Rivals recap: RCS Orlando
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WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Nearly 200 of the best football prospects from Central Florida converged at West Orange High School for the Orlando stop of the Rivals Camp Series Presented by Under Armour. Here’s a quick rundown of the biggest news, notes and observations from a full day of action.
I WAS IMPRESSED WITH ...
Antoine Thompson (2017) – Plant City, Fla.
Thompson came into the camp ranked as a high three-star and walked away with the MVP award after turning in an excellent performance at Saturday’s event. Not only did Thompson dominate during one-on-ones as a wide receiver, but he stepped across the ball and won a few reps as a defensive back. Thompson only has four offers but with his skill set and versatility it will only be a matter of time before that list grows.
I WAS SURPRISED WITH ...
William Barnes 2018 – Apopka, Fla.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Barnes stole the show at offensive lineman, outshining a pair of four-star 2017 prospects to take home the offensive line MVP award. Barnes is from traditional power Apopka, the school that has produced its share of offensive talent, including most recently 2015 five-star Martez Ivey. Barnes played as Ivey’s backup as a freshman and looks poised to take the baton from him as the next star player at the school. Florida, Oklahoma and others have already shown interest and his first offer should be coming soon.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS
The race for quarterback MVP came down to three prospects, with four-star Kentucky quarterback commit Mac Jones outpacing 2018 Auburn commit Joey Gatewood and 2017 three-star Cade Weldon. Jones was impressive from start to finish and was a favorite of receivers during one-on-ones. Gatewood continues to make progress as a passer and has clearly improved from last camp season. If his progression continues, he could be ranked very high in the initial 2018 rankings when they come out later this year.
Class of 2018 running back Lorenzo Lingard took home running back MVP honors for a second straight year, edging out a talented group that included Rivals100 running back Anthony Davis. Lingard already has an impressive offer list that includes Florida, Florida State and Georgia, and his star continues to get brighter as his high school career moves along.
Class of 2017 Rivals100 defensive back Isaiah Pryor earned both an MVP award and an invite the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge with his showing on Saturday. Pryor, who recently transferred from Lawrenceville (Ga.) Archer to IMG Academy, is committed to Ohio State.
Florida State commit Ja'Len Parks was in a class of his own on defense and ran away with the defensive line MVP honors. Parks also earned an invitation to the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge for his efforts. Joining him in receiving invites were IMG Academy offensive line teammates Cesar Ruiz and Robert Hainsey, as well as five-star wide Lakeland, Fla. wide receiver James Robinson.
The linebacker MVP award went to three-star Lakeland (Fla.) Lake Gibson prospect A.J. DeShazor. The 6-foot, 190-pound prospect already has offers from LSU, Vanderbilt and others, and could see his stock spike even higher after his showing on Saturday.
A pair of younger relatives of former Rivals five-stars also turned heads at the camp, with Class of 2020 wide receiver Mike Robertson following in the footsteps of his uncle, 2016 athlete Demetris Robertson. Robertson stood out, but not because he was overmatched by older prospects, rather because he more than held his own. Also in attendance was Class of 2019 prospect Peter Hayes-Patrick, the younger brother of 2015 five-star and current Florida State running back Jacques Patrick.