Rivals Rankings Week continues as we unveil the new position rankings. We wrap up with the athlete position:
TODAY'S POSITION RANKINGS RELEASES: Athlete | Safety | Cornerback | Outside linebacker | Inside linebacker | Strongside defensive end | Weakside defensive end | Defensive tackle
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Monday: Five-star countdown | Arch Manning is new No. 1
Tuesday: Rivals250 unveiled | Gorney's thoughts | Meet the new five-stars | Top player at each position | Could there be five five-stars from Alabama?
Wednesday: Teams with the most R250 commits | QB rankings released | RB rankings released | WR/TE rankings released | OL rankings released | Will Dante Moore remain among top 3 QBs?
Thursday: DL rankings released | LB rankings released | DB rankings released
Friday: State rankings
Saturday: Rivals Roundtable
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PROGRAMS THAT COULD EMERGE: Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma
None of the top athletes are committed yet but there are a few select schools that could load up with players at the athlete position. Notre Dame is one of those programs.
The Irish are in very good shape with the top-two athletes in the class in Pickerington (Ohio) Pickerington Central’s Alex Styles, whose brother already plays for Notre Dame, but has Ohio State and others pursuing him as well. Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy’s Samuel M’Pemba has also said Notre Dame is high on his list along with some SEC programs and others so the Irish could load up if things fall into place.
Texas and Oklahoma could also be in for a big haul at the athlete position. Tre Wisner is one prospect who has the Sooners and Longhorns high on his early list. Dalton Brooks could be another but the Shiner, Texas, does not say much about his recruitment ever.
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PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Alex Styles
Styles - who goes by Sonny - has moved to a five-star prospect in the newest 2023 rankings. The 6-foot-5, 216-pound athlete has incredible sophomore film where he uses his length on defense to be a complete game-changer at safety or outside linebacker.
His recruitment should be really interesting, too. Styles’ brother, Lorenzo, plays at Notre Dame. His father played at Ohio State. Plus, Clemson, Florida and Florida State should receive visits this fall. Many believe this could come down to the Irish or the Buckeyes but Styles could go his own way as well.
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PLAYER TO WATCH: Samuel M’Pemba
Tons of prospects this summer toured the country and got a better feel for their own recruitment. Not M’Pemba. He was in Togo visiting family all summer and even though he’s behind in seeing schools, M’Pemba said he was happy he was taking the trip.
Notre Dame, Arizona State, Alabama and Penn State stand out at this point for the 6-foot-4, 230-pound athlete who could be a big receiver, tight end, outside linebacker or defensive end in college. Once he’s able to see schools through the fall then everyone should get a much better read on where his recruitment stands.
