Farrell 50: CFB's top players, Nos. 16-20
It’s time for the Farrell 50, the ranking of the top 50 players in college football by Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell. We continue today with Nos. 16-20, highlighted by a pair of elite Texas quarterbacks.
MORE FARRELL 50: Nos. 21-25 | 26-30 | 31-35 | 36-40 | 41-45 | 46-50
MORE: 10 best recruiting programs in the past five cycles
The skinny: Mond originally committed to Baylor, but then re-opened his recruitment and ultimately signed with Texas A&M. After showing his potential as a true freshman in 2017, Mond took his game to the next level in 2018. And now expectations are even higher for him in 2019. Possessing a strong arm, while also rushing for 814 yards in his two seasons, Mond is a legitimate dual-threat who should make the Aggies' offense quite formidable this fall.
Farrell’s take: Mond has been key for Texas A&M and handled the pressure of being thrust into a starting role before he was ready. Mond was a guy I stood on the table for as a five-star with zero agreement from our staff, so if he fails, it’s on me for this eval. He reminded me of a young Deshaun Watson with slightly less accuracy but better running ability. So far it’s been up and down, but last season he had a solid year. There have been many more ups than downs and he’s played some of his best football against the best teams.
The skinny: Thomas trimmed his list to Georgia, Clemson and Notre Dame prior to committing to the Bulldogs at The Opening. In Athens, Thomas made an immediate impact. He started 13 games as a true freshman, while more than holding his own against top-level SEC defensive talent. Another impressive season followed in 2018, which has catapulted Thomas into discussion as a top five NFL Draft pick next spring.
Farrell’s take: As a Rivals100 prospect and top-10 offensive tackle nationally, we liked Thomas quite a bit and he got stronger as the rankings cycle progressed. He became more physical with each evaluation and was especially impressive at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl week where he shot up into our final Rivals100. He had a good frame, excellent reach and good feet, but what he’s done as a starter since day one at Georgia is still way ahead of schedule. He’s been a big part of the Dawgs' recent success.
The skinny: The son of former Iowa lineman Eppy Epenesa, he committed to the Hawkeyes in January of his junior year. Epenesa never wavered off his Iowa pledge despite accumulating upwards of 25 offers. He arrived at Iowa with serious expectations, so after flashing his potential as a true freshman in 2017, he began to put everything together in 2018 with 37 tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. All eyes will be on him this fall to see if he can live up to the all of the preseason accolades flowing his way.
Farrell’s take: Epenesa was a five-star coming out of high school as a huge defensive end with the ability to push the pocket, beat opponents with quickness and technique and an excellent ability to play the run. So far he’s shown many flashes of that ability and has become one of the best ends in the Big Ten. Huge things are expected this season.
The skinny: Moses initially committed to LSU after receiving an offer while in middle school. But he eventually re-opened his recruitment and committed to Alabama over the Tigers, Ohio State and Miami. Through high school and now college, Moses continues to prove that he can live up to expectations. He continued to prove that in 2018 during his sophomore season as he firmly established himself as a major defensive force for the Tide with 86 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. Now one of the unquestioned leaders of the unit, Moses is expected to piece together an All-American caliber season in Tuscaloosa.
Farrell’s take: Moses became famous as a middle school prospect and transitioned from a running back prospect to a linebacker as his high school career continued. He was a five-star early, then lost that fifth star in the middle of the cycle and earned it back at the very end. And he’s living up to the hype as he’s emerged as one of the top linebackers in the country and someone the NFL is waiting on. There has been pressure on Moses for a long time and he’s delivered.
The skinny: Ehlinger committed to Texas during the summer before his junior season and never wavered on his word. As the Longhorns look poised to continue their ascent under coach Tom Herman, Ehlinger will need to continue his improved play. Coming off a season that saw him pass for 3,292 yards and 25 touchdowns, while rushing for 482 yards and 16 touchdowns, he seems physically and mentally prepared to take his game to an even higher level in 2019.
Farrell’s take: I had Ehlinger in my Commit Fit after National Signing Day when he came out of high school because he had the skill set that a Tom Herman offense covets. His injuries during his high school career, from his knee to his wrist, led to some question marks, but he was still so prolific as a stat-stuffer that there was no question he was in the Rivals100 range. He wasn’t the tallest quarterback, but he had a good arm, compact release and was powerfully built, which helped his running ability and ability to bounce off tackles. Ehlinger lived up to his ranking so far and then some and has improved each season.