Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.
The regular season has ended so it’s time for the final Farrell 50, the top 50 players in college football and how they looked out of high school. Today we continue the countdown with Nos. 6-10.
The skinny: Chubb committed to NC State a few days after picking up an offer from the Wolfpack in June. He had taken a visit to Raleigh earlier in the month and made his decision on his birthday. Chubb has been a terror on the field for the Wolfpack since the 2015 season. With plenty of attention coming his way this fall, he enjoyed his best statistical season with 72 tackles, 23 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks and one forced fumble.
Farrell’s take: The best defensive player in college football? He’s very close. Chubb missed much of his junior season of high school due to an ACL injury, so he was under-recruited a bit and perhaps underrated because of it. He had a solid senior season and showed athleticism as a pass rusher, but also someone who could drop into coverage. His lack of natural length kept him rated a bit lower, but his relentless motor and technique make him an elite pass rusher in college and the best defensive end around.
The skinny: Tate committed to Arizona in mid-March of his junior year, mainly due to the Wildcats' promise that he would play quarterback in Tucson. So despite a huge senior season which drew the attention of many top programs, Tate stuck with the Wildcats through National Signing Day. Tate saw limited playing time as a true freshman and the beginning of this season, but when starter Brandon Dawkins went down with an injury during the Colorado game, Tate took over and never looked back. Passing for 1,289 yards and nine touchdowns, and rushing for 1,353 yards and 12 touchdowns, Tate became one of the more electric players in the country during the second half of the season.
Farrell’s take: Tate was a quarterback who didn’t look great in camp settings or in anything where he was forced to stay in the pocket and simply throw, but when he was in game situations and able to freelance, he was dynamic. His ability to run was the main reason we had him so highly ranked out of high school, but he also had a very strong and live arm, he just lacked great touch. He’s coming along nicely in the latter department, and he’s one of the more dynamic quarterbacks in the country when he tucks and runs.
The skinny: There wasn’t a great deal of drama in Johnson’s recruiting process, as he committed to the Tigers during the spring after his junior season. While he contemplated taking official visits to Alabama and Florida State, they never materialized and he signed with Auburn on National Signing Day. Johnson has improved his level of play from year-to-year with the Tigers, with his best so far coming in 2017. While nagging injuries slowed him a bit during the final two games, he has still totaled 1,320 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground, while also adding two more scores through the air.
Farrell’s take: Johnson was a terrific athlete, as evidenced by playing defensive back during Under Armour All-America week. That versatility and athleticism have made him a dangerous weapon at Auburn. He can play receiver, running back and a hybrid combo position of both, and he’s the most important non-quarterback to any team in the country. He’s also shown his toughness and ability to handle fourth quarter carries, a question mark out of high school.
The skinny: Taylor initially committed to Rutgers in early May, but then flipped to Wisconsin after an official visit to Madison in October. With the Badgers’ long history of producing elite college backs, expectations were high for Taylor, but not many people envisioned his level of production as a true freshman. Currently with 1,847 yards and 13 touchdowns, Taylor not only proved himself as one of the top running backs in the Big Ten, but also the country.
Farrell’s take: I had Taylor on my Commit Fit list when he signed in February because of his combination of size, power and quick feet in the Wisconsin offense, but I never expected him to reach this level so fast. The Badgers have done so well with New Jersey/New York-area running backs over the years, and this kid is clearly next. He broke former Badgers star running back Corey Clement’s South Jersey rushing record his senior season and has been compared with Clement often, although he’s a bit more physical. Taylor’s balance, especially, stood out when scouting him.
The skinny: Wilkins took official visits to Clemson, Stanford, Penn State, Ohio State and Boston College prior to committing to the Tigers at the Under Armour All-American Game. In Death Valley, he showed a great deal of potential during his true freshman season before truly bursting onto the scene last fall. This season he has continued to excel, while being part of the most dominant defensive line in the country. Currently with 52 tackles, nine tackles for a loss and five sacks, Wilkins has helped position the Tigers to become back-to-back national champions.
Farrell’s take: I remember the first time I saw Wilkins on film. It was after his freshman season and his athletic ability was off the charts. As a Connecticut prospect, he didn’t get the national attention of many until later in his career, but I knew how good he was from day one. Wilkins has already turned into one of the elite defensive tackles in the country and could emerge as one of the top five picks in the NFL Draft. His dominance doesn’t show in the stat sheet as much as expected, but he’s one of the top two or three defenders in the country and this ranking reflects that.
