Hit or Miss? Did Rivals rank these standouts correctly in HS?
Did we get it right or did we get it wrong? Each week during the college football season we will pick five players who had outstanding weeks and look at their career so far and determine if our ranking was a hit or a miss. Here are this week’s stars.
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.
MORE: Three-Point Stance looks back at preseason predictions | Take Two on James Franklin
CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals100 | Position | Team | State
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK:
Monday: Class of 2020 top 10 | Who could jump into top 10
Tuesday: Class of 2020 Rivals100
Wednesday: Class of 2020 Rivals250
Thursday/Friday: Class of 2020 position rankings
Saturday: Class of 2020 team rankings breakdown
Sunday: Class of 2020 state rankings
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Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
The skinny: Waddle took official visits to Alabama, Texas A&M, Oregon, Florida State and TCU, but with signing day approaching, he trimmed his list down to the Tide and Aggies. This was a toss-up until the final minutes, but at the end Nick Saban was able to pull him to Tuscaloosa.
A part of a loaded receiving corps in Tuscaloosa, Waddle’s production has dipped a bit from him his impressive true freshman season in 2018. However, he once again showed his big-play potential against Auburn on Saturday with four receptions for 98 yards and three touchdowns, plus a 98-yard kickoff return for another touchdown.
Farrell’s take: HIT. There is no doubt Waddle is a five-star talent and when given the chance to show it, he always comes through. We loved his speed and home run ability after the catch out of high school and he’s shown that in college. The problem? He just hasn’t had a chance to be the man with so much other talent on board. Next season he could be scary.
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Bryce Perkins, Virginia
The skinny: Deciding to follow his father’s footsteps, Perkins committed to Arizona State over UCLA and Northwestern during the spring after his junior season. His father, Bruce, had previously played running back for the Sun Devils. Perkins redshirted in 2015 and then missed the 2016 season due to a broken neck before deciding to transfer. After a pit stop at Arizona Western JC for one season, he found a new home at Virginia, where he has been the starter since 2018.
In a rivalry game to decide the ACC Coastal Division, Perkins produced a huge game that saw the Cavs reach the conference championship game. Finishing with 311 yards and one touchdown through the air and 164 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, he will need the same type of production against Clemson on Saturday.
Farrell’s take: HIT. This is a tough one because Perkins was rated as a high three-star and at times he’s played like a four-star for Virginia. But for a player with few offers to become a two-year starter and one of the ACC’s best quarterbacks, a high three-star ranking isn’t bad.
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Lynn Bowden, Kentucky
The skinny: Bowden trimmed his list of top schools down to Kentucky, Penn State and West Virginia before committing to the Wildcats a couple of weeks before National Signing Day.
After being used mostly as a wide receiver during his first two seasons in Lexington, Bowden was moved to quarterback this fall due to injuries at the position. He has performed admirably throughout the season, but really showcased all his athleticism during the Wildcats’ victory over Louisville on Saturday with 22 carries for 284 yards and four touchdowns. Amazingly, he only attempted two passes during the game.
Farrell’s take: HIT. Bowden was rated as a four-star athlete coming out of high school and he’s shown that athletic ability at wide receiver and quarterback. He’s not a passer - we know that - but he can’t be stopped with the ball in his hands and that’s what we expected.
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A.J. Epenesa, Iowa
The skinny: The son of former Iowa lineman Eppy Epenesa, he committed to the Hawkeyes in January of his junior year. He never wavered off his Iowa pledge despite accumulating upwards of 25 offers. Despite facing consistent double-teams this fall, he has continued to produce. That was definitely the case against Nebraska this weekend as he finished with a career-high 14 tackles, to go along with 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Farrell’s take: HIT. I’ll admit I questioned whether Epenesa was a five-star coming out of high school, but he has been a monster. We liked his power and motor as well as his array of moves and he’s been impossible to stop because he just has a great sense for the game. He’ll bull rush you, beat you off contact, run past you or run a play down. He’s a first-rounder for sure.
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Zakoby McClain, Auburn
The skinny: McClain trimmed his list of top schools down to Auburn, LSU and West Virginia before committing to the Tigers after their Iron Bowl victory in 2017.
After contributing in 2018, McClain has gradually become a steady contributor for the impressive Tigers defense this fall. He enjoyed his best game of the season on Saturday during Auburn’s huge victory over Alabama with 11 tackles, one tackle for loss and an interception, which he returned 100 yards for a touchdown.
Farrell’s take: HIT. Five for five this week? Yep. Remember, McClain is an undersized linebacker and was small coming out of high school, so having him in the Rivals250 is a solid spot. What he lacked in size and length he made up for in power and leverage and he’s starting to emerge on the Auburn defense.