This weekend’s featured NFL and CFB star players’ high school rankings are
Ahead of a weekend packed with college and NFL games, Adam Friedman Let’s take a look at where some of the big names in the spotlight this weekend were ranked as high school freshmen and whether those rankings were right or wrong.
Oklahoma vs. Tennessee: Sooners QB Jackson Arnold
Oklahoma host Tennessee This weekend will be the first big test of the Jackson-Arnold era. The former five-star recruit from Texas Notre Dame, Ole Miss, TCU Arnold’s commitment marks the first major recruiting win for Oklahoma. Brent Venables As head coach of the Sooners.
Jeff LevyThe former Oklahoma offensive coordinator also played a major role in getting Arnold to move to Norman. In three games this season, Arnold has thrown for 484 yards and seven touchdown passes with just two interceptions.
Arnold has the fifth-best adjusted completion percentage in the SEC, according to PFF, and while it’s too early to tell if Arnold deserves that ranking, he’s been impressive so far.
verdict: Incomplete
NC State vs. Clemson: Wolfpack QB CJ Bailey
North Carolina State University When the Wolfpack face Clemson this week, freshman CJ Bailey will be the starter for the first time in his collegiate career with starting quarterback Grayson McCall sidelined. A South Florida native, Bailey racked up an incredible number of wins and three state championships as the quarterback for powerhouse Chaminade Madonna and earned a four-star rating prior to the end of the 2024 rankings cycle.
Bailey committed to NC State University in March of her junior year. Miami before National Signing Day.
verdict: Incomplete
New Orleans vs. Philadelphia: Saints RB Alvin Kamara
Kamara scored four touchdowns on Sunday, giving the New Orleans Saints offense its second straight game with 40 or more points. Kamara has been one of the NFL’s best running backs since being selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Kamara was a top 50 prospect in the 2013 class. Alabama However, he transferred to a junior college after his freshman year. He was rated a five-star junior college prospect in the class of 2015. Tennessee instead of GeorgiaKamara didn’t always make the impact worthy of a five-star rating in college, and his NFL Draft ranking didn’t reflect that.
But Kamara has certainly lived up to expectations during his time in the NFL.
verdict： Hit
USC vs. Michigan: Trojans QB Miller Moss
Moss is U.S.C.The 2021 freshman class was filled with high-end potential. Most of the players from that class either didn’t pan out or have since moved on to other teams, if you count the interim head coach. Donte Williams, Lincoln Riley Moss is the third head coach to play for USC and, to be honest, I never thought he’d be a starter for the Trojans.
Moss and Jackson Dart Ole MissBoth signed with USC’s 2021 freshman class, with Caleb Williams transferring to USC after the 2022 season and then five-star Malachi Nelson signing with USC in the 2023 class.
With Dart and Nelson going elsewhere and Williams going to the NFL, the starting spot was given to Moss, and he hasn’t wasted it: He thrilled the public with six touchdowns in USC’s bowl game last season and has started the year well, completing 71.6 percent of his passes with zero turnovers, two touchdown passes and 600 passing yards.
Moss will face a big task Saturday against Michigan, which airs at 3:30 p.m. EDT on CBS.
verdict： Escape
Dallas vs. Baltimore: Cowboys LB Micah Parsons
Parsons was a natural five-star in the 2018 class, but some have said he was too lowly at No. 6 in the Rivals 250. His hiring was pretty dramatic. The Pennsylvania native is Pennsylvania State University Parsons committed to Ohio State early in the recruiting process but deferred in April of his junior year. His relationship with the defensive line coach likely played a large role in Parsons signing with Ohio State. Rally JohnsonBut Penn State ultimately got him back.
Parsons quickly became an impact player for the Nittany Lions, becoming the first freshman in Penn State history to lead the team in tackles, he was named a Freshman All-American and was named a consensus All-American after a standout sophomore season.
The Dallas Cowboys selected Parsons with the 12th pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he was named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year the following season. Parsons was also a two-time selection to the AP All-Pro team.
verdict： Hit
