Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.
The college football season is past the halfway point, so we have a good sample size to work with when it comes to true freshmen. The annual mid-season Farrell Freshman 15 continues today, highlighted by the best freshman quarterback in the land.
MIDSEASON FARRELL FRESHMAN 15: Nos. 7-9 | 10-12 | 13-15
MIDSEASON FARRELL 50: Nos. 1-50
The skinny: Lamb was initially an early commitment to the Sooners but then decommitted in order to take a closer look at a few other schools. Texas A&M and Ole Miss came the closest to dethroning the Sooners, but at the end he found his way back to Norman by re-committing to Oklahoma in July. Lamb has become a consistent receiving option for quarterback Baker Mayfield this fall, with 30 receptions for 540 yards and six touchdowns on the season.
Farrell’s take: Lamb was one of those players I felt could be underranked when we finished the 2017 cycle. While he was still a Rivals100 prospect and top 10 at his position, his size, speed and home run ability led me to believe he was an amazing fit for the Big 12. We don’t rank players based on the team or conference they choose because so many factors can change (coaches, systems, etc.), but this is a match made in heaven for Lamb and the Sooners staff.
The skinny: Fromm initially committed to Alabama, but then flipped to the Bulldogs in early March. He was thought to be the back-up to Jacob Eason this fall, but an injury to Eason in the opener quickly put Fromm in the spotlight. He has risen to the occasion for the undefeated Bulldogs, playing like an upperclassman at times. Fromm has completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,263 yards, 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions this season.
Farrell’s take: Fromm became a five-star late in the process, earning that fifth star after a great week at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, and was a huge flip for Kirby Smart from Alabama. He was a kid we felt was a “gamer” who might not have as many natural skill as some other five-star quarterbacks but had more of the intangibles. Fromm has been limited in his passing attempts this season compared to what Eason had to deal with last season, but his efficiency and maturity has been off the charts.
The skinny: Davis didn’t receive an offer from Florida until late October, but the Gators immediately jumped into his top three along with Miami and North Carolina after he received the news. Less than a week later Davis was ready to decide, with the Gators earning his commitment. While the Florida offense has once again experience their fair share of struggles this season, one glimmer of hope had been Davis' explosive play. He rushed for 526 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry, but he will miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury suffered Saturday against Georgia.
Farrell’s take: Davis had great speed and was a home run threat out of high school but a guy who didn’t make our Rivals250 because he wasn’t that powerful and didn’t break a ton of tackles. However, his toughness can’t be questioned so far in his college career and he’s been solid with yards after contact. Davis was one of the few pleasant surprises in the Florida offense before his season was cut short.
