Five-Star Challenge: 3 Up, 3 Down

Many of the nation's best football prospects congregated in Atlanta for this weekend's Rivals Five-Star Challenge. Each one entering an arena against athletes that they very rarely, if ever, see back home.

Inevitably, there will be guys who thrive on the increased level of competition and show out. You can pick your axiom - iron sharpens iron, cream rises to the top, etc., but in this case the old adages often are proven true.

Inversely, there are prospects who struggle with the large uptick in talent.

These are six recruits who made a move - one way or the other - during the opening session in the Georgia Dome.

Hayes made a big name for himself at the Rivals Camp Series in Kansas City, where he earned his invite to the Five-Star Challenge and the big man from Missouri continued where he left off.

During the one-on-ones between the offensive and defensive lines, a large circle had gathered around to watch the show, which had become pretty heated. And the buzz from almost every one in attendance was how impressive Marquis Hayes was.

The Maryland Heights (Mo.) Pattonville star not only has the prototypical size for a guard, but he was fantastic body control - consistently keeping himself in a strong base with solid knee-bend and active feet. Hayes' strength was also able to withstand multiple barrages from the nation's No. 1 overall player, Marvin Wilson. The two engaged in some thundering clashes, with each getting the better of the other on different occasions, which is something almost no other blocker could say after facing off against Wilson.

It's no stretch to say that Hayes has been the most impressive offensive linemen thus far in Atlanta.

It's difficult for a linebacker to stand out in these types of camp settings. Running backs like Najee Harris and Cam Akers in the open field would be difficult for an elite cornerback to cover, let alone a 231-pound inside linebacker.

Yet, that's exactly what Jacob Phillips did.

While most middle 'backers at his age struggle looking fluid when forced to chase and change directions, Phillips is a smooth athlete that always looked comfortable out in space.

Easily one of the most impressive linebackers in attendance, Phillips is one to watch as the country's No. 109 overall player has a great chance to ascend into the Rivals100 before it's all said and done.

If you were to take one look at the secondary group in the Georgia Dome, it would be easy to overlook Trajan Bandy - literally.

The Miami (Fl.) Columbus cornerback may have actually been the smallest defensive back at the Five-Star Challenge. However, any disappointment towards the four-star's size was quickly reversed when watching him in coverage during one-on-ones.

Bandy could turn and run with any receiver - showing off his top-notch athleticism - but it was his football I.Q. and instincts that really shined. The nation's No. 118 overall player seemed to be in receivers' heads, as he would be patient and sit back on double moves, while also attacking downhill quickly when someone tried to beat him underneath. Even before the snap Bandy would mix up his looks, sometimes transitioning from off to press coverage just a moment before the snap.

Once in position Bandy also displayed impressive ball skills to turn his quality coverage into a big play. Multiple times he made a diving, outstretched deflection and he may have been the only defensive back to nab an interception off of fellow Oklahoma commit Chris Robison.

There may be no more impressive looking player in person than Chuck Filiaga. He is a mountain of a man and doesn't carry any bad weight unlike must other 335-pound human beings.

There was an eagerness to see how the gigantic soon-to-be Aledo (Texas) transfer would hold up blocking against some of the nation's elite pass-rushers.

It wasn't as if Filiaga was incapable or beat a ton of times by guys that were clearly better than him, it was just the four-star seemed timid to insert himself in drills and competitions.

In those OL/DL one-on-one scrums it becomes organized chaos. The only way to guarantee you get your reps is to assert yourself into the drill as many times as possible. At one point, Marvin Wilson went four times in a row because he just wanted to keep beating people. In the same time frame Wilson probably got about 20+ reps in, Filiaga logged two. On his first attempt, Filiaga was beat with an inside move before getting the better of the defender in the rematch, but then was never to be seen again.

Tre Brown is another guy who was more physically impressive than anticipated.

The perception of the Tulsa (Okla.) Union speedster had become one of a small, fast, track guy, but Brown was every bit of his listed 5-foot-11 and had one of the stronger frames among all of the corners.

Problems arose once the one-on-ones began and Brown struggled mightily to stay on receivers. The four-star Oklahoma commit was constantly being spun around and just flat-out struggled to force any incompletions.

At one point, Brown was moved to receiver to see what he could bring there, but even on a vertical route he struggled to utilize his speed to gain any separation.

The main issue with Mitchell is something both Filiaga and Brown had no problems with - just plain physical size.

Mitchell has hauled in over 20 offers from the who's who of college football programs before beginning his junior season, so there was an expectation for the four-star to have at least some sort of imposing frame.

Yet, it was readily apparent that the Virginia Beach star was a year behind those he was sharing the field with, as guys like Vandarious Cowen and Baron Browning just dwarfed Mitchell in size and the slight Bishop Sullivan star failed to make much of an impact on the field.

Hopefully Mitchell shines when he is more comfortable in Sunday's underclassmen session.