Fact or Fiction: KJ Bolden is a Georgia lock
Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney, along with national recruiting analyst Cole Patterson, Jason Suchomel of Orangebloods.com and Jed May of UGASports.com tackle three topics and determine whether they believe each statement is FACT or FICTION.
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1. Texas A&M is becoming a serious threat to Texas Tech for five-star WR Micah Hudson.
Gorney’s take: FACT. There now seems to be a debate whether Micah Hudson will visit Texas Tech or Texas A&M this weekend and that makes this whole thing so much more interesting.
It almost felt like an inevitability that at some point over the last five weeks or so that Hudson was going to commit to Texas Tech. Even behind the scenes, all the necessary steps were taken to break the news and get content out there. But then we waited, and waited, and waited and nothing happened. It’s as if Hudson planned to make his announcement for the Red Raiders and then was convinced to hold off.
And that’s what sources now say happened. It was not Texas that caused the delay mainly but Texas A&M making another run at him and trying to convince him to be in College Station this weekend. If that happens, recruiting momentum can be an interesting thing. Texas Tech still looks great here but until Hudson commits – and then signs – this one might not be over.
Patterson’s take: FICTION. For now, at least. Texas Tech is still in the driver’s seat to add the highest-rated recruit in program history thanks to the work that Joey McGuire and his staff have done with the Lake Belton pass catcher. However, it’s difficult to ignore the Aggies, especially with the amount of recruiting success that Jimbo Fisher has enjoyed in recent recruiting cycles, including this year.
Rubber will hit the road this weekend. Sources on Texas Tech’s side of things are confident that the five-star will be in Lubbock. But there’s also real optimism that Hudson will be in College Station for his first visit since the dead period was lifted.
What Hudson ultimately decides to do will be very telling about where he is in his process. If he does show back up in Lubbock, the writing will be on the wall about a commitment that has been expected for the majority of the summer. Though a trip to College Station will reveal that Texas A&M is a serious threat to steal the elite pass catcher away from the Red Raiders and he may not have his mind as made up as many believe.
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2. Colin Simmons is expected to visit LSU and Texas A&M in the coming days but Texas is still the team to beat.
Gorney’s take: FACT. LSU has been the program that Colin Simmons has loved for such a long time so the Tigers are definitely a major contender (and might be the toughest to turn down when decision day comes) and Texas A&M seems to be making a semi-serious run here (we will know more after his visit to College Station).
But as the five-star defensive end really settles down and starts to focus on his decision, the Longhorns could still stand out most. They’ve recruited the Duncanville, Texas, standout well and Texas has definitely made major in-roads there. Austin and College Station are basically equidistant so that might not play a big factor in the end unless he can overcome how far away LSU is from his family, although it’s not across the country.
Suchomel’s take: FACT. I've felt for a while there would be constant movement in the Colin Simmons sweepstakes so these upcoming visits aren't really that big of a surprise. LSU seemed to be the biggest threat to Texas in the early stages of Simmons' recruitment but there have been rumblings behind the scenes in recent weeks that Texas A&M is going to do everything in its power to work its way into the race and be a major factor in the end. I still like Texas' position in this one but if Simmons takes official visits to LSU and/or Texas A&M in the fall, which I'm expecting, this recruitment will be very interesting to track in the closing months. As it stands, I'd put Texas as the current team to beat with the understanding that there will probably be more turns in the road in the future.
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3. KJ Bolden is a Georgia lock.
Gorney’s take: FACT. I might eat some serious crow on this prediction but I still think Georgia is very much in the driver’s seat and while “lock” is a difficult term here, I’d say it’s as close as it could get. Of course, I’m not naïve to Florida State making a serious push here and the Seminoles have definitely given KJ Bolden something to think about, Ohio State is that sneaky team that could steal him and even Auburn has gotten some ink recently around the five-star. But a conversation I had with Bolden recently sticks out: It was after another visit to Athens and he said so many commits are recruiting him and every question he had was answered. No way new Buford teammate Dylan Raiola lets him go elsewhere.
May’s take: FICTION. A month ago, the answer to this question might have been different. But schools such as Ohio State and Florida State are making this as difficult as possible for the Bulldogs. If I absolutely had to choose, I would still predict Bolden to end up in Athens. But it’s not a lock by any means.