Farrell Rookie 15: Nos. 1-3
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The skinny: No. 45 overall, the No. 6 wide receiver and the No. 8 recruit from
Florida in 2012, Cooper committed to Alabama over Miami, Ohio State,
Florida State and West Virginia early on during his senior season. He did take an
unexpected official visit to Miami, but stuck with the Crimson Tide. After an
impressive career at Alabama, Cooper was selected with the fourth
overall pick by Oakland. With the Raiders, Cooper has continued to flourish as a
rookie with 38 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns.
Farrell's take: Cooper was a guy who really emerged after his junior season
where he missed some time and he came alive during the 7-on-7 circuit heading
into his senior year. He was thought to just be scratching the surface of his
potential and he's gotten better each year. His long-ball ability is there as it
was at Alabama, but it's his catch-and-run suddenness that has really given teams
fits and that's what we saw in a limited sample size in high school.
1
DB
Tarboro, N.C. | 2012, Four-star
The skinny: No. 42 overall, the No. 5 running back and the No. 3 recruit from
North Carolina in 2012, Gurley committed to Georgia over Clemson and N.C. State after his senior season. Gurley was destined to be a top three
NFL Draft pick until a torn ACL brought doubt to some coaches and scouts. St.
Louis decided to take a chance on Gurley with the 10th overall selection and
after sitting out the first few games of this season, he has returned in grand
fashion. In five games, Gurley has rushed for 575 yards and three touchdowns on
94 carries, which earned him Offensive Rookie of the Month honors for October.
While it is obviously very early for Gurley, his potential is already
off-the-charts.
Farrell's take: He should have been a five-star. I kick myself and said so even
before he emerged as a freshman star. While everyone else had fellow North
Carolina running back Keith Marshall, also a Georgia signee, as the
man, I fell in love with Gurley's size and speed at the Shrine Bowl. Had he
played in one of the two major all-star games, he would have been a five-star
and I'd be bragging right now, but I still think national top 50 is pretty good.
People compare Leonard Fournette to Adrian Peterson, but this
is the guy who has that same running style and could be as special.
Mike Farrell
National Recruiting Director
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