Trevor Lawrence was the top-rated prospect in the 2018 class. It was that way from the beginning of the recruiting cycle until the end, but there were some heated conversations along the way.
One of them centered around whether the five-star quarterback from Cartersville, Ga., should stay atop the rankings or whether Kennesaw (Ga.) Harrison’s Justin Fields should take over the top spot.
It was widely accepted that Lawrence should stay at No. 1.
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CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
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After Fields’ career did not work out at Georgia, he transferred to Ohio State and he’s been a star this season. The former five-star has thrown for 2,953 yards with 40 touchdowns and one interception. He’s been incredible for the undefeated Buckeyes heading into Saturday’s matchup against undefeated Clemson and Lawrence.
Lawrence has definitely backed up his ranking as he threw for 3,280 yards with 30 touchdowns and four picks leading the Tigers to the national championship last year. After a slow start this year, the former five-star has emerged as one of the best players in college football with 34 TDs and eight picks heading into the College Football Playoff.
We ask Rivals National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell whether he thinks we got the rankings right with Lawrence first and Fields second in 2018, and which QB he sees coming out as the winner on Saturday.
FARRELL'S TAKE
“First off, the pick. I have Clemson winning the national title, so I of course have them beating Ohio State in a shootout. And yes, we got it right back 2018 even though Fields is an exceptional talent. Lawrence is the better college quarterback and better pro prospect, and he will be the No 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
"However, Fields could be No. 2 in the same draft – he’s that talented. There was never a heated debate, at least in my mind, in the 2018 rankings cycle. Lawrence was the man.”
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