Final 2017 Rivals250: Players on the rise
The Under Armour All-America Game and the Army All-American Bowl are behind us and the final rankings for the 2017 class are in.
Alabama early enrollee Najee Harris held on for the top overall spot and five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson remained at No. 2 but after that there were plenty of changes up and down in the Rivals100 that was released Monday.
Here in the Rivals250 there was plenty of movement as well with many prospects moving all over the rankings following the all-star events. Here are the biggest risers in the Rivals250, with plenty of top prospects moving up in the latest rankings release.
MORE: Updated Rivals250 | Sliders in updated Rivals250 | Five new 2017 five-stars
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “For the last year the concern with Broiles was that he had the physical tools, but they were not all translating to the field. Those concerns were alleviated at the Under Armour All-American Game, though, when the Oklahoma commit locked up the top receivers at the event all week and had a very productive game performance.” – Rivals.com Midwest Recruiting Analyst Josh Helmholdt
Movement: +137
Analyst’s take: “Chaisson is down to a final two of LSU and Texas and will commit after taking official visits to both. He’s a long, athletic defensive end-linebacker hybrid with all the physical potential in the world. What held him back to this point had been his lack of decisiveness at times coming off the edge as a pass-rusher, but he showed all week long at the Under Armour All-America Game that he’s figured some things out and put it together for a great showing in the game.” – Rivals.com Texas Recruiting Analyst Nick Krueger
Movement: +41
Analyst’s take: “Harley is as sudden a receiver as there is in this class. Yes, his size limits him to an extent but his versatility and quickness will make him a nightmare for Big 12 defenders.” – Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst Rob Cassidy
Movement: +48
Analyst’s take: “Ruggs' strength is his speed and he showed it translates against top-flight competition during his two all-star game appearances. Alabama seems to be the frontrunner for Ruggs but Florida State and others remain involved. ” - Cassidy
Movement: +119
Analyst’s take: “The Washington commit really showed out at the Army Bowl and dominated at times up the middle. He has excellent size and could even add more weight to his frame, he’s powerful up the middle, shoots gaps and can chase people down in the backfield. He should be an excellent addition to the Huskies’ defensive line.” – Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney
Movement: +32
Analyst’s take: “We have been watching Ambry since before his recruiting process started, so there was not going to be a lot that surprised us with his performance at the Army Bowl. The Michigan commit, however, answered some lingering questions about just how good he can be as a pure cover corner and gets a nudge up to a 5.9 Rivals Rating.” - Helmholdt
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Mathis emerged later in the process than some of the prospects in the Rivals250 but he consistently impressed as the cycle moved along. After a great senior season he came to the Under Armour game and continued to shine, showing the ability to play both defensive tackle and defensive end at the next level. LSU is the favorite to land Mathis.” – Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst Woody Wommack
Movement: +50
Analyst’s take: “Beal's stock has gone up and down during the rankings process and it turns out that he's settled nicely in the middle. The Georgia commit has battled growing pains during his high school career, but showed that he's starting to tap into his tremendous potential with a strong showing at the Under Armour Game.” - Wommack
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Wallace is quick and sure-handed. He showed during the season that he doesn’t shy away from contact, but he shines as a route-runner with good dip and burst in and out of his cuts. As any top wide receiver is expected to do, once he gets a step on his defender, he’s not easily caught, and he showed as much throughout the week in Orlando at the Under Armour All-America Game.” - Krueger
Movement: +30
Analyst’s take: “Burmeister had such an incredible senior season that he needed to get bumped up in the rankings because he’s a fantastic dual-threat quarterback. The new Oregon commit, who just flipped from Arizona, threw for 4,463 yards with 53 touchdowns and eight interceptions and he also rushed for 1,470 yards and 27 scores. He could be stellar in the Ducks’ offense.” - Gorney
Movement: +59
Analyst’s take: “Moore is so big and so athletic that he will be a major asset in the trenches at Florida. He plays with a mean streak and has the ability to play tackle or guard. Moore also has room left in his frame so he can fill out and get stronger.” – Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst Adam Friedman
Movement: +34
Analyst’s take: “Brooks blew expectations away at the Under Armour All-America Game. He had the speed to make plays all over the field and filled running lanes nicely. Maryland, Notre Dame, Northwestern and Oregon are all trying to get him to patrol the middle of the field for them.” - Friedman
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Smith is a shifty athlete who helped his stock with a strong showing at the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. He was the game's most explosive playmaker and could be an X-factor type player in South Carolina's offense.” - Wommack
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Martin has one of the Midwest's hottest recruitments going right now, with Iowa, Michigan State and Notre Dame battling, but he took a break from the decision-making process to put on a good show at the Army Bowl. Martin catches everything thrown his way, and it is thrown his way often because he always manages to get open.” - Helmholdt
Movement: N/A
"Swilling moved up after impressing the analysts that covered the Army All-American Bowl. After moving from running back to focus on linebacker full time, the Georgia Tech commit has started to blossom and is the crown jewel of the Yellow Jackets' 2017 class." - Wommack
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Adebo recently decommitted from Notre Dame. When he was committed to Notre Dame, it was as a defensive back, but at the Under Armour All-America Game, he flashed his skills as a wide receiver all week long. As a prospect at either position, he has elite size and explosiveness. His Mansfield High School team didn’t always use him defensively and often ran the ball on first, second and third downs, so it’s a fair wager that the best has yet to be seen from Adebo.” - Krueger
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Yeast took the momentum he generated in his final high school season when he just missed out on Mr. Football honors and carried it into the Under Armour All-American Game. A two-way threat, Yeast stood out in that event while playing wide receiver, even though he may end up as a defensive back when he gets to Louisville next season.” - Helmholdt
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “One of the big questions about Lugg heading into the all-star season was whether he would be physical enough to contend with other major prospects. The Notre Dame commit stepped up and played very well at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Lugg is a very good pass blocker but will need to get stronger before seeing meaningful playing time in South Bend.” - Friedman
Movement: N/A
Analyst’s take: “Randolph is committed to Alabama and unlikely to change his mind despite kicking around the idea of visits. Randolph participated in two all-star games and displayed great lower body strength and improved technique.” - Cassidy
