Week 9: College football's breakout stars
Week nine of the college football season is in the books and with it came many standout performances. Here are three guys who had what could be breakout weeks as they take the next step in their development.
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report
RELATED: Week 8's breakout stars | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5
The skinny: Lamar announced a top three of Clemson, Auburn and Alabama before a July visit to Death Valley put the Tigers over the top and quickly resulted in a commitment. As a true freshman last fall Lamar showcased his potential with 22 tackles as a reserve, but he has gradually taken his game to another level this fall. On Saturday during a tough 24-10 victory over Georgia Tech in a downpour, Lamar shined with 11 tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss.
Farrell’s Take: Lamar was a five-star player out of high school because he was big and powerful, but also rangy and solid in coverage. To add quickness at the college level he actually gained weight and power. He’s come along a little slower than expected, but this game showed his range and physical abilities, and he could take it to the next level after this.
The skinny: Vaughns committed to USC over Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, Washington, Georgia and many others in August. He did take an official visit to College Station in January, but held firm with his commitment to the Trojans. After redshirting in 2016, Vaughns has become a consistent weapon for quarterback Sam Darnold this fall. Saturday night, he enjoyed his best collegiate game to date, with six receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns during USC’s 48-17 key conference victory over Arizona State.
Farrell’s Take: Darnold needed new targets at wide receiver, and Vaughns was expected to be that tall, lanky, sneaky-quick downfield threat he loves. Vaughns was a five-star player for a reason - he just needed to fill out and get stronger. He was always excellent off the line of scrimmage and showed excellent hands and body control. Now that he’s got a year under his belt and has added some muscle he’s started to come into his own. It’s been a bit slower than expected this season, but this could propel him further.
The skinny: An early May visit to Oklahoma State was more than enough for King, as he committed to the Cowboys a day later. King earned immediate playing time at Oklahoma State this fall as a true freshman, even with plenty of talent in the backfield. However, nobody expected his level of participation on Saturday. After totaling 53 carries through the first seven games of the season, King carried the ball an amazing 36 times for 142 yards and one touchdown after starter Justice Hill went out with an injury on the first drive of the game during the Cowboys' 50-39 victory over West Virginia.
Farrell’s Take: A powerful runner with average speed, King was a mid-level 3-star player out of Georgia and a steal for the Cowboys. He put up prolific numbers in high school at a smaller school, but attracted the attention of many with his junior season in 2015, when he rushed for more than 2,400 yards. We have seen how his body lean and power have helped him at the college level, and he’s shown surprising quickness and burst at times. This could be a big game for his confidence.
