Rankings Update: Final 2016 Top 40, First 2017 Top 15

While class of 2016 recruiting is winding down, class of 2017 recruiting is heating up, and that is why I am including my early Top 20 ranking of Virginia high school juniors along with the final Top 40 ranking of Virginia high school seniors.

First things first, the Postseason Top 40. Here are some notes before getting to the actual list…

– Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach) cornerback Levonta Taylor remains my top prospect in the state. I see him as the only 5-star recruit in the class.

– Highland Springs wide receiver/defensive back K’Von Wallace is one of the biggest risers. Unranked in the preseason, a breakout senior season has him at no. on this list. The Cincinnati commit received late offers from Clemson, Ohio State and Virginia Tech, among others. The speedy playmaker helped the Springers captured the 5A state title in 2015.

– ATH Robbie Robinson and WR Grant Holloway are no longer included on this list. Robinson transferred to DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD) before the 2015/2016 school year, while Holloway has accepted a track scholarship with the University of Florida.

– This class boasts a solid group of offensive linemen. I have three offensive line prospects in my top 11 and six in the top 30.

2016 POSTSEASON TOP 40

1. Levonta Taylor, CB, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach), Committed to Florida State
2. Scott Bracey, ATH, Benedictine (Richmond), Committed to Duke
3. Clark Yarbrough, OL, Woodberry Forest, Committed to Stanford
4. Josh Ball, OL, Stafford, Committed to Florida State
5. Wayne Davis, DB, Lake Taylor (Norfolk), Committed to Ohio State
6. Kyree Campbell, DL, Woodbridge, Committed to North Carolina
7. Jalen Elliott, ATH, L.C. Bird (Chesterfield), Committed to Notre Dame
8. Patrice Rene, DB, Virginia Episcopal (Alexandria), Committed to North Carolina
9. Mark Birmingham, TE, Briar Woods (Ashburn), Committed to Duke
10. Jaquan Yulee, LB, Indian River (Chesapeake), Committed to Marshall
11. Jay Jay McCargo, OL, Bishop O’Connell (Arlington), Committed to North Carolina
12. Reggie Floyd, RB/S, Stonewall Jackson (Manassas), Committed to Virginia Tech
13. Eric Kumah, WR, Forest Park (Woodbridge), Committed to Virginia Tech
14. Chase Pine, LB, Lafayette (Williamsburg), Committed to Pittsburgh
15. Phillip Patterson, WR/DB, Bayside (Virginia Beach), Committed to Virginia Tech
16. JoVonn Quillen Jr., ATH, Hampton, Committed to Virginia Tech
17. KVon Wallace, ATH, Highland Springs, Committed to Cincinnati
18. Tavante Beckett, LB, Indian River (Chesapeake), Committed to Virginia Tech
19. Joseph Reed, WR, Randolph-Henry (Charlotte Court House), Committed to UVA
20. JJ Givens, ATH, Atlee (Mechanicsville), Committed to NC State
21. Joe Goff, DL/OL, Episcopal (Alexandria), Committed to Navy
22. Cole Blackman, WR, Atlee (Mechanicsville), Committed to UVA
23. Sulaimon Kamara, DT, Hermitage (Richmond), Committed to Wake Forest
24. Traveon Redd, ATH, Magna Vista (Ridgeway), Committed to Wake Forest
25. Jesse Meyler, OL, Virginia Episcopal (Alexandria), Committed to Northwestern
26. Thomas Jarrett Hopple, OL, Nansemond River (Suffolk), Committed to Virginia Tech
27. Donaven Tennyson, WR, Benedictine (Richmond), Committed to Vanderbilt
28. Tim Glass, S, George Washington (Danville), Committed to NC State
29. Zach Adams, OL, Riverbend (Fredericksburg), Committed to Texas Tech
30. Donovan Williams, ATH, Hylton (Woodbridge), Committed to Connecticut
31. Drew Birchmeier, OL, Cosby (Midlothian), Committed to Vanderbilt
32. Keyvone Bruton, S, Lake Taylor (Norfolk), Committed to Temple
33. Trevion Armstrong, WR, Trinity Episcopal (Richmond), Committed to Nevada
34. LaRonde Liverpool, ATH, Landstown (Virginia Beach), Committed to Wake Forest
35. Patrick Jones II, DE, Grassfield (Chesapeake), Committed to Pittsburgh
36. Myles Hudzik, DB, Bishop O’Connell (Arlington), Committed to Duke
37. Greg Dortch, RB/WR, Highland Springs, Committed to Wake Forest
38. Landan Word, LB/ATH, Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, VA), Committed to UVA
39. T.J. Jackson, OL, Cumberland, Committed to Virginia Tech
40. Andrew Trainer, TE, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes (Alexandria), Committed to Illinois

The in-state class of 2017 is already one of intrigue with both Virginia Tech and Virginia introducing new head coaches. Fans of both schools are anxious to see an improvement in landing the cream of the in-state crop. The class of 2017 will be the first opportunity for Justin Fuente and Bronco Mendenhall to prove their recruiting chops in-state.

This initial list is only a top 15; however, I will continue to add to the list in the coming weeks and months until I reach a full preseason top 40. The amount of defensive talent in next year’s class in this top 15 is outstanding. Some big-time performers on the defensive side of the ball, and then running back Khalan Laborn headlines the offensive prospects.

1. Darnell Ewell, DT, Lake Taylor (Norfolk)’
2. Devon Hunter, ATH, Indian River (Chesapeake)
3. Khalan Laborn, RB, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach)
4. TyJuan Garbutt, DE, Riverbend (Fredericksburg)
5. Yetur Matos, DE, Chancellor (Fredericksburg)
6. Luiji Vilain, DE/OLB, Episcopal (Alexandria, VA)
7. Breyon Gaddy, DT, Bishop Sullivan (Virginia Beach)
8. Eric Crosby, DL, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach)
9. Ellis Brooks, LB, Benedictine (Richmond)
10. Jordan Williams, DE, Cox (Virginia Beach)
11. Dylan Rivers, LB, Sherando (Stephens City), Committed to Penn State
12. Elijah Conliffe, DL, Hampton
13. Jonathan Sutherland, DB, Episcopal (Alexandria)
14. Tahj Capehart, WR, Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach)
15. Rayshard Ashby, LB, L.C. Bird (Chesterfield)