Fact or Fiction: Mahomes is the biggest miss in Rivals history
National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
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1. Patrick Mahomes is the biggest miss in Rivals.com history.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. While having Patrick Mahomes as a three-star out of high school looks bad, we did have him as a highly-rated three-star. It looks worse that we had others such as JJ Watt and Russell Wilson as two-stars. Yes, Mahomes has played like a six-star in the NFL, but he has clearly come a long way and with our ranking we did see some excellent potential there.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Watt and Wilson were definitely rankings misses but Mahomes will end up being the worst because he’s such a phenomenal talent who is in part transforming the way NFL quarterbacks play and how they’re viewed entering the draft. The craziest thing about Mahomes is that it was nearly impossible to tell he would be this special when he was in high school and even at times at Texas Tech because of his gunslinger mentality. Down the road, though, Mahomes could be one of the best to ever play the position and a three-star ranking on him hurts.
2. Jordan Burch will stick with the Gamecocks.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Despite a great visit to LSU, I think South Carolina will keep Jordan Burch at home having had the last visit. Burch wants to stay close to home and while LSU obviously gives him a better chance at winning a national title right now, the lure of home will win out.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Last weekend, I would have said Burch flips to LSU especially since he took a late unofficial visit there and the rumor I’ve heard is that his mom is very open to the idea of him going to Baton Rouge. But after his final weekend visit to South Carolina and hearing reports that it literally could not have gone any better, I’m picking the Gamecocks here. Everything with Burch is a guess because he doesn’t talk but in the end, my bet is South Carolina keeps him.
3. Jarrett Guarantano will be the surprise QB of the SEC next year.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. I put out my top-10 returning college football quarterbacks last week and many Vols fans asked where Jarrett Guarantano was. Some were joking, but many were serious. Can Guarantano put it together and be the surprise QB in the SEC next season? He has the talent, but instead I’ll go with Terry Wilson at Kentucky as he showed a ton of promise before getting hurt last year.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. Guarantano could have a better season but the Tennessee offense probably won’t look much different. And now Mike Leach is in the SEC. That’s why I’m picking the Mississippi State quarterback, whether it’s Garrett Shrader or whoever wins the starting job. Leach’s offenses score points and defenses need at least a year to adjust to what they’re seeing from his style. Leach’s quarterbacks always put up huge numbers and that will stay the same in Starkville.