Farrell Freshman 15: Nos. 10-12
It’s that time of year again, the midpoint of the college football season where we take a look at some of the top true freshmen in the country and how they were ranked out of high school.
We call it the Farrell Freshman 15.
Today we look at Nos. 10-12, including two from that dominant Alabama team.
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report
More Farrell Freshman 15: Nos. 13-15
The skinny: With a majority of top recruits making early commitments, Robertson took a different approach and made his decision nearly three months after National Signing Day. Finally trimming his list down to California, Georgia and Notre Dame, he committed to the Golden Bears during a public announcement at the College Football Hall of Fame. Robertson has fit right into Cal’s pass-happy offense with new transfer quarterback Davis Webb and showcased his big-play abilities by reeling in 20 receptions for 338 yards and five touchdowns so far this season.
Farrell’s Take: The first time I saw Robertson was as a junior at our Rivals Camp Series, and he simply dominated a strong group in Atlanta. I was taken with his speed and skills immediately and knew I was looking at a five-star wide receiver, even if he did come from a small school that hasn’t produced a ton of players. He continued to hone his skills and was simply impossible to cover outside or in the slot. It’s zero surprise that he’s making an immediate impact in the pass-happy Pac-12.
The skinny: While Wyoming and New Mexico State fought for Jacobs for the majority of his recruiting process, a late offer from Alabama turned everything upside down. Serious interest from Missouri and Oklahoma followed, which further complicated the process, but after taking official visits to Alabama and Missouri, Jacobs committed to the Crimson Tide on National Signing Day. Surprisingly, after Damien Harris went down with an injury during the Kent State game, it was Jacobs who got the majority of the carries over both Bo Scarbrough and B.J. Emmons. He shined in his first opportunity and has continued to excel through the first half of the season for the Crimson Tide, rushing for 345 yards on only 43 carries, and averaging eight yards per carry.
Farrell’s Take: Jacobs is the rare three-star signee in Alabama's Nick Saban era, and it’s kind of refreshing to see. Jacobs was a guy who slid under the radar for most of the process, mainly because of concerns he wasn’t sudden enough to be a feature back. It didn't help that he missed games as a junior, either. But his senior year, where he rushed for 2,704 yards and 31 scores, brought out some of the big dogs in recruiting. Alabama, as it often does, won the battle down the stretch. Now Jacobs already is surpassing some bigger names for playing time and showing once again that Saban and his staff leave no stone unturned when it comes to recruiting talent.
The skinny: Having grown up in Atlanta before moving to California before high school, Williams always held Alabama in high regard. So after he picked up an offer from the Crimson Tide in March and took a visit to Tuscaloosa, he committed in early April. Being a true freshman starter at right tackle is no easy feat, no matter what program it is. If you’re doing it at Alabama, which recruits top talent at the position every single year, then you have the potential to be a special talent. Williams has started every game this season and impressed with both his athleticism and his maturity.
Farrell’s Take: Williams was the rare five-star prospect who didn’t attend camps, didn’t care about all-star games and just dominated on the football field with pads and a helmet on. We saw him in game action but never got to see him go against the elite defensive linemen in the country at any events. But it didn’t matter to us because he was so good in person and on film, and he had that throwback, nasty attitude of the greats of yesteryear. Williams just wanted to destroy the player in front of him and help his team win and didn’t care about gear, free trips or rankings. He’s clearly showing our faith in his film was warranted.
