Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.
It’s that time of year again, time for the updated Farrell 50, the top 50 players in college football. Today we look at 6-10, topped by the best linebacker in the country.
FARRELL 50 COUNTDOWN: Nos. 11-15 | 16-20 | 21-25 | 26-30 | 31-35 | 36-40 | 41-45 | 46-50
The skinny: Snell committed to the Wildcats almost a year before his own Signing Day over Iowa, Boston College, Cincinnati and several MAC schools. In Lexington, Snell has quietly become one of the SEC’s most productive running backs during the last two seasons. In the midst of his third consecutive 1,000-plus yard rushing season, Snell is one of the main factors in Kentucky’s quick start to the 2018 season. Currently with 893 yards and nine touchdowns, look for the Wildcats to lean on him more and more as the season progresses.
Farrell’s take: Snell was a low three-star prospect who had good size, but we questioned his speed and footwork, as did many other programs that passed. But Kentucky saw something many didn’t, and it has turned out to be a home run evaluation for them. He’s added explosion, has shown great vision and runs with power consistently and is on a mission this season. He’s clearly one of the best backs in the SEC.
*****
The skinny: Etienne was initially committed to Texas A&M, but re-opened his process two months later. After trimming his list down to Clemson, LSU and Tennessee, and taking official visits to Clemson and Tennessee in January, he committed to the Tigers a week before National Signing Day. Etienne has been dynamic this season while establishing a great nose for the end zone. Currently with 801 yards, while averaging 8.2 yards per carry, plus 14 touchdowns, he has established himself as the biggest weapon in the Tigers’ offense.
Farrell’s take: This is a kid I thought might be under-ranked, because he had size, speed and shiftiness. LSU really coveted him and Clemson did a great job winning this recruiting battle. He’s faster than I expected and his burst has improved greatly. As a guy just outside of that four-star ranking, he might make us look bad during his career, based on early returns. Etienne has already turned into one of the fastest and most explosive running backs in college football.
The skinny: Shenault already had over a dozen offers during the spring after his junior season when he took a number of unofficial visits, including to Colorado, Alabama, Oklahoma State, LSU and Baylor. However it was the trip to Boulder in early April that quickly changed everything, as he committed to the Buffaloes by the end of that month. Shenault has become the biggest breakout player of the 2018 season, with 60 receptions for 780 yards and six touchdowns through the air, plus five additional touchdowns on the ground.
Farrell’s take: Shenault was a mid-range three-star with good size, but we questioned his top-end speed and football quickness. Clearly that was incorrect, as he’s emerged as one of the best playmakers in the country. He has the size we liked, but has added shiftiness and explosion and is a threat to score from anywhere on the field.
The skinny: While South Carolina and Virginia Tech pushed Clemson till the end, Ferrell was considered a Tigers lean from the start, so it came as little surprise when he committed during the summer leading up to his senior season. After two superb seasons in Death Valley, Ferrell’s final campaign with the Tigers has entrenched him as one of the top defensive players in the country. Currently with 25 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, six sacks and one forced fumble, Ferrell has become the biggest playmaker on the Tigers' stacked defensive line.
Farrell’s take: Many felt last season would be Ferrell’s breakout year at Clemson, and it was as he was in the offensive backfield often. I always liked his athletic upside, although he was a bit stiff at times, but I questioned his aggressiveness. It has been interesting to watch him mature and come into his own in that area. His ceiling is very high and keeps rising as Ferrell has stepped up his game another notch this season.
*****
The skinny: White, who was recruited as a running back by most schools, committed to LSU in early January over Arkansas, Alabama and Ole Miss. He burst onto the scene with a fantastic second season with the Tigers in 2017, and has continued that high level of play in 2018. Currently with 76 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and four pass break-ups, White has become the leader of the formidable LSU defense.
Farrell’s take: We knew White was a four-star talent, we just couldn’t figure out at which position to rank him. I remember when he first came onto the radar he was considered the next Leonard Fournette in the state – a massive and fast running back prodigy. However, he kept getting bigger and lost speed, so he was projected either as a linebacker or a fullback/H-back, or even a kid who could grow into a defensive tackle. He wasn’t very good covering in space at all, so we ranked him as a fullback and now he’s showing us we should have kept him at linebacker. He’s a big hitter, always has been, and is the clear No. 1 linebacker.
