Which Uncommitted 2020 Five-Stars Recruits are Left to Bolster Classes?

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

The 2019 high school football season has yet to begin, but the fervor over college football recruiting is as hot as the summer sun. As is in every recruiting cycle, each of the 129 Division-I football programs would love to add one of the best in the nation to their 2020 class, regardless of position, in the form of a five-star recruit. Even though the pigskin has yet to go onto the tee and the Friday night lights have not illuminated the gridiron, the window on closing one of the best of the best is narrowing for college football programs. Per 247/Sports, there are only 29 five-star players in the 2020 haul with just 11 left uncommitted. Of the 18 committed, Clemson is leading the field with six of the truly elite verbally committed. But, can some of the other top programs close ground on the Tigers before National Signing Day?

The following looks over the top five-stars left on the board with an idea based on a hunch and a somewhat educated guess on where they may go.

*Click link to see where all the top 2020 five-star players have already committed!

Top Class of 2020 Uncommitted Recruits (national ranking)

No. 1 SDE Jordan Bunch (6-5, 250) – Hammond School – Columbia, SC

It is odd for the No. 1 overall player in the country to only have 11 reported offers, but that is how things have shaped up for Jordan Burch. The 11 includes Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, South Carolina, Duke, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wake Forest.

If the reported unofficial visits Burch has taken is an indicator on how things may swing, the top-four includes Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and South Carolina. Clemson already has three five-star defensive linemen commits in DT Bryan Bresee, DE Myles Murphy, and DT Demonte Capehart. Whose to say another five-star end like Bunch will not join the class making it even better?

No. 3 LB Justin Flowe (6-2, 225) – Upland HS – Upland, CA

To say college football programs love Justin Flowe’s play at linebacker might be an understatement. He has collected 39 reported offers from across the country. The USA Today All-American took spring visits to Tennessee, Kentucky, LSU, and Miami visiting Clemson in late July. One official has been set to Alabama for Sept. 20, the Tide’s game verses Southern Miss.

It would be unwise to discount USC in the mix given how close Upland is to the Trojans’ campus as opposed to the thousand-plus miles to the SEC and ACC schools recently visited. But there is a growing trend of California kids leaving the state for top programs across the nation, might Flowe continue the trend?

No. 6 RB Zachary Evans (5-11, 200) – North Shore HS – Houston, TX

Which college football program doesn’t want a running back with size, speed (4.51), quickness, and power? Zachary Evans combines all the elite talents of a tailback which has captivated next level scouts to the tune of 44 offers extended.

SEC schools outside the Lone Star State like Ole Miss, Alabama, and LSU are trying to steal Evans away from in-state programs, but not without a fight. Texas A&M and Texas hosted Evans in June. Worth noting, A&M and Texas both signed highly sought-after four-star running backs in the 2019 class.

The thought of competition out of the backfield does not scare Evans with an official set to LSU on Oct. 26. The Tigers landed five-star running back John Emery Jr. and four-star back Tyrion Davis in the 2019 haul.

No. 8 CB Kelee Ringo (6-2, 205) – Saguaro HS – Scottsdale, AZ

Kelee Ringo is the rare corner who has all the desired tools at corner including size (6-2, 205) and speed (10.58 100m). Playing for national powerhouse Saguaro, Ringo has attracted 34 offers. Ringo’s three unofficial visits to the Georgia Bulldogs suggests there is an undeniable attraction.

Count on Arizona State and Arizona to continue their process with Ringo down to the wire hoping to keep the top in-state prospect home for college.

No. 9 OLB Sav’ell Smalls (6-3, 230) – Kennedy Catholic HS – Burien, WA 

The evolution of college offenses to the Spread has brought about change on defenses with outside linebackers needing to be a triple-threat; stop the run, sack the quarterback, and cover in the flats. College coaches see what they need in Smalls on defense with 31 offers to pick from going forward. Those 31 offers have already been narrowed down to 12: Alabama, Florida, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Clemson, Florida State, and Washington State – listed in order per Small’s announcement via Twitter.

All teams may “need” Smalls, but hard to argue that of the teams in his top-12, the Washington Huskies may need him most. The Huskies already lost out on the No. 2 2020 rated player in-state, four-star receiver Gee Scott Jr. to Ohio State. The Huskies landed the top-two in-state in 2019, but No. 3 (ATH Darien Chase – Nebraska), No. 4 (QB Cale Millen – Oregon), and No. 5 (OLB Orin Patu – Cal) opted for out of state schools rather that play for the home state powerhouse.

No. 10 TE Darnell Washington (6-7.5, 261) – Desert Pines HS – Las Vegas, NV

Darnell Washington is a matchup nightmare for any defender, be it linebacker, corner and/or safety. He has great speed for his size, amazing hands, and a wingspan that stretches for miles. Some may want to discount his overall talents for playing in Nevada, but his skills have traveled to elite national camps with a continuation of imposing his will against other national elite players.

On May 27, Washington announced his top-11 listing out Miami, Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, and Tennessee in no order. Since the end of May, Washington has taken unofficial visits to FSU, Auburn, LSU, and Miami.

No. 11 TE Arik Gilbert (6-5, 253) – Marietta HS – Marietta, GA

Arik Gilbert, if he plays tight end not defensive end in college, is yet another uncommitted five-star matchup nightmare for college defenders. With a laser-timed 40 clocked at 4.73 and a vertical at 34.6 inches, whichever team he signs with has added an instant chain mover and red zone threat.

So far, 26 offers have gone out to Gilbert with unofficial visits over the spring taken to Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Tennessee.

Alabama landed his first official on June 14 with Gilbert stating, “I had a great time at Alabama this weekend on my official visit.” If all official visits are taken, guessing Tennessee and Georgia get another visit. Could Clemson, Auburn, or Oklahoma work their way into the conversation?

No. 18 WDE Desmond Evans (6-6, 238) – Lee County HS – Sanford, NC

Desmond Evans has an Arden Key (LSU) look to him at 6-6, 238. Capable of causing chaos in the opposition’s backfield after a 12-sack 25-tackle for a loss campaign in 2018, 19 offers have gone out. His size suggests that he can add meat to his frame to bulk up against Power 5 competition.

With 19 offers on the table, on May 2 Evans posted his top-10 schools of North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio State, Alabama, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, N.C. State, Florida, Clemson and Duke. As recruiting continues, 14 days later Michigan offered. If Evans announced unofficial visits mean anything, the Tar Heels may have this one wrapped up already with four visits in June alone.

No. 20 RB Bijan Robinson (6-0, 200) – Salpointe Catholic – Tucson, AZ

Bijan Robinson earned his five-star status by rushing for 2,400 yards and 35 touchdowns off 170 carries during his junior season. The result was a 13-1 season for his Lancers’ squad and 21 offers dropped on the doorstep.

Robinson visited UCLA twice over the spring, but once official visits could be taken, Ohio State (June 14), USC (June 17), and Texas (June 21) were the hosts. One lucky school and their fanbase will know if they have landed one of the best in that nation on Aug. 2. There is a lot of chatter that Ohio State may have Robinson’s full attention.

No. 22 RB Kendall Milton (6-1.5, 229) – Buchanan HS – Clovis, CA

Kendall Milton has been a workhorse back for his Bears’ squad over the past two seasons punctuating the thought with a 174-carry, 1,337-yard, and 27-touchdown season in 2018 after a 1,500-yard 23-touchdown campaign as a sophomore. Certainly a Power 5 back with a bruising mentality getting yards after contact and he can make defenders miss.

The recruiting process and the importance of the decision has not been lost on Milton with numerous unofficial visits taken over the past two years. The fortunate few who got his official visits were Ohio State (May 31), LSU (June 7), Georgia (June 14), and Alabama (June 21). Milton makes his announcement on Monday, June 29. The Georgia Bulldogs may have another elite back on the campus very soon.

*Kendall Milton committed to Georgia on July 29

No. 23 LB Noah Sewell (6-2, 266) – Orem HS – Orem, UT

The state of Utah is finally getting its due on the national stage with the talent churned out each year off the field. The 2019 class produce heavy hitter defensive tackle Siaki Ika (LSU) out of East and Orem delivered receiver Puka Nacua (Washington). The Tigers have yet another highly ranked recruit bringing even more college scouts to the Orem High School sidelines in linebacker Noah Sewell. Sewell is a freak athlete for his size and a true thumper in the middle coming up with 103 total stops and 16 tackles for a loss last season.

The immediate bloodlines in the Sewell family to college football includes brothers Nephi Sewell (Utah), Gabriel Sewell (Nevada), and Penei Sewell (Oregon).

Noah Sewell could be influenced by any one of his brothers or the 34 total offers extended to him to choose from before National Signing Day. SEC schools have made an impact with Noah taking unofficial visits to Alabama and Tennessee with an official set to Texas A&M on Oct. 11. Hard to discount Pac-12 schools having an impact, especially the Oregon Ducks.

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Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Kelee Ringo