No. 2's history: Classes 2008-10
With Wake Forest, N.C., defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence finishing at No. 2 in the class of 2016 in our final release of the Rivals100 Presented By Under Armour, he finishes as “first runner-up” to No. 1 Rashan Gary from Paramus (N.J.) Paramus Catholic. However, we have learned one thing over the years – No. 2 usually isn’t so bad.
Here’s a look at all the No. 2 prospects in Rivals.com history as Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell puts on his Judge Farrell robe and declares if No. 2 was actually better than No. 1 each year.
Today: 2008, 2009 and 2010.
2008: DE DaQuan Bowers – Bamberg (SC) Bamberg-Ehrhardt
Terrelle Pryor was the only player ranked ahead of Bowers in 2008, while Bowers was ahead of Julio Jones, Patrick Johnson and A.J. Green in the top 10. Unlike most other top-level recruits, Bowers decided to end his recruiting process extremely early with a commitment to Clemson. Even more uncommon was the fact that he actually stayed very firm in his commitment for 13 months before enrolling early at Clemson during the spring of 2008.
As a true freshman that fall, Bowers ended up starting six games and finished with 37 tackles and eight tackles for a loss. Dealing with an injury that caused him to miss three games in 2009, Bowers still impressed and totaled 46 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks. During the 2010 season, which turned out to be his last with the Tigers, Bowers truly reached his potential. Finishing with 67 tackles, plus 26 tackles for a loss and 15.5 sacks, which both led the country, Bowers was a unanimous first-team All-American, was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and won the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive player.
Despite his amazing junior season, Bowers slipped in the 2011 NFL Draft due to injury concerns. This caused him to last until the 51st overall pick, where he was selected by Tampa Bay. Injuries continued to haunt Bowers during his four seasons with the Buccaneers. After totaling 66 tackles and seven sacks during his time in Tampa, Bowers was waived after the 2014 season and recently resigned with the Bucs.
Farrell’s take: Bowers was an amazing talent and a guy who pushed his way up near the top of the rankings after dominating everyone during Under Armour All-America week. He had a very good college career and his junior season was off the hook. It was disappointing to see him slip in the draft due to injury concerns but they were clearly justified as he hasn’t done much with the Buccaneers despite some saying he would be the steal of the draft. Pryor had a very solid career at Ohio State that was derailed by NCAA issues and he never became a consistent starter in the NFL. But overall his body of work shades out Bowers by a nose.
Judge Farrell: WORSE
2009: WR Rueben Randle – Bastrop, La.
Bryce Brown was the only player ranked ahead of Randle in 2009, while Randle was ahead of D.J. Fluker, Sheldon Richardson, Trent Richardson and Vontaze Burfict in the top 10. Being a top-level recruit in Louisiana, Randle always felt the pressure to stay in state and attend LSU. However, he took his time with his recruiting process and made numerous visits throughout his process, including officials to Oklahoma and Alabama. When it finally came time to make his decision on National Signing Day, Randle decided that staying close to home was best for him and committed to the Tigers over the Sooners and Crimson Tide.
At LSU, Randle saw minimal playing time as a true freshman, but then began to quickly develop during his sophomore season in 2010. Finishing with 33 receptions for 544 yards and three touchdowns, even bigger things were expected out of Randle in 2011. Starting 12 games, Randle enjoyed his best season in Baton Rouge with 53 receptions for 917 yards and eight touchdowns, which earned him First-Team All-SEC honors.
After foregoing his senior season to enter the 2012 NFL Draft, Randle was selected by the New York Giants with the 63rd overall pick in the second round. In his three seasons with the Giants, Randle has become a reliable threat in New York’s passing game, teaming up with Odell Beckham Jr. He had 57 catches for 797 yards and eight scores this year, pushing his career total beyond 2,500 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Farrell’s take: Randle was No. 1 in this class at one point until Brown dominated the U.S. Army All-American Bowl week and showed he was not only an elite runner but an elite pass catcher as well. For Randle, playing a lot of quarterback as a high school prospect made him a bit more raw as a receiver so it took some time for him to develop, but he has clearly surpassed Brown in college and the NFL.
Judge Farrell: BETTER
2010: OL Seantrel Henderson – Saint Paul (Minn.) Cretin-Derham Hall
Ronald Powell was the only player ranked ahead of Henderson in 2010, while Henderson was ahead of Sharrif Floyd, Keenan Allen and Robert Woods in the top 10. As with most top recruits, Henderson’s process was hectic, but it turned absolutely chaotic during its final stages. He surprised some by committing to USC over Ohio State on National Signing Day, however he never signed his National Letter of Intent. This dragged itself out until the end of March when he finally submitted the necessary paperwork to the Trojans.
Everything seemed set for Henderson until USC was hit with NCAA sanctions during the summer of 2010. After being released from his letter of intent, Henderson finally found his college home with the Miami Hurricanes in July. Henderson did not disappoint during his freshman season, starting nine games and being named to several freshman All-American teams.
Coming off of his impressive season, the 2011 season was disappointing. Off-season back surgery and a one-game suspension culminated into somewhat of a lost season for him. His junior season was also full of disruptions, including a suspension during spring practice and then a car accident that led to several fines. On the field, Henderson played well in spurts, but only started seven games. His senior season was more of the same, including yet another suspension. He later failed a drug test at the NFL Combine leading into the 2014 draft.
Not surprisingly, Henderson slipped to the seventh round, finally getting selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 237th overall selection. To Henderson’s credit though, his rookie season did not go as predicted by most. Henderson made an immediate impact with the Bills in camp and became a starter at right tackle. Henderson is off to a great start in the NFL after his second season as a starter.
Farrell’s take: Like Randle, Henderson was also No. 1 at one point but Powell’s two-way athleticism took over in the end. Injuries hampered Powell’s career overall and he never made the impact expected. That being said, Henderson’s career in college was hampered a bit as well but as a starting offensive tackle in the NFL, he easily gets the nod here.
Judge Farrell: BETTER