Fact or Fiction: Arik Gilbert will go to Georgia
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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FACT OR FICTION: DeVonta Smith deserved the Heisman Trophy
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1. LSU TE Arik Gilbert will go to Georgia.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. I know it seems like it would make sense with Georgia's shot at the playoff next season and talk of the former five-star being homesick, but I still expect him to end up at Tennessee to play with his high school quarterback Harrison Bailey.
Remember that the Vols were the first program to recruit him as a receiver and he has a good relationship with the staff. Let’s be honest, Gilbert is a freak talent who will be off to the NFL in a couple of years no matter where he lands, so why not reunite with his old QB at a program that is close enough to home?
Added note: Now that the Vols are in a hiring freeze and under serious NCAA scrutiny UGA has a much better shot now. But I still think the Gators and Alabama might be the fit.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I’m pretty confident he’s going to end up in the SEC and Georgia is definitely one of the programs going after him, but throughout his first recruitment, he seemed lukewarm about the Bulldogs and their use of tight ends. This season, no Georgia tight end had more than 10 catches. That is going to be a concern of Gilbert’s as I’m sure other coaching staffs have promised him the world. I wouldn’t count out Florida or Alabama for him, but Tennessee makes a lot of sense as well.
2. WR Mookie Cooper will be a star at Mizzou.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Mookie Cooper is a dynamic talent and Eli Drinkwitz is an excellent offensive mind who will utilize him in many different ways. Think of a Rondale Moore kind of role at Missouri for next season for Cooper and some big numbers with a young team.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Missouri threw only nine touchdown passes all season and it’s worrisome that Cooper could not break through at Ohio State and have an impact with the Buckeyes, but Cooper is entering a perfect situation. The offense should be friendly for him, he’s a playmaker with great speed who averaged big yards per catch in high school and Drinkwitz is a great coach who is wise enough to utilize him in the offense. Moore comparisons might be a stretch but Cooper is going to have a huge impact in Columbia.
3. Will Johnson and Domani Jackson will go to the same school.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. I know they want to go to the same school and the two five-star 2022 defensive backs could easily do so as any program would take them, but I still see Domani Jackson going to USC and I picture Will Johnson at Ohio State. Johnson would go to USC if he liked it out there and feels comfortable and Jackson would probably go to Ohio State if he loved it, but in the pandemic world I just have to think each stays closer to home as Maason Smith and Korey Foreman did in 2021 despite wanting to play together.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Rarely do these things work out, but Johnson and Jackson have similar lists of favorites and so I wouldn’t be shocked at all if it happens. Ohio State is a very real possibility for both (Jackson is originally from Ohio and still has family there) and USC is as well since Johnson wants to visit there before making a decision. Kids talk about playing together all the time and then it fades away, but I can see this one having real legs.