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Published Feb 22, 2018
Updated 2019 Position Rankings: Who moves up and who slid?
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Josh Helmholdt  •  Rivals.com
National Recruiting Analyst
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@JoshHelmholdt

The class of 2019 is now front and center after the class of 2018 has signed all of their letters of intent. This week we update the position rankings for that 2019 class following some evaluation opportunities at late state playoffs as well as winter camps and showcases.

MORE: Updated Rivals250 for 2019 class | Crouch takes over No. 1 | Big Movers

PRO-STYLE QUARTERBACK

Class of 2019 Pro-Style Quarterback Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Zamar Wise, Newark (N.J.) Barringer (Up 4 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: None

COMMENTS: It will be a common theme in this update that many positions will be without any prospects whose stock dropped. That is the case here, though several saw their stock increase. Wise, a Rutgers commit, got the biggest bump and lands at No. 12 after his four-point rise. Alabama native Paul Tyson earned a fourth star in this update, while North Carolina native Sam Howell improved from a 5.8 to a 5.9 Rivals Rating.

DUAL-THREAT QUARTERBACK

Class of 2019 Dual-Threat Quarterback Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Jayden Daniels, San Bernardino (Calif.) Cajon (Up 10 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: None

COMMENTS: Oklahoma commit Spencer Rattler remains No. 1 in this ranking, and Michigan State commit Dwan Mathis still sits at No. 2, but from that point on there are several changes. Daniels takes over at No. 3 after his bump and Connecticut native Taisum Phommanchanh makes the highest debut at No. 5. New four-stars in this update are Jacob Conover, Lance Legendre and Taulia Tagovailoa, and all find spots in the top 10.

ALL-PURPOSE BACK

Class of 2019 All-Purpose Back Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: None

NOTABLE DROPPER: None

COMMENTS: Palm Beach’s Mark Anthony-Richards and California’s Sean Dollars move in from other positions to take over the top two spots in this ranking. Because of that, Keilan Robinson actually is two spots lower in the ranking after this update despite gaining a fourth star. There is an unusually large collection of all-purpose back talent at the 5.6 Rivals Rating, with more than half of his ranking falling within that tier.

RUNNING BACK

Class of 2019 Running Back Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Rahmir Johnson, Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic (Up 24 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: Treyson Potts, Williamsport, Pa. (Down 9 spots)

COMMENTS: It is a very strong year for talent at the running back position, evidenced in this ranking by 25 prospects rated four or five stars. The five-stars are Devyn Ford of Virginia and Trey Sanders of Florida, and they hold down the top two spots in this ranking. Another Florida native, Kenny McIntosh, makes the highest debut at No. 6 in this ranking after moving in from the athlete position and bumping up to a 5.9 Rivals Rating.

WIDE RECEIVER

Class of 2019 Wide Receiver Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Frank Ladson, Miami (Fla.) South Dade (Up 20 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: Brieon Fuller, Doral (Fla.) Academy (Down 15 spots)

COMMENTS: Texan Theo Wease takes over the top spot in this ranking after leapfrogging fellow five-stars Jadon Haselwood and Arjei Henderson. Ladson is joined by Nashville’s Lance Wilhoite as new 5.9 Rivals Rated prospects, and both find spots in the top 10 of this ranking. New four-stars include John Metchie of Maryland, Tamauzia Brown and Elijah Higgins of Texas, each of whom end up in the top 40 of this ranking.

TIGHT END

Class of 2019 Tight End Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Jahleel Billingsley, Chicago (Ill.) Phillips (Up 8 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: Keon Zipperer, Lakeland, Fla. (Down 4 spots)

COMMENTS: Billingsley’s rise allows him to replace Zipperer in the top five of this ranking, but the rest of that group remains the same. Philadelphia-area prospect Nick Gallo is the only other prospect to move higher from the last ranking of this position, and he lands at No. 12. The list grows by 10 names, though, to include a top 25, and Georgia native Jaelyn Lay makes the highest debut on the list at No. 10.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Class of 2019 Offensive Tackle Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Wanya Morris, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson (Up 12 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: Luke Griffin, Chatsworth (Ga.) North Murray (Down 20 spots)

COMMENTS: Texan Kenyon Green is a new five-star in this update and takes over the No. 2 spot in the ranking behind fellow five-star Darnell Wright. Morris’ bump means he rounds out the new top three at the position. The highest debut is made by Xavier Truss, who is only the second prospect from the state of Rhode Island to be rated four-stars. He begins his tenure in this ranking at No. 18.

OFFENSIVE GUARD

Class of 2019 Offensive Guard Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Evan Neal, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy (Up 1 spot)

NOTABLE DROPPER: None

COMMENTS: The notable risers and droppers for this position would suggest little is going in with this position, but there was actually quite a bit of movement and most of it came from prospects moving in from offensive tackle. Neal’s move puts him at No. 2 in this ranking, while his teammate Dontae Lucas comes over from tackle to take over the No. 4 spot. Maryland native Will Harrod also comes over from tackle and lands at No. 11 after earning a fourth star.

