National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
MORE FARRELL: Ranking the Pac-12 QBs
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022: Top 100
1. Kylin Hill can get the Mississippi flag changed.
Farrell’s take: FACT. There is a big “if” here however and I’ll explain. Hill, the star running back at Mississippi State who was born and raised in Mississippi, said he won’t be doing anything for the Bulldogs until the state flag is changed. The Mississippi state flag is the last one in the United States with confederate ties and both Ole Miss and Mississippi State have stopped flying it for years.
However, efforts to have it changed or even have a second flag denoted have failed. Hill can help make this change happen, but he needs his entire team to back him. If the entire Mississippi State team says no play until it’s changed, trust me a change will occur.
Gorney’s take: FACT. There has been a groundswell of support sweeping the nation to take down confederate statues and symbols and Hill has taken a stance on this and will most likely win in the fight to get the flag changed. It will be important for coach Mike Leach, the Mississippi State staff, Hill’s teammates and the Starkville community to back the Bulldogs running back, make their voices heard and make it clear that the flag should be changed. Hill has made his opinion known and while this is about something bigger than football, Mississippi State fans also want to see him on the field this season, and so they will support his cause as well.
2. Pitt's Kenny Pickett is a better QB prospect than Virginia Tech's Hendon Hooker.
Farrell’s take: FACT. This was an odd argument that occurred in my mentions on Twitter when I came out with my ranking of the ACC quarterbacks the other day. I had Pickett, the Pitt quarterback, ahead of Virginia Tech’s Hooker and an amazing argument ensued between a few of the fans of each program.
While Hooker had better numbers last year — 13 touchdowns and only 2 picks and a 61-percent completion rate — Pickett has the higher upside and should have a bigger year. Pickett threw for more than 3,000 yards last season and his completion percentage was the same as Hooker pretty much, but he threw 9 picks against 13 touchdowns. But Pickett has a better arm and he has NFL scouts interested because of it. With some added weapons this year, he’ll be the better quarterback.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. Pickett and Hooker each had 13 touchdown passes last season, but it took the Pitt quarterback 469 passes attempts and Hooker just 162. Also, Hooker was second on the Hokies with 356 rushing yards and five more scores, just as many as any Pitt running back.
Maybe Pickett has a better arm, but there was something of a leash put on Hooker when it came to throwing the ball around the field last season and if that’s let go, he could really shine. Hooker started just eight games last season, winning his first six. With more opportunities this season, he should flourish.
3. Gabe Ervin will open the door for Nebraska to recruit Georgia.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Scott Frost, like pretty much every Big Ten coach, wants to get into the Southeast to recruit with Georgia being a big part of that. Shawn Hardy II was a big get from Georgia and Nebraska landed DT Marquis Black last cycle, but Ervin is a skill position player from Buford, a school that produces consistent talent in the state, so this is a bigger deal than the others. This will help them sell the program on others in the state. The 2019 class was loaded with talent from Georgia, but last year things fell off. They need to have more wins in the Southeast and this is a start.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I’m just not sold yet. Ervin is a talented player and a nice pickup for Nebraska, but the Huskers have had limited success in the state of Georgia and even Ervin is ranked No. 60 overall in the state. Even in the 2019 class, when Nebraska did really well there, no player was ranked higher than No. 56 in Georgia.
It’s really not Nebraska’s fault and I commend them for trying to dip into the Southeast as much as possible. But Georgia, Clemson and Alabama, among others, are just going to win more recruiting battles there. Georgia Tech is now more intriguing. Tennessee, Florida, LSU, and Auburn hit the state hard. Nebraska has had some success there but Ervin’s commitment really shouldn’t change all that much.