Rivals Roundtable: Who has something to prove

With the high school football season about to kick off, we checked in with our analysts to get some quick thoughts on what they will be watching out for when things get underway.

Prove it to me

Nate Craig-Myers

Which 2016 prospect has the most to prove in your region heading into the 2015 high school season and why?

Wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers has the physical ability to be the No. 1 player in the country if he returns to form. His injury early in his junior year was a big setback obviously and there are times on film this past spring where he looked like his old self. However, at the two big all-star events this summer, he wasn't able to gain the separation he used to, at least not against the elite DBs, and at times he didn't look motivated. He needs to take it to the next level this season and remove any doubts about his recovery and show he's 100 percent. -- Mike Farrell, National recruiting director

Wole Betiku largely got a pass last season because it was literally his first year playing the sport and he didn't know much at all, largely relying on his athleticism and physical prowess at defensive end. This is only his second year in football but it will be important to see how he's developed mentally as a player. There are no questions about his physically, because he's one of the best-looking recruits in this class. Betiku needs to show he's continuing to get better and better to earn that fifth star and it really shouldn't be a problem because his work ethic is off the charts. -- Adam Gorney, National analyst

N'Keal Harry needs to show his name belongs in elite company. The physical wide receiver from Chandler, Ariz., earned his fifth star with a dynamite showing at Rivals Camp Series: Las Vegas, but he didn't particularly dazzle in Baltimore at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge Presented by Under Armour. Harry was solid in the event, yes, but to keep that fifth star through National Signing Day, he'll have to be consistently dominant, especially with a couple others in his state pushing for the No. 1 billing. -- Blair Angulo, West coast analyst

Several cases can be made here, but the biggest is for Naples (Fla.) High School running back Carlin Fils-aime, a three-star prospect with a massive offer list. Fils-Aimie missed most of last season and this offseason with a leg injury and could shoot up the rankings if he returns to form as a senior. -- Rob Cassidy, Southeast analyst

Linebacker Keion Joyner needs to have a big season to prove that he is who we thought he was. He has all the tools to be a major difference-maker in college, but he needs to get back into the shape he was in last year and be productive all season. Joyner can shut down one side of the field and is very good coming downhill, but dominating sideline-to-sideline is something we expect a player of his caliber to do. -- Adam Friedman, Mid-Atlantic analyst

Cincinnati (Ohio) Hills Christian Academy defensive end Prince Sammons has an inspiring back story and is one of the most impressive young men you will find in this 2016 class, but his extensive offer list is based largely on potential because the production has not yet materialized. Sammons is 6-foot-6, 260 pounds and a very good athlete. He is also extremely raw in the technical aspects of the game. This fall we need to start seeing the four-star prospect making strides and start polishing the rough edges in his game. -- Josh Helmholdt, Midwest analyst

Nacogdoches, Tex., safety Brandon Jones entered the 2014 season as one of the top prospects in the country, but a knee injury ended a bright season before it ever started. Being forced to watch from the sidelines as his teammates fought through the season was tough to handle. So was watching other prospects stake their claim as top defensive back prospects. The expectations are high for Jones in 2015, as he looks to show he is back and 100 percent. -- Jason Howell, Mid-South analyst

After struggling with some nagging injuries last season, Toccoa (Ga.)

Stephens County offensive guard Ben Cleveland is fully healthy with a

chance to have a terrific season. The question is, will his play on Friday

nights match the enormous physical potential he's shown during his career?

Because of the aforementioned injuries Cleveland played mostly on defense last

season but should have a chance to prove that he belongs in the discussion among

the nation's best offensive linemen. At some point, Cleveland's play will need

to start meeting his potential and if all goes according to plan that should

happen on the field this fall. -- Woody Wommack, Southeast analyst

Have I seen you before?

Mique Juarez

Name a 2016 or 2017 prospect that reminds you of a former recruit you've covered so much it's a bit scary?

I'll stick with the original comparison I made on Jacob Eason before he committed to Georgia the minute I saw him in person -- Matthew Stafford. Now those that remember Stafford will remember he wasn't as long as Eason and was thicker, but the mannerisms, downfield vision, even the sometimes awkward release point all remind me of Stafford. Stafford had a great career at Georgia and was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, so if Eason can match that, it would drive that comparison home. -- Farrell

I've used this before, but the comparison between Mique Juarez and Su'a Cravens is quite striking. Juarez is thicker and more physical, while Cravens has a freakish ability to read and diagnose plays better. But on the field, they have a tremendous presence and seem to take over in a really similar way. Just like Cravens did in high school, Juarez carries himself with a quiet confidence where he doesn't act like he's the best player on the field but he knows deep inside that he is. -- Gorney

Tyjon Lindsey, the No. 20-rated prospect in the 2017 class, looks a lot like former five-star wide receiver Christian Kirk did heading into his junior season. They are similar in size and equally explosive in open space, staying low through breaks and running great routes. Lindsey can really stretch the field on the edge but also does a lot of damage from the slot position and could be used in motion out of the backfield, too. That much versatility should lead to plenty of production at powerhouse Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman. -- Angulo

Rivals100 offensive lineman Landon Dickerson is eerily similar to former five-star Quenton Nelson. Both can play guard or tackle and are about 6-foot-5. Nelson was a little more filled out going into his senior season, but both have great balance and are very athletic for big guys. The biggest similarities are how Nelson and Dickerson are so good at locking onto the chest of the defensive lineman and how they used their lateral agility to mirror the defender's movements. Being able to do that effectively as a high schooler is pretty rare. -- Friedman

