Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney and national recruiting analyst Adam Friedman along with Zack Carpenter from ScarletandGrayReport.com and Mark Passwaters from AggieYell.com tackle three topics and determine whether they believe each statement is FACT or FICTION.
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1. It still feels like Georgia is the team to beat for four-star LB Malik Bryant.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. Georgia was the longtime favorite here for Malik Bryant and it felt almost impossible for the Bulldogs not to land the four-star linebacker but that has shifted in recent weeks. The Bulldogs are still very much involved and could still land his commitment but I do see Florida making up major ground in his recruitment. It’s curious that he along with Payton Kirkland and Derrick LeBlanc - two other Gators' targets - are planning to commit the same day. This is much closer than it was a few months ago.
Friedman’s take: FICTION. The Bulldogs have been the favorite for a long time but when talking to him on Sunday it felt like a much more even race among Georgia, Miami, Florida, Alabama and USC. If he were to commit today it would probably be Georgia that gets him but Alabama can be persuasive and the pull to stay in the Sunshine State is getting stronger. The new coaching staffs at Miami and Florida have been catching his eye more and more often. Like many other top recruits, Bryant is going to check out USC at some point before he commits on July 23. It will be interesting to hear his reaction to that visit and learn whether or not the Trojans will become serious contenders for his commitment.
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2. Five-star WR Carnell Tate will head back to the Midwest to play college football.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Not many elite players turn down the SEC but Carnell Tate is originally from the Chicago area, he has developed arguably the best relationships with the coaches at Notre Dame and Ohio State and I still think he has the most interest in those schools. Notre Dame is very appealing because Tate has a great relationship with coach Tommy Rees but Ohio State probably has the edge. Not only has Tate hit it off with position coach Brian Hartline but the five-star loves what the Buckeyes have done with Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Garrett Wilson and he could be next in line.
Carpenter’s take: FACT. The battle for the five-star receiver has long been considered a fight between Notre Dame and Ohio State — with each program getting to build its relationship with Tate during visits on Wednesday (Notre Dame) and April 1-3 (Ohio State). Even with Tennessee coming along as a darkhorse to land Tate, I don’t see the Vols or the other two programs in Tate’s top five (Alabama, Georgia) doing enough to overpower the relationships he has built with the Buckeyes and Irish. I’m still taking Ohio State to win out here. Brian Hartline is arguably the nation’s best recruiter. During his four years as a full-time coach with the Buckeyes, he has only lost one recruitment thus far (Zachariah Branch) in which he made a full-on push for a receiver he made a top-of-the-board priority.
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3. Johnny Bowens is visiting LSU next month. Texas A&M should be at least a little concerned about it.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I’m never going to count out coach Brian Kelly or LSU in any recruitment but my impression after talking to Johnny Bowens in person and then seeing how his recruitment has shaken out is that he’s very committed to Texas A&M. The Aggies signed the best recruiting class in 2022, they are loaded along the defensive line and that further sharpens his commitment instead of scaring him off. Bowens will take visits to LSU and possibly others just to make sure but I’d be surprised if he flips.
Passwaters’ take: FACT. Anytime a commit visits a major rival, it's a concern. Bowens was considered an immediate take for a program that is loaded on the defensive line, so he's no slouch. But Bowens has had ties to A&M's staff for two years and has a comfort level there. LSU's staff is relatively new to the scene. So will A&M lose sleep over this? Yes, but not more than a few minutes.
