Farrell Freshman 15: Countdown begins with Nos. 13-15
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.
The midseason Farrell Freshman 15 begins today with a look at Nos. 13-15, led by an elite tight end, a great defensive lineman and a surprise wide receiver.
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The skinny: With Miami’s long-standing history of producing NFL tight ends, Jordan’s commitment to the Canes did not come as a surprise. What put Miami over the top was a multi-day visit to Coral Gables, which pushed the Canes over UCLA, Michigan, Ohio State and Georgia. With the Canes, Jordan seamlessly slid into the starting lineup and has become an immediate threat in the red zone with 16 receptions for 208 yards and four touchdowns.
Farrell’s take: Jordan isn’t the longest tight end out there but he was a match-up nightmare out of high school because of his speed and route running ability. And we’ve seen him show that ability so far this season as he has consistently beat linebackers and safeties with ease. This kid is going to be a star at the college level and perhaps beyond that because he’s so athletic.
The skinny: Oklahoma was seen as the very early favorite for Perkins, and despite the coaching transition from Bob Stoops to Lincoln Riley, the Sooners were still able to pull in the Missouri four-star. Michigan, Miami, Georgia and USC were also contenders until his commitment in October, which came a little earlier than many expected. In Norman, Perkins has already become a dependable aspect of the Sooners’ defensive line rotation with 10 tackles, three tackles for a loss and three sacks.
Farrell’s take: Perkins has hit the ground running and has shown a lot of the ability we saw in high school as a pass rusher and a kid who could do work in the offensive backfield. He was always good off of contact in high school, had a good first step and used his size well and now he is already showing flashes of dominance. He’s been the most impressive freshman defensive lineman I’ve seen.
The skinny: Reed had several MAC offers on the table when he committed to Western Michigan during the spring after his junior season after taking a visit Kalamazoo with his family. He cited the family atmosphere within the program at the time of his decision. Reed has quietly put together a fantastic first half of the season for the Broncos, with 36 receptions, 533 yards and six touchdowns.
Farrell’s take: Reed has been putting up great numbers and showing he’s better than his two-star ranking. His size was a big question coming out of high school at just 160 pounds, but he has added weight and shown that it’s not an issue as he’s one of the best true freshman wide receivers in the country.