Power Ranking Top 10 Most Talented States in 2017 Recruiting Cycle
Pride. Every competitive athlete has it. And when it comes to bragging rights, many athletes are quick to let others know how competitive their state is, compared to others.
Each year, there are the usual suspects when it comes to finding the elite college football talent. But every year, a sleeper state or two is considered one to watch, as college recruiters and scouts go through the proverbial rat race that is recruiting.
Last year featured states like New Jersey, Mississippi, Maryland and North Carolina as states to keep an eye on. While those states once again feature an abundance of talent, here are 10 states loaded with athletes who can be immediate impact players at the next level.
The states were chosen using both the quality and quantity of each state's talent base.
10. Nevada
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State nickname: The Silver State
Number of 5-stars: 1
Number of 4-stars: 4
Number of top-100 players: 2
Highest-ranked player: QB Tate Martell (No. 30 overall, No. 1 DUAL)
The state of Nevada has only five athletes rated as 4-star or better, but with the level of talent near the top of the rankings, the state will have several eyes on it this year. It all starts with Texas A&M commit Tate Martell, the nation's top-ranked dual-threat quarterback.
Martell leads one of the nation's powerhouse programs in Bishop Gorman. Another Bishop Gorman stud is Haskell Garrett, the nation's No. 4 defensive tackle who has committed to Ohio State. Two other Bishop Gorman athletes to watch this season are USC safety pledge Bubba Bolden and cornerback Alex Perry, who has a dozen reported offers.
Outside the Bishop Gorman walls features a bevy of college-caliber talent. Leading that charge is Las Vegas defensive tackle Greg Rogers, who has 22 reported offers. USC, UCLA and Oklahoma are among the schools to watch in Rogers' recruiting process.
9. Pennsylvania
2 of 10
State nickname: The Keystone State
Number of 5-stars: 0
Number of 4-stars: 8
Number of top-100 players: 3
Highest-ranked player: APB D'Andre Swift (No. 32 overall, No. 1 APB)
Last year, it was New Jersey as the Mid-Atlantic school to seriously keep an eye on. This year, Pennsylvania has the athletes to watch, particularly near the top of the state's rankings. Pennsylvania has two top-40 players in Philadelphia all-purpose back D'Andre Swift and Clairton cornerback Lamont Wade.
Swift is the nation's top-ranked all-purpose back, and Wade is a top-five nationally ranked cornerback. Combined, the two nearly have 50 reported offers. Penn State is hoping to keep both players close to home and add them to a 2017 class that also includes Pittsburgh offensive guard CJ Thorpe.
Notre Dame has done a good job in recruiting the state, landing the duo of Pittsburgh linebacker David Adams and offensive tackle Joshua Lugg. Pitt has managed to keep Homestead safety Paris Ford in the state with a verbal commitment in October.
8. Alabama
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State nickname: The Yellowhammer State
Number of 5-stars: 0
Number of 4-stars: 13
Number of top-100 players: 3
Highest-ranked player: WR Nico Collins (No. 66 overall, No. 12 WR)
The state of Alabama is home to the Crimson Tide, easily the closest thing to a modern-day dynasty college football has with four national championships since 2009, including one in January. Competition for in-state talent is among the most competitive of all states, as Alabama, Auburn and surrounding SEC schools battle for quality prospects.
Receiver Nico Collins is the state's top-ranked prospect, and Alabama is considered an early leader in his recruitment. However, the state's No. 2 player, linebacker Markail Benton, is considered to be an Auburn lean. And then there's offensive tackle Austin Troxell, the state's No. 3 player who has both schools high on his list.
Both Alabama and Auburn are hoping to close strong once the current recruiting cycle concludes. Alabama has athlete Chadarius Townsend and running back Brian Robinson committed. Auburn has one in-state pledge from athlete Alaric Williams.
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7. Ohio
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State nickname: The Buckeye State
Number of 5-stars: 1
Number of 4-stars: 14
Number of top-100 players: 1
Highest-ranked player: OT Josh Myers (No. 3 overall, No. 1 OT)
Nicknamed the Buckeye State, the state of Ohio is a primary target for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Head coach Urban Meyer made sure he secured the state's top-ranked player in Josh Myers, a top-five overall player and someone who could get early playing time at the next level either as a tackle or as a guard.
Five of Ohio State's 13 pledges in the 2017 class are from in-state athletes. Safety Brendon White is expected to be a player to watch, as is running back Todd Sibley. The Buckeyes are hoping to close on two other in-state prospects in Cleveland wide receiver Jaylen Harris and Cincinnati cornerback Amir Riep.
Ohio players are just as attractive to the rest of the country, and a few athletes could be best suited at schools outside the state. Michigan State is heavily recruiting Springfield receiver Danny Davis, while Kentucky is an early favorite for Mansfield athlete Tyrell Ajian.
6. Tennessee
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State nickname: The Volunteer State
Number of 5-stars: 2
Number of 4-stars: 5
Number of top-100 players: 5
Highest-ranked player: WR Tee Higgins (No. 15 overall, No. 2 WR)
A proud state with proud athletes, Tennessee will be a state to watch throughout the 2017 recruiting process. With two 5-star players in receiver Tee Higgins and athlete JaCoby Stevens, the state will be represented at the next level wherever they choose to play college ball.
The Tennessee Volunteers are doing their part to build their 2017 class with in-state athletes. Currently, the Volunteers have six commits, but not one is an in-state prospect. Higgins, Stevens and 4-star players like athlete Maleik Gray, offensive tackle Trey Smith and running back Ty Chandler are among the high-profile targets.
