4 Underrated 2016 Recruits Who Will Shoot Up Rankings After Killing It at Camps

There are a number of top recruits who have already established themselves as elite prospects heading into their senior seasons.

However, there are many more prep prospects who are still hoping to catch the attention of colleges during the offseason camp circuit. 

Last weekend, a few under-the-radar prospects—players who have yet to earn a star next to their names—established themselves as prospects on the rise after a strong performance at the Adidas Georgia Showcase held at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia.

Which players should fans be on the lookout for as prospects whose recruitment could blow up in the coming months?

DT Brandon Adams

Brandon Adams turned in a strong performance that resulted in him being named the MVP of the defensive line group. 

So far, the only offer for the Brentwood, Tennessee, product is Kansas. However, one ACC school and one SEC power will get a closer look at the 270-pounder soon at their respective junior days.

“I’m going down to Louisville on Feb. 21 and Auburn on March 7,” Adams told Bleacher Report. 

Adams is a powerful tackle who has the strength to be a force against the run and the athleticism to provide a pass-rushing presence on third down.

He was simply unblockable in one-on-one drills mainly because of his ability to fire off the ball and use his strength at the point of attack. 

Both Louisville, where he could potentially play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme, and Auburn, where he could play at either interior spot in a 4-3 look, could be good fits for Adams. 

With that type of versatility in his game, Adams—who mentioned plans to attend the Nike camp in Columbus, Ohio, on May 31—is a prospect whose stock will be worth watching over the next few months.

CB Korey Banks

The morning session at this weekend’s camp featured athletes running the 40-yard dash.

Considering that the temperatures were in the low 20s with noticeable wind gusts on the field, the conditions were far from ideal for players to turn in their best efforts.

However, one player who braved the elements to turn in a time of 4.40 seconds in the 40-yard dash was corner Korey Banks.

The 6’0”, 170-pounder was named one of the top 10 overall players at the event, flashing his length and athleticism at corner.

According to Jake Rowe of 247Sports, Banks has enormous upside at the corner position after mainly playing receiver during his junior season. According to MaxPreps, Banks hauled in 34 receptions for 543 yards and two scores.

His only offer to this point is from Mercer.

However, he was sticky in coverage all day long, and his background at receiver was evident when measuring his ball skills. His credentials may not yet match up with some of the more highly regarded corner prospects who were competing alongside him, but Banks proved himself as a recruit who could potentially reach double-digit offers by the end of the spring.

He is scheduled to attend a junior day at Clemson on March 7, and a trip to Kentucky is also in the works. 

While Banks may be a late bloomer, his skill set will prove to be intriguing for colleges evaluating him during the spring.

RB Russell Halimon

Russell Halimon had a monster junior season in leading Allatoona (Georgia) High School to a 14-1 record and an appearance in the Georgia AAAAA semifinals.

According to MaxPreps, the 5’10”, 185-pounder rushed for 2,217 yards and 24 touchdowns before suffering a fractured tibia in the playoffs.

“I felt like I did great,” Halimon said. “Coming back from my injury, I’m really getting back to being comfortable running and cutting. I felt great today.” 

Halimon flashed quick feet and balance in his position segment drills, and he was a standout in the seven-on-seven drills as a receiver. He routinely beat linebackers on deeper routes, and he showed the ability to catch the ball with his hands.

Halimon has six offers with Georgia State being the latest, but he has some powerhouse schools who have been in contact with him recently. 

“Florida just came to see me,” Halimon said. “Auburn came to see me. Georgia State offered me. I’m about to start talking to Miami.”

He has the skill set to be an all-purpose back or a slot receiver in spread attacks employed by teams such as Auburn and Clemson. 

Halimon mentioned the ‘Canes as well as Michigan and USC as programs who are currently standing out to him.

RB Barrington Wade

One player who had a long trek to the metro Atlanta area for last weekend’s event was Illinois running back Barrington Wade.

The 6’1”, 200-pounder—who rushed for 850 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior—was named one of the top 10 running backs at the showcase.

During drills, coaches at the event singled him out and offered him praise for his work and attention to detail.

He also showcased his athleticism hauling in multiple passes in seven-on-seven drills. In fact, he was fluid enough in his routes that it made him look natural at the receiver position. 

Overall, Wade proved himself to be a smooth and versatile athlete who could contribute at multiple positions at the next level. 

“The competition was really good,” Wade said. “It was fun to go against a lot of kids from down South. I wanted to show that I could catch and be a well-rounded back out here.”

Iowa and Western Michigan are his only two offers to this point. However, as Dan Kilbridge of SpartanTailgate notes, Michigan State, Penn State, Indiana and Northern Illinois are among the schools showing interest. 

His versatility could be appealing to a program such as the Spartans, who have shown that they aren't afraid to take athletes such as Wade and test them out at different spots after they arrive on campus.

If he continues to impress on the camp circuit, expect Wade’s offer list to swell in the next few months.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani