Fact or Fiction: Travis Shaw will end up in Clemson’s class
Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney, Blayne Gilmer from UGASports.com, Paul Strelow of TigerIllustrated.com and Chris Clark from GamecockCentral.com tackle three recruiting topics and determine whether or not they believe each statement.
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1. It would be an absolute shock if Branson Robinson did not pick Georgia.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Georgia emerged early and the Bulldogs stayed the favorite through the month of June, and now it feels like the five-star running back is just ready to get his recruitment over with. Robinson knows where he wants to go and it’s been Georgia all along. The Bulldogs are getting a great one, too, because he’s a physical power runner but he also has some deceptive speed to break big runs. He really is a Nick Chubb clone and the only five-star running back in the 2022 class should be headed to Georgia.
Gilmer’s take: FACT. Robinson has publicly stated that Georgia is the team to beat for him. There has not been a lot of mystery or intrigue here, other than Alabama getting involved late. However, Alabama has two running backs in the class and has acknowledged internally that there is not much use in investing time and effort in recruiting Robinson as he is likely Georgia-bound. For Robinson not to end up at Georgia would, in my estimation, be the upset of the entire class of 2022.
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2. Travis Shaw will end up in Clemson’s class.
Gorney’s take: FACT. I haven’t researched every single player over the last decade or so, but Clemson wins a lot more of these battles than it loses. There was a sense that after visiting North Carolina this summer that Shaw was going to end up committing to the Tar Heels - and it could still happen for sure - but the moment might have passed. The five-star defensive tackle is also being heavily pursued by Clemson and Georgia, to some extent, but I would say the longer this goes the better it is for the Tigers. North Carolina continues to do well on the recruiting trail and Mack Brown has done an amazing job there, but history has proven saying no to Clemson is much harder than saying yes.
Strelow’s take: FICTION. I'll choose fiction, only because we're way too far away from characterizing this as closer to fact. Yes, swiping Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star corner Daylen Everette last week provided yet another instance where Clemson pulled rank on UNC in the region. Clemson snapped its fingers and flipped five-star Trenton Simpson at the end of the 2020 cycle, and a fascinating complex has developed since.
Maybe that plays a hand in the final outcome, maybe not. But here's believing you can't project those outcomes onto the decision of another prospect operating under his own circumstances. The Tar Heels were thought to hold a lot of momentum heading into his final June official visit. It's notable Shaw seemed to pump the brakes thereafter, but we wouldn't consequently swing the needle in someone else's direction. Clemson is in it for Shaw, as are UNC and Georgia. For a recruitment this observer has felt would go down to visits late in the fall, that's as far as we're prepared to go.
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3. South Carolina is becoming a serious threat for four-star TE Oscar Delp.
Gorney’s take: FACT. South Carolina coach Shane Beamer could not mention Delp by name at the SEC Media Days on Monday, but everyone knew exactly what Beamer meant when he said, “We are going to pass to the tight end. We want the premier tight ends in America and that’s the way we’re recruiting right now.” Georgia has been the frontrunner for Delp for a while now, but I’ve talked to people who said there might not be a clear-cut leader anymore and that Delp’s visit to Columbia was outstanding. It could play a major role in his thinking, especially if he waits longer to decide. I would not be surprised one bit if Delp commits to Georgia at some point. But the longer this goes, South Carolina is making itself a real contender in his recruitment.
Clark’s take: FACT. South Carolina's positioning with Delp is no new development. The Gamecocks have been primed for a serious run since Beamer's hire. Like Georgia, South Carolina has prioritized him as essentially the only prospect at the tight end position being recruited in the 2022 class. Delp has family ties to Columbia, but the staff has also done a quality job of showing him his potential early impact on the field and on the program's future. South Carolina drew the last summer official late in June, and indications are it went as well as it could. None of this is to say that the Gamecocks will sign Delp. Georgia is an obvious significant factor and has plenty going for it as well in this race. When assessing the programs on Delp's list, though, it's the Dawgs and Gamecocks primarily battling at the top, and it's been quite close.