Perhaps some of it is because of the prep program he is at, which leans on Carter as a runner much more than as a downfield passer, but it combines with a lack of offseason passing events to form one of the toughest evaluations at the game's most important position. Smith has the arm talent and overall athletic skill to fit into most of the modern elements of the position in the spread era, especially from a read-option and overall decision-making standpoint. But the lack of reps to the second and third level, especially while in the pocket, makes his top 100 status tougher to justify compared to many of the quarterbacks in that range in what has become a deeper year at the position. Even with his experience as a four-year starter, Smith has nearly as many rushes (375) as completions (466) to his name thus far. Throw in a relative lack of competition compared to larger metro areas in Florida and there are still considerable questions to answer before a final ranking come January.

Adam Gorney: Carter Lowe is a very talented player and he could be a really special player at Ohio State, but I didn't see a five-star offensive tackle at the Rivals Five-Star. He has athleticism, length and he moves his feet well but he needs more of an alpha mentality when going up against defensive linemen that just want to eat his lunch. Maybe he was taken aback by the level of competition since he hasn't seen it much in Toledo so we're going to give him a pass there – and he has outstanding junior season tape – but he's got to prove it this season to stay so high.

Marshall Levenson: Despite a fairly significant drop, we may have Winston Watkins Jr. still too high. He's a bit undersized at 5-foot-9 and I'm not sure what his top-end speed looks like moving forward. This offseason, he clocked an 11.2 in the 100-meter dash, which gives me reservations. Typically with shorter slot receivers, you hope for a quicker, speedy style player to make up for the lack of size. Watkins is still very productive, but it is fair to wonder what his role looks like at the next level given his skillset as of now.

Greg Smith: Zayden Walker. Walker (6-3, 220) has a great frame and explosive first step off the edge. So it’s easy to see why the Georgia coaches love his upside. But right now, he’s too much upside projection for me to agree with a ranking of No. 38 in the country. Walker has the potential to be a draft pick one day and could make me look foolish here but we may have overshot his ranking at the moment.

Sam Spiegelman: Four-star WR Winston Watkins Jr. is electric, but there's a slew of receivers ranked behind him with compelling cases for better rankings. For instance, newly minted Texas commit Kaliq Lockett, Oklahoma verbal Cortez Mills, Florida State commits Daylan McCutcheon and CJ Wiley and LSU-bound Derek Meadows are all receivers with higher upside. Of course, senior season evaluations will be pivotal in finalizing the pecking order at receiver.

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2. Who is too low?

Adam Friedman: DeShawn Stewart is too talented to be ranked as the No. 30 cornerback in the nation. The Wayne (N.J.) De Paul Catholic standout has the measurables to compete at the highest level and he challenged himself this offseason in the 7-on-7 setting. Stewart, an Ohio State commit, has experienced success against high-end receivers and shown that there shouldn't be a huge learning curve for him once he arrives in Columbus.

John Garcia Jr.: Joshua Moore at No. 156 overall. When it comes to the loaded wide receiver class we continue to scout in the 2025 cycle, there are few who bring together the physical qualities Moore does at better than 6-foot-3, 210 pounds or so. He'll remind many, at least on the hoof, of the top-ranked recruit from the 2024 class in Jeremiah Smith. We're not saying Moore is Smith 2.0, but he provides similarities beyond his physical build, with his natural strength, edge and catch radius. Moore has great body control to his name and he has come a long way as a route runner, though he isn't quite in the Smith realm just yet. He still manages to find production as the centerpiece of the Pembroke Pines (Fla.) West Broward offense over the last few years. Accounting for nearly 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns since his sophomore debut, the Florida commitment should again be among the most productive pass catchers in South Florida despite a lack of elite quarterback play compared to others at more storied prep programs.

Adam Gorney: This is one of the best tight end classes especially at the top in recent memory but we don't have a five-star and we don't even have someone one notch away from that status. Georgia commit Elyiss Williams is the best-looking tight end in awhile and he has filled out physically so he should absolutely get more consideration. If not him then Kansas State commit Linkon Cure or Tennessee commit DaSaahn Brame should be higher in the national rankings and should have a shot at a five-star ranking.

Marshall Levenson: There are reasons Dramodd Odoms is slotted at No. 187 in the Rivals250, but heading into this fall, there is a good chance we will be moving him up at a later time. Odoms had a rocky offseason and had to hit a reset button of sorts in his recruitment, but he was a heavily pursued prospect. At 6-foot-6, 270 pounds, his body has the ideal measurables you look for to continue being molded at the next level. Odoms has flown a bit under the radar in the last year or so, but the SMU commit is locked in now and should be in for a big senior season.

