Where does the top talent come from
Before we release our second-to-last set of rankings for the class of 2015, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at which states are producing the top prospects at each position. And it's no surprise that Florida, California and Texas dominate the list. But there's still plenty of top talent coming out of Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. Find out which three states lead the way position by position.
QUARTERBACK
Advertisement
Josh Rosen
1
California
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
1 PRO-STYLE
2
1 DUAL-THREAT
37
3 PRO-STYLE
67
2
Texas
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
2 DUAL-THREAT
50
3 DUAL-THREAT
54
6 DUAL-THREAT
100
3
Florida
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
5 DUAL-THREAT
74
9 DUAL-THREAT
203
11 DUAL-THREAT
NR
It is a banner year out on the west coast for quarterbacks in 2015, especially in California. At the start it looked like Rosen-Town battle for top honors but Barnett has continued to push his way into the discussion as have others. In Texas, dual-threats rule with Stidham, Murray and President all bringing athleticism to the position while in Florida Francois has the cannon, Johnson has the records and Jackson hopes to take over eventually where Teddy Bridgewater left off from south Florida.
RUNNING BACK
Soso Jamabo
1
Texas
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
5
47
6
66
4 ALL-PURPOSE
92
2
Florida
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
2
17
10
98
12
108
3
Alabama
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
4
44
9
97
13
110
With three running backs in the R100, Texas takes the top slot at this position with Jamabo, Jones II and Anderson, who checks in as an all-purpose back with his receiving skills. In second, Florida edged out Alabama in a Southern battle. Once we add in Mark Walton, who re-classified to 2015, it will be even stronger in Florida, but don't sleep on the talent in Alabama and the versatility of those backs. With all nine of the players in these states ranked in the top 110 nationally, it is obviously a deep recruiting year at running back.
WIDE RECEIVER
Calvin Ridley
1
Florida
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
1
6
4
34
6
63
2
Louisiana
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
2
13
15
150
19
165
3
California
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
8
70
11
99
20
171
Another no-brainer here for Florida, as Ridley, Cain and Phillips are the No. 1, 4 and 6 receivers nationally. Louisiana edges out California for the second spot. With Johnson, Charlot and Merritt, and it's a really strong group in the Bayou. Overall, this is an extremely impressive group of nine as each of the players is ranked in the top 171 players nationally and there's a chance that Irwin could be the most productive of the group down the line.
TIGHT END
Garrett Williams
1
Florida
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
4
144
5
148
18
NR
2
California
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
6
232
10
NR
22
NR
3
Georgia
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
11
NR
12
NR
21
NR
Florida is tops here, being the only state with two Rivals250 tight ends with Williams and Clarington. In California, all three tight ends are already committed, while in Georgia, Owens and Imatorbhebhe are still looking for a home as Wilkerson is committed to Florida State. Not a superior year at tight end overall, but there is depth. The top two tight ends hail from states not on this list.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Mitch Hyatt
1
Georgia
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
2 TACKLE
16
3 TACKLE
21
8 GUARD
146
2
Florida
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
1 TACKLE
11
9 TACKLE
94
14 TACKLE
162
3
Texas
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
4 TACKLE
23
13 TACKLE
149
11 GUARD
174
With two five-star recruits and a third at No. 146, Georgia easily takes the top slot on the offensive line. Hyatt and Edoga are both beasts, while Wilson is hoping to be the next great Stanford lineman. Ivey, a five-star, and Fruhmorgen, a Rivals100 recruit, helps put Florida into the second position, while Texas, led by five-star Teuhema, squeezes in at third. It's odd that a northern state couldn't crack the top three here.
DEFENSIVE END
Byron Cowart
1
Georgia
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
4 STRONGSIDE
38
2 WEAKSIDE
52
3 WEAKSIDE
60
2
Florida
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
1 STRONGSIDE
1
2 STRONGSIDE
12
12 WEAKSIDE
NR
3
South Carolina
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
5 STRONGSIDE
58
6 STRONGSIDE
59
11 WEAKSIDE
NR
While five-stars Cowart and Jefferson are tough to argue with, Georgia actually brings the best defensive end group to the table. Ledbetter, Patrick and Brown are all Top 60 recruits nationally right now, while after Cowart and Jefferson, next up in Florida is Ford, who isn't in the Rivals250. Rounding out the top three is South Carolina, who also have two recruits in the Top 60 with Blackshear and Huggins. The land of Jadeveon Clowney is starting to produce more and more defensive linemen.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Daylon Mack
1
California
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
2
9
9
95
19
NR
2
North Carolina
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
6
42
8
57
30
NR
3
Texas
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
5
39
11
155
21
NR
No clear leader at defensive tackle, but California takes the top spot thanks to the Rivals100 duo of McKenzie and Daniel, plus four-star Washington State commit Toki. North Carolina also has two Rivals100 defensive tackles with Roseboro and Tuttle, while Texas has two four-stars with Mack and Daniels. How impressive is it that McKenzie and Tuttle will team up in Knoxville for Tennessee? Very, as this is one of the best 1-2 punches at the position in Rivals.com history.
LINEBACKER
John Houston
1
California
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
2 OUTSIDE
25
3 OUTSIDE
30
4 INSIDE
107
2
Ohio
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
5 OUTSIDE
36
1 INSIDE
49
5 INSIDE
120
3
Virginia
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
4 OUTSIDE
33
6 INSIDE
123
11 OUTSIDE
128
Plenty of talent at the linebacker position, but California takes the top position thanks to two of the top three outside linebackers, Houston and Lucier-South, in the country and the fourth rated inside linebacker in Smith. Ohio is loaded at the position this year, which is especially good for Ohio State, since they have commitments from Baker, Hilliard and Conner -- an amazing trifecta. And Clemson-bound Chad Smith leads the Virginia group, with Simmons and DeBerry also being ranked in the top 128 players nationally. It's good to see Virginia, which has probably produced more top-end talent the last few years in more than a decade, make a list.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Derwin James
1
Florida
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
1 SAFETY
4
2 CORNER
14
4 CORNER
28
2
Texas
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
3 SAFETY
26
5 CORNER
43
11 CORNER
111
3
California
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
1 CORNER
3
8 CORNER
93
5 SAFETY
113
It's hard to compete against what Florida has to offer at defensive back any year, and this year is no different. With the No. 1 safety in James and the No. 2 and 4 cornerbacks with Toliver II and McFadden, they simply dominate. It's a closer call after Florida, but the trio of Thompson, Sheffield and Boyd slightly beats out Marshall, Langley and Tell. While Marshall is the highest rated out of these six, and the No. 1 cornerback nationally, the Texas trio ranks a little better nationally as a group. FSU has two commitments with James and McFadden.
ATHLETE
Ray-Ray McCloud
1
Florida
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
2
18
3
83
6
103
2
Texas
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
9
194
17
NR
21
NR
3
California
PLAYER
POS. RANK
RIVALS RANK
4
84
20
NR
42
NR
Once again, no surprise that Florida tops the list here and that the big three, Florida, California and Texas, lead the charge. In Florida, three of the top six players at the position in the country hail from the Sunshine State. McCloud, Burgess-Becker and Gibson are also all in the top 103 players nationally. After that, it is not that clear, with it being a toss-up between California and Texas. Texas takes second with Lynch, Ketchum and Coutee and Calie slides into third with Norman, Johnson III and Kelly.
Click Here to view this Link.