Ready for the Challenge

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For Richard LeCounte, DeAngelo Gibbs, Dylan Moses and Robert Burns, next week's Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge presented by Under Armour is an event that neither is taking for granted.

As rising sophomores, the quartet makes up the only members of the 2017 Class selected to compete in the prestigious event, set to begin June 7 at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

It's an opportunity all four are looking forward to.

"It really helps my motivation to get better," said LeCounte, who plays for Liberty County High in Hinesville, Ga. "I really want to go out up there, enjoy my time and I'm looking forward to learning a lot and be among those older guys competing, because that's how it's going to be in college."

Some big-time programs already think they're pretty good.

Of his 12 verbal offers, LeCounte boasts ones from the likes of Georgia, Alabama, Florida State, Auburn, Ohio State, among others. Moses' list is even more impressive.

Although he's verbally committed to LSU, Moses continues to be heavily pursued by the likes of Alabama, among others. Like LeCounte, he is anxious to prove he belongs to be mentioned with the top running backs in the country, despite the fact he will be competing against players who are two years older than he.

"For me it's going out there and competing. I know there's going to be a lot of competition out there, and the thing I'm just looking to do is go out there and make myself better," Moses said. "Going against those guys, it helps me out with my catching ability and get to the passes faster. I've learned on how to adjust my angles by going against better linebackers, and in one-on-ones its helped me learn more about how to get away from those linebackers and do my drills faster."

Moses has already proven himself at his two previous stops on the Rivals Camp Series, taking home top running back honors in each and would obviously love to earn that distinction a third time.

"I don't know … there's going to be a lot of great linebackers out there, the best in the country," he said. "Whatever happens, happens."

Burns (5-10, 205) - from Miami's Gulliver Prep - might have something to say about that.

"I think I deserve the opportunity," said Burns, who thus far holds offers from Florida State, Clemson, Ohio State, Wisconsin and South Florida and Tennessee. "I think with my work ethic, and with what I've so far been able to show, that I should be in that category as one of those elite four guys."

Like Moses, he's anxious to show what he can do.

"It's an honor to be selected and I'm looking forward to the opportunity," he said. "I've heard a lot of good things about it so I'm looking forward to see what the talk is all about."

Gibbs - an instate performer who plays for Peachtree Ridge - already counts offers from Georgia, Florida State, Clemson and Alabama among the 10 he's already received.

Like LeCounte, both will be tested by what's an extremely deep and talented pool of receivers.

LeCounte already has a couple of in-state receivers he's looking forward to seeing.

"Oh yeah, Preston Williams, he's going to Tennessee and (Terry) Godwin, who's going to Georgia," LeCounte said. "I'm really going to have to buckle down."

It's a challenge he hopes to be able to meet.

"For me, I don't just want to go there. The 2015 class is a really good class and I want to go and compete against the best," LeCounte said. "I want to put pressure on myself to get better; I want to compete. I don't want to settle for just going."