Greg Smith: Brock Schott. The Miami tight end commit (6-3, 225) looks great on film from his junior year. He’s an explosive playmaker with great body control. Schott has strong hands and a good catch radius that makes him a quarterback’s best friend. He was slowed by injury this offseason so he didn’t do any camps but he’s due to blow up in a big way this season.

Sam Spiegelman: We're excited to see Jared Smith as a senior at Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson. Smith has excellent first-step quickness and flies off the ball. He possesses superb length at 6-foot-6 and goes into his senior year tipping the scales at 230 pounds. The newly minted Auburn commitment is someone with enormous upside as a speedy pass-rusher off the edge.

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CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State

CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State

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3. Who did you go out on a limb for that will make you look good down the road?

Adam Friedman: Samuel Turner has had a steady rise in the rankings since the spring and now he finds himself in the Rivals250. The current Georgia Tech commit has great route running abilities and his quarterbacks will love catching radius. Turner has been clocked in the low 4.6s in the 40 yard dash this offseason and has consistently posted good times in the shuttle and three cone drill, all of which serve as strong foundation for his route running skills and ability to create separation from defensive backs. Turner begins his senior season looking to build off an impressive junior year in which he had 900 receiving yards on 56 catches for six touchdowns.

John Garcia Jr.: Bryce Fitzgerald at No. 73 overall. The Miami native, set to come off the board Saturday night among Miami, Florida, Florida State and LSU, has been a steady riser up the rankings and he broke into the top 100 overall in this update as a premier secondary prospect. Fresh off of an impressive showing at Rivals Five-Star, Fitzgerald showed up bigger and still plenty athletic among the cornerback projections in attendance, making plays on the football thereafter. What makes the end-of-summer showing even more impressive is the fact that Fitzgerald had been unable to focus on football exclusively considering he was not only going through the recruiting process, but also impressing on the hardwood within the AAU circuit. He is a high-major scoring guard when he's not on the football field, one who operates with great vision, acceleration and bounce relative to his size. Fitzgerald's 2023 on the football field, where he secured double-digit interceptions including three in one game as a junior, showcased elite range at safety in addition to the ball skills of a prime two-way player. Maintaining his speed with the ball skills and great instincts may have pushed his ceiling higher and more colleges are talking cornerback with him as a result. Either way, there is a safety or even a nickel floor at play with one of the top athletes in the class.

Adam Gorney: Jordon Davison has taken a lot of flack this summer. The five-star running back from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei parted ways with Ohio State and then committed to Oregon over Alabama. Critics said he was too heavy and he has gained some bad weight that he should trim prior to his senior season. But Davison showed at the Rivals Five-Star that he has elite footwork and playmaking ability and still should be considered among the best players at his position in the country. If needed, we can bump him from five-star status after this season but he's been phenomenal on the field, was great in camp settings this offseason and I stand behind his five-star ranking for now.

Marshall Levenson: In this update, we moved defensive end Smith Orogbo into the Rivals250 at No. 206 overall. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound edge rusher has incredible film and an array of skills that will translate quickly to the college game. I believe we will see Orogbo continue to climb the rankings as the cycle progresses toward signing days and the All-American games. After a 100-tackle, nine-sack season, he is primed for a big senior campaign.

Greg Smith: Jayden Woods. The weakside defensive end (6-3, 230) can get after the quarterback off the edge but his potential position switch has me very intrigued. After seeing him work out at inside linebacker this summer, his potential is even higher at that position. Seeing him play the new spot in games will go a long way to determining if the Penn State commit’s move up the rankings was correct or if he needs to go even higher.

Sam Spiegelman: Very few quarterbacks have the resume of Keelon Russell, who as a sophomore led Duncanville (Texas) past a vaunted Galena Park (Texas) North Shore defense to get his team over the hump. Russell took a massive leap forward as a junior, evident with a second consecutive state title and excellent showings at various off-season events, including the Rivals Five-Star and the Elite 11, where he captured MVP honors. Russell has continued to take big steps forward in his development and enters his senior season as a five-star QB inside the top 10. Based on his body of work and multiple in-person evaluations, there are few quarterbacks in the country I'd be more confident handing over the keys to my program more than Russell.