Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.
The college football season is over save for one kind of big game between LSU and Clemson. So it’s time to continue the Farrell 50, the top 50 college football players in the country. Here’s Nos. 11-15.
FARRELL 50: Nos. 16-20 | 21-25 | 26 - 30 | 31 - 35 | 36-40 | 41-45 | 46-50
FARRELL FRESHMAN 15: Nos. 1-3 | 4-6 | 7-9 | 10-12 | 13-15
The skinny: Dobbins also considered Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Texas, but when Ohio State offered in mid-February it only took him a couple of weeks before deciding to commit to the Buckeyes.
After a somewhat disappointing sophomore season, Dobbins’ quickly proved to everyone this fall that he was one of the elite backs in the country. Finishing with 2,003 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground, while averaging 6.7 yards per carry, he showcased the big play ability that NFL scouts are looking for.
Farrell’s take: Dobbins was highly-regarded and ranked coming out of high school despite missing nearly his entire senior season with a broken ankle. His combination of speed, leverage and the ability to catch the ball had him remain in our Rivals100 despite questions about how effective he would be upon his return. In a great year at running back in the 2017 class, we had him only behind Najee Harris, (No. 1 overall), Cam Akers, (No. 3) and D’Andre Swift (No. 35).
The skinny: There was plenty of drama during Chase’s recruitment, which included commitments to Kansas and Florida, and near commitments to TCU and Auburn, before he finally committed and signed with the in-state Tigers on National Signing Day.
After a promising, yet somewhat uneventful, true freshman season in Baton Rouge, Chase experienced a breakout season this fall. Totaling 73 receptions for 1,498 yards and 18 touchdowns, while matching up with Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow, Chase will be one of the top returning offensive players in the country next season.
Farrell’s take: A tall, rangy and skinny wide receiver with great ball skills and speed, Chase was ranked in the Rivals100 for a reason and we are seeing why. With this new passing game at LSU, he will continue to emerge and live up to that ranking and he could be the best wide receiver in the country next season.
The skinny: Simmons took official visits to Clemson, Missouri, Michigan, Nebraska and Illinois before committing to the Tigers on National Signing Day. His final official visit was to Clemson, which solidly put the Tigers over the top.
After a majority of defensive line talent in Death Valley made its way to the NFL after last season, the spotlight was on Simmons this fall. He responded by totaling 97 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, six pass breakups and one fumble recovery.
Farrell’s take: Simmons was a high three-star prospect and a rare commitment from Kansas for Clemson who has blossomed into a star that the NFL loves. He was a huge safety coming out and we thought he might grow into a linebacker, so there were some question marks surrounding how he would develop. Those look silly now. He’s simply a baller and one of the top defenders in the country.
The skinny: Unlike most top-level recruits, Sewell’s process was basically a guessing game until the end. Oregon, Alabama, Utah and USC all seemed confident at different points, but it was the Ducks that picked up his commitment on National Signing Day.
Sewell’s true freshman season was off to a fantastic start last fall until a serious ankle injury cut his season short in October. Fully healthy this fall, Sewell quickly established himself as one of the top offensive linemen in the country, if not overall players. His unique combination of athleticism and strength already has NFL scouts anticipating his arrival in 2021.
Farrell’s take: Sewell is young to make this list as a 2018 prospect and sophomore, but it’s not a surprise as he was ranked in the Rivals100 coming out of high school. We at one point had a five-star debate about him, but wondered if he’d move inside to guard at the next level and be devalued a bit. He was tall, very filled out and agile, but he wasn’t as dominating as we wanted him to be. Then he hits college and becomes a beast and is now the best offensive lineman in college football in my book.
The skinny: Despite claiming USC was his “dream school,” Tagovailoa committed to Alabama after a trip that saw him also visit Auburn and Ole Miss during the spring after his junior season. Both USC and UCLA continued to pursue Tagovailoa, but neither were able to beat out the Tide.
Despite a serious hip injury trimming his season down to only nine games, his performance during that time was still exceptional. Finishing with 2,840 yards and 33 touchdowns through the air, while throwing only three interceptions, Tagovailoa recently announced that he will be entering this spring’s NFL Draft.
Farrell’s take: Tagovailoa was highly ranked, but fell short of five-star status by about 20 spots or so. Oops. We liked his arm strength and accuracy, but he didn’t have great size and struggled a few times in evaluations. However, he had one of the best seasons in recent memory and has become a superstar. This year, he was the leader for the Heisman (as he was last year) before his injury. I don’t like lefty quarterbacks, but he’s the exception.
