Fact or Fiction: Ryqueze McElderry will decommit from Georgia
Rivals national recruiting analyst Ryan Wright with national recruiting analyst Eric Lammers, Warchant.com recruiting writer Michael Langston and UGASports.com recruiting writer Blayne Gilmer tackle three college football recruiting topics covering the Southeast.
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1. Auburn's 2023 recruiting class will benefit from Nick Saban's comments about Texas A&M and NIL deals.
Wright’s take: FACT. We may never know to what extent Nick Saban’s comments negatively affect Alabama's program, but as long as the recruiting process has gone on obstructive recruiting has been part of the deal, and this works to Auburn’s advantage and the like. Teams going head-to-head with Saban on top players are always floating retirement theories, and that will only continue for the 70-year-old head coach. Right or wrong, mix in the thought that a coach who makes a reported annual salary for $9.3 million is lamenting how players get paid, that will be the whisper in the ear over 5G connections all the way through the Early Signing Period.
Lammers’ take: FICTION. I believe the arrow is pointing up for Auburn recruiting heading into the summer, but I don't believe the Nick Saban-Jimbo Fisher spat will have anything to do with the Tigers' efforts ultimately being successful or not. Prospects, despite how Saban's comments were perceived by the outside world, aren't going to just pass up an opportunity to go play for Alabama if they feel it is the best fit for them and can help them reach their ultimate goal.
In my opinion, success for Bryan Harsin and his staff with this 2023 class will come down to the product on the field this fall and the happiness that follows or does not follow from the Auburn faithful. They certainly have enough jingle in their pocket down there to afford a multi-million dollar buy-out, so if they want to reallocate some of those funds toward NIL deals then they certainly could do that too.
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2. Florida State's slow spring on the recruiting trail is tied to the loss of offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham to Oregon.
Wright’s take. FACT. Four of Florida State's six commits are offensive prospects with three giving their verbal pledge while Kenny Dillingham was on campus. Since his departure, only three-star receiver Darren Lawrence has joined the group. In the Seminoles’ favor, players are interested in the pitch coming from head coach Mike Norvell and company, but that has not translated in raking in the top recruits yet. The Dillingham effect can wash away with a strong June as players start taking their official visits. If June is not productive and targets start committing, the process becomes even harder trying to flip players in December, especially if FSU does not show a big turnaround from the 5-7 campaign last year.
Langston’s take: FICTION. First, I don't believe it's that slow of a spring unless you are talking about public commitments. But FSU has hosted the most prospects I can remember seeing in my 21 years of following recruiting. So eventually the numbers are going to slow down on visits later in the spring. It's also going to be a very busy June on visits, official visits, and likely commitments this summer. Sure Dillingham was a solid recruiter but so is new offensive coordinator Alex Atkins. I don't think Dillingham was pulling guys left and right, but he was doing well. Facts are I think the recruits believe in the vision from Norvell and FSU. However, at the same time recruits want to see it on the field in wins. FSU does have to continue to prove it on the field and win. That hasn't changed.
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3. Three-star OL Ryqueze McElderry will flip from the Georgia Bulldogs.
Wright’s take: FICTION. When a verbally committed out-of-state prospect starts talking about exploring options, there might be reasons for concern. Especially in this case when one of the teams the dominating offensive lineman is looking at is an in-state SEC West program. Ryqueze McElderry has official visits set with Auburn, Tennessee and Georgia. All the logic points to the Bulldogs keeping him, but in the days of NIL anything can happen.
Gilmer’s take: FICTION. McElderry had every opportunity to decommit from Georgia upon the departure of Matt Luke from the program. He did not do that then, and Stacy Searels is now building a relationship with him. Yes, there are official visits lined up to other SEC programs, but there is also one to Georgia. The Bulldogs do as good of a job as any program in the country when it comes to on-campus recruiting. At this point in time, I do not foresee McElderry backing off his pledge to UGA.