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Several prospects rise in 2017 Rivals100
With the first No. 1 for the class of 2017 announced and eight new five stars,
some of the top players in the class can go unnoticed. But numerous players in
the new Rivals100 presented by Under Armour making jumps in their Rivals Rating
since our initial evaluation, there are plenty of names to keep an eye on led by
Grand Prairie (Texas) South Grand Prairie safety Jeffrey Okudah who is
in five-star range.
"There is a ton of talent right after that top 15 of five stars in the 2017
class," said Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell. "And
with that comes a lot of questions and with potentially more rankings cycles for
this class than any other we've had, we have a long way to go. Is D.J. Matthews better than Trevon Grimes in state and nationally? Is
Okudah in the discussion with DeAngelo Gibbs as the top safety? Is
Tate Martell the next Johnny Manziel as many say and think he
is? That's just a few of them. I could name at least 20-30 guys right now that I
think could end up as five stars in the end, there is so far to go. But that
makes it even more exciting."
Here's a breakdown of the prospects that jumped a bit since their initial
evaluation.Â
"Wade is a long, athletic corner who has an impressive 7-on-7 and camp circuit.
He moves well for a prospect of his build and boasts the size of a safety with
the coverage skill of a cornerback. Prospects with Wade's length aren't usually
so versatile."
-- Rob Cassidy, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst
OT |
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"Sarell is a mauler on tape and shows the tenacity that has drawn looks from coaches throughout the country. The massive 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman keeps his feet moving through blocks and has a strong upper body that allows him to easily overpower defenders." -- Blair Angulo, Rivals.com West Recruiting Analyst |
OG |
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"Johnson spent the spring camping at some of the nation's top schools and dominated the competition everywhere he went. At Alabama he impressed enough that Nick Saban took his commitment on the spot and he put on a similar show at USC, where the Trojans coaches were floored with his ability. At his size and his with his ability to move, Johnson looks like an elite prospect at the guard position." -- Woody Wommack, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst |
OG |
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"Davis is an incredibly nice person off the field but once he steps between the lines, the massive offensive lineman is tough, fierce and really looks to dominate his opponent on every rep. Davis showed at the Five-Star Challenge that he moves well enough to play tackle but he could be super special at offensive guard where he can own the middle of the line and open up holes for running backs as a road grader with good feet." -- Adam Gorney, Rivals.com West Recruiting Analyst |
TE |
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"Wright is the kind of tight end who can grind his man into the dirt as a blocker or get downfield and be an asset in the passing game. He can line up next to the tackle or flex out to the slot. He is a versatile tight end capable of playing every down. He also has a big frame and a lot of room for growth." -- Jason Howell, Rivals.com Mid-South Recruiting Analyst |
APB |
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"Carr has excellent size and speed so he can bowl over smaller defenders and keep running or the USC commit can get to the outside and run by people. What was also impressive to see this off-season was Carr's ability to catch the ball coming out of the backfield or motion to a receiver spot, run excellent routes and then haul in passes. As a runner or receiver out of the backfield, Carr can be a dynamic addition to the Trojans' offense in the coming years." -- Adam Gorney, Rivals.com West Recruiting Analyst |
RB |
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"Laborn's ability to seemingly glide around the football field at 5-foot-10 and 193 pounds and to have the agility to make defenders miss in the open field is very impressive. He has proven that he can make ridiculous catches out of the backfield or lined up as a wide receiver but Laborn will be asked to run between the tackle more this year that last year. It will be interesting to see how he handles that." -- Adam Friedman, Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst |
WR |
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"Lewis has tremendous speed on the outside and he doesn't slow down one bit in and out of his breaks. He can set up cornerbacks so well, he's a serious deep threat because of his speed or he can stop on a dime on shorter routes to get open. Once the ball is thrown, Lewis has sure hands and he's aggressive against cornerbacks draping themselves over him." -- Adam Gorney, Rivals.com West Recruiting Analyst |
DQB |
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"Tagovailoa was the best quarterback among good groups at both the USC and UCLA elite camps last month. He puts good velocity on the football and is very accurate when throwing on the run." -- Blair Angulo, Rivals.com West Recruiting Analyst |
OT |
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"Jackson manhandled any defensive end that stepped up to him at the USC Rising Stars Camp and earned a Trojans offer for his efforts. He is athletic, able to move away from the line of scrimmage and hit the second level, but also has a solid base to pass protect." -- Blair Angulo, Rivals.com West Recruiting Analyst |
PQB |
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"Allen's strength is his accuracy and he showed that off by winning the inaugural Rivals Quarterback Challenge Finals. Allen isn't perfect mechanically but he's as effective as most quarterbacks in America. The ball jumps out of his hand and he's able to make throws on the run." -- Rob Cassidy, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst |
PQB |
