Fact or Fiction: Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore is best in CFB
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. Elijah Moore at Ole Miss is the best wide receiver in college football.
Farrell’s take: FACT. This isn’t about the NFL Draft, although Elijah Moore is rising on many boards. This is about downright production and there is only one receiver in all of college football with more than 1,000 yards and that’s Moore. He has been an absolute monster this season and the former four-star is living up to that lofty status. Leave DeVonta Smith and others behind – they will be taken higher in the draft – but Moore is the man in college football now.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. Moore is having a fantastic season and he’s definitely moving up when it comes to the NFL Draft but, come on, he’s not the best receiver in college football. He’s not even the best receiver in his conference - that would be Alabama’s DeVonta Smith.
If we’re only considering stats, does that mean North Texas receiver Jaelon Darden should be among the best since he leads the country with 10 receiving touchdowns? Are receivers from UCF, Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee State among the top 10 because of their reception numbers? Ole Miss throws the ball a lot and Moore is having a fantastic season. But he’s not the best receiver in college football.
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2. The best player getting the least attention in college football is Javonte Williams at UNC.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Javonte Williams leads the nation in rushing TDs and is averaging 7.2 yards per carry with 868 yards rushing and he splits carries with Michael Carter. Williams is a downhill runner and very decisive, and he’s not getting the national attention he deserves.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I’m going to stick with Ole Miss for this answer and I’m going to say quarterback Matt Corral is not getting enough attention nationally for what he’s done this season. The former high four-star quarterback is fifth nationally in passing yards and only three quarterbacks have more touchdown passes than him this season despite Corral only having 219 pass attempts.
Everyone is rightfully propping up BYU’s Zach Wilson, who has two more attempts and the same amount of passing TDs. The Ole Miss QB has more yards on fewer throws than Sam Ehlinger, Brady White, D’Eriq King, Jarrett Doege and many others. Boston College’s Phil Jurkovec has 98 more pass attempts but four fewer passing yards. Corral is doing phenomenally well in Oxford and teaming up with Lane Kiffin has helped both out tremendously.
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3. UGA will finish No. 1 again in recruiting for 2021.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. The Dawgs are coming with the commitment of Smael Mondon and are now fifth in the nation with a 3.89 average star ranking. But I don’t think anyone will surpass Alabama this season despite runs by Georgia, LSU and others down the stretch. This is a really strong Alabama class that doesn’t get enough attention and has oddly been overshadowed by Ohio State.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. There is actually a decent chance Georgia could get back to No. 1. There is a path toward getting its fourth-straight team recruiting title but I just don’t think it’s going to happen. There are still some very big fish out there in this recruiting class including Nyland Green, Donovan Edwards, Xavian Sorey and Byron Young. Five-star defensive linemen Korey Foreman and Maason Smith are still on the board, but I still find it hard to believe either goes to Georgia, so it could be tough for the Bulldogs to get back to No. 1.
