Finally, The Rock has come back to Austin, Texas!
Or something like that.
After months of hibernation, the latest update to the LSR 2017 list has been updated for the seventh time since it's initial release. In some ways, the list will look very similar after so many updates, but in other ways this is an exciting update because of the new names that have emerged after the 2016 season.
I'm going to load this post up with a lot of info, toss it to you guys for any questions and then I will continue to post data from the list over the course of the next 48-72 hours or so.
Let me begin by saying that I love the talent in this year's class and without totally giving way to hyperbole, I think this is one of the top classes of talent we've seen in the state of Texas in the last 20 years. There are athletes, big men, quarterbacks and even a bunch of really good tight end prospects. There's just not a lot to dislike about the quality of players in the state this year IMO.
Here's a list of random thoughts.
a. Here is the star breakdown for me.
5.0 (4)
4.75 (5-11)
4.50 (12-26)
4.25 (27-39)
4.00 (40-53)
3.75 (54-96)
3.50 (97-100)
b. Baron Browning is my No. 1 ranked player among the five-stars, while Jeff Okudah (no. 2), Walker Little (No. 3) and Marvin Wilson (No. 4) follow. I have to admit that after watching some senior stuff from Wilson, I considered bumping him down to a 4.75, but I've decided to wait and do a little more homework on him, while waiting to see how he performs at the Under Armour game in January. Maybe I'm crazy and maybe he just wasn't at 100 percent, but I couldn't keep him at No. 1 in this update.
c. Of the rest of the Top 10, Tyrell Shavers might be rated higher than most people have him, but I just think the guy is a freak and has an unlimited ceiling as an athlete. He's raw, but you can't teach what he has.
d. The top three quarterbacks are really, really good (and all very different) and I'll pretty much accept anyone's order of the three, depending on perspective. I think Texas, OU and TCU all got future starting-level players.
e. I love K'Lavin Chaisson's raw athleticism and explosiveness as an edge player. I think he's a borderline national top 100 prospect.
f. Rivals and I see eye-to-eye on a lot for the most part, but we have very different opinions of Montrell Estelle, as I believe he's a national top 100 level prospect and Rivals has him as a three star. I think he's just a crazy good player/prospect that has about an hour's worth of showstopping play over the course of the last three years and I've loved him since I first put eyes on him back when he had zero offers. Just watch his film.
g. The wide receiver class is pretty sick. Ten of the top 41 prospects are wide receivers and the order comes down to personal preference.
h. I think LaGaryonn Carson is a national top 50 prospect from a talent perspective, but he scares me to death after the trials and tribulations from the last couple of years. He could be a first round pick or gone in six weeks and that kind of red flag kept him out of the top 10. He's one of my favorites on this class, though from a raw talent perspective.
i. I think Josh Thompson is underrated. He might be the best defensive back prospect in this state.
j. Only three of the top 10 and six of the Top 25 players/prospects on the list are uncommitted. Only 10 of the Top 50 are uncommitted.
Fire away your questions. Once again, here's the link to see the rankings.
