The preseason Rivals100 Presented By Under Armour for the class of 2016 has been

released and with it, the nation has another new No. 1 prospect. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence had his short stay at No. 1 in the country and could certainly return, but Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy quarterback Shea Patterson takes over at the top after a great summer where he continued

to show improvement in so many areas.

"Patterson won out in a heated battle," said Rivals.com National Recruiting

Director Mike Farrell. "He had a great summer and when you put everything

together -- his ability to prolong the play, his arm strength and mechanics and

the way he throws receivers open, I could go on and on -- he just has that 'it'

factor you look for in a quarterback."

Patterson was outstanding at the Cam Newton quarterback competition and the IMG

7-on-7 national championships. Plus, he took home the Elite 11 title and was simply outstanding in team play at The Opening. Reflecting on his performance at each stop and the throws he made on film, his move from No. 2 to No. 1 was justified.

"He reminds me of Josh Rosen last year," Farrell said. "He's not as tall as Rosen, but he has that same attitude and ability. He moves around better than Rosen and throws an equally catchable ball and each one of them would give me great confidence if I'm the coach and my team is trailing in the fourth quarter."

In fact, a glimpse of that was seen this past weekend in IMG's opener where

Patterson threw what appeared to be the game-tying touchdown pass (a successful PAT would have put IMG on top) on the last play of the game of the game in a tough 19-7 loss to American Heritage. The

touchdown, a thing of beauty where Patterson not only showed off his ability to

scramble but his arm strength on the run as well, was called back due to a

holding penalty. Patterson was picked for a score on the final play of the game,

a desperation heave of sorts in the end zone, but it shouldn't take away from

the previous play.

"That play is what I'm talking about," Farrell said. "This kid is a winner. His

offensive line struggled all game, he struggled a bit out of the gate but he got

things going with his feet and then when his team needed the win, he delivered

only to be let down again by the line. This past weekend's games didn't even

factor into our rankings decisions on anyone - they were locked in last week

before play started - but it's a great example of how Patterson is going to be

that guy who leads a ton of fourth-quarter comebacks in college and beyond."

Mid-South Analyst Jason Howell, who has followed Patterson

since he was a freshman, agrees with the move to No. 1.

"Patterson continues to show he is one of the best in the country," Howell said. "He has put himself in position to compete against the best and he continues to come out on top. The latest example came at the Elite 11 where he earned top honors. He is polished, he is athletic. He is ultra-competitive and smart. He

may not be some 6-foot-4 guy but he has great arm strength, a quick release, and

great intangibles."

And the height factor is something that Farrell, an old school guy, has begun to

ignore.

"You have to ignore it in many cases and we're not talking about a 5-foot-10 kid

here, Shea is every bit of 6-foot-2 or in that range," said Farrell. "But with

Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Johnny Manziel and others having success on

different levels, as long as they can throw through lanes, it doesn't make a

huge difference. Patterson can throw over the top, through passing lanes and he

works so well outside."

Southeast Analyst Rob Cassidy, who handles Florida where

Patterson now does his work, also loves what he sees.

"Patterson was fantastic at every stop this offseason and shined at the national

7-on-7 championships at IMG academy, to which he recently transferred," said

Cassidy. "His showing at the Elite 11 certainly didn't hurt his stock, either. He

will have no shortage of chances to live up to his No. 1 ranking, as he and IMG

will play a truly national schedule that includes a number of tests."

Which is why Patterson, who replaces Lawrence at No. 1, who replaced quarterback

Jacob Eason, who replaced wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers before

him, is certainly no lock to be No. 1 at the end of the 2016 rankings cycle.

"You look at our top 10 and see names like Lawrence, No. 2 Rashan Gary,

No. 4 Gregory Little, linebackers like Mique Juarez, Ben Davis and Lyndell Wilson and guys like Demetris Robertson

and Marlon Davidson and it's wide open," said Farrell. "And don't

forget Eason lurking at No. 10, an elite quarterback himself. The last two

rankings cycles will be key."

In addition to a new No. 1, we have two new five stars but also four prospects

that lost that coveted fifth star.

"It's the first time I can remember more guys in blue than in red," said Farrell,

talking about the color coding for a new five star (red) and for a prospect

losing his fifth star (blue). "I think it's because we are ranking prospects

earlier and earlier and we are seeing more and more of them either stop

progressing at a five-star level or actually regress. That's my only explanation

and I think as we, as an industry, continue to rank earlier then more big

changes will occur. We've already had our fourth No. 1 in the 2016 class so the

days of bell-to-bell No. 1 players could be over."

Here's a look at the two new five stars and the four players that lost that

fifth star with a breakdown by our recruiting analysts.

"Nauta is the type of well-rounded tight end that comes around only once every

four years or so. He is large enough to be wildly effective as a blocker but

lean and explosive enough to be a major threat in the passing game. Whether it's

7-on-7 play or high school competition, he's always one of his team's biggest

offensive threats and is as versatile a player as there is in America." --

"I'm not a huge fan of making tight ends five-stars as many can tell by the

small number we've had over the years, but Nauta to me represents old-school

values in a tight end that aren't appreciated enough. He's shown he's a capable

and physical blocker at the high school level and that will be an asset at the

next level and beyond. He's re-dedicated himself to the weight room and has

become much more a threat in the passing game because he can now gain separation

with ease. If I had to compare him to an NFL tight end, it would be Jason Witten,

and that's high praise." -- Farrell

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