First of all, nothing about similarities between players is "scary." Snakes are scary. Football recruiting is not. That said, Miami commit Navaughn Donaldson has a lot in common with Kenny Lacy, who signed with UCLA out of Phoenix's Mountain Point High School in 2013. Both have similar height. Donaldson is much larger than Lacy in the weight category and carries a little more bad weight. Still, he's likely to slim down as he develops. The builds and playing styles make the two four-star offensive linemen similar. So does the fact that both seem to be at their best when it comes to run-blocking. -- Cassidy

Michigan State DT commit Naquan Jones reminds me of another former four-star state of Illinois defensive tackle from the 2008 class, Josh Brent. Similarly sized, they also possess comparable strengths and weaknesses. Both are plus-athletes for the position, but at the same stage of their careers neither seems to grasp just how talented they can be. It took Brent several years at Illinois to start approaching his potential and then a career with the Dallas Cowboys was cut short before he ever became what he probably could have been. We will see if Jones' progression exceeds Brent's, because the NFL is certainly in his future if he can play to his potential. -- Helmholdt

There are some differences, but Devin Duvernay and Kirk Merritt definitely have some similarities. They both have ridiculous speed and athleticism. They are both home run threats. They are both solid, strong, and stout wide receivers capable of making defenders miss in space. The also both take similar criticism as guys who can burn you deep or turn five into 50, but need some work in between. -- Howell

Making comparisons across classes is always tough to do, but if I were

to take a prospect from the 2016 class and compare him to someone I scouted

earlier in my time at Rivals.com, I would have to say there are a lot of

similarities between 2016 five-star defensive tackle Derrick Brown and

2013 five-star defensive tackle Montravius Adams, who is now at

Auburn. Both are extremely athletic for prospects their size and while

Brown is a little bit bigger, both have shown an impressive ability to cause

problems up the middle and draw special attention from opposing offenses. Much

like Adams was as a high school player, Brown is known for picking his spots at

times, something that will need to change if Brown is going to have the type of

career that Adams has had in college. -- Wommack

Go ahead and surprise me

Saivion Smith

Which prospect this year has a chance to pull the biggest surprise when it comes to a commitment or even a de-commitment?

Demetris Robertson, because he was an Alabama commitment and seemed like a lock to stay in the SEC even when he decommitted, but now he could end up at Stanford or Notre Dame. It's always great when kids re-evaluate their situations and shift priorities towards academics. He could still end up at Georgia or Georgia Tech or someplace local, but he could also surprise many and head west or to South Bend. -- Farrell

I have absolutely no proof and this is pure speculation, but I wouldn't be completely stunned if five-star linebacker Daelin Hayes did not stick to his USC commitment. Midwest powerhouses are coming after him and with his close friend Ricky Town already transferring from the Trojans, there is a question about what kind of connections he still has in Los Angeles. That being said, Hayes has reinforced time and again that he's solid to USC and that his commitment is still completely firm, so this is just purely a guess. -- Gorney

Rivals250 athlete Lamar Winston's decision to end his recruitment by committing to Oregon earlier this summer definitely had an abrupt feel to it. The two-way standout from Portland (Ore.) Central Catholic accelerated the process in order to announce on TV at The Opening despite heavy interest in Stanford and UCLA. Though the Ducks certainly hold a clear edge in proximity and Winston hasn't suggested any wavering feelings, it wouldn't be a huge shock if he opted to open things up again given how quickly he arrived at a decision this summer. -- Angulo

It would be surprising if Saivion Smith balked on his commitment to LSU at this juncture. It remains possible -- in part because the defensive back is likely to take some visits this fall -- but an actual change of heart would surprise significantly. -- Cassidy

Four-star tight end Thaddeus Moss' commitment will likely come out of the blue. He doesn't do many interviews and likes to keep to himself. N.C. State, Arizona State, West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Miami, Oregon and UCLA are eight schools that stand out to Moss. He has an official visit to UCLA locked in for Halloween weekend, but a decision timeline is unknown. -- Friedman

Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward three-star safety Tony Butler looked headed to Michigan after de-committing from Pittsburgh last month, but do not be surprised if either Clemson or West Virginia ends up with his commitment. Butler had planned to take his recruitment into the fall, make his official visits and decide in the winter. In recent days, though, the Cleveland-area prospect has hinted that a decision could be coming sooner than later. Visits to both Clemson and West Virginia took place in July and he came away impressed with both schools. If I had to pick right now, I'd probably say the Mountaineers have the best chance to land Butler. -- Helmholdt

Offensive tackle Willie Allen continues to keep people guessing about where he will end up. Will it be LSU or Alabama, as so many thought just a few short months ago? How about Ole Miss? Or will Arkansas or Auburn push their way to the front of his list? Will it even be an SEC program? He has not said much regarding his choices lately, so the mystery continues. -- Howell

I still think Demetris Robertson could surprise a lot of people

with his decision. There are many predictions out there that Robertson will end

up at either Georgia or Alabama, but make no mistake, Stanford is a

very real contender to land him. Ever since the Cardinal offered he's been clear

about his admiration for the school and has made multiple trips on his own dime

in an effort to give the school a genuine look. I think if he does choose

Stanford the recruiting world will be surprised, but I'm not sure if I would be. 

-- Wommack