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Rival Views: Best smaller 2017 recruiting class

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney don’t always see eye to eye. In this edition of Rival Views, the two debate which smaller 2017 recruiting class has the most quality.

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FARRELL'S VIEW: CLEMSON

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Five-star Clemson QB commit Hunter Johnson
Five-star Clemson QB commit Hunter Johnson

For me it’s Clemson in a tight race over Stanford and Washington. With only 13 commitments and little wiggle room, Clemson boasts three five-star prospects and six four-stars. The Tigers' class is led by quarterback Hunter Johnson, who should team up well with Tee Higgins. Clemson also has an elite corner in AJ Terrell.

But there is depth in this class as well with four-star quarterback Chase Brice, who will push Johnson and has the talent to win the job outright, as well as wide receiver Amari Rodgers and cornerback LeAnthony Williams. Throw in defensive ends Jordan Williams and Justin Foster, who should convert from linebacker before too long, and you have a deep defensive group overall.

I like the offensive line grouping as well, led by Matt Bockhorst and high three-stars Noah DeHond and Blake Vinson.

Clemson has entered that elite recruiting status with Alabama, Ohio State, Florida State and a few others where they can pull five-stars from all over the place. And this class, with a 3.92 star average, is third in the country when it comes to quality per recruit.

GORNEY'S VIEW: STANFORD

Five-star Stanford OL commit Walker Little
Five-star Stanford OL commit Walker Little

Stanford has only 11 commits in this class, but the Cardinal is proving that quality is oftentimes better than quantity.

The risk here is Stanford has little margin for error in this recruiting class, but with the quality of prospects in this class that shouldn’t be an issue. The Pac-12 power has put together an absolutely phenomenal recruiting class.

Stanford has three commits in the top 15 of the final Rivals100, a claim no other school can make.

It starts up front – when doesn’t it with Stanford? – with five-star offensive tackles Walker Little and Foster Sarell. They’re so talented that both could compete for early playing time. They’re that good.

Five-star quarterback Davis Mills looks to be the future under center, and that’s pretty solid since Stanford fended off many other programs to land his commitment.

Four-stars Osiris St. Brown and Colby Parkinson will definitely be utilized in the passing game, and then there are a bunch of other four-star standouts who will fill roles within Stanford’s system.

Numbers won’t allow Stanford’s class to be that highly-rated since only 11 players are currently in the group. But coach David Shaw and his staff have loaded up with tremendously talented prospects who should keep the Cardinal atop the Pac-12 for years to come.

Other schools like Clemson, Notre Dame, Florida, Washington and UCLA have loaded up without a full class, but Stanford is doing it best.

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