Fact or Fiction: Penn State is hurting Wolverines in Michigan
National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
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1. Penn State is hurting Michigan in their home state.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Michigan fans might spin this but for James Franklin to go into Michigan to get Jaylen Reed, Kalen King and Kobe King is impressive. Yes, maybe only one of these players or maybe two was a key target for the Wolverines, but remember that landing recruits at key high school programs like Cass Tech and MLK leads to additional interest from other prospects down the line. Franklin is doing a nice job of attracting interest in Jim Harbaugh’s territory and that’s not great for Michigan.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. While the commitments of Reed, Kalen King and Kobe King have certainly caught our attention, Penn State has really only done spot recruiting throughout the state of Michigan and I’m not sure it will ever be more than that. Landing Enzo Jennings in the 2020 class was also a big win for the Nittany Lions but until they can come in and get elite players in the state – I’m talking about Damon Payne, Rocco Spindler, Donovan Edwards and/or Rayshaun Benny this year or players like that moving forward – Penn State won’t hurt Michigan much. Michigan State is another story and then elite national powers coming in and stealing top talent is another issue to watch. But Penn State won’t be Michigan’s biggest headache in in-state recruiting.
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2. North Carolina is the only surprise in the ACC in 2021 recruiting so far.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Look at Duke. I like what David Cutcliffe is doing this recruiting year and the Blue Devils' latest commitment from Jordan Moore is a good one because he can play quarterback, wide receiver or defensive back. The class is mostly filled with low three-stars but that’s to be expected with Duke’s academic restrictions and overall lack of success in football. There are some versatile and talented players in this class early.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. Miami cratered down the stretch last season and the team looked downright bad late in the season yet recruiting has not taken a huge hit as second-year coach Manny Diaz is still getting quality players. The offseason commitment of four-star running back Thaddius Franklin is huge. I also like what Virginia Tech is doing by dipping into Texas for some four-star players, most recently wide receiver Latrell Neville. It might be a new recruiting avenue for the Hokies as the Mid-Atlantic elite players get swallowed up by Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and others.
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3. CeeDee Lamb should be the first WR taken in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. This doesn’t mean I don’t like CeeDee Lamb, because he could be the next DeAndre Hopkins in the NFL. But Jerry Jeudy is such a rare route runner and his skill set makes him great because of the separation he gets. They are 1A and 1B to me with Henry Ruggs not far behind. It will be interesting to see who gets picked first.
Gorney’s take: FACT. It is definitely hard to argue against Jeudy but I prefer Lamb for one major reason: Everybody and their mother knew Oklahoma was throwing to Lamb all the time and nobody could come close to slowing him down. He had a phenomenal career with the Sooners – he had more catches, yards and touchdowns than Jeudy – and Jeudy had the benefit of playing alongside Henry Ruggs, DeVonta Smith and other elite pass catchers which limited double teams. Jeudy did excel in the SEC, though, so an argument could easily be made for him as being WR1 in this draft class. But after watching both for three years and then seeing just how explosive Lamb is at the combine, I’m siding with him here.