Fact or Fiction: Five-star Denver Harris will end up in the SEC
National recruiting director Adam Gorney and Rivals analysts Sam Spiegelman, Josh Helmholdt and Chad Simmons tackle three topics in recruiting and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
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FACT OR FICTION: Arik Gilbert will end up at Georgia after all
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1. Denver Harris' recruitment will end up being a battle of SEC teams.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. Alabama, LSU and Texas A&M all have a very real chance of landing Denver Harris and some believe that Texas is running fourth right now in his recruitment. But after the job first-year coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff have done, I’m not ready yet to say the Longhorns are out of this recruitment and cannot turn it around quickly. Six of Texas’ seven first commits are in-state prospects so that’s going to be a big focus for Sarkisian and Harris has been talking more with the Texas staff. It’s completely believable that the five-star cornerback ends up at a school in the SEC but I’m nowhere close to counting Texas out yet.
Spiegelman’s take: FACT. Harris is down to Texas, Texas A&M, LSU and Alabama, and while the five-star cornerback from Houston is a top priority for the Longhorns and sits atop their wish list for 2022, the three SEC teams in the mix may have an edge. The Aggies have gained a ton of momentum with Harris and success near his hometown is very much on his mind. LSU may have been the team to beat as recently as last fall and Corey Raymond has made Harris a top priority. Alabama has held weekly Zoom calls with Harris and there’s a pro pipeline there that has the cornerback’s attention. In other words, Harris’ recruitment may be more open and even than outsiders realize but with the SEC teams ahead.
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2. Clemson is a game-changing offer for Kiyaunta Goodwin.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Does Kiyaunta Goodwin immediately commit to Clemson because the Tigers offered in recent days? Probably not. But the massive offensive lineman told me it is definitely a major offer and that means it could change the scope of his recruitment. Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon, Kentucky and USC are also high on his top list so Goodwin is at least showing interest in going far away from home and that puts Clemson squarely in his recruitment. Clemson is only seven hours from Goodwin’s hometown (30 minutes further than Tuscaloosa) and while that is a hike it’s still a day trip and so the Tigers’ offer is one that will shoot nearly to the top of his list.
Helmholdt’s take: FICTION. I am not saying Clemson will not be a factor here. I expect the Tigers will get a strong look from Goodwin, but there are several schools that are more likely right now. Proximity to home will be a factor in this recruitment, and that plays against Clemson. Kentucky, Louisville and Ohio State all have that advantage, and also have been involved in this recruitment longer. To be a game-changing offer, it would have to upend the entire dynamic of a recruitment. Clemson has certainly made itself a contender with the offer, but the overall dynamic of Goodwin's recruitment has not changed much.
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3. Travis Hunter can be flipped by another national program.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. When I talked to Travis Hunter last weekend at the Pylon 7v7 in Arizona, he told me that Alabama and LSU have been constantly coming after him and that Georgia and Florida have recently stepped it up even more and are trying to flip him. I also got the impression that the five-star athlete is not interested at all in any other team and is solely focused on rebuilding Florida State back into a national contender. He could be a massive building block because Hunter might just be the best cornerback and the best receiver in this class, he’s that good.
Simmons’ take: FICTION. I just don't see it right now. He is from Florida, he is not really entertaining other schools right now, and although plenty of programs are going to pursue Hunter, the five-star looks to be locked in with the Seminoles. This one looks to be kind of boring to cover now, because Hunter is so strong with his commitment, but we will see if any school can grab his attention in the coming months. For now, the answer to this question is a strong no.