The busy camp and 7-on-7 circuits are in full gear this spring, and like always there will be plenty of movement in the Rivals.com player rankings. Here is a look at five players on the rise and two whose stock is sliding in the Southeast region.
STOCK UP
Recruiting wrap: Alabama and Auburn are perceived as the favorites, but Miller continues to say he will go anywhere. He recently listed recently Georgia and Florida as two schools outside his home state that he is looking at.
The breakdown: Miller is a versatile defensive lineman who can move around along the defensive front. He is a big body who holds his ground, he can eat up space and he also can get up the field. He has worked hard in the weight room this offseason, he is in great shape and he has had a great spring. Miller is one of the top defensive linemen in the south.
Recruiting wrap: Alabama is the leader with Auburn, Florida, LSU and South Carolina rounding out his top five. He could commit late this summer.
The breakdown: Walker is a great athlete. He makes outstanding plays at tight end, but his future is on defense. Some schools like him as outside linebacker, some like him on the inside and others as an edge rusher. He has grown about an inch over the past six months - he is now around 220 pounds - and he is an explosive defender. He plays fast, he is good in space and he is outstanding when asked to go get the quarterback.
Recruiting wrap: Committed to LSU
The breakdown: Anderson is an elite athlete with length, speed and so much upside. He helped his team to a state title in 2016 and his best football is ahead of him. He has great closing speed, he can bend, get low and race around the corner and he is athletic enough to play in the flats. He has a great first step and, when he turns his focus completely to football (he also plays basketball and runs track), he could be scary.
Recruiting wrap: Clark is committed to LSU.
The Breakdown: Clark committed to the Tigers early in the process and is looking like a terrific early evaluation by the school. He was far and away the best linebacker at the Rivals Camp in New Orleans earlier this year, nabbing MVP honors. That was just the start of a great camp season for Clark, who looks like he could be the next star linebacker in a long line of players to excel in the Tigers defense.
Recruiting wrap: Taylor is committed to Tennessee.
The breakdown: Taylor spent last offseason working out at every position from quarterback to defensive back during major camp events. But now he’s settled on the wide receiver position, and as a result he continues to make very impressive strides. Taylor has starred in both 7-on-7’s and in a camp setting, and his route-running and catching ability continue to improve. The more he has a chance to hone in on one position the better he becomes, and that is likely to continue going forward.
STOCK DOWN
Recruiting wrap: South Carolina may be in the lead with his teammate M.J. Webb signing there in 2016, but Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Tennessee are in the mix.
The breakdown: Williams missed the spring due an ankle injury and he may be a different player when he returns to the field this fall. He is close to 250 pounds now, so will he stay at linebacker or play with his hand in the ground at defensive end? He is naturally athletic, but with the future position up in the air and him having to come back from an injury, Williams stock has dropped some.
Recruiting wrap: A one-time Alabama commitment, Rosenthal is still considering the Tide, LSU and several others.
The breakdown: A year ago Rosenthal looked like he would become one of the nation’s best offensive linemen, but he since has shifted his focus to defensive line, a position at which he’s still developing. He has tantalizing size and athleticism, but right now a ranking inside the Rivals100 over more accomplished defensive linemen seems like a little bit of an overshoot. Look for a correction during the next round of rankings updates.
