Published Jul 2, 2020
Three-Point Stance: Recent commits, Big 12 QBs, G5 DBs
circle avatar
Mike Farrell  •  Rivals.com
Rivals National Columnist

National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell’s Three-Point Stance is here ranking the quarterbacks in the Big 12, looking at notable recent commitments and discussing the top defensive backs from the Group of Five level.

Advertisement

MORE THREE-POINT STANCE: Recent commits, Pac-12 QBs, G5 LBs

CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State

CLASS OF 2022: Top 100

MORE: Rivals Transfer Tracker | Rivals Camp Series

1. RECENT COMMITS THAT STAND OUT

There have been some big commitments in the last week or so and here are the new pledges that stand out to me.

LB Naquan Brown, LSU — Brown is a tall, angular linebacker who has a great frame to build on and is an important get for the Tigers. He has the potential to be an excellent pass rusher.

LB/DE Dallas Turner, Alabama — Turner is an elite hybrid from Florida and another major get for ‘Bama from the Sunshine State. He’s an excellent pass rusher with good size and his snap anticipation is off the charts, which is why he makes so many plays in the backfield.

DB Kaleb Edwards, Georgia Tech — Edwards is an athletic in-state get who could play many positions but will get his first look at safety. He’s rangy and can run as evidenced by his 1,500 rushing yards last season.

WR Simeon Price, South Carolina — Price is an excellent athlete who will probably play slot receiver and brings that Florida speed to the table.

ATH Jaylin Smith, USC — Smith will most likely play corner but he could play offense if needed as well. He’s elite at tracking the ball and can play nickel corner or safety as well as be on an island outside.

RB Dylan Betts-Pauley, Vanderbilt — He’s a big back but he has nimble feet and can catch the ball and, coming from Hoover in Alabama, he knows a high level of competition and will help efforts in that state.

CB Tony Grimes, North Carolina — Grimes is a big and elite corner with all the skills to be great. Dre Bly is from the Virginia Beach area and will coach him up so we should be looking at an All-ACC player and possible All-American.

WR Christian Lewis, Kentucky — Lewis is a big receiver and a nice Southeast get from Alabama. He caught 75 passes and scored 20 touchdowns last season so he’s prolific.

CB Devonta Smith, Alabama — Smith has long arms and a ton of speed and is a huge flip from Ohio State. He’s a sudden corner who will only get better as he fills out.

OL Charles Armstrong, Arizona State — Armstrong is a big and long offensive lineman who is a road grader and with some work can be a right tackle or even guard the blindside. At worst he’s a guard. This is a nice get from Florida.

RB Ricky Parks, Utah — Parks is yet another good running back get from Florida following in the steps of Zach Moss. He can make people miss and drag tacklers as well. He was supposed to be all Iowa so this is a nice recruiting upset for the Utes.

WR Theodore Knox, Mississippi State — Knox is a very good get from Texas with elite speed who will play in the slot and stretch the field. He’s perfect for a Mike Leach offense.

DT Byron Murphy, Baylor — Murphy is a very active defensive tackle who is a sure tackle and is very good at gap assignment and discipline. He isn’t the tallest kid in the world but he uses his natural leverage to beat defenders and win the lowest man battle.

TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon — Ferguson can stretch the field and is an athletic and big target who can high point the ball and win 50-50 battles. He put up good numbers last season and will team well with Moliki Motavao.

WR Christian Dixon, Michigan — Dixon has solid size and can be an elite possession receiver at first and grow into a deep threat at Michigan. This is a huge get from a major program in California.

2. RANKING THE BIG 12 QUARTERBACKS

I’m finishing my series on ranking the quarterbacks with a look at the Big 12.

1. Sam Ehlinger, Texas — Ehlinger has the experience and leadership to be on top this year. The question is, can he lead his team to a Big 12 title?

2. Brock Purdy, Iowa State — Purdy is a very good talent who had some big games last season and had 27 touchdowns and only nine picks.

3. Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State — Sanders has a ton of upside and, with so many weapons in the Cowboys' offense, he should have a big year.

4. Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma — Rattler would be first if he had more experience and will likely shoot up this list. The former five-star will keep the OU quarterback tradition alive.

5. Charlie Brewer, Baylor — Brewer needs better protection than he got last year but his ability to move drives defenses nuts.

6. Skylar Thompson, Kansas State — I like Thompson and his decision making. This should be the year he takes the next step.

7. Alan Bowman, Texas Tech — Coming back from injury, we should see Bowman return to his freshman form. He could end up top-five on this list.

8. Max Duggan, TCU — Duggan showed great promise as a freshman and just needs to cut down on turnovers.

9. Jarrett Doege, West Virginia — After a solid finish last year, Doege has a slight edge on Austin Kendall for the starting job but neither has hit their stride yet.

10. Miles Kendrick, Kansas — It’s either Kendrick or Thomas MacVittie and neither have shown enough to be more than last on this list.

3. THE TOP GROUP OF FIVE DEFENSIVE BACKS

It’s finally here and I hope you’ve enjoyed it. I finish my rankings of the top Group of Five players with the defensive backs today, arguably the deepest group of all.

1. Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati — A tall defensive back, Gardner had three picks his first season and returned two for scores.

2. Shaun Jolly, Appalachian State — What he lacks in size he makes up for in amazing ball skills and the ability to play the ball in the air.

3. Dy’Jonn Turner, UAB — Turner had nine pass breakups last season and can play many positions if needed.

4. Dwayne Johnson, San Diego State — Johnson is a huge safety who hits like a truck and had nearly 100 tackles last season.

5. Corey Straughter, ULM — Straughter is one of the best in the Sun Belt and gets better every season.

6. Sterling Weatherford, Miami-Ohio — A huge defensive back, Weatherford is an active tackler with nearly 100 stops last season.

7. Richie Grant, UCF — Grant is a ballhawk and big time tackler as well. He has seven picks over the last two seasons.

8. James Wiggins, Cincinnati — Wiggins is a freaky safety coming off a knee injury who should still dominate the conference.

9. K.J. Sails, USF — A transfer from North Carolina last season, Sails had three picks for 68 yards.

10. Aaron Robinson, UCF — Robinson is a big corner that the NFL really likes.

11. Darrick Forrest, Cincinnati — The big safety had 106 tackles last season and has the NFL interested.

12. Tariq Thompson, San Diego State — A big safety, Thompson had 55 tackles and 4 picks last year.

13. Deontay Anderson, Houston — The Ole Miss transfer could be part of a very solid defense. He had 12 pass breakups last season.

14. Jalen Walker, Boise State — Walker had 53 tackles and nine pass breakups last season.

15. Darren Hall, San Diego State — His 16 pass breakups is one of the more impressive numbers in the country.