Rivals rankings director and national transfer portal analyst Adam Friedman is joined by national recruiting analyst Greg Smith and Marshall Levenson, along with Josh Henschke of TheMaizeandBlueReview.com, to tackle three topics and determine whether they believe each statement is FACT or FICTION.
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CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker
1. After in-person evaluations of Tavien St. Clair and Bryce Underwood, Underwood should be ranked higher than St. Clair in the Rivals250.
Friedman: FACT. I’ve gone back and forth about this for months. Both Tavien St. Clair and Bryce Underwood are elite prospects and I wouldn’t have a problem with either being No. 1 in the Rivals250 but I’d give the edge to Underwood. Both quarterbacks are skilled passers with the ability to push the ball down the field and throw with accuracy regardless of the route or coverage scheme.
Underwood may not be as tight with his mechanics or footwork but these issues are certainly fixable at the next level. The LSU commit has a higher upside and brings a level of athleticism that St. Clair just doesn’t possess. Underwood’s ceiling is higher but not by much, which is why I give him the edge right now.
With the majority of their senior seasons remaining, there is still a lot of time for this debate to sort itself out.
Smith: FICTION. This is going to be a tough debate all season long. Both players are terrific prospects and no one should find it crazy if either was ranked as the top prospect in the Rivals250. However, the reasons that St. Clair moved up to No. 1 were still clear after seeing both in person. The Ohio State commit is farther along in his development as a passer from the pocket and on the move. Both have rocket arms and can push the ball down the field with ease.
Underwood is the better athlete and might be the best athlete pound-for-pound in America. But St. Clair is no slouch either and can hurt you with his legs too. They are different styles of quarterback and there is a lot to like about each. But I’ll stick with St. Clair as the top-ranked prospect in the Rivals250.
2. Tobi Haastrup could end up a top-100 prospect.
Friedman: FACT. There aren’t many prospects who can run a 10.7-second 100m. There are even fewer who are 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds. Tobi Haastrup is one of those few and he’s in the midst of his first football season ever. The defensive lineman from Texas has no experience playing football but his exceptional athletic abilities have made him a potentially dominant prospect. Haastrup’s explosiveness off the edge, his strong play and seemingly relentless motor have helped him rack up multiple sacks and tackles for a loss in his first games. He’s also lined up at defensive tackle and that versatility could go a long way at the next level.
Levenson: FACT. It might make for the most unforeseen rankings development in the 2025 cycle, but I can certainly see the new four-star prospect ending up in the top 100. The film from his first game displayed an eye-opening amount of speed and burst from the edge rusher position. In the range of 6-foot-4 and weighing 240 pounds, he absolutely has the size and frame to project as a premier rusher at the next level.
With a track background, Haastrup has a natural get off and explosion in his game that not only shows up on the snap of the ball but also in pursuit of a quarterback or ball carrier. While this is not an exact comparison, how he gets off the ball is quite similar to what he we have seen from former five-star prospect Dylan Stewart in the first two weeks of his freshman season at South Carolina.
With his skillset, and knowing he has had zero football experience to this point, I have high hopes for what Haastrup can look like in the future.
3. Carter Smith is the caliber of quarterback who can come in and fix Michigan’s quarterback troubles right away.
Friedman: FICTION. Davis Warren isn’t going to get it done, the coaches don’t seem confident in Alex Orji and freshman Jadyn Davis hasn’t gotten the opportunity to play yet. Carter Smith arriving in Ann Arbor and immediately being the answer at quarterback for Michigan could happen but it’s unlikely. He does a good job playing within his high school system but isn’t advanced enough as a passer to make a difference for the Wolverines from day one. Carter’s mobility is encouraging and that should help him make an early impression on the coaching staff but, if he wants to get snaps next fall he’ll need to make major progress as a passer.
Henschke: FACT. I think the same could be said for both quarterback commits right now in Carter Smith and Brady Hart; the problem is it doesn’t help Michigan’s quarterback situation right now. Historically, the Wolverines have been hesitant to play a true freshman at quarterback, so you have to be pretty special in order to do that. While Smith’s arrival certainly helps, it wouldn’t surprise me if they attempt to dip into the portal after the year considering what they have right now. Players like Jadyn Davis, who will have the benefit of experience in the program, will certainly not go down without a fight. Smith is certainly someone who can impact the quarterback room right away if he trusts the process.
