Farrell 50: The nation's top players - Nos. 46-50
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.
It’s that time of year, the college football season is almost over so it's time for a look at the Farrell 50 — the top 50 players in college football and how they were ranked as recruits. We start today with Nos. 46-50.
FARRELL FRESHMAN 15: Nos. 1-3 | 4-6 | 7-9 | 10-12 | 13-15
The skinny: Stevens initially committed to LSU then re-opened his recruitment to take a closer look at a few other programs. While Georgia and Alabama were also considered, he found his way back to Baton Rouge and re-committed to the Tigers.
While other LSU defensive players received more attention during the season, Stevens established himself as one of the more productive this fall with 72 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks, two interceptions and five pass breakups heading into the national title game.
Farrell’s take: Stevens was a five-star athlete coming out of high school who could have played wide receiver or safety with ease. You could make the argument that he's the best defensive player on a loaded LSU football team. After being overshadowed initially by Grant Delpit and then freshman Derek Stingley Jr., Stevens is now garnering all the attention he deserves. The question mark: What position does he play at the next level? That's a good problem for NFL teams to figure out.
The skinny: Bowden trimmed his list of top programs down to Kentucky, West Virginia and Penn State before committing to the Wildcats a couple of weeks before National Signing Day.
After being used mostly as a wide receiver during his first two seasons in Lexington, Bowden was moved to quarterback this fall due to injuries at the position. At quarterback he fully showcased his versatility and athleticism, rushing for 1,468 yards and 13 touchdowns, while passing for 403 yards and three touchdowns. As a receiver he also chipped in with 30 receptions for 348 yards and yet another touchdown. He truly was Mr. Everything in Lexington.
Farrell’s take: Bowden was rated as a four-star athlete coming out of high school and he’s shown that athletic ability at wide receiver and quarterback. He’s not a passer - we know that - but he can’t be stopped with the ball in his hands and that’s what we expected. He’s the main reason why Kentucky won eight games this season and won its bowl game, ironically on a touchdown pass.
The skinny: Duvernay initially committed to Baylor, but when the sexual assault scandal hit Waco he decided to check out a few other programs. After taking visits to Texas and TCU he ended his process with a commitment to the Longhorns.
After totaling 70 receptions in his first three seasons in Austin, Duvernay exploded onto the national scene this fall with 106 receptions for 1,386 yards and nine touchdowns. He added another touchdown on the ground for the Longhorns.
Farrell’s take: Speed, speed and more speed was what impressed about Duvernay at the high school level, especially in game situations. Oddly, when I saw him in camps he never really dominated as he could have with his jets and sometimes blended into the crowd, but on film and at Under Armour Week (in a few instances) you could see how fast he played the game. With speed like that and the ability to play outside or in the slot, it was clear he was going to make a difference for someone. This was his year.
The skinny: A native of South Carolina, despite playing his senior season at IMG Academy in Florida, Thomas seemed destined to play his college ball at either Clemson or South Carolina. Both programs believed they led at different times, but when it was time to make a commitment, he chose the Tigers in early April.
Thomas impressed as a true freshman in 2018 and followed that up with 25 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery for the Tigers this fall.
Farrell’s take: Thomas was our No. 5 overall prospect in 2018, so obviously we liked him a lot. He was explosive, powerful and had a great first step. He’s one of the most physically dominant defensive ends in recent years out of high school but I expected more by this time in his career.
The skinny: Also holding offers from Iowa, Iowa State and Wisconsin, Johnson decided to stay local and committed to Minnesota during his senior season. Coming off an impressive 2018 season, when he totaled 78 receptions for 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns, Johnson took his game to an even higher level this fall with 86 receptions for 1,318 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was one of the many reasons the Gophers enjoyed a magical season.
Farrell’s take: Johnson was a high three-star athlete coming out of high school who could have played offense or defense and who had good size but was very thin. His speed was okay but he’s obviously improved in that area and his ball skills have always been good.