In every recruiting class, there are players who are ranked lower than others for one reason or another who pick the perfect school and have excellent college careers. Today, we ask each Rivals analyst to name one player that fits that description from their region.
MORE ROUNDTABLE: Which program could finish recruiting strong?
ROB CASSIDY, Florida analyst Â
After seeing Ronald Delancy this season, we'll be moving him up to three-star status, and he's picked a school where he could see the field early. I'm not sure he's going to become a "star." If I were, I'd have him ranked much higher, but he is certainly better than where I have him currently and could contribute to Scott Frost's program in his first two years on campus.
ADAM FRIEDMAN, Mid-Atlantic analyst
I've written about some of the players I expect to move up the rankings, but two players I'm comfortable with as three-stars are Andre Hines and Jonathan Adorno. Hines is a big running back that's going to Boston College and, if recent history has taught us anything, we shouldn't doubt a bigger running back that's going to Boston College. Adorno is a big road-grading interior offensive lineman and he should thrive in NC State's strength and conditioning program.
ADAM GORNEY, National and West analyst Â
One player that stands out to me this season is Matt Sykes. The UCLA commit from Honolulu (Hawaii) St. Louis is one of those lanky, athletic outside receivers who could really excel in the Pac-12, and especially in coach Chip Kelly’s offense if the Bruins can start clicking on that side of the ball. Sykes is a low three-star right now, but he’s having a big senior season with 32 catches for 574 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s a talented kid with great hands and he’s picked a good spot to shine in the coming years.
JOSH HELMHOLDT, Midwest analyst
There are a lot of players in Kansas' 2020 recruiting class that answer this question. When Les Miles arrived last winter, there were fewer than 50 players on scholarship, so the opportunity is going to be there for several in this 2020 class to impact early. One prospect I like to take advantage of that opportunity is two-star wide receiver Luke Grimm. Most of Grimm's offers were from FCS schools and he does not have the ceiling others in this class do, but his floor is very high. He does all the little things well and I expect his reliability will endear him to the coaching staff and his offensive teammates early in his career.
CHAD SIMMONS, Southeast analyst
John Copenhaver is a three-star tight end that is committed to North Carolina and I really like the fit on and off the field. With Copenhaver’s skill set, he will flex out and be able to come in early and compete for playing time in that spread offense. He has great hands, he runs crisp routes and he will be one that creates mismatches. Copenhaver is the new-age tight end that will be able to flex out and get down field in the system Mack Brown is running.
SAM SPIEGELMAN, Texas and Louisiana analyst Â
Elijah Yelverton is currently the No. 2-ranked tight end in the state of Texas and sits No. 17 nationally at the position. He's a fantastic receiving tight end that catches everything in his vicinity and is quickly improving as a blocker. He's a flex tight end that is going to be very busy on Saturdays at Iowa, which recently churned out two first-round picks at the position. It would not surprise me if Yelverton followed that same trajectory in Iowa City and we hear his name mentioned as a Mackey Award finalist and a future NFL Draft selection.
WOODY WOMMACK, Southeast analyst
One guy that I watched this season and really liked was three-star South Carolina wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, who is committed to Tennessee. Hyatt has elite speed, and while he will need to bulk up to play in the SEC, he just has an X-factor that can't be coached. The Vols haven't had a 1,000-yard receiver since Justin Hunter in 2012, but Hyatt should have a chance to come in early and if he spends his career catching passes from Harrison Bailey, maybe he can break that streak.
