Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge: Behind the scenes at check-in
š„ What was the biggest news coming out of media day at the Five-Star #RivalsChallenge? @RivalsWoody and @RivalsMike break it down š„ pic.twitter.com/7AY443WSXP
— Rivals (@Rivals) June 24, 2019
MORE: Five-Star Challenge Roster | Mind of Mike from Media Day | Commitment checkup | All-Lobby Team
ATLANTA - All the die-hard recruiting fans were locked into Rivals.com today, looking for scoop when around 100 of the top athletes in the country checked in to compete at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by adidas inside Mercedes Benz Stadium.
A lot of interviews were conducted, of course, but there was a lot more going on besides recruits answering questions about their future.
Here is a look behind the scenes.
IRON BOWL PREVIEW?
Auburn commit Javion Cohen and Alabama commit Javon Baker were decked out in their teamās gear Monday, and each talked a little trash, but not about football⦠it was about ping pong.
The Iron Bowl of ping pong... #WDE commit Javion Cohen (@urfavtacklesfav) vs. #Bama commit Javon Baker (@javondbaker7). Only at the @Rivals #FiveStar. @JLeeAURivals @BMattAU @AndrewJBone @bamainsider pic.twitter.com/sKywRkWRJU
— Chad Simmons (@ChadSimmons_) June 24, 2019
COOKIES TASTE LIKE āHEAVENā
Bryce Foster is only a rising junior, but the four-star offensive lineman is already 6-feet, 5-inches tall and 318 pounds. After putting a few quesadillas away, he went to the burrito and chocolate chip cookies.
2021 OL Bryce Foster (@brycefoster2021) sampled some of the great food today at the #RivalsChallenge and he said one in particular brought āheavenā to mind. @Rivals @samspiegs https://t.co/wCn0c29zKn pic.twitter.com/c5wihzEbnY
— Chad Simmons (@ChadSimmons_) June 24, 2019
A YES AND NO ANSWER
Arik Gilbert is a five-star standout and could go to any of his top 10 schools, but is he truly considering all 10? That part is no.
Gilbert is going to stay close to home. Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Tennessee are truly in play right now, but of course, Gilbert did want to do a photo shoot with all 10 hats.
Who will land five-star Arik Gilbert (@arik_gilbert)? The man has plenty of options... #Bama #WDE #ALLIN #UGA #LSU #BoomerSooner #PennState #GigEm #Vols #FightOn @rivals #RivalsChallenge Profile: https://t.co/LEumSi6uv9 pic.twitter.com/z4ps4pWCiy
— Chad Simmons (@ChadSimmons_) June 24, 2019
RECRUIT EVALUATES ANALYST
Usually is it the Rivals.com team of analysts giving the breakdowns of recruits, but on Monday, four-star offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran shared his thoughts on the analyst for his region, Sam Spiegleman.
Spiegleman gave Van Pran's evaluation five-stars.
My dudes @ReuseRecruiting and @LXIII_NOVA breaking down yours truly . āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø analysis pic.twitter.com/HZgLjcXTxy
— Sam Spiegelman (@samspiegs) June 24, 2019
RINGO IS RIGHT
If you were in on our rankings calls the last few weeks, you would know this has been a big debate between the analysts at Rivals.com. Elias Ricks is the No. 1 cornerback and Kelee Ringo is No. 2. Both are five-stars and both are top six players in the 2020 class, but when Ringo was asked who should be on top today at check-in, he said himself.
I agree. Ringo has my vote.
Kelee Ringo (@KeleeRingo) enters the @rivals #FiveStar as the no. 6 player and no. 2 CB in the country. Thatās good, right? Heās not satisfied... He thinks he should be the no. 1 CB. https://t.co/vUr4U7zXBL pic.twitter.com/Ry5SCwxTBI
— Chad Simmons (@ChadSimmons_) June 24, 2019
SWAG BAG
In between eating, playing video games, going at it in ping pong and doing interviews, players had to take time going through their swag bag given to them by adidas.
The players were raving about what they received, and rightfully so.
.@adidasfootball hooking the players up at #RivalsChallenge today. @Rivals pic.twitter.com/7x64sX5glo
— Chad Simmons (@ChadSimmons_) June 24, 2019
SOME RECRUITING GOING ON
Harrison Bailey is a well-known recruit in the 2020 class. He is the first three-time participant at the Five-Star Challenge, and not only is he here to compete this week, but of course, he will be doing some recruiting.
The Tennessee commit has some big names on his radar, and he very close to a couple of them.
#Vols commit Harrison Bailey (@HBailey_05) here at the @Rivals #FiveStar for the third year in a row. Heās doing some recruiting. @Volquest_Rivals @JesseReSimonton @AustinPriceless @MHSFBFAMILY pic.twitter.com/cGl9bhJ8bZ
— Chad Simmons (@ChadSimmons_) June 24, 2019
PENN STATE A THREAT FOR DOWNS?
Joshua Downs showed up today wearing a North Carolina back pack, and the Tar Heel fans have to be excited about that. That was seen by everyone. But what was not seen by most was that, underneath his long-sleeve shirt, he was sporting a Penn State bracelet. The four-star wide receiver was just up in Happy Valley for a visit earlier this month.
Should North Carolina fans be worried? Listen, Downs has an uncle on that staff in Dre Bly, so the Tar Heels have something no other school has ā a family connection. He is going to be a tough flip for anyone.
#UNC commit Joshua Downs has on the backpack that will make Tar Heel fans happy today at the #RivalsChallenge. https://t.co/x2ap6QTJCx pic.twitter.com/SU3tZPITxN
— Chad Simmons (@ChadSimmons_) June 24, 2019
FRIENDLY EVALUATIONS
Two of the top quarterbacks in the country like just live miles apart in Georgia. Max Johnson is a four-star signal caller headed to LSU in the 2020 class and Brock Vandagriff, the top prospect in the 2021 class, recently committed to Oklahoma.
These two have worked out together and developed a close relationship. Today during media day, the two standout QBs offered a little breakdown of the other.
Good friends, Max Johnson (2020 QB #LSU Commit @qbmjohnson2020) and Brock Vandagriff (2021 QB #BoomerSooner Commit @GVandagriff) break each other down as signal callers. #FiveStar @Rivals @JLMcCuistion @JimmyDetail pic.twitter.com/EYcNEXcsWP
— Chad Simmons (@ChadSimmons_) June 24, 2019