re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition

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NEW FIVE-STARS

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NAKOBE DEAN

“Dean checks almost every box when dissecting an elite linebacker. The height and length are minor concerns, but those are the only real questions about his game and his projection. He is a very instinctive linebacker who can play in space, who can rush the passer and who fill the holes against the run. Dean is a linebacker who can stay on the field, and be effective all three downs against today’s college football offenses. Dean is looking at Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M and others.” -- Simmons

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The Mind of Mike is a scary place and with a new Rivals100 release it is overflowing with random thoughts.

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... Here’s my breakdown of the new five stars…

CB Andrew Booth – He has the size you covet at cornerback and great instincts. It’s hard to imagine him busting out at all as he could be a great safety as well. Clemson is getting a good one.

LB Nakobe Dean – Dean may not be long but he’s a compact, physical tackling machine who can cover a lot of ground. He’s a quick twitch kid who plays very well downhill and is a thumper when he arrives at the football.

WR Joseph Ngata – You can’t have enough tall, athletic receivers with great body control and Ngata has all the attributes of a great wideout. He’s a red zone nightmare and has great downfield speed and good ability after the catch. He keeps the Wide Receiver U tradition at Clemson going.

DT Antonio Alfano – Alfano plays angry, has a non-stop motor and could be a big defensive end or defensive tackle at Alabama. His first step is elite and he uses his hands very well but it’s his temperament that I like the best.

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THE STORYLINE

One of the hotter debates during the latest round of rankings was whether Owen Pappoe should remain a five-star and the top linebacker nationally or whether Nakobe Dean had done enough to earn his fifth-star and surpass Pappoe as the top linebacker in the 2019 class.

The way it shook out was that Pappoe, who is committed to Auburn but is being heavily pursued by Tennessee where his high school teammate Wanya Morris has pledged, dropped his fifth star and moved to No. 41 in the country.

After an outstanding senior season, Dean, out of Horn Lake, Miss., moved up 13 spots to No. 19 overall and he earned his fifth star. As it stands heading into the all-star events, Dean is the lone five-star prospect at either inside or outside linebacker position. Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama and others are involved in his recruitment.

Was moving Pappoe down and Dean up to make him the top linebacker in the class the right call or has the Auburn commit proven enough to also be a five-star recruit and the top LB in this class?

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TAKE TWO: MIKE FARRELL, NATIONAL RECRUITING DIRECTOR

“You can make a good case for Pappoe being better than Dean, at least in the long run. He’s taller and longer and has a better frame to add weight and he’s more athletic overall. In a few years, we could be looking at one of the most athletic 245-pound linebackers in the country who can run sideline to sideline and is a quick-twitch kid. He probably won’t be as strong as Dean or as physical, but he should be able to cover more ground and be more effective as a blitzer. His upside is impressive.”

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Mike Farrell breaks down linebacker Nakobe Dean and what makes him a five-star prospect in the Rivals100.

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