Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney and national recruiting analyst Adam Friedman along with Mike Singer from BlueandGold.com and Josh McCuistion of SoonerScoop.com tackle three recruiting or rankings topics and determine whether they believe each statement.
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Monday: Five-star countdown | Arch Manning is new No. 1
Tuesday: Rivals250 unveiled | Gorney's thoughts | Meet the new five-stars | Top player at each position | Could there be five five-stars from Alabama?
Wednesday: Teams with the most R250 commits | QB rankings released | RB rankings released | WR/TE rankings released | OL rankings released | Will Dante Moore remain among top 3 QBs?
Thursday: DL rankings released | LB rankings released | DB rankings released
Friday: State rankings
Saturday: Rivals Roundtable
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1. It would be a big surprise if 2023 four-star LB Drayk Bowen did not commit to Notre Dame.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Drayk Bowen is looking to play both baseball and football in college and Notre Dame offers fabulous programs in both sports. This feels like it might be a little too easy – an in-state prospect who has been high on the Irish for a while, who wants to play both sports and is looking for that mix of athletics and education. If baseball is playing a huge role in his decision-making process, Bowen could look closer at some other schools, too, but everything seems to make sense that the in-state standout plays two sports in South Bend.
Singer’s take: FACT. I almost said fiction because the wording of "big surprise" is so strong, and I try not to let much surprise me these days in recruiting. But against my better judgment, I'll say it's a fact that it would be a big surprise if the Irish let Bowen leave the state. Auburn, Clemson and LSU offer Bowen a lot, and he thinks very highly of those coaching staffs, but Notre Dame seems to have everything Bowen is looking for in a college. The baseball staff is getting involved now too, as Notre Dame wants him to play both sports. I love where Notre Dame stands for Bowen, but there's more work to be done.
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2. Heading into his commitment later this month, North Carolina leads for five-star DL Travis Shaw.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Saying no to Clemson is difficult for anyone but I think that’s what will happen when it comes to Travis Shaw for numerous reasons. His visit over the summer to Chapel Hill went really well and there were some rumors at that time a commitment to the Tar Heels was going to happen. Shaw held off (which looked good for Clemson) but the timing of Shaw’s commitment - before he could get down to Clemson for a game weekend - along with other factors including his family liking North Carolina make me believe he’s going to the Tar Heels. Nothing is done until National Signing Day and Clemson probably won’t stop recruiting him because Shaw is so talented but this should be a huge recruiting victory for coach Mack Brown and his staff.
Friedman’s take: FACT. My FutureCast has been on North Carolina since I received word from some sources following his visits in June. North Carolina has impressed Shaw and his family every time they've been on campus and throughout their interactions during the process. The momentum behind the Tar Heels isn't just because of the coaching staff. The current players in Chapel Hill, the current recruits, and their families have been all over Shaw and his family to make sure they feel as comfortable as possible with them and in that environment. It's hard to count out Clemson totally because it has a long history with Shaw but it appears North Carolina will likely get this win and a little revenge for missing out on five-star Trenton Simpson at the very end of the 2020 recruiting cycle. Shaw has also been outspoken about considering North Carolina A&T. The HBCU is more than "the local school" for him and he sees the Aggies as a legitimate option.
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3. It would be a major surprise if four-star DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy doesn't end up at Oklahoma.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. If I had to pick right now, I would say Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy ends up at Oklahoma.The Sooners have been involved for so long , but Texas A&M is making a major run. Players absolutely love the defensive line coaches in College Station and I wouldn’t be surprised much if Texas A&M was the pick. Dindy could decide soon.
McCuistion’s take: FACT. It will be a surprise if it isn't Oklahoma but that said I think Texas A&M has done more than enough to make them a legitimate threat in his recruitment. The Sooners and Aggies fought a similar battle last year for Bryce Foster. The Sooners lost out in the end, due in no small part to Foster's familial connections to the school and program. This time around the shoe is on the other foot and it's Oklahoma with the family ties. And in the end I think that wins out even with the Dindy family moving to the College Station area.
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MORE GORNEY: What pushed Arch Manning over the top to No. 1
CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
RIVALS TRANSFER TRACKER: Stories/coverage | Message board
RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Info/coverage on 2021 camp series
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