There are currently five teams with multiple five-star commitments in the 2019 class. Here is a breakdown of those teams including a take from National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell on what he thinks of each five-star group so far.
ASK FARRELL: What's the fallout from Jadon Haselwood's decommitment from Georgia?
AUBURN TIGERS
Five-star commits: LB Owen Pappoe, QB Bo Nix, WR George Pickens
Overview: Pickens and Nix were the first two commitments for the Tigers in this recruiting class and at that time neither was a five-star prospect. That changed after both had excellent summers and it shot Auburn up the recruiting charts as the Tigers currently sit at No. 15 nationally, which is amazingly eighth in the SEC. Auburn beat out Georgia and others for Pappoe, a huge recruiting coup this cycle.
Farrell’s take: Auburn has a great balance with this trio with a leader at quarterback in Nix, a big, physical receiver in Pickens and a quick twitch linebacker in Pappoe who can cover a ton of ground. With three five-stars while Alabama has none, the Tigers have bragging rights right now in that department.
LSU TIGERS
Five-star commits: ATH Trey Palmer, DB Derek Stingley Jr., OL Kardell Thomas
Overview: The top-ranked player in the 2019 class is already committed to LSU and that’s huge because the Tigers have never signed the No. 1 overall prospect during the Rivals.com era dating back to 2002. Stingley, Palmer and Thomas are three of the top four prospects from the state of Louisiana and the only uncommitted recruit in the top four is five-star DT Ishmael Sopsher, who has LSU and Alabama high on his list. Ed Orgeron could pull off a massive haul of in-state players again this recruiting cycle.
Farrell’s take: I am a huge fan of Palmer, who can play offense or defense at the next level and obviously Stingley is one of the best cornerbacks I’ve ever scouted. Thomas is a guard and a nasty, road grading mean machine who will knock open holes but can still pass block. This is an impressive trio.
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Five-star commits: DB Daxton Hill, DE Christopher Hinton
Overview: If things stay the way they are in the state of Michigan, this would be the first time since 2007 and only the second time in Rivals.com history that the Wolverines wouldn’t sign any of the top six in-state players. Not dominating with in-state recruiting has certainly not hurt Michigan, though, since it has gone to Oklahoma for the top player in that state and the third-best recruit in Georgia, who also has a five-star brother, Myles, in the 2020 class. At eighth in the country, the Wolverines have the top class in the Big Ten.
Farrell’s take: Hinton is an early commitment and a big-time pass rusher who can also play the run and is very well-coached. Hill is one of the surprise commitments of the class and brings speed and explosion to the defensive back position. A great job by Michigan going into enemy territory to land both of these guys.
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
Five-star commits: QB Spencer Rattler, WR Theo Wease, WR Trejan Bridges
Overview: The Sooners are one of only three teams nationally to have three five-star pledges along with LSU and Auburn and the only one to have all those recruits as offensive skill players. Wease is the top receiver nationally and the No. 1 recruit in the state of Texas. Bridges is fourth at receiver behind Wease, Jadon Haselwood and Auburn commit Pickens. After an excellent summer, Rattler moved to his five-star billing and he’s the only dual-threat quarterback in this class with that ranking so far.
Farrell’s take: The best offensive group on the list, this is going to be a trio that is impossible to stop at the next level. Rattler is a terrific quarterback who can extend the play, Wease has size and excellent body control and Bridges has the best ball skills of anyone in this class. Good luck to the Big 12 in stopping these guys down the line.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Five-star commits: OL Kenyon Green, DB Erick Young
Overview: In his first season at Texas A&M, Jimbo Fisher is already making a significant mark in recruiting in-state players, landing two five-stars and two of the top four prospects in the state. There are currently four five-stars in the Texas state rankings - the Aggies have two committed and Oklahoma has the other two. Texas A&M is ranked third nationally behind only Georgia and Alabama and 15 of its 25 commits are four-stars or higher.
Farrell’s take: Green is a dominant lineman prospect who projects as a tackle but has the power and plays with the leverage of a guard at times. I am a huge fan of Young because he has great size, he can hit and could play safety or cornerback at the same level. Both are staples of a great recruiting class for Fisher and Green was especially important because he was committed to LSU initially.
