NFL Draft: Top 10 former five-stars selected
With the NFL Draft finishing up over the weekend, this is now the time to review how it all played out. Here is a look at the top-10 former five-star prospects to get picked.
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NFL DRAFT: Conference breakdown | What We Learned | Biggest winners of the weekend | Five storylines | Did we hit or miss on HS rankings of 32 first-rounders? | First-round grades | Why did Rivals miss on Burrow's, Herbert's rankings? | Day Two thoughts | Looking ahead to top 10 players for 2021 draft
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022: Top 100
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Chase Young, Ohio State DE, No. 2 overall (Washington)
Recruiting: Ohio State, Alabama and Maryland emerged as Young’s favorites and he committed to the Buckeyes during the summer prior to his senior high school season.
Draft pick: Young was the second overall pick behind only QB Joe Burrow.
Farrell’s take: No surprise here at all as Young was a sure thing coming out of high school and we knew he’d be a star barring injury. This also speaks to the bogus line about attending camps to earn your ranking. Young didn’t care about that stuff and was pure game and film eval. He was a freak who jumped off the screen.
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Jeff Okudah, Ohio State CB, No. 3 overall (Detroit)
Recruiting: Okudah committed to Ohio State over Florida State, Oklahoma, Georgia and others at the Army All-American Bowl.
Draft pick: Okudah was the third overall selection behind Burrow and Young.
Farrell’s take: Okudah was ranked as a safety but he showed he could play cornerback at many different events and in high school. We had him as a ball-hawking free safety who can’t miss but he proved to us he can be on an island.
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Derrick Brown, Auburn DT, No. 7 overall (Carolina)
Recruiting: Brown picked Auburn over Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi State and others on National Signing Day.
Draft pick: The former five-star was the seventh overall selection and the top defensive tackle drafted.
Farrell’s take: Brown was a monster in high school, a man among boys, but he was up and down in evals in person. However, his size and skill set were too good and his ceiling too high for him to be anything less than a five-star.
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Jedrick Wills, Alabama OT, No. 10 overall (Cleveland)
Recruiting: Rated as the fifth-best offensive tackle in the 2017 class, Wills committed to Alabama over Kentucky, Michigan, Notre Dame and Tennessee in November of his senior season.
Draft pick: Wills was the second offensive tackle taken after Georgia’s Andrew Thomas as Wills was the No. 10 overall pick in the first round.
Farrell’s take: At first glance Wills looked like a guard trying to play tackle but when you saw his footwork and ability to redirect and reset, it was clear he was a can’t-miss kid. At tackle or guard, he’s special.
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Jerry Jeudy, Alabama WR, No. 15 overall (Denver)
Recruiting: The five-star receiver committed to Alabama over Florida, Florida State, Miami and Tennessee in the summer before his senior season.
Draft pick: Jeudy was the second receiver taken in the draft after Alabama teammate Henry Ruggs. He was the No. 15 player taken.
Farrell’s take: Jeudy was dominant when he wanted to be and toyed with defensive backs with his speed and route running. He convinced us of his five-star status at the Five-Star Challenge where he dominated every elite defensive back he went against.
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AJ Terrell, Clemson CB, No. 16 overall (Atlanta)
Recruiting: Auburn was the early favorite and then Florida and South Carolina emerged along with Clemson, which won out in his recruitment when Terrell committed in the summer before his senior season.
Draft pick: Following Okudah and Florida’s C.J. Henderson, Terrell was the third cornerback and No. 16 overall pick.
Farrell’s take: Terrell was a controversial five-star because a lot of people didn’t think he was that elite, especially those in the state of Georgia. But we liked his length, size and especially his speed as a guy who would take a few years to develop. He’s up and down with consistency, but you can’t teach his physical skills.
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Isaiah Wilson, Georgia OT, No. 29 overall (Tennessee)
Recruiting: Alabama led early in his recruitment and then Michigan emerged as the frontrunner. Georgia made its move and after Wilson visited Athens for his official visit, the Bulldogs became a top contender. He committed to Georgia in December of his senior season.
Draft pick: Wilson was the sixth offensive tackle off the board with the No. 29 pick in the first round.
Farrell’s take: Wilson was a monster in high school, a 360-pounder who just rag dolled people. He was an early five-star in the class and maintained that ranking even as he struggled with some speed rushers. He’s still raw in some aspects.
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Tee Higgins, Clemson WR, No. 33 overall (Cincinnati)
Recruiting: Higgins had been committed to Tennessee and he called the Volunteers his leader, but on July 4 the five-star receiver pledged to Clemson. Ole Miss, Florida State and Ohio State were also in the running.
Draft pick: The seventh receiver drafted, Higgins was the first overall pick of the second round.
Farrell’s take: Higgins reminded me of AJ Green in high school with his length and body control, and he was more filled out. An elite basketball player as well, he was a great athlete and a can’t-miss prospect.
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Marlon Davidson, Auburn DE, No. 47 overall (Atlanta)
Recruiting: Auburn beat Alabama for Davidson as the Tigers were almost always considered the frontrunner. His brother, Kenneth Carter, also played for the Tigers.
Draft pick: Davidson was a selection in the second round after first-rounders Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw, and second-rounder Ross Blacklock.
Farrell’s take: Davidson was a huge defensive end who could also play tackle at the next level and had tremendous balance and good quicks off the line of scrimmage. His versatility will help him at the NFL level.
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Cam Akers, Florida State RB, No. 52 overall (LA Rams)
Recruiting: Akers was committed to Alabama early in his recruitment but after backing off that pledge, Ole Miss and Mississippi State looked like serious contenders. After numerous visits to Florida State, the Seminoles won out. Tennessee and Ohio State were also high on the list.
Draft pick: With the No. 20 pick in the second round, Akers was the fourth running back off the board following Clyde Edwards-Helaire, D’Andre Swift and Jonathan Taylor.
Farrell’s take: Akers was the No. 3 player in the country coming out of high school and was considered for No 1 overall. He was a dominant back with good size and power, and he could be a steal in the second round.