LSU-Clemson: The five-stars that will compete for a national title
A lot of five-star talent will be on display tonight as Clemson meets LSU for the national championship. Clemson has 10 five-stars on the roster, including the No. 1 overall player from 2018 Trevor Lawrence. LSU has eight, including the No. 1 overall player from 2019 in Derek Stingley Jr. Here is a look at the former five-stars in the game, how they got to their respective schools and whether or not they have lived up to their ranking:
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CLEMSON
Recruiting: Ranked as the second-best cornerback in the 2019 class behind Derek Stingley, Jr., the Lawrenceville (Ga.) Archer standout picked Clemson over Georgia, Auburn and others in the summer before his senior season.
Stats: Booth has played in 13 games this season with six tackles and one pass breakup.
Farrell’s take: Booth hasn’t lived up to his five-star billing yet, but it’s still early in his career obviously. While Stingley has been a star from Day 1 for LSU, Booth has still be an effective player in the Clemson defense and has a great future ahead of him. He has the size and instincts to be a great college player and NFL draft pick.
Recruiting: During his visit to Clemson for its All-In Cookout over the summer before his senior season, Ngata picked the Tigers over USC, Notre Dame, Washington and many others. He was ranked as the fifth-best receiver in the 2019 class.
Stats: In 14 games, Ngata has 17 catches for 240 yards and three touchdowns.
Farrell’s take: Ngata will get his turn and will be the next great receiver at Clemson once Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross move on. He’s a big target who is physically gifted and has downfield speed. He’s a monster for corners to handle and will be the latest wide receiver to have college and NFL success at and out of Clemson.
Recruiting: The top-ranked prospect in the state of Alabama during his recruiting cycle, Ross committed to Clemson over the Crimson Tide and Auburn. The only receiver ranked ahead of him in the 2018 class was USC’s Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Stats: Ross leads Clemson with 61 receptions and he’s second on the team with 789 yards and eight touchdowns. He had 1,000 receiving yards in his freshman season helping lead Clemson to a national title.
Farrell’s take: Ross has already lived up to his five-star status and will be one of the best players in the country next season in college. He’s long and lanky and is great after the catch and he will get even better as he fills out and gets stronger. His strength is how he snatches the ball away from defenders, it’s fun to watch.
Recruiting: Ranked as the second-best offensive tackle in the 2018 class, Carman committed to Clemson over Ohio State, USC and others. Many believed the five-star was going to pick the Buckeyes and one thing that could have swayed Carman late in the process were reports that Dabo Swinney told the five-star that Urban Meyer was approaching the tail end of his career.
Stats: Carman has started all 14 games this season and he’s been instrumental in helping a run game that averages 6.4 yards per carry and has rushed for 42 touchdowns. Clemson’s offense averages more than 45 points per outing.
Farrell’s take: Carman has emerged as an elite lineman and one of the best in the country. Offensive linemen don’t get a lot of attention and the Clemson offensive line hasn’t been great this year, but Carman has been the best and is easily living up to his five-star status.
Recruiting: On National Signing Day, Henry committed to Clemson over South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia Tech and many others. Henry was ranked as the third-best weak-side defensive end in the 2018 class.
Stats: Playing in all 14 games but not starting in any of them, Henry has compiled 20 tackles (four for loss) including two sacks and three pass breakups.
Farrell’s take: Henry has yet to emerge, but his time is coming. He’s long, active and getting stronger and we liked his motor and speed off the edge out of high school. He’s been brought along slowly on purpose and will be called upon heavily next season and beyond.
Recruiting: Thomas grew up a South Carolina fan and he took numerous visits to Columbia, but the Florence, S.C., standout who played his senior year at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, picked Clemson over the Gamecocks and many others at its spring game.
Stats: In 11 games this season with eight starts, Thomas has totaled 29 tackles (eight for loss) with two sacks. He’s also added seven quarterback pressures.
Farrell’s take: Thomas is an amazing talent but he hasn’t lived up to the five-star billing just yet. That being said, he’s played like a four-star for sure and he garners a ton of attention from the offensive line, freeing up others to make plays.
Recruiting: Kendrick made short work of his recruitment and committed to Dabo Swinney following a junior day visit. He played a lot of quarterback in high school, was ranked as the sixth-best receiver in the 2018 class and he said at the time of his commitment he wanted to play cornerback for the Tigers.
Stats: After playing receiver last season, Kendrick switched to cornerback in an emergency role, did well and earned a starting spot. He has registered 42 tackles (three for loss) with six pass breakups and two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.
Farrell’s take: Kendrick has shown ability on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. I’m not sure where his future lies, but on defense he’s become a special player with great ball skills and anticipation. He’s become a five-star college talent.
Recruiting: The top-rated prospect in the 2018 class, Lawrence committed to Clemson over Georgia and many others in December of his junior year and never really looked back.
Stats: Arguably the best player in college football, Lawrence started the season slowly but has exploded after the first few weeks throwing for 3,431 yards with 36 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’s also rushed for eight scores, second-best on the team.
Farrell’s take: What else is there to say? Lawrence has lived up to the hype and then some. I won’t bore you with more words.
