Farrell Freshman 15: Nos. 12-10
It’s that time of year again, the end of the college football regular 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, led by a pair of Pac-12 receivers.
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report
FARRELL FRESHMAN 15: Nos. 13-15
The skinny: Harry took official visits to Texas A&M and Washington before trimming his list to the Aggies, Huskies, Arizona State, Oregon and USC. Despite not taking an official visit to Arizona State, it was the local Sun Devils who gained his commitment in early December. At Arizona State, Harry became an immediate threat in the passing game. He finished the season with 58 receptions, which led the team, for 659 yards and five touchdowns.
Farrell’s take: The first time I saw Harry at one of our Rivals Camp Series events in Vegas I knew he was a five-star. He was big, strong and very fluid, and he had an extra gear rare for a 200-pound high school receiver, which allowed him to gain great separation. The No. 1 wideout in the 2016 class, he has adjusted to college very early and one can only imagine the numbers he would have had this season with an above-average quarterback.
The skinny: The Ducks made Dye a recruiting priority from the start, and the hard work paid off with a commitment in July. He committed to Oregon over Oregon State, Colorado and Nevada. Dye burst onto the scene this season by earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors during the first week. His play continued to impress throughout the season, as he finished fourth in the Pac-12 in tackles with 91, fifth in tackles for a loss with 12 and ninth in sacks with six.
Farrell’s take: The Oregon defense was awful for the most part but it wasn’t because of Dye, who has a very bright future. Dye was ranked as a big safety for us last season who could easily grow into a linebacker, and his versatility and length made him a high three-star for us. He struggled a bit in one-on-one coverage with smaller, quicker players but working as a defensive back has allowed him to excel in coverage and his quick-twitch ability has not been hindered by added weight and muscle. He always had excellent football sense and was a sure tackler, but he’s exceeded our expectations as the first true freshman linebacker to start for the Ducks in more than 38 years.
The skinny: Robertson took a different approach with his process, which saw him make his decision nearly three months after National Signing Day. Finally trimming his list to California, Georgia and Notre Dame, he committed to the Golden Bears during a public announcement at the College Football Hall of Fame. Teaming with transfer quarterback Davis Webb, Robertson performed like a veteran this fall. With 50 receptions for 767 yards and seven touchdowns, he finished in the top 10 in the Pac-12 in all three categories.
Farrell’s take: The first time I saw Robertson dominate was as a junior at our Rivals Camp Series and he simply destroyed 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 made an immediate impact in the pass-happy Pac-12 and he should set records before all is said and done.
