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

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The momentum of the Polynesian Bowl attracting the nation’s top talent continues as five-star inside lineback Antoine Sampah accepted an invitation to play in the prestigious game in January 2020.

Sampah, who is the No. 2 inside linebacker and No. 21 player in the industry-generated 247Sports Composite class of 2020, was drawn to the game’s meaning and high profile.

“I want to show my talent and just go out there and have fun,” the 6-foot2 ½, 220-pound Sampah said. “Those are key reasons I want to play in the game. I feel like I can learn a lot by just going out and playing.”

Sampah is yet to travel to Hawaii, but he has a vision of what it will be like.

“I feel like it will just be beautiful there,” he said. “I feel like it will be a lot of fun, and it will be sort of like a vacation.”

Sampah is the latest big-name player from the Washington, D.C., area in the class to committ to playing in the game.

Already slated to compete are receiver Rakim Jarrett and linebacker Mekhail Sherman of Washington (D.C.) St. John’s, running back Chris Tyree of Chester (Va.) Thomas Dale and Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha running back MarShawn Lloyd.

“I know a couple of them and I saw they were playing,” Sampah said. “I know Chris Tyree. We talked a little bit. I just feel like I have to go because so many of the guys from my area are going, and they want to showcase their skills. I figure it is a good place for me to go and do the same thing.”

Sampah, who is the No. 1 inside linebacker and No. 13 player nationally in the 247Sports rankings, already has an extensive offer list, and he made a number of visits during the season.

He was at Alabama and Clemson for games in early November, and he visited Penn State, Tennessee and West Virginia for games in September.

In addition, Sampah made unofficial visits to North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Florida, Florida State and Clemson in the spring and summer, and he has a few other schools on his mind when it comes to offseason visits in the next few months.

“Oklahoma and Miami,” he said. “I want to see some of the other ones that have offered, too, but it is mostly Oklahoma and Miami. I’ve basically been to all the schools (to offer) on the east coast. I’ve been to a lot of the schools already.”

He added he does not have any dates for visits set in January or February yet.

In addition to the aforementioned schools, Sampah’s offer list includes LSU, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

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1. Who did personally go to bat for in the latest rankings that will make you look very wise down the road?

Rob Cassidy (Florida): I love Virginia Tech commit Keshawn King, who was a three-star prospect until this update. King has solid speed and is coming off of a monster season running behind an offensive line that was up-and-down. I think King might be a name to know in the ACC for years to come. I’m also am a huge fan of Miami commit Jahfari Harvey, who we moved up for a second straight time. He could be every bit as good a college player as the more touted Khris Bogle.

Mike Farrell (National): It wasn’t just me, but I was a big proponent of Texas A&M tight end commitment Baylor Cupp getting a nice bump. I like his size and athleticism. The way Jimbo Fisher uses the tight end in his offense should only help him get better and more effective. I think he’ll be one of the best tight ends in the SEC before long.

Adam Friedman (Mid-Atlantic): I'm going to say Joseph Wete here although I did push for Antonio Alfano to be a five-star. I'm sure Alfano will have success at Alabama once he gets on the field but I really like what Wete's pass-rushing skills and athleticism could do for the Oklahoma defensive line. He has the frame, length and speed to fill out and become a major presence off the edge.

Adam Gorney (National/West Coast): I pushed for Joe Ngata to become a five-star and there was not a lot of pushback after the other analysts reviewed his film. In a class where there has been regular discussion about Theo Wease or Jadon Haselwood or George Pickens, I think Ngata has a real chance to become the best receiver in this group. He could not have picked a better offense for his skillset, he looks and play just like Tee Higgins or Justyn Ross, and he will have Trevor Lawrence throwing him the ball for the next two seasons. Ngata has 1,132 yards and 20 touchdowns so far this season. When I saw him dominate a game in September, I knew I was looking at a five-star receiver.

Josh Helmholdt (Midwest): I can't take full credit for this, but I was definitely one helping push the bandwagon on Kentucky commit Wandale Robinson, who debuts in the Rivals100 during this update. When all is said and done, I will probably have seen Wandale as much or more than any other analyst because he spent a lot of time at the events I covered. I have a strong appreciation for his skillset and playmaking ability.

Chad Simmons (Southeast): Andrew Booth. The Clemson commit was made a five-star this update and I feel very good about that ranking. Booth has done nothing but improve, and showed he is among the top defenders in the country. Booth really checks a lot of the boxes to make me feel he is one of the top prospects in the country. He plays to a high level each time he steps on the field.

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2. What was the most interesting/difficult debate to sort out in this rankings update?

