Rivals national recruiting analyst Ryan Wright - along with TheOsceola.com recruiting analyst Charles Fishbein, national recruiting analyst Jed May and TigerIllustrated.com recruiting analyst Paul Strelow - covers ground on a possible FSU upset against LSU, how Georgia’s 2024 class at running back may shape up and if the Clemson Tigers will land more recruits out of the Southeast in the 2023 cycle.
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MORE FACT OR FICTION: South Carolina has best 2023 DL class in the nation | Nebraska will rebound from loss to Northwestern
CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
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1. Clemson has more success ahead out of the Southeast in the 2023 recruiting class.
Wright’s take: FACT. The Tigers’ 2023 recruiting class is special. It's ranked No. 8 nationally, bolstered by 17 four-star commits. Clemson has done a great job recruiting around the country, landing players from eight different areas. But the lion’s share of talent collection has been from the Southeast, with two from both Florida and Alabama and 10 from Georgia. The Tigers have even more damage left to do stealing prized recruits away from competing ACC and SEC squads.
If I only picked one player to support my position, four-star Alabama strongside defensive end Tomarrion Parker would be the prospect. Tennessee and Florida are still in play for Parker’s commitment, but Clemson is scheduled to get his last official visit.
Strelow’s take: FACT. Remaining spots in Clemson's class are few and far between. But the bull's-eyed targets, uncoincidentally, reside within the geographic footprint that has been kind to the Tigers this cycle. Parker would address the remaining hole at their position of biggest need, while Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett four-star Kayden McDonald is in their wheelhouse to punctuate arguably the country's best defensive tackle haul.
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2. LSU is on upset alert as Florida State visits this weekend.
Wright’s take: FACT. If the oddsmakers in Vegas can give fans an idea of what to expect come Sunday, LSU enters its season opener at Caesars Superdome on shaky ground. The Tigers are a three-point favorite against the Seminoles after FSU won its opener 47-7 against Duquesne. Granted, the Dukes are an FCS squad, cupcake fodder for FSU. But still, the Seminoles looked good taking care of business racking up 638 yards of total offense while holding the Dukes to 164 yards.
On the other side of the ball, LSU head coach Brian Kelly is in a position he hasn’t been in since 2010 when in South Bend, and that is taking the field with a new team. We do know the Tigers have talent on their team. What we don’t know is how well that talent will play together in new schemes under different coordinators. Adding to the mix, the Tigers entered fall camp with two starters back on offense and three on defense while FSU had seven on offense and five on defense, giving some continuity to the new season.
Fishbein’s take: FICTION. LSU is a three-point favorite. If FSU really wins, would you call it an upset? The Tigers were 3-5 in the SEC and 6-6 in the regular season. They got blown out in a bowl game against Kansas State in which it seemed like half their team did not play.
LSU still has plenty of talent. The Tigers have one of the best receivers in Kayshon Boutte, who will give FSU’s secondary all it can handle. They have a legit running threat at QB with transfer Jayden Daniels. They have one of the best defensive lines in the country. LSU should win, but upsets are for teams that are favored by double digits and lose straight up. This game should be a one possession game heading into the fourth quarter, and the team that makes the least mistakes should win.
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3. Georgia will take two running backs in the 2024 class.
Wright’s take: FACT. However it may work out, I see Georgia landing two elite tailbacks in the 2024 class. The 2022 haul brought Branson Robinson and Andrew Paul, and I believe Georgia will bring at least one running back to campus for the 2023 season, whether from the high school ranks or transfer portal.
With 2024 DeMatha Catholic running back Tovani Mizell already verbally committed to UGA, this position group is setting up for success. Offers have gone out to top Florida tailbacks Jerrick Gibson, Kameron Davis, Stacy Gage, Anthony Carrie, Isaac Brown, Davion Gause, Arkese Parks and Jordan Lyle. In-state four-star Micah Welch is another top target for the Bulldogs that would be a big win for Georgia to land.
May’s take: FICTION. Two backs are probably the most likely scenario, but I could see the Bulldogs potentially taking three backs as well. The program could potentially lose both Kenny McIntosh and Kendall Milton after the 2022 season. There’s always the potential of losing someone to the transfer portal as well. Georgia already has one commit in Mizell. It is in heavy pursuit of other top targets such as Gibson, Anthony Carrie, Welch and others. Depending on how things shake out with the current roster, three backs is a definite possibility.
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Sunday: Who should be No. 1?
Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Meet the new five-stars
Tuesday: Rivals250 revealed | Biggest risers | Gorney's position-by-position
Wednesday: Offensive position rankings revealed | Teams that should be pleased | Recruiting update on top 25 players | QB rankings spotlight | RB rankings spotlight | WR/TE rankings spotlight | OL rankings spotlight
Thursday: Defensive position rankings revealed | Will there be another five-star QB? | DL rankings spotlight
Friday: State rankings revealed
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