Post-spring ranking updates are coming soon. A wealth of new information emerged during spring camp, and the rankings will be updated soon to reflect the latest projections from the national analytics team for the 2025 and 2026 classes.
This week, a team of national analysts will examine their biggest questions at the upcoming rankings conference. Next is the Southeast.
1. Will Julian Lewis retain the No. 1 quarterback job?
Since Julian Lewis entered the Class of 2025, this question seems to be popping up more than ever.Still tried his best to keep the top spot and take home the MVP honor. Rival Training Camp Series Soon after, he punched his ticket to the Elite 11 finals in Atlanta.
Not many in the South, but nationally, there are clear challengers for the No. 1 quarterback position, and that conversation starts with five-star LSU commit Bryce Underwood . He received the honor before Lewis reclassified it, and has only since impressed with his in-person performances. Ohio State commit Tavien St. Clair, Texas commit KJ Lacey and Notre Dame commit Deuce Knight will also continue to permeate the discussion.
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2. Will new five-star hotels appear in the South?
There are currently 18 five-star recruits in the class of 2025, and we know that number will eventually exceed 30 by the end of this cycle, so who are the most likely candidates to move from the Southern states? Florida State may have some of the most interesting arguments in the next update.
Positional rankings help drive the conversation when the best player and No. 1 weakside defensive end prospect Javion Hilson makes a case for moving toward the fifth star.He dominated the game Rival Training Camp Series In Miami, he was a long, twitchy speed rusher who also showed off some power and counter moves along the way. Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng retains the title of No. 1 outside linebacker and looks to be the ideal modern off-ball defender in this class, displaying speed and range on every possession.
If there’s a sneaky prospect near the top of his position’s rankings with a chance to jump further, versatile athlete Vernell Brown III might have that resume. He dominated nearly every environment he was involved in, including winning the wide receiver MVP award at Miami Stadium Rival Training Camp Series April events.
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3. Which defenders will bring down the team in Rivals250?
There’s considerable turnover in both the 2025 and 2026 classes, almost across the board, but the rising senior class will likely see the most changes in prospects on the defensive side of the ball. Some are already listed as four-star recruits after strong performances in the offseason, such as Alabama linebacker Luke Metz, Peach State freshman and cornerback Shamar Anux and safety La Gonza Hayward.
There are some trends in the defensive line group at Florida State, especially on the inside with prospects like Floyd Bukader, Jax Carter and Mandrell Desir. Team numbers in both the Peach State and Sunshine State will rise rapidly in this update, and unfortunately, some of the people currently in Rivals250 have been pushed outside.
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4. Where are the “big” cornerback recruits?
Of course, ranking updates aren’t just about who’s up and who’s down. Fresh, face-to-face evaluations provide us with the opportunity to make our own decisions about position predictions. Most people move because of remodeling of the body, either as a result of a growth spurt or a major change in weight. But for everyone else, we need every evaluation we can get because the line between the two positions is so close.
Cornerbacks are always in the conversation. At the highest level, players at this position are getting bigger. There are a few in the blue-chip discussion, starting with five-star DJ Pickett, who is currently the No. 1 player in the country. In the South, Naeem Offord, Gregory Thomas and Ben Hanks are all 6-foot-2 or taller according to current cornerback projections. Everyone but Hanks has entered the Rivals 250, but as evaluations continue, not all will maintain that position prediction.