Clemson has recognized the talent in the state of Tennessee. Head coach Dabo Swinney managed to score commitments earlier this year from running back Cordarrian Richardson and receiver Amari Rodgers. Higgins and Smith also are Clemson targets.
5. Louisiana
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State nickname: The Pelican State
Number of 5-stars: 1
Number of 4-stars: 12
Number of top-100 players: 5
Highest-ranked player: DT Tyler Shelvin (No. 12 overall, No. 2 DT)
Louisiana is a state known for its skill-position players. This year, however, the top spot in the state belongs to Crowley's Tyler Shelvin, a 6'2", 329-pound LSU commit who is ranked the nation's No. 2 defensive tackle behind Marvin Wilson.
The state still has its standouts outside the trenches. Plaquemine safety Todd Harris and Amite receiver Devonta Smith together have 35 reported offers as of Thursday morning. The linebacker combination of Christopher Allen and Bruce Jordan-Swilling will be one to watch, as will the recruitment of dual-threat quarterback Lowell Narcisse.
If Georgia isn't the best school at recruiting in-state talent, LSU easily makes its case. Four of the five commits in the 2017 class are from Louisiana. Shelvin headlines the class, but Patrick Queen is an athlete who can play several positions at the next level. Queen has excelled at linebacker at The Opening regional competition this spring.
4. Georgia
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State nickname: The Peach State
Number of 5-stars: 1
Number of 4-stars: 31
Number of top-100 players: 9
Highest-ranked player: CB Deangelo Gibbs (No. 10 overall, No. 2 CB)
The state of Georgia has talent each and every year, and the Bulldogs are one of the best when it comes to recruiting and keeping in-state talent close to home. New head coach Kirby Smart is off to a great start with eight commitments all from the state.
Riceboro's Richard LeCounte III is ranked the nation's No. 2 safety, and some may even put him at the top spot because the No. 1 safety, Jeffrey Okudah out of Texas, is looking to play cornerback at the next level. Warner Robins quarterback Jake Fromm is expected to be a playmaker at the next level and should compete with Jacob Eason for starter minutes during his time on the Georgia campus.
Atlanta cornerback William Poole III and Ellenwood offensive tackle Netori Johnson are two of Georgia's latest commits. The Bulldogs are hoping to score big on the state's top-ranked player, Loganville cornerback Deangelo Gibbs, who has Georgia, Tennessee and a few other schools high on his list.
3. California
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State nickname: The Golden State
Number of 5-stars: 5
Number of 4-stars: 28
Number of top-100 players: 12
Highest-ranked player: RB Najee Harris (No. 1 overall)
Need proof that there's talent in the state of California? Two of the top-ranked players are in the top six nationally. Calabasas' Darnay Holmes is the nation's top-ranked cornerback, and Antioch's Najee Harris, an Alabama pledge, not only is the top-ranked running back but also the top-ranked overall player.
As per usual, the Pac-12 is recruiting the state hard, and six of the state's top-20 players already have given verbal commitments to schools in the conference. Among them are Fontana running back Stephen Carr (USC), Los Angeles athlete Greg Johnson (Arizona) and Redlands defensive end Jaelan Phillips (UCLA).
There are several athletes to keep an eye on from a recruiting standpoint. Collectively, the uncommitted 5-star trio of offensive tackle Wyatt Davis and receivers Tyjon Lindsey and Joseph Lewis have 75 reported offers as of Thursday morning.
2. Texas
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State nickname: The Lone Star State
Number of 5-stars: 3
Number of 4-stars: 43
Number of top-100 players: 16
Highest-ranked player: DT Marvin Wilson (No. 4 overall, No. 1 DT)
"Everything is bigger" is a slogan commonly associated with the state of Texas. In Marvin Wilson's case, everything is bigger, stronger and quicker. At 6'4" and 326 pounds, Wilson leads a solid 2017 class from the state—a state loaded with talent from top to bottom
Wilson is the prized get, but he's not the only one. Defensive back Jeffrey Okudah and outside linebacker Baron Browning both are 5-star products from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Texas Tech commit Jack Anderson is the nation's top-ranked offensive guard. Notre Dame and Ohio State were able to land out-of-state commits in tight end Brock Wright and all-purpose back J.K. Dobbins, respectively. And then there's linebacker Anthony Hines III, who has 88 reported offers.
The Texas vs. Texas A&M recruiting battles are always fun to track. Currently, the Longhorns have the edge in recruiting the top talent. Defensive end Lagaryonn Carson, quarterback Sam Ehlinger and receiver Damion Miller lead the charge for the Longhorns.
1. Florida
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State nickname: The Sunshine State
Number of 5-stars: 8
Number of 4-stars: 40
Number of top-100 players: 19
Highest-ranked player: LB Dylan Moses (No. 2 overall, No. 1 OLB)
To say the state of Florida is loaded with talented players would be an understatement. Each year, the state produces some of the best athletes in the country, and the 2017 class strongly supports the argument.
Many of these athletes will enter college as products of Bradenton-based IMG Academy, including linebacker Dylan Moses and defensive end Joshua Kaindoh, two top-30 players in the class. Moses has been a national story since the eighth grade.
There are also those stud players who are homegrown Floridians, such as Orlando offensive tackle Calvin Ashley, Jacksonville's Shaun Wade and Fort Lauderdale receiver Trevon Grimes and offensive tackle Tedarrell Slaton. All four are top-25 nationally ranked players.
Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All state nicknames are courtesy of 50States.com. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles.
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