Rivals rankings director and national transfer portal analyst Adam Friedman is joined by national recruiting analysts John Garcia Jr. and Greg Smith and Caleb Jones of AuburnSports.com to tackle three topics and determine whether they believe each statement is FACT or FICTION.
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1. Elijah Melendez is ranked too low in the Rivals250.
Friedman: FICTION. My answer here might change after we see more senior film but I’m going with fiction right now. This is based purely on position value in the NFL Draft. Very few linebackers are picked high in the NFL Draft and the ones that do generally have outstanding physical and athletic traits. Elijah Melendez battled injury this offseason but he has previously posted a 40 time in the high 4.5s. There are some other decent testing results from last offseason as well. There is a lot to like about how he plays in games too. Melendez is a physical and aggressive linebacker who makes plays behind the field whether it’s a run or pass play. We’re closely monitoring his final high school season before we lock in his ranking.
Garcia: FICTION. Melendez sits within the top 100 nationally, as the No. 4 inside linebacker in the land. On the surface, one may think his aggression and physicality warrants a higher spot on the list but the linebacker class of 2025 is a stout one complete with multiple five-stars. Melendez hasn't played as many games as the guys ranked ahead of him and there are still some third-down questions with his game beyond the potential for him as a blitzer or pass-rusher. His floor as a two-down physical 'backer is sky high with his instincts and dominant physical traits, however, part of the reason SEC programs are lining up to grab him now that he's back on the market.
Senior season evaluations are always paramount and Melendez plays key competition in the Orlando area, so him staying healthy and putting together a complete season could alter this answer come the holiday season.
2. Mariyon Dye should be in the top 100 of the Rivals250.
Friedman: FACT. There is a lot to like about Marion Dye’s potential and it’s encouraging to see how physically developed he is at this stage of his career. At nearly 6-foot-5, 270-pounds with exceptionally long arms, Dye has the physical dimensions of an elite defensive lineman. The Tennessee commit’s skill set on the field does need to be refined and there are some signs of improvement already this season. Dye’s progress will be closely watched all season but, given what we already know about him, my gut says he should be ranked inside the top 100.
Smith: FICTION. Dye is a player that is under the microscope this season as a potential riser. However, I don’t think he’s there just yet to be a top-100 prospect. He’s got the size and physical traits to be a monster defensive lineman in the SEC one day. But I don’t see him as an early contributor because he’s still pretty raw and early in his development.
Dye doesn’t dominate yet on a down-to-down basis but the flashes are there that show why Tennessee and many others like his upside. Right now, Dye is ranked properly just outside the top 100 players in the country.
3. Auburn will finish the 2025 recruiting cycle with a top three class in the team recruiting rankings.
Friedman: FICTION. Hugh Freeze and the Auburn staff have done an outstanding job this cycle and currently have the No. 5 class in the 2025 team recruiting rankings. So far they’ve flipped highly ranked prospects like Alvin Henderson from Penn State, Derick Smith from Alabama, Nathaniel Marshall from Michigan and Antonio Coleman from Alabama. They probably aren’t done either. Keep an eye on Notre Dame quarterback commit Deuce Knight and five-star Ohio State cornerback commit Na’eem Offord. There are some other prospects Auburn is in good position to land as well but it’s a long shot that the Tigers land enough highly ranked prospects to finish inside the top three of the team recruiting rankings.
Jones: FICTION. I’ll say fiction, for now. Auburn is in a great spot for plenty of top recruits, either undecided or even committed elsewhere. The Tigers appear close to adding another elite name or two to their class soon, but the jump from No. 4 to No. 3 is pretty drastic at the moment. There’s a long way to go until signing day and Auburn will still have to fight to hold onto some of its top commits. So once again, I’ll say fiction, for now. There are some important battles entering the home stretch, and if those go Auburn’s way, it could quickly become fact.
