Fact or Fiction: Five-star Zaquan Patterson is a Florida State lock
The 2023 football season is here in full force, with prep ball underway and college football kicking off this weekend. From preseason verbal commitments to projected win totals and breakout candidates, the talking season has all but concluded – though we'll sneak in one more for this week's Fact or Fiction.
Charles Fishbein of TheOsceola.com, Jason Higdon of 1standtenFlorida.com and Paul Strelow of TigerIllustrated.com join Rivals recruiting analyst John Garcia, Jr. and decide whether three topics addressing the SEC and ACC are FACT or FICTION.
MORE FACT OR FICTION: Jadyn Davis should be back in the five-star discussion | David Sanders would be No. 1 OL in 2024
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1. Five-star safety Zaquan Patterson has become a Florida State lock.
Fishbein: FACT. I will put fact, but the reality is nothing in recruiting is 100% guaranteed. We have seen many prospects leaning one way and get in front of a camera and shock everyone. But I think Patterson is going to pick Florida State, and I am standing by that.
Garcia: FACT. This recruitment has a bit of everything within it. Patterson was viewed as a Miami lean for much of the offseason, with Michigan profiling as the top threat as of a few weeks back. But the late push by Florida State once the field realized the five-star was coming off the board in August has been tough to match. Patterson hasn't taken any official visits, so this recruitment could still be far from over, but as far as Saturday afternoon's verbal commitment I'm now expecting the Seminoles to add yet another elite secondary player to the fold.
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2. Florida freshman wide receiver Eugene Wilson has All-American upside in 2023.
Higdon: FACT. I believe Wilson will become an All-American as a freshman this season. Wilson has a couple of things going for him. There is no one like him on Florida's roster with his explosiveness, quickness and more importantly, his acceleration and ability to make people miss in the open field. All of that means Wilson should get plenty of opportunities, and sooner rather than later. I would be surprised if the Gators didn't get him six to seven touches a game, starting Thursday at Utah. Wilson has been one of the most impressive players that we have heard about all camp.
Garcia: FICTION. If there is a freshman wide receiver poised to become a key contributor for the Gators I'd probably lean toward the bigger and more polished Andy Jean than Wilson, though the pure electricity Wilson brings to the fold should warrant some touches in what should be a wide-open wide receiver room in Gainesville. The offense needs to open up under Billy Napier, and there's no reason to keep what was one of the nation's top wide receiver hauls off the field in a critical campaign for the coach.
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3. Clemson is being undervalued heading into the 2023 season.
Strelow: FICTION. At No. 9 in the preseason poll, I think Clemson is being treated pretty fairly as a team in that second tier behind the perennial three national title contenders and reigning semifinalist Michigan. The Tigers finished last season with two poor losses in the final three games, choking against their mediocre rival (South Carolina) and then getting blown out by some Tennessee second-stringers. So, one could argue they've been given the benefit of the doubt. Yet from what we've observed in August camp, offensive coordinator Garrett Riley's arrival has fueled an abrupt turnaround in both confidence and offensive potency. The Tigers might not be world-beaters yet. But they can be really good across the board, and in a season where the fellow elites are breaking in new quarterbacks, Cade Klubnik has the makings to guide Clemson into the College Football Playoff. The margins between a 12-0 regular season and a 10-2 record can be slim. The Tigers have what it takes to do either, so I'm OK with where they're slotted.
Garcia: FACT. When we kicked off The Mush, Rivals' betting podcast, this week I was shocked to learn of Clemson's 9.5 projected win total going into the season. The defense has long been stout and should remain as such, there is no quarterback controversy with Klubnik at the helm and the schedule doesn't feature anything worrisome out of conference. CU gets its two toughest opponents, Florida State and Notre Dame, at home in Death Valley as well. Even with an unexpected stumble somewhere in conference play, this regular season win total dropped my jaw. Take the easy cash (for entertainment purposes only) on the Tigers this fall.