CENTER

Class of 2019 Center Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Dylan McMahon, Savannah (Ga.) Christian School (Up 1 spot)

NOTABLE DROPPER: None

COMMENTS: With just five total prospects in the offensive center rankings, it is no surprise there is little movement here. In fact, McMahon’s rise from a 5.6 to a 5.7 Rivals Rated prospect and his subsequent one-spot jump accounts for the only change in this ranking. He leapfrogs South Carolina commit Vincent Murphy, who now resides in the No. 4 spot in this ranking, which is still led by five-star Clay Webb.

WEAKSIDE DEFENSIVE END

Class of 2019 Weakside Defensive End Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Braedon Mowry, Katy (Tex.) Taylor (Up 16 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: None

COMMENTS: The biggest news at the top of this ranking is Floridian Khris Bogle rising into the top three after getting a ratings bump. Georgia native Kevin Harris moves in from the outside linebacker position and also earns a spot in the top ten. Several new four-stars make appearances in the top 25. They include Miami commit Cameron Williams, Brooklyn’s Adisa Isaac and Florida native Ge’mon Eaford.

STRONGSIDE DEFENSIVE END

Class of 2019 Strongside Defensive End Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Laiatu Latu, Carmichael (Calif.) Jesuit (Up 25 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: Noah Potter, Mentor, Ohio (Down 11 spots)

COMMENTS: A third five-star joins Christopher Hinton and Zach Harrison at the position, and it is South Carolinian Zacch Pickens. The order of the top eight remains the same, though. After that you start to see prospects moving in from other positions or players rising, like Latu who moves all the way up to No. 13 following his ratings bump. The position features a remarkable 36 prospects rated at least four stars.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Class of 2019 Defensive Tackle Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Siaki Ika, Salt Lake City (Utah) East (Up 11 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: Carl Williams, Lufkin, Tex. (Down 13 spots)

COMMENTS: Five-star Ishamel Sopsher maintains a stranglehold on the No. 1 spot in this ranking, but Ika is among those charging up the board after ratings bumps. The Sat Lake City native is into the top five after making a two-level jump in his Rivals Rating. North Carolina native Joshua Harris makes a similar move, and is now the No. 7 prospect in this ranking. Georgia’s Jaelin Humphries makes the highest debut in this update at No. 12.

INSIDE LINEBACKER

Class of 2019 Inside Linebacker Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Kane Patterson, Nashville (Tenn.) Christ Presbyterian (Up 4 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: Drake Thomas, Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage (Down 8 spots)

COMMENTS: This ranking expands by 10 to include a top 25 now. The highest debut is made by Californian Daniel Heimuli, who is a new four-star in the Rivals250 and starts off at No. 4 in this ranking. Cleveland’s Tommy Eichenberg and Fort Lauderdale’s Avery Huff are also new four-stars who find spots in the top 12 of this ranking. All are chasing Baltimore’s Shane Lee, though, who has a strong hold on No. 1 being the only 6.0 or higher rated prospect at the position.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

Class of 2019 Outside Linebacker Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Allen Walker, Milton, Ga. (Up 5 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: None

COMMENTS: The outside linebacker ranking sees very few changes from the post-junior season update of this position. There are a few new names entering the ranking, which expands to 35 total prospects from 30 back in December. The highest debut is made by Charlotte’s Esita Ekwonu, who starts off in the top five. Others in the top five include Alabama commit King Mwikuta and Georgia native Owen Pappoe, who remains No. 1 in this ranking.

CORNERBACK

Class of 2019 Cornerback Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Erick Young, Richmond (Tex.) Bush (Up 10 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: Myles Bell, Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas (Down 25 spots)

COMMENTS: The winter camps gave us a chance to scout many of the top cornerbacks around the country and several made strong impressions. Californian Chris Steele is a new five-star, and he remains No. 2 in this ranking behind fellow five-star Derek Stingley Jr. The highest debut is made by Sheridan Jones out of Virginia who starts off at No. 14.

SAFETY

Class of 2019 Safety Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Anthony Harris, Havelock, N.C. (Up 9 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: Tyler Scott, Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) University School (Down 4 spots)

COMMENTS: Only the fourth position to have a new No. 1, safety is now led by Texas A&M commit Brian Williams after he moves up to a 6.0 Rivals Rating. Scott’s drop allows Noa Pola-Gates from Arizona to make his debut in the top 10 after starting out rated as a four-star prospect. Further down the list Harris and Maryland’s Nick Cross find spots in the top 20 after earning their fourth stars in this update.

ATHLETE

Class of 2019 Athlete Rankings

NOTABLE RISER: Jake Smith, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Notre Dame Prep (Up 9 spots)

NOTABLE DROPPER: Jashawn Sheffield, St. Simons Island (Ga.) Frederica (Down 4 spots)

COMMENTS: California’s Bru McCoy is a new five-star, but he was already No. 2 in this ranking and he stays there because the top spot is held by No. 1 overall in 2019 Quavaris Crouch. Smith’s rise earns him a place in the top 10, while Virginian Cam’Ron Kelly debuts at No. 12 after coming over from the safety ranking and earning a bump from 5.8 to a 5.9 Rivals Rating. New four-stars in the top 25 are Arizona’s Ty Robinson and Baton Rouge’s Makiya Tongue.

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