West Spotlight: Player Comparisons – Rivals.com

Prospect comparisons at all times generate a variety of dialog, and with the 2025 and 2026 class rankings beginning this week, now is a good time to take a step again and examine among the present prime prospects to some faculty or NFL stars.

Listed below are 5 comparisons for among the prime recruits within the West Area.

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One of many causes Ohio State has at all times been so excessive in Davison’s recruitment is as a result of he idolized Elliott as a child, and their taking part in types are eerily comparable at one stage.

The Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei working again is not lightning in a bottle, however he is a three-down quarterback who’s phenomenal in tight spots, so affected person on the line of scrimmage, after which in a position to get by means of a gap and get downfield shortly. Davison is not sizzling, however he is instinctive and decided, similar to Elliott on the identical stage.

On the NFL mix, Elliott checked in at 6-foot-2 and 225 kilos. Davison has bulked up a bit this offseason — possibly a bit an excessive amount of, as he may use a little bit of enchancment earlier than his senior season — and whereas we have been a bit off the mark on Elliott as a excessive four-star prospect, it isn’t excessive sufficient. Davison is at the moment a five-star and has so lots of the identical qualities on the identical stage. Ohio, Michigan, Oregon and Alabama are the 4 states to control.

When coaches and gamers speak about Slater as an NFL participant and as an NFL prospect, they speak about him being versatile on the offensive line, sensible and affected person, bodily when he must be and athletic sufficient to make it to the second degree. to look and destroy there too.

It sounds virtually precisely like Utu performs on the road of scrimmage at Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, as he has been at Rivals camps and different occasions for years and by no means, ever disappoints. It is wonderful how a five-star offensive deal with virtually by no means loses his status, and when he does, Utu learns from it and by no means lets it occur once more. He’s very constant, sensible, a quiet killer and performs similar to how Slater is now within the NFL.

One distinction: Utu was a five-star prospect, whereas Slater neglected Sugar Land (Texas) native Clements and selected Northwestern over Illinois and Kansas as a three-star. Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee and others are collaborating in UTU.

Henry performs lots and appears lots like his late father with the identical identify as a 6-foot-4, 200-pound receiver who has great ball expertise, however it’s an unfair comparability, which is why selecting Inexperienced as the 2 have so many similarities .

Inexperienced was a five-star prospect out of Summerville, South Carolina in 2008 who confirmed in highschool, faculty after which a superb NFL profession that he had nice arms, was an incredible runner and whereas he did not run after each cornerback all of the whereas defenders had been throwing the ball in entrance of him and Inexperienced went and acquired it.

Henry is similar in some ways. Even perhaps slightly extra bodily on the identical stage, the 2026 five-star large receiver is not a torch on the surface, however he can go up and outrun anybody within the nation to catch passes. He is slightly quieter and extra laid-back than Inexperienced on the identical stage, however Henry remains to be younger — it is onerous to imagine he nonetheless has two years of highschool left — however he has all of the makings of an elite outdoors receiver, as Ohio State landed his dedication, however LSU , Texas, Oregon and others are attempting to show it round.

Gardner was listed at 6-foot-3 and 190 kilos in his draft profile on NFL.com and was described as a long-limbed, sticky-handed cornerback who has the specified mixture of confidence and competitiveness.

That description additionally matches Lee completely, as he is 6-foot-3 and 181 kilos, has great size and ball-handling means, and could be an asset on offense when wanted, even with a loaded receiver group in Mission Viejo , California.

The third-best cornerback within the 2025 class and the primary outdoors of five-star standing, Lee can comfortably play on an island, has lengthy arms to knock down passes and the velocity to run with receivers. It would not be a shock if he was much more within the five-star dialogue when his senior 12 months started.

It might be hyperbolic to match the 2026 five-star quarterback to arguably the NFL’s finest — or second solely to Patrick Mahomes — quarterback in Jackson, however Lyons has a really comparable taking part in fashion to the Baltimore Ravens star. Lyons can also be a greater model of Jaxson Dart if there’s a faculty comparability which may make extra sense.

The Folsom, Calif., standout is an outstanding pocket cross rusher who can throw in any respect ranges, as he rushed for 3,578 yards with 38 touchdowns and eight picks in his sophomore season. Nevertheless, what units him aside is that he is additionally an elite runner and playmaker with the ball in his arms, as Lyons additionally had 929 dashing yards and 23 scores.

Like Jackson, he could be efficient on scheme runs. He is additionally nice at avoiding strain and making issues occur when issues break. Both approach, Lions is a menace to get a primary down or far more on virtually each play, and that is why he is a five-star quarterback in comparison with the Ravens QB.