Fact or Fiction: Nebraska will break out next season
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. Nebraska will break out next season
Farrell’s take: FICTION. It’s still too soon and the pre-season expectations are too high. Last season some had Nebraska in the pre-season Top 25, which was ridiculous. This year I see them in some early polls as well. Why? Scott Frost is a good coach and will be the long term solution to make the Huskers competitive, but they are adding talent to the roster as he rebuilds it and that takes time. And let’s not forget the Big Ten West is getting stronger.
Gorney’s take: FACT. The numbers are just staggering when it comes to Nebraska football. From 1962-2003 the Huskers never had a losing season. Not one. But the Huskers have suffered three-straight losing campaigns for the first time in decades and no objective observer could say things have gone well under Frost.
But quarterback Adrian Martinez is back, so is running back Dedrick Mills. I would hope Wan’Dale Robinson gets more involved in the offense and some receivers - even like highly-touted freshman Zavier Betts - could step up in a big way.
The schedule shapes up for a realistic path for Nebraska to start the season 7-0 with Cincinnati being the toughest early opponent. The schedule from there gets brutal, but Nebraska could turn a corner this season as I have faith in Frost’s vision for the program.
2. Ohio State should be the favorite to win the national title.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. I love this Ohio State team, especially the wide receivers and of course quarterback Justin Fields, and the offensive line is nasty. The defense will be solid, but there are huge holes to fill, so that will be interesting.
But right now give me Clemson and then Alabama over Ohio State for the national title next season. Trevor Lawrence will be on a mission this year and Clemson is loaded everywhere and watch out for Bryce Young as a freshman leading that potent Alabama offense. I can’t think of anyone else who comes close to this trio.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. The Buckeyes are going to be hungrier than ever heading into this season especially after losing late to Clemson in the College Football Playoff, but I still believe Clemson might be by far the best team in college football next season.
The offense is going to be unstoppable, led by Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Justyn Ross and others will emerge. I trust that Brent Venables will have his defense playing better than ever after the Tigers lost in the national title game last season. Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, maybe Oregon. Florida and Oklahoma among others will be in the mix, but this is Clemson’s title to lose.
3. Jalen Kitna will be a difference-maker for the Gators.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Kitna is a solid quarterback with good bloodlines (his father is former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna) but I’m surprised the Gators went after him so hard. I saw him as a mid-level Power Five quarterback and he didn’t have a great season last year. He’s QB2 in this class behind Carlos Del Rio, so that’s good and he could surprise as many have done under Dan Mullen but this will be an interesting one to follow. He’s boom or bust to me.
Gorney’s take: FACT. A quarterback with NFL bloodlines who will be coached by Mullen? I’ll take my chances with those odds. Mullen is one of the best coaches and developers of talent in all of college football and Kitna has the tools to be special down the line. He needs to gain some weight and he’s not incredibly mobile but he has great arm talent and he can make all the throws so Mullen should be able to work with him well.
Mullen makes almost every single quarterback he works with better. Kitna has talent and the pedigree so I’m going to say he has lots of potential in Gainesville even if he’s not the highest-ranked quarterback in Florida’s class.