Rivals Rankings Week: Five teams that should be pleased
MORE: New five-stars in Rivals100 | Highlights of the top 10 | Farrell's thoughts
A new Rivals250 comes with plenty of change, Such adjustments help some programs while hurting others. And while the class of 2020 is still in its infancy from a rankings standpoint, it’s never too early to look at schools that should be thrilled by the latest changes. Below is an examination of five teams that should be pleased by their recruiting starts and the news they got with the latest rankings update.
RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK:
Monday: Updated Top 10 revealed
Tuesday: Updated 2020 Rivals100
Wednesday: Updated 2020 Rivals250
Thursday: Updated position rankings
1. OHIO STATE
Ohio State’s commitment list is home to the nation’s highest ranked committed prospect, Cincinnati-based offensive tackle Paris Johnson, a new five-star and the No. 8 player in the class. The Buckeyes are also in good shape when it comes to the recruitment of uncommitted wide receiver Rakim Jarrett, who also added his fifth star in this update. Coaching transition be damned, Ryan Day’s squad is off to one of the best recruiting starts of any team in America for 2020 and holds commits from five prospects, four of which are ranked four stars or higher.
2. ALABAMA
It’s good to be king, so the program that sits atop the team rankings will always make this list. Obviously, it’s early in the cycle, but the Crimson Tide has 11 verbal commits as things stand now. Nick Saban’s 2020 class is led by four-star wide receiver Javon Baker, who checks in at No. 78 in the rankings. Defensive back pledge Malachi Moore got a more-than-100 spot bump in the rankings during the latest update after an impressive junior campaign. Alabama is in good shape for uncommitted linebacker Reggie Grimes, who jumped up 46 spots. Nine of Alabama’s 11 commits are ranked four stars are higher, and the rich are getting richer.
3. CLEMSON
Previously a three-star, Clemson commit John Williams added fourth star and jumped into Rivals250 during the update. Williams, a Georgia-based offensive lineman, committed to the Tigers in September and has seen his stock rise since. Offensive lineman Paul Tchio slid up 15 spots. Clemson’s highest-ranked 2020 commit, defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart, also got an ever-so-slight bump in ranking, as he climbed five spots.
4. LSU
LSU commit Darin Turner took one of the update’s largest jumps up the rankings, as the Tennessee-based wide receiver hopped up 95 spots to No. 85 in the Rivals100. Team rankings mean little this early in the cycle, but the Tigers currently hold a top-five class headlined by Rivals100 quarterback Max Johnson. Regardless of the early stage, the future look bright in Baton Rouge.
5. MIAMI
Despite already losing a handful of big-name commitments, Miami’s class ranks near the top of the Rivals.com team rankings. Miami is in the hunt for a long list of Rivals250 prospects and saw defensive back commit Jaiden Francois add a fourth star after a junior season that saw him record double-digit interceptions. And while defensive end Tre'Von Riggins took a bit of a slide, linebacker Henry Gray climbed up 14 spots. The Hurricanes hold a whopping 10 commits, eight of which are ranked four stars or higher.
