NFL 100 Countdown: Nos. 21-30
Top 50 CFB: Farrell Fifty
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The Skinny: McCoy committed to Pitt over Penn State, Virginia Tech and USC, and when it was discovered that he would need a prep school year to fix a few academic issues, many thought he might re-open his process. However, this never happened and he enjoyed two very successful seasons with the Panthers before making the jump to the NFL in 2009. McCoy became one of the more electrifying backs in the league during his six seasons in Philadelphia, but now has a new home in Buffalo where all eyes will be on him this fall.
Farrell's Take: Shady was such an interesting evaluation and his high school situation was equally interesting. He was a five-star running back before a gruesome ankle injury looked like it would set his career back and ended his senior season. Then he shared time at running back in prep school but still had that four-star talent. A Miami signee out of high school, he ended up at Pitt in the end and the rest is history. Barring that ankle snap, which looked awful at the time and was one of the worst injuries I've seen in high school, he was a national top 25 player.
28
DL
Oklahoma City (Okla.) Southeast, 2006, five-star
The Skinny: McCoy was No. 4 overall, the No. 1 defensive tackle and the No. 1 recruit from Oklahoma in the class of 2006. McCoy arrived at Oklahoma with a great deal of fanfare and didn't disappoint with two All-American seasons. After being selected with the third overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay, McCoy has solidified the Bucs interior defensive line since his arrival. Making his third consecutive Pro Bowl in 2014, McCoy is now firmly considered one of the top defensive tackles in the league.
Farrell's Take: We clearly saw this one coming. When you're a top five recruit, No. 1 at your position and you have a great college career and end up as a top 5 pick, you've done everything that is expected of you. McCoy was athletic, he could shoot the gap and work outside and down the line of scrimmage and he had a great first step and motor. He had it all out of high school.
27
LB
Statesboro, Ga., 2007, four-star
The Skinny: Houston was the No. 11 weakside defensive end and the No. 13 recruit from Georgia in the Class of 2007. Houston enjoyed a successful career with the Bulldogs, but not many people envisioned the NFL success he has experienced over his first four seasons. After finishing 2014 with 22 sacks, which was just half a sack short of Michael Strahan's single-season record, it will be interesting to see what Houston can do for an encore this fall with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Farrell's Take: Houston was an outstanding pass-rusher out of high school and was in our Rivals250 and was heavily recruited. His strength was his ability to get skinny when he needed to and knife through small gaps to get at the passer. His standup linebacker ability wasn't quite present or polished in high school but we saw potential as a hybrid as well. He has simply gotten better each year and took an amazing leap from a solid career at UGA and a third-round pick to an NFL superstar.
26
QB
Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (Ohio)
Findlay, Ohio, 2000, Pre-Rivals Era
Farrell's Take: Big Ben was largely ignored by the powers-that-be in college football mainly because he played wide receiver before a move to quarterback his senior season. Since he wasn't an elite receiver, especially with a lack of overall speed, he would have been a two-star recruit and likely an athlete once he moved to quarterback. Interestingly, he played receiver because his high school coach's son was the quarterback until Ben was a senior. He obviously overcame that foolishness to become a star.
25
OL
Brookfield (Wisc.) Westosha Central, 2003, four-star
The Skinny: Thomas was the No. 18 offensive tackle and the No. 3 recruit from Wisconsin in the class of 2003. Thomas, who committed to Wisconsin over Notre Dame, fine-tuned his craft with the Badgers before being selected third overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Browns. He has carried over his offensive line domination to the NFL, where he has earned a Pro Bowl invite each of his seasons in the league and earned five first-team All-Pro selections.
Farrell's Take: We liked Thomas enough to make him a four-star, but every once in a while I kick myself for not making every Wisconsin lineman who plays for the Badgers a five-star. Might as well, because they certainly seem to pan out in college and beyond. Thomas was an athletic kid with great feet who also played defensive end in high school and was long with plenty of room to fill out. No way to see he'd turn into the best offensive lineman in the NFL according to many, but he certainly had a high ceiling.
24
DL
Portland (Ore.) Grant, 2005, four-star
The Skinny: Suh was No. 51 overall, the No. 6 defensive tackle and the No. 1 recruit from Oregon in the Class of 2005. A great deal has been written and discussed about Suh's antics on the field during his NFL career, but there is no debate about his production. He was able to give the Detroit Lions a defensive identity during his five seasons and now hopes to do the same in Miami, as he signed with the Dolphins as a free agent during the off-season.
Farrell's Take: Ah, the angry man who wasn't so angry in high school. Suh was another guy we liked quite a bit out of high school. He did played with a lot of passion and determination on the field and certainly had an edge, but we didn't think he'd become one of the league's most vicious and feared players. A quiet kid for the most part, he was the rare defensive tackle who could get after the passer like an end but still stuff the run with ease.
23
DB
Ft. Washington (Md.) Friendly, 2007, four-star
The Skinny: Haden was No. 59 overall, the No. 3 athlete and the No. 1 recruit from Maryland in the class of 2007. After starting every game during his collegiate career with the Gators and being named first-team All-American in 2009, Haden was selected with the seventh overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2010 NFL Draft. Haden was brought along gradually by the Browns, but has hit his stride now with two consecutive Pro Bowl appearances.
Farrell's Take: Haden was a quarterback in high school, but knew from his junior year on that he could make his money at cornerback and that certainly worked out. As a top 60 prospect in the country, it was clear we loved him and had he had more cornerback experience to show off, he probably would have been a five-star. He was one of the best athletes I've seen when it comes to the combo of speed and strength -- he was a brick.
22
QB
Richmond (Va.) The Collegiate School, 2007, two-star
The Skinny: Wilson was not ranked nationally, at his position or in Virginia in the Class of 2007. Being a 5-foot-11 quarterback, college coaches were not knocking over Wilson's door to get to him. He began his collegiate career at NC State, After taking the Wolfpack to two bowl games, he did his graduate year in Wisconsin, where he led the Badgers to the Rose Bowl. Not a great deal was expected out of Wilson in the NFL, but after being selected in the third round by Seattle in 2012, he surprised everyone by winning the starting job as a rookie. Three years later he has led the Seahawks to two Super Bowls, including one win, and is considered one of the best young quarterbacks in the league.
Farrell's Take: We get more questions about this one, aside from one other notable two-star coming up on the list, than any others. But just think back to the time -- 2006 was Wilson's senior year and no one wanted a 5-foot-11 quarterback. Well, NC State and Duke did (Texans coach Bill O'Brien recruited Wilson for Duke), but both said they'd give him a shot at quarterback and he was expected to be moved. Then there was the question of his desire to play baseball thrown in. Okay, enough excuses. Wilson has played like a five-star since given a chance and he effectively continued the "short quarterback" trend in the NFL started by Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees.
21
DB
Orange (Tex.) West Orange-Stark, 2007, four-star
The Skinny: Thomas was the No. 12 athlete and the No. 19 recruit from Texas in the class of 2007. Thomas was an early commitment with Texas and enjoyed a fantastic career with the Longhorns. Selected in the first round by the Seahawks in 2010, Thomas quickly established himself as an elite safety in the NFL and has been a major factor in their back-to-back Super Bowl appearances.
Farrell's Take: Thomas was listed as an athlete coming out of high school because he could do so much offensively and on defense and could play cornerback or safety. He was undersized, which was the big question mark surrounding his ranking and we didn't see him ending up as a safety or the big hitter he has become. We obviously liked him quite a bit with his four-star ranking, but he has shown that you can't measure heart on film.
Top 50 CFB: Farrell Fifty
Mike Farrell
National Recruiting Director
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