USA Today High School Sports reports that defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence of Wake Forest High School in North Carolina made history on Monday.
Lawrence climbed 12 spots to become the #1 recruit in the latest Rivals 100. It’s the biggest jump to #1 in the history of Rivals’ rankings system that dates back to 2002. Former #1 Jacob Eason, a University of Georgia verbal commit from Lake Stevens High School in Washington, fell to #4.
Here’s what Mike Farrell, Rivals.com‘s National Recruiting Director wrote about Lawrence’s ascension to the top spot:
“Dexter Lawrence is a special football prospect and when we went back and reviewed film on all of the top candidates at No. 1, he kept jumping out to us. We considered both of the quarterbacks, Jacob Eason and Shea Patterson, and of course Marlon Davidson was in the discussion as well. But when you combine how Lawrence continues to improve each time we see him with his amazing size, athletic ability, balance and his body of work on film, it was just the move to make. And his move up 12 spots to No. 1 is the biggest I can recall. Keep in mind that there have been so many bell-to-bell No. 1 guys from Adrian Peterson to Jadeveon Clowney that moves up to No. 1 are rare to start with and this one seems to be historic.”
The 6-5, 290-pound Lawrence has 31 offers.
Below is the Top 10 Players in the latest Rivals 100
1. Dexter Lawrence – DT, Wake Forest HS (North Carolina)
2. Shea Patterson – QB, Calvary Academy (Louisiana)
3. Marlon Davidson – DE, Greenville HS (Alabama)
4. Jacob Eason – QB, Lake Stevens HS (Washington)
5. Nate Craig-Myers – WR, Tampa Catholic (Florida)
6. Rashan Gary – DT, Paramus Catholic (New Jersey)
7. Demetris Robertson – ATH, Savannah Christian School (Georgia)
8. Mique Juarez – LB, North Torrance HS (California)
9. Gregory Little – OL, Allen HS (Texas)
10. Derrick Brown – Lanier HS (Georgia)