Mike Farrell (National): I’m a big Jalen Curry fan but others are not. They think he lacks elite speed and that could be true, but he makes up for it with route running, excellent hands and a great feel for the game. However, he slid 80 spots out of the Rivals100 because I’m the only one who thinks he’s a Rivals100 talent so this was an interesting debate.

Rob Cassidy (Florida): Trying to decide who's No. 1 at weakside defensive end was a fun debate. Both Nolan Smith and Kayvon Thibodeaux are elite prospects that deserve to be five-stars, but somebody has to be first. Personally, I’m in the Thibodeaux camp because of his length and high upside. What I want doesn’t always come to fruition, however.

Adam Friedman (Mid-Atlantic): It was hard to figure out what should happen with Quavaris Crouch. I've been in favor of him remaining a five-star but I got out-voted and now he's the highest-ranked four-star in the Rivals100. I understand the concern about his transition to linebacker at the next level after not having played much this season, but Crouch is a rare athletic specimen and I expect him to be ready to make an impact in college.

Adam Gorney (National/West Coast): The discussion about Quavaris Crouch was extensive and lengthy. At some point in the call we just needed to make a decision as a group of analysts and live with it. The former No. 1 player in the class during the early stages of this cycle, Crouch has now moved to the highest four-star, one spot away from being a five-star. He’s dealt with injuries and a high school team that was not exactly loaded with talent so his performance at the all-star events will play a massive role in his final ranking. If he shows up and dominates, preferably at linebacker, then Crouch could get back in the five-star discussion. He will be playing elite talent in a few weeks and it will be his opportunity to show us what he’s got.

Josh Helmholdt (Midwest): The debate over Quavaris Crouch losing his fifth star was probably the most intense. I can get behind the move because few, if any, prospects near the top of the 2019 class have as many outstanding questions left to answer as Crouch does. However, I will also not be shy about pushing for him to re-earn that fifth star if he sufficiently answers those questions at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio next month.

Chad Simmons (Southeast): Where to slot Owen Pappoe was a nice discussion. We all know he is an elite athlete. Each time he tests at an event, his numbers are off the charts, but is he a top linebacker, would be better at safety, or should we call him an athlete? He has been in many discussions over the past year to year and a half. We have talked about his speed, size, athleticism, position, overall ranking and more. The Auburn commit was again, a hot topic.

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4. Who do you think we might have too low?

Mike Farrell (National): Aside from Curry, my guy is Nebraska linebacker commitment Nick Henrich, who could be a national top 50 talent. I know he’s been banged up a bit this year, but I love his instincts and the way he reads the play. He’s going to be a tackling machine in the Big Ten.

Rob Cassidy (Florida): I still think Keon Zipperer could shine in the right college offense. He lacks ideal size for a tight end, but his versatility makes him interesting. Once he gets into a college program, he could realize his upside and be used in an H-back role. I understand the knocks on him, but he’s the kind of guy that could improve dramatically. We’ll see.

Adam Friedman (Mid-Atlantic): Other than Quavaris Crouch, I think Brandon Smith is too low. The linebacker has great size and instincts, and plays with a ton of aggressiveness. The range that Smith brings to the linebacker position makes it so difficult for any ballcarrier to get to the outside against him.

Adam Gorney (National/West Coast): Jake Smith is a kid who really started to intrigue me in the spring when I saw him at the adidas National Championships. I’m worried even at No. 69 nationally he could be a touch underrated because he should be a star in the Big 12. Smith rushed for 741 yards and 15 touchdowns, and more impressively the four-star went for 58 catches for 1,070 yards and 22 more scores. Smith could be an immediate star in the Longhorns’ offense since he could be utilized all over the field.

Josh Helmholdt (Midwest): This is another topic covered in today's Rivals Ranking Podcast and on there I went with Fort Lauderdale, Fla., defensive end Khris Bogle. But, let me give you another: Houston defensive end Marcus Stripling. He may not be a guy that wows you with speed or power, but he simply gets the job done. I came away from the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by adidas in Atlanta feeling he was a Rivals100 guy, but he slips out of that ranking in this update.

Chad Simmons (Southeast): Charles Moore is a prospect I saw recently and he really stood out to me. The problem is, I saw him after the rankings meeting. Him being on the back-end of the Rivals250 is not where he should be. The Mississippi State commit missed last season with a knee injury, but he is back. He has that toughness I like in a defensive lineman and his best football is ahead of him. I see him moving up some in the last update early in 2019.

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3. Who do you think we might have too high?

Mike Farrell (National): I like Taulia Tagovailoa as a quarterback prospect but based on his lack of great size and average quickness I think he might be too high at No. 112 in the nation. He has a cannon of an arm no doubt, but I don’t think he should be that high. Of course I wasn’t that high on his brother, either. Oops.

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204. Kevin Harris (-18)
207. King Mwikuta (-105)

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