Farrell Postseason 50: Nos. 16-20
With the college football regular season over and bowl games underway, it’s time for the final installment of the Farrell 50, the top 50 college football players in the country for 2016. However, as usual here at Rivals.com, we take a quick look at how each ranked out of high school and if they are exceeding or simply living up to expectations. Today we look at Nos. 16-20, led by three SEC defenders.
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.
Farrell postseason 50: Nos. 21-25 | 26-30 | 31-35 | 36-40 | 41-45 | 46-50
The skinny: Foster's recruiting process was one of the more chaotic ones in recent years. Foster originally committed to Alabama, but then flipped to Auburn. However, the coaching change at Auburn caused him to re-open his recruitment and take all five of his official visits. Again it came down to Auburn and Alabama, and finally he committed to the Crimson Tide two days before National Signing Day. While the Alabama defense is loaded, Foster has been one of the more consistent players with 94 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss and four sacks this fall.
Farrell’s take: Foster was a huge linebacker with a ton of potential who could thump downhill but also move laterally. He also had a major bust factor tag between a knee injury that limited him late in high school and his bizarre recruiting process. Foster waited his turn and is having a breakout season. Despite all the questions, he was so talented that we still had him ranked as the No. 13 player in 2013 and No. 1 inside linebacker. He showed with his play this season that he can put it all together.
The skinny: Auburn was the early front-runner for Adams, but Georgia, Clemson and Alabama all became major threats after the dismissal of Gene Chizik. However, Adams committed to the Tigers in the days leading up to National Signing Day after a great visit to the Plains. He had a very consistent and productive career with the Tigers and finished it off with 38 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, four sacks, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one interception this fall.
Farrell’s take: We had Adams as a five-star and the No. 3 player at his position back in 2013 behind Kenny Bigelow and Eddie Vanderdoes. The only question about Adams really was the level of competition he faced in high school because he was very athletic and could shoot the gap. He missed numerous events with minor injuries, so I guess toughness was questioned as well, but he’s the best defensive tackle the country in my book and a freak of nature. He should have won the Outland Trophy.
The skinny: Hooker committed to Ohio State over Michigan, Pitt, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Penn State in the summer before his senior year. After limited playing time as a redshirt freshman, Hooker apparently thought of transferring but returned in 2016 and dominated. He finished with 67 tackles, five tackles for a loss, six interceptions - three of which were returned for touchdowns - and four pass break-ups. Hooker anchored what became an explosive secondary for the Buckeyes.
Farrell’s take: Hooker was a mid-level three-star prospect who slid under the radar and turned into a steal for Ohio State. He was always athletic, but only played two years of high school football and was therefore a bit raw at his position. Hooker developed into a ball hawk in coverage, and we missed on this one compared to the competition. He was honestly a better basketball player than a football player in high school, that’s how elite he was at both and he’s taken that athleticism and turned himself into star.
The skinny: Ross took official visits to Washington, Oregon, Oregon State and UCLA before committing to the Huskies after the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl. After failing to reach his potential during the early part of his Washington career, and then missing the 2015 season due to a knee injury, Ross has made a highlight tape worth of big plays this fall. He finished the regular season with 76 receptions for 1,122 yards and 17 touchdowns, plus one rushing touchdown and another on a kickoff return. Ross is a legitimate threat to score any time he touches the ball.
Farrell’s take: A small but electric receiver out of high school, Ross was a high three-star and national top 70 wide receiver his senior season. We had questions about his size and catch radius. We thought he’d be a great fit with Troy Williams, who he played 7-on-7 with out of high school, but now he has hooked up well with Jake Browning as Williams is off at Utah. Ross is hard to cover in space and his special teams play was always something to keep an eye on. His ability after the catch is amazing to see.
The skinny: Garrett trimmed his list down to Texas A&M and TCU before committing to the Aggies during his senior season. With two tremendous seasons already under his belt with the Aggies, even more was expected out of Garrett this fall. Playing in nine games, he still finished with 32 tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Farrell’s take: There was a heated debate over who was No. 1 in the class of 2014, with many believing it was Garrett. That debate is over. We picked the wrong guy. In the end, we decided Alabama junior Da’Shawn Hand should remain in the top spot with Garrett at No. 2. While Hand struggles to break out, Garrett could be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft in 2017. Garrett is a freaky athlete who has learned to hold the edge better and has to be accounted for on every down. He slid down a bit on this final list due to injuries and the fact that most of his sacks came against lesser competition.
