Three-Point Stance: Big commits, QBs impress, indispensable players

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell’s thought-provoking Three-Point Stance is here with the biggest commitments of the past week, a few big-time quarterbacks that impressed in week one of high school football and college football's most indispensable players.

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Another week with some big-time commitments. Here are the top eight pledges that have taken place since last Tuesday.

1. WR Blue Smith, Ohio State – Big Blue has size, power, sneaky quickness and reliable hands. He’s a terrific athlete who will be a mismatch nightmare for Big Ten defenses as he continues to add size, strength and quickness. Forget the tight end talk that dogged him earlier. He’s a wide receiver all the way and can work outside or as a big flex option.

2. RB Asa Martin, Auburn – Martin brings not only speed and elusiveness to Auburn but he’s a natural pass catcher as well. Many see him as a 10-15 carry change-of-pace back for the Tigers who will catch four or five passes a game as well and that’s the role I see. He’s dynamic and dangerous in space.

3. DT Dante Stills, West Virginia – This was an important one for the Mountaineers and one of their best commitments over the last few cycles. Stills is athletic enough to play numerous positions along the defensive line and has a chance to be a difference-maker as someone who can chase things down in the wide open Big 12.

4. CB Jaycee Horn, Tennessee – Another good get for the Vols in Georgia, Horn was linked to South Carolina and Alabama for the longest time, so they did a great job making up ground and closing. He’s a long and can press and play off and could be a lockdown corner before long.

5. ATH Shocky Jacques-Louis, Tennessee – Jacques-Louis blew up this summer and decommitted from Kentucky and landed on Tennessee as his final (we assume) choice. His versatility is key here as he could play defense if wide receiver doesn’t work out and he has raw but impressive skills.

6. CB Marquis Williams, Pitt – Williams is fast and instinctive. He will bulk up and already plays bigger than his size. He’ll never be a tall corner, but he plays a vertical game, is physical for his size and could be a steal.

7. CB D.J. Johnson, Iowa – Johnson has good size and length but he can change direction quickly as well. He is still a bit raw at times in coverage but with some coaching at the college level his technique will improve and catch up with his sheer athletic gifts.

8. RB Ronnie Walker, Indiana – Walker is a nice get for Indiana as he’s evasive and shifty but also has straight ahead speed and burst. He’s a kid who can also catch the ball out of the backfield and will bring some speed and versatility to the backfield.

Early season jitters? Shaking off the rust? Nope. This past weekend we saw some amazing quarterback performances from some of the highest-ranked signal-callers in the country including our top two players overall: Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. Here’s my take on the five best I saw on film.

Trevor Lawrence – What can I say? There’s a reason Lawrence is No. 1 and we saw it all over the weekend. He can make all the regular throws but his ability to avoid the rush and throw the ball on target despite being off balance is amazing. He made some NFL throws - actually, many NFL throws - in his team’s win. You can’t teach his instincts, I.Q. and vision. Clemson fans are drooling over this kid’s potential.

Matt Corral – You could put Corral even with or even ahead of Lawrence here for his performance this past weekend. You want to see NFL throws? Check out the film. He made one throw on the run I don’t think even Lawrence could make and the way he handled pressure was a thing of beauty. He recently lost his fifth star due to a lackluster spring and summer, but if he plays like this all season, he’ll have it back. Florida fans have to be happy.

Justin Fields – Fields was running for his life all game in a tough loss, but it showed me something -- the kid is a gamer. He made some very good throws, he made some amazingly athletic plays (leapfrogging a defender on one play) and he’s tough. He made his share of mistakes, but played very well overall for a team that was outmatched up front.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson – His first start was impressive as he showed zero nerves, made a ton of nice reads down the field and knew when to run and when to throw on the run. He carved up a solid team and was more advanced in his passing mechanics than I expected, a really good sign for the rest of the season.

Phil Jurkovec – We all knew Jurkovec was big, could run very well for his size and could put up crazy numbers, but his passing mechanics have improved a bit as well. He still drops that arm, but less than he did a year ago and his arm strength seems to have improved. And with that running ability, he’s a handful. He’s perfect for Notre Dame’s current offense.

This weekend, while looking ahead to the Alabama-Florida State matchup, I began thinking about the players who are most important to their team’s success. For example, Dalvin Cook would have led the way for me last season as he was so integral to the ‘Noles offensive success. This year, Derwin James is that guy for the Seminoles because of how much ground he covers and how effective he can be close to the line of scrimmage. Here are five other guys, non-quarterbacks, that national title contenders can’t afford to lose.

Saquon Barkley, Penn State – Miles Sanders is really good, I mean really, really good. But Barkley is the ultimate difference-maker for the Nittany Lions and allows quarterback Trace McSorley extra room in the middle of the field as defenses need to crowd the line to stop Barkley. Without Barkley, Penn State would be in trouble like FSU would be without Cook the last couple of years.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama – Fitzpatrick is now the leader of the defense and similar to James in covering so much ground. He has the ability to cover outside or work the middle of the field. He doesn’t play as well close to the line of scrimmage, but he’s better as a corner. He’s a huge key to the Alabama defense.

Christian Wilkins, Clemson – Wilkins started his career inside, moved outside and is now back inside. His versatility is amazing. You can line him up anywhere. He has to be accounted for on every play and he even impacts on offense. He’s a freaky athlete who makes the defense go.

Derrius Guice, LSU – Arden Key could go here as well, but without Guice at running back, LSU has no chance to win the West and pull off the upset of Alabama. He’s right up there with Barkley when it comes to dominant backs in college football this season.

Vita Vea, Washington – The man in the middle sets the tone for Washington against the run and crushes the pocket. The athletic linebackers run a lot more free when Vea is doing his thing.