Rankings Roundtable: Who ought to be the following five-star within the Rivals250?

[ad_1] Rankings Roundtable: Who ought to be the following five-star within the Rivals250?

Samari Matthews The subsequent replace for the 2026 Rivals250 will come out on Monday and there may be loads of chatter about who ought to be the following five-star.

With a complete of twenty-two five-star prospects proper now, which elite prospect will get his fifth star subsequent? Our nationwide analyst workforce of Adam Friedman, John Garcia Jr., Adam Gorney, Greg Smith and Sam Spiegelman give their takes on who they'd wish to see as a five-star prospect.

FRIEDMAN: Samari Matthews Matthews has been competing in opposition to elite receivers for years and now the North Carolina native has come into his personal. His top, enjoying energy and wingspan are consistent with first-round projections and he has the pace essential to beat almost each receiver who strains up throughout from him.

Matthews has an excellent really feel for the place and really clear footwork. He persistently will get his fingers on the ball and tends to jar the ball free when he hits receivers. Matthews has the quick space quickness to have the ability to keep on with smaller, shiftier receivers and the scale to persistently win in bounce ball conditions.

He has challenged himself on nearly a weekly foundation this offseason and he'll proceed to face top-ranked receivers because the spring and summer time progress.

GARCIA: Jake Kreul At what level does the IMG Academy star's domination drive our hand towards that fifth star? Kreul was as soon as seen as a pass-rush specialist along with his various ability set off of the sting, and he nonetheless dominates about each setting along with his progress there, however he has additionally rounded out his sport and confirmed to be a three-down participant in opposition to elite competitors.

The pass-rushing prowess alone combines loads of what NFL expertise evaluators covet, from a fast first step to polished strikes on a body with verified size (80.5-inch wingspan on a 6-foot-3 body) in addition. Throw in elite athleticism and bend, a real motor and improved energy to carry the purpose in opposition to the run and the better argument has grow to be why to push Kreul by means of to the highest of the category versus holding him again.

GORNEY: Mark Bowman Georgia telling any tight finish that they are the following Brock Bowers may be a stretch – besides if it is Mark Bowman as a result of he has a ton of the identical qualities as a participant and may even be extra superior on the identical stage.

Bowman may by no means put up monster stats at Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei as a result of they unfold the ball round a lot and use ball management with the working sport however he is a prepared blocker, a unbelievable route runner and catches all the things thrown his manner. He is so constant and so bodily spectacular that he may be counted on by any teaching employees.

That is a fully loaded tight finish class so there are loads of spectacular gamers however Bowman is the entire bundle. He might find yourself as a first-rounder so he ought to be much more within the five-star dialogue.

SMITH: Jonas Williams Williams has the entire bundle at quarterback. He’s a really good participant that protects the ball properly and isn’t reckless. He sees the sector properly and may course of info rapidly. The Illinois native has arm to suit the ball into tight home windows when wanted however also can escape the pocket to create huge performs.

Williams has slowly been rising up the board however he is able to make the leap to coveted five-star standing. He’ll be an excellent slot in Lincoln Riley’s USC offense the place he could possibly be a star.

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SPIEGELMAN: Lamar Brown The subsequent five-star prospect within the 2026 class ought to be Lamar Brown. He's already the No. 1 inside offensive line prospect for a motive. He has a unbelievable athletic profile and is a multi-sport athlete that competes on the offensive and defensive position in addition to in monitor and discipline.

At 6-foot-4 and 295 kilos or so, Brown is ready to block properly in house, dominate on the level of assault and attain a number of ranges as a run blocker. He is additionally proven in a camp setting how properly geared up he's in move safety. Applications are recruiting Brown to play on either side of the ball, however we consider that he gives first-round potential as an inside offensive line prospect.