Rivals Rankings Week: Who could crash next Rivals100?
The new Rivals100 has been officially released and the debates have begun. While an extremely small percentage of college football prospects made the list, things remain fluid. It’s why, below, Rivals.com analysts take a look at what could change in the months ahead by highlighting a few players who could slide into the top 100 when the rankings are updated again next fall.
Rivals Rankings Week
Monday: Top 10 revealed | Who could break into final top 10? | Who is No. 1 TE?
Tuesday: Updated Rivals100 revealed | New five-stars | Mind of Mike
Wednesday: Updated Rivals250 revealed
Thursday: New offensive position rankings revealed
Friday: New defensive position rankings revealed
Saturday: Team rankings breakdown
Sunday: New state rankings revealed
West/National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney: JORDAN BANKS
The Rivals 3 Stripe Camp in Los Angeles was loaded at the linebacker position, and Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell led the way. But right after those two superstars was Banks, a hard-hitting, big, mean and tough linebacker who could also put his hand in the ground and excel as a rush end. Banks moves well for his size, he can cover ground, he can drop in coverage or blitz and cause a lot of problems for the quarterback and running back. I really like Banks' game and how the four-star has developed over the last two years. He has the athleticism to stay at linebacker or the physical presence to play on the defensive line. He’s always around the ball and he has a great motor. That’s why Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma and others are highly interested.
Southeast Recruiting Analyst Chad Simmons: ROYDELL WILLIAMS
Williams is a prospect I saw a couple of times last season. I liked him then, but the more I saw his film, and after seeing him live in the spring, I like him much more than I did six or seven months ago. He looks a little quicker, he is in great shape and he is a back who can play all three downs at the next level. He has good vision, he has the body to play in the SEC and the Alabama commit has been rising up my personal list. He is a back I will definitely see again in the fall, and Williams could make that jump into the Rivals100 at a later date. There are not too many better than him in this class.
Southeast Recruiting Analyst Rob Cassidy: LEONARD MANUEL and THAIU JONES-BELL
I could make a case for two different wide receivers. First, Florida commit Leonard Manuel, a former five-star with Rivals100-level talent, sits on the outside because he’s been spotty at best this offseason. Manuel looked dominant in 7-on-7, but missed spring workouts at his high school and seems to be in the process of getting back on track and in good standing with the football program.
The other is Alabama commit Thaiu Jones-Bell, who impressed this offseason and looks as explosive as any wideout in the country. We’d like to see how he fares in games this fall and expand his sample size, however, before thrusting him way up the rankings. Bell didn’t participate in many marquee events this year, so it’s simply a matter of seeing how consistent he is in the fall.