Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell’s thought-provoking Three-Point Stance is here with an update on some tradition powers trying to return to glory, notes on the class of 2014 and the NFL Draft, some five-stars cashing in big in NFL free agency.

MORE FARRELL: Mock draft | Tuesday's Three-Point Stance

Last year at this time I named five traditional powers that I wanted to see return to their old glory. Here’s a quick update on how that chase for glory went this past season and how many years it will take for them to reach the playoff.

Michigan Wolverines: The Wolverines are getting closer under Jim Harbaugh as they were in the playoff discussion for most of the season and had a 10-win season. I can see them in the playoff within the next three seasons and a return to glory is imminent as long as Harbaugh is in charge. Time frame: 2-3 years

Texas Longhorns: Things didn’t go so well with a loss to Kansas, a 5-7 record and the firing of Charlie Strong. The good news? Tom Herman was a big-time hire, the Big 12 isn’t deep at all and a return to glory can be quick in the Power Five’s weakest conference. But things aren’t as rosy as they are in Ann Arbor and Herman has a lot to prove. Time frame: 3-4 years

Miami Hurricanes: A 9-4 season is the best at Miami since 2013 but the ‘Canes haven’t had a 10-win year since 2003, so the next step needs to be taken. Mark Richt is a terrific coach, the ACC Coastal isn’t very strong and recruiting is going much, much better, so a return to glory could happen. The problem? They have to get past Clemson and Florida State to reach the playoff and there is still a big talent gap. Time frame: 5-10 years

Tennessee Volunteers: Last fall was supposed to be the season the Vols won the SEC East but it didn’t happen and the loss to Vanderbilt was just bad. But, as usual, Tennessee finished with a bowl win over a Big Ten team to bring promise for the next season. Can the Vols win the SEC East next season? They could. Will they be in the college football playoff anytime soon? It doesn’t look like it as long as Nick Saban is still at Alabama and not until recruiting takes a step up. Time frame: 5-10 years

Nebraska Cornhuskers: Mike Riley led his team to a 9-4 record, but the Huskers started 7-0 before things fell apart at the end. The good news for Husker fans is that the Big Ten West isn’t that deep and they can win that division as they continue to improve recruiting. The problem? Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State are all getting better and the Big Ten East is even more difficult than the SEC West. Time frame: 5-10 years

So which top 50 of the Rivals100 would you take, the 2013 or 2014 class? It’s an interesting debate.

The 2014 class has a very good chance at going down as the best recruiting class at the top of the rankings in our history. That’s saying something.

There are 15 former top 50 prospects in our Rivals100 for the class of 2014 has been in a recent mock draft as a first-rounder for the upcoming NFL Draft in April, and perhaps 16 if a team takes a huge PR hit by drafting first-round talent Joe Mixon on the first night.

The 2013 class had six first-rounders from the top 50 last year with seven more from that class in the first-round conversation this year.

We won’t know the true answer to this debate until the 2018 NFL Draft where we see where 2014 players such as Da’Shawn Hand, Quin Blanding, Kyle Allen, Sony Michel and others land, but it appears 2014 has the upper hand.

I highlighted some former two-star prospects that are cashing in big in NFL free agency in this column on Tuesday, but I can’t ignore the former five-stars as well. Everyone loves to point out misses in our rankings, but take a look at these guys who are making bank this off-season …

TE Martellus Bennett (from New England to Green Bay): $7.2 million guaranteed at 30 years old speaks to his athletic ability and consistent production. The former Texas A&M star ranks as one of our best tight end prospects in Rivals.com history.

WR DeSean Jackson (from Washington to Tampa Bay): $35 million over three years with $20 million guaranteed for the former Cal star and one of our smallest five-star wide receivers in Rivals.com history. He was a dynamic talent out of high school.

WR Terrelle Pryor (from Cleveland to Washington): The former No. 1 player in the country and Ohio State quarterback only landed a one-year deal but it was worth $8 million and if he has a big season with Kirk Cousins, he could cash in big. If you had told me in 2008 when he was the top player in the country that we’d be talking about him as a potential top 10 NFL wide receiver in 2017, I would have told you that you’re crazy.

WR Robert Woods (from Buffalo to LA Rams): Five years and $39 million with $15 million guaranteed is not too shabby for the former five-star out of USC who was solid but not spectacular with the Bills.

OL Matt Kalil (from Minnesota to Carolina): It appears to be a $24 million guaranteed deal for the former five-star out of USC. Kalil was solid but not dominant in Minnesota.

OL Andre Smith (from Minnesota to Cincinnati): Our No. 2 player back in 2006, Smith cashed in with a $4.5 million deal as he heads back to the team that took him in the first round in 2009. The former Alabama star is still one of the most physically aggressive offensive linemen I’ve scouted out of high school.

OL DJ Fluker (from San Diego to New York Giants): This is surprisingly low for another former Alabama star who started every game for four seasons in San Diego. But still, $3 million for one year isn’t exactly laughable.

QB Matt Barkley (from Chicago to San Francisco): A $500,000 signing bonus is the only guaranteed money for the former USC five-star quarterback, but what do you expect for a guy with six career starts, eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions in his NFL career?