There are always debates about which prospects should be named five-star prospects and when the rankings are released some really talented recruits fall just short. Here are a list of players that are just outside the cusp of five-star status that the Rivals analysts could regret not bumping up in the coming years.
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Making the Case for No. 1 | How things stand with the uncommitted players in the Rivals250 | The top five-star candidates
Tuesday: New Rivals250 released | Breaking down the new five-stars | Farrell's thoughts | Biggest movers
Wednesday: Offensive position rankings released | Schools with the most R250 players
Thursday: Defensive position rankings released
Friday: State rankings released
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TE THOMAS FIDONE
The tight end position has grown in importance over the last decade at both the collegiate and professional levels. Big-bodied pass catchers who can flex out and create mismatches against linebackers or safeties are in high-demand, and that certainly describes Fidone, who signed with Nebraska last month.
Fidone has an incredible pair of hands and has an outstanding size/athleticism combination. He is probably just a flex tight end at the college level, though, with a lean frame that does not suggest he will provide much as an in-line blocker. Then again, Fidone may not need to provide the total package at tight end to carve out a five-star caliber career in Lincoln. -- Josh Helmholdt, Midwest recruiting analyst
WR TROY FRANKLIN
Franklin has length, bouncy athleticism, fantastic hands, he’s a great playmaker and tremendous speed for the deep passing game plus he can take short passes and make people miss.
So why is he not a five-star? That is something we might regret in the coming years. The Oregon signee does need to fill out physically although he is wiry strong. I wish we could have seen him more regularly against elite, national defensive backs but Franklin has a fantastic resume, he’s going into an offense with talented young quarterbacks and the Ducks could be one of the best teams in the Pac-12 for years to come. Franklin can be utilized all over the field and we might rue the decision to not make him one of the few five-star receivers in this class. -- Adam Gorney, National/West recruiting analyst
QB KYLE MCCORD
McCord could very easily make us regret not making a five-star. He is more talented than a player like Dwayne Haskins and the Ohio State staff turned him into a first round pick, so imagine what they could do with McCord. He is battle tested and used to playing against some of the toughest defensive prospects in the nation.
McCord will also have the benefit of throwing to his current teammate, Marvin Harrison Jr., in Columbus. With his arm strength, accuracy, and downfield passing ability, McCord should be able to put up incredible numbers for the Buckeyes. -- Adam Friedman, Mid-Atlantic recruiting analyst
DE TYREAK SAPP
Sapp is a prospect that I liked from the start. He has has improved greatly this season but came up just short of five-star status mainly due to a lack of elite length. -- Mike Farrell, National Recruiting Director
DE SHEMAR TURNER
Turner continued to improve each year while at DeSoto and as a senior, was a versatile piece along the defensive front, making plays from the interior and on the edge. Turner is a bull in a china shop with raw physicality and burst off the line in addition to special closing speed and the length and brute force to run down ball-carriers. The Texas A&M signee finished right outside the five-star window but gave us plenty of thought. Either way, he projects to be a dynamic defensive lineman in College Station a lot like DeMarvin Leal. -- Sam Spiegelman, South-Central recruiting analyst
