Fact or Fiction: LSU is a slight front-runner for Julian Armella

Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney along with national recruiting analysts Adam Friedman and Ryan Wright tackle three recruiting or rankings topics and determine whether they believe each statement.

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Gorney’s take: FICTION. Whether he’s listed as an outside linebacker or a weak-side defensive end, which is essentially an edge rusher, Enai White is underrated in my view. He has such outstanding size, length and he runs like a deer and those traits cannot be taught. After the top three of CJ Hicks, Gabe Powers and Jaylen Sneed, I would be open to having White in that next level of discussion in the Harold Perkins range. At weak-side defensive end, I would have White in the discussion after Jeremiah Alexander and Marvin Jones. Either way, that’s a big move up because that length and athletic ability is really special.

Friedman’s take: FICTION. Having met White when he was a freshman playing at a small private school in New Jersey and now seeing him in-person on Wednesday at Imhotep's practice, it's clear that his future is brightest at defensive end. Defensive coordinators can create more mismatches with White lined up across from an offensive lineman as opposed to playing in space 100 percent of the time as a linebacker. Whatever system White plays in at the next level (4-3 or 3-4), he will surely drop into coverage every now and then but his frame and advanced pass rushing techniques make him a shoe-in at defensive end. As for his ranking, White sits at No. 93 in the Rivals250 and No. 9 at outside linebacker. If he were listed as a weakside defensive end right now, he'd be No. 4 at that position behind Cyrus Moss. I could see him jumping Moss before the end of the cycle and possibly getting even higher depending on what happens this fall.

Gorney’s take: FACT. LSU has really impressed Julian Armella over the last many months and even after the Tigers switched offensive line coaches, they did a great job of communicating with the family and keeping their attention. Armella’s dad has visited LSU to meet with the coaching staff and there is a long-standing relationship between Enzo Armella and Ed Orgeron. I definitely will not count out Florida State, Miami or Alabama but I’d say LSU has the edge right now.

Wright’s take: FACT. Armella has hinted about dropping a top-four very soon. His only official thus far has been with LSU. Expect to see the Tigers making the next round of team cuts. Armella has a great relationship with LSU head coach Ed Orgeron and is developing a bond with new offensive line coach Brad Davis. LSU fans may see Armella on campus again this fall during an unofficial.

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Gorney’s take: FICTION. There is a very good chance that Lebbeus Overton ends up playing in the South but Oklahoma is still going to be considered and I will absolutely not count out Ohio State. The Buckeyes are making major in-roads with the 2023 five-star, playing for position coach Larry Johnson could be a major draw and while many are focused on SEC programs or Clemson for Overton, I really do believe Ohio State is a sneaky front-runner for him at this time.

Friedman’s take: FACT. Overton put together an impressive top 12 and two-thirds of the teams still in contention are in the SEC so that alone makes this a fairly easy answer. Digging deeper, you can probably narrow Overton’s list of contenders down to Alabama, Clemson, Texas A&M and Georgia. Each of those teams got him on campus over the last three months and he’ll see them in person for games this fall.