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"Mills checks every box you want in an elite quarterback's evaluation -- size, arm strength, accuracy and on-field performance. That's why it didn't come as a surprise when schools from all over the country checked in to see Mills throw this spring. Plenty of schools followed those visits up with offers and Mills is poised for a huge junior season as he looks to continue his rise up the ranks." -- Woody Wommack, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst |
S |
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"Pryor is another prospect who falls into the physically impressive beyond his years category. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds Pryor already looks like he could be playing in college and once he has some more experience under his belt he will surely only continue to impress against elite competition." -- Woody Wommack, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst |
WR |
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"South Carolina seems to produce a star wide receiver every year or so and Smith looks like the next prospect to fit that mold. He is big and has impressive leaping ability to go with excellent hands, making him one of the best we have seen in his class so far." -- Woody Wommack, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst |
RB |
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"Sermon is a big, physical back that easily reminds you of some of the stars in the current SEC. He's already 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds despite only being halfway through his high school career. As he continues to add even more muscle to his frame he will be quite a load for defenders to bring down." -- Woody Wommack, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst |
CB |
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"Wilson has always been blessed with ball skills and quickness. The fact that he continues to add size is helping his stock rise quickly. His upward trajectory is undeniable, as he continues to get bigger and more technically sound with each passing month." -- Rob Cassidy, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst |
PQB |
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"Gebbia has one of the strongest arms in the 2017 class. He can zip the ball all over the field and even though he doesn't have a big frame he has a lot of arm strength to deliver strikes. He's also proven to be a really intelligent quarterback who is starting to understand defenses better and get the mental part down so he makes the right reads. Being coached by former Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen and having Keyshawn Johnson around the program surely doesn't hurt, either." -- Adam Gorney, Rivals.com West Recruiting Analyst |
OC |
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"Harris spends most of his time at offensive tackle at Aledo, but his future is on the interior. He is technically sound and has some very quick hands. He also has a nasty disposition inside and some quick footwork. He can play either guard or center, but his combination of hands, feet, and size make him hard to deal with in the middle of the offensive line." -- Jason Howell, Rivals.com Mid-South Recruiting Analyst |
OT |
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"Banks impressed at the Rivals Camp Series last spring but then fell off the radar a little bit. He's back in a big way this summer with an impressive performance at the USC Rising Stars Camp. The Trojans and UCLA recently offered the big offensive lineman who moves well and is great with his hands. He is emerging as one of the better linemen in the West, if not in this entire class." -- Adam Gorney, Rivals.com West Recruiting Analyst |
DT |
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"Hansard is a ball of energy at defensive tackle that most interior offensive linemen can't handle. There aren't many defensive tackles that have his lateral agility and he uses his leverage very well. Probably the best thing about Hansard is the way he uses his hands. He is always working to swat away the offensive lineman's hands and there is a constant aggressiveness to him." -- Adam Friedman, Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst |
RB |
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"Richardson is a classic example of a big back with great vision who wastes no time hitting the hole and getting downhill in a hurry. At 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds he's built like a classic smash-mouth back but he also showed his ability to catch passes during events on the spring camp circuit." -- Woody Wommack, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst |
CB |
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"Williams is another defensive back who is only scratching the surface of his ultimate potential. He is still growing into his body but has terrific fundamentals to go along with a tremendous amount of confidence. If he continues on his current trajectory, he should have no problem validating his spot in the rankings." -- Woody Wommack, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst |
APB |
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"Akers isn't a traditional all-purpose back in the way that he boasts better-than-average size. Still, he's a threat catching the football nevertheless. Akers is able to make plays in space like few back of his build can. Akers is a rare blend of power and quickness." -- Rob Cassidy, Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst |
ILB |
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"Heimuli-Lund was the best prospect at the Mountain West Elite Camp this past spring, closing quickly on ball carriers but also showing the ability to blanket the middle of the field. He is a great tackler on defense, but is also garnering interest as a power back." -- Blair Angulo, Rivals.com West Recruiting Analyst |
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Mike Farrell National Recruiting Director |
Blair Angulo West Recruiting Analyst |
Rob Cassidy Southeast Recruiting Analyst |
Adam Friedman Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst |
Adam Gorney West Recruiting Analyst |
Josh Helmholdt Midwest Recruiting Analyst |
Jason Howell Mid-South Recruiting Analyst |
Woody Wommack Southeast Recruiting Analyst |
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