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. Avantae Williams to Miami was the surprise of the day.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. While it was a stunner that Williams chose Miami over Florida on signing day, I was warned earlier in the day by a source that there was a ton of confidence out of Miami in regards to Williams. But I never heard a peep about DE/LB Princely Umanmielen to Florida. Baylor? Yes. Texas? Yes. But Florida, not a word. That’s the stunner of the day for me.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Sources are sources, and I understand that, but there were so many connections for Williams to Florida that I thought he was definitely picking the Gators. Florida recruited him for so long. It’s close to home. His cousin, Lorenzo Lingard, just left Miami to play in Gainesville. Everything was in place for Florida to win out here, but give credit to coach Manny Diaz and Miami for convincing Williams down the stretch.
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2. UGA won the second signing day.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Keeping Broderick Jones and Sedrick Van Pran and adding Daran Branch and others made for a big day in Athens and led to yet another recruiting title for Kirby Smart. Some other teams did well - teams such as Tennessee, Miami and Texas A&M - but in the end it’s all about No. 1, and that’s the Dawgs once again.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. It was definitely important for Georgia to keep Jones and Van Pran in this class, and Branch isn’t a bad flip, but I’m taking Texas A&M, Tennessee and Miami as the big winners of second signing day. Convincing McKinnley Jackson to pick the Aggies over Alabama was really impressive. It was a shock that Williams went to Miami over Florida, and flipping Malachi Wideman was huge for the Volunteers since he might be one of the better receivers in this class. Georgia had a great day and another title, but others had even more important news.
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3. McKinnley Jackson to Texas A&M was the biggest commit of the day.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Jackson to the Aggies was huge and he could have a terrific career there, similar to Daylon Mack. But to me it was Malachi Wideman to Tennessee. He’s such a freaky athlete and has such a high ceiling I think he can be amazing for the Vols if he decides to focus on football. The only problem? He’s a great basketball player as well. Whatever sport he focuses on, he will be a star at and I think he’s more rare at football.
Gorney’s take: FACT. There was a reason LSU wanted Jackson early in the recruiting process, and there was a reason Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn and many others made him a priority in the closing months of his recruitment. Jackson is a much better player than Mack, and he could be a real force in Texas A&M’s interior with some outstanding defensive ends already on campus. This was a rare miss for Alabama and coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff deserve a ton of credit.