Recruiting: Auburn was considered the early leader for Terrell but those Tigers faded and then Clemson and Florida became the frontrunners leading into his decision. South Carolina was also seriously involved. He picked Clemson in the summer before his senior season.
Stats: Starting all 14 games this season, Terrell has 32 tackles, five pass breakups and four quarterback hurries. He’s also added two interceptions.
Farrell’s take: Terrell had exceptional size and speed out of high school and is using those skills to become one of the top cornerbacks in all of college football. He’ll end up leaving college having played like a five-star and will be a first rounder.
Recruiting: An early Tennessee commit, who then claimed the Volunteers were still his leader after reopening his recruitment, pledged to Clemson over the SEC school and many others in the summer before his senior season. He was ranked as the second-best receiver in the 2017 class behind Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Stats: Higgins has caught 56 passes for 1,115 yards and 13 touchdowns so far this season, both team highs. He’s averaging just under 20 yards per reception.
Farrell’s take: Higgins has clearly lived up to his five-star billing and is one of the top players in the country. If he comes out, he should be a first-rounder. His size and balance are out of this world.
LSU
Recruiting: In the summer before his senior season, Palmer committed to LSU over Alabama, Arizona State, Florida and Mississippi State among others. He was ranked as the second-best athlete in the 2019 class behind only Bru McCoy.
Stats: Playing in nine games, Palmer has only one catch as the offense is focused on throwing to Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and others this season.
Farrell’s take: It’s still very early for Palmer and I have no doubts he will be an amazing player in college and beyond. Like Kendrick, he could impact on offense or defense in college and beyond and he just makes everything look easy.
Recruiting: The No. 1 prospect in the 2019 class had committed to LSU early in his recruitment only to back off that pledge. He then re-committed to the Tigers in the summer before his senior season over Florida, Texas and others.
Stats: Already one of the best cornerbacks in college football, Stingley has totaled 36 tackles with six interceptions and 15 pass breakups, both team highs for the Tigers so far this season.
Farrell’s take: Stingley was the No 1 player in the country and first cornerback to earn such honors for many reasons. And as with Lawrence, I won’t bore you with the details. He’s a freak of nature.
Recruiting: After a weekend trip to Baton Rouge in April, Brooks decided to move up his commitment date from June and he made his pledge to LSU over Alabama and others. Only Georgia’s Nolan Smith was ranked higher at outside linebacker in the 2019 class.
Stats: In 11 games this season, Brooks has totaled eight tackles and he has 1.5 sacks.
Farrell’s take: Brooks is a true freshman and hasn’t impacted that much because of the depth and experience LSU has at his position. He explodes to the football, so I am high on his future and think he will live up to his five-star status.
Recruiting: Thomas committed to LSU in the summer before his sophomore year, late in his recrutiment he checked out Miami and was flirting with the idea of seeing other schools but he was always considered a strong lean to the Tigers.
Stats: Thomas missed his freshman year with an ankle injury.
Farrell’s take: The jury is obviously still out on Thomas and we will see how his injury affects his mobility. He was one of the more aggressive and physical interior linemen to come out of high school in recent years, but he did have a big boom-or-bust factor.
Recruiting: At the latter end of the early signing period, Marshall committed to LSU over Texas A&M and Florida State. He was the top-rated prospect in the state of Louisiana in its 2018 recruiting class.
Stats: In 11 games this season, Marshall has 43 catches for 625 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Farrell’s take: Marshall has been very good in the red zone and a mismatch because of his size and he’s starting to live up to that five-star hype. He’s the size receiver in the LSU offense and plays an important role.
Recruiting: Phillips had been committed to Oklahoma for months but after a visit to LSU and a heavy pursuit by the Tigers’ coaching staff, the five-star linebacker flipped his pledge to the SEC power. He was ranked as the second-best inside linebacker in the 2017 class.
Stats: Phillips leads the team by far with 105 tackles and he’s also added seven stops for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and three quarterback hurries.
Farrell’s take: Phillips is the quiet leader of the LSU defense and does everything well, including diagnosing plays. He’s a very sure tackler and he’s lived up to his five-star hype.
Recruiting: Stevens committed to LSU but then backed off that pledge when then-coach Les Miles’ job security was in question. He then re-committed to the Tigers only to see Miles let go. But he stuck with his commitment despite Georgia, Alabama, Auburn and others staying involved.
Stats: Stevens is second on the team with 85 tackles including 8.5 for loss and five sacks. He’s also added three interceptions and six pass breakups.
Farrell’s take: Stevens was an interesting debate as a five-star out of high school as he could play multiple positions and was a superior athlete but didn’t dominate at one. Now he’s the most versatile defender on the LSU team and certainly a five-star talent.
Recruiting: Shelvin committed to LSU early in the recruiting process and called coach Ed Orgeron a “second dad” to him. Nebraska tried to flip him late and others were involved throughout his recruitment including Alabama but Shelvin stuck with the Tigers.
Stats: Shelvin has totaled 39 tackles (three for loss) in 14 games this season. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 346 pounds, the five-star also has two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.
Farrell’s take: Shelvin was the most controversial of the five-stars out of this group as we had many questions about his weight. He’s kept his weight in check for the most part and is a run-stuffer who takes up blockers. He hasn't performed like a five-star talent in college, but the NFL likes players his size and he will be drafted.