Gorney’s Predictions: Underwood vs. St. Clair, 2025 TEs, 2026 QBs
Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney has three big predictions on the final 2025 rankings, Georgia tight end signee Elyiss Williams and 2026 QBs.
MORE GORNEY: Recruiting rumor mill
1. THERE WILL BE A NEW NO. 1 IN THE FINAL 2025 RANKINGS
There is one more 2025 rankings release following the all-star events and even if Bryce Underwood doesn’t play in any of those (No. 1 Tavien St. Clair is expected in San Antonio) there is a real chance the Michigan quarterback will end up in the top spot.
This is still up for debate but the Belleville, Mich., standout who flipped from LSU to Michigan right before signing day, has now started practicing with the Wolverines during bowl prep and he looks amazing.
From his physical size, to the way he moves, to the way he releases the ball, even in a practice setting, Underwood looks like the top player in the country. It’s unlikely St. Clair will play early as five-star Julian Sayin is waiting in the wings while Underwood is basically the guy in Ann Arbor from Day 1.
In the end, both St. Clair and Underwood are going to be very highly ranked in the final release. St. Clair has a million traits we love but Underwood might be even more special as he takes over the No. 1 spot.
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2. ELYISS WILLIAMS WILL END UP A FIVE-STAR
It doesn’t make sense that we absolutely love this tight end class yet we still don’t have a five-star tight end. That will change by the end of this rankings cycle after the all-star events.
Georgia’s Elyiss Williams, Tennessee’s DaSaahn Brame and Kansas State’s Linkon Cure are our three favorites and there are numerous reasons why there will be a five-star tight end by the end of this cycle with Williams leading the way.
There is usually at least one tight end taken in the first round of the NFL Draft and Williams is the best bet. He is not only a physical freak show but he moves so well for someone his size, and he has soft hands.
I’m interested to see Brame and Cure, especially in a padded setting, since Cure has been very limited with what national events he’s done.
But we love this tight end class. There is some wiggle room to add a few more five-stars. And Williams is at the top of this list so far.
3. WE ARE DONE WITH FIVE-STAR QBs IN THE 2026 CLASS
It might be way, way too early to make this prediction but as I look at the quarterback list for 2026, yes, I think we loaded up with five-star quarterbacks early and we are probably done at the position.
Of course, there will be a lot of debate and movement along the way. But with Ryder Lyons, Tennessee commit Faizon Brandon, Jared Curtis and Florida State pledge Brady Smigiel leading the way, that is probably it in terms of five-star quarterbacks.
Two players will be closely watched among the group though as Texas commit Dia Bell and Jackson, Ala., standout Landon Duckworth are the most intriguing.
If there’s a quarterback worthy of five-star status, he will get the bump, but right now I’m happy with the four we have and sticking with them.
