Fact or Fiction: D-linemen should want to play for coach Bo Davis
In today’s Fact or Fiction national columnist Mike Farrell looks at three big recent topics in college football and decides whether each statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.
*****
MORE FACT OR FICTION: Alabama has a real shot to flip Domani Jackson
RECRUITING SPOTLIGHT: Nos. 1-20 in the 2022 Rivals250 | 21-40 | 41-60 | 61-80
CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
RIVALS TRANSFER TRACKER: Stories/coverage | Message board
RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Info/coverage on 2021 camp series
*****
1. Defensive linemen should want to play for Texas coach Bo Davis.
Farrell’s take: FACT. An expletive-filled tirade by the Texas defensive line coach went viral this week as he tore into his players for their horrible effort against Iowa State in a lopsided loss. Davis, who is an elite recruiter and coach most famous for his work under Nick Saban at Alabama, was called out by many for the verbal treatment of the players in the video.
But more people applauded his passion, and honestly I feel this will only help him recruit elite talent and winners to Austin. The player who recorded Davis was likely trying to get him fired – or at least shine a poor light on him – and it backfired. Defensive linemen should want to play for this man.
*****
2. Jim Mora Jr. can have success at UConn.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Randy Edsall brought UConn to FBS football and to heights never seen before, but he has also dragged the program down beyond repair. Mora Jr. won’t be able to fix that. Mora Jr. was last a head coach in 2017 at UCLA and started strong there but this is a complete dumpster fire in Storrs. UConn’s only win this season was a nail-biter against Yale of the Ivy League, and UConn will likely lose to an average Clemson team this weekend by 50 or more points.
Mora Jr. can recruit, but without a conference, an on-campus stadium or a recruiting base, he has zero chance.
*****
3. Kenny Pickett should be the top QB pick in the NFL Draft.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. I’ve seen a few places where the Pitt quarterback is No. 1 in the NFL Draft, and while Pickett has improved so much from a couple of seasons ago I still like Matt Corral as my QB1. But let’s be clear: This is not a very good quarterback draft and could be the worst one on paper since the EJ Manuel year in 2013.
As many as four quarterbacks could be first-rounders; or we could have one. It seems unlikely to have one, of course, but it’s that bad of a year.