Fact or Fiction: Seminoles should feel good about chances with five-star WR
Rivals National Recruiting Director Adam Gorney along with recruiting analysts Sam Spiegelman and Adam Friedman and Michael Langston of Warchant.com tackle three topics in recruiting and determine whether or not they believe each statement.
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1. Florida State should feel good about getting five-star WR Kevin Coleman.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Kevin Coleman is going to see how offenses look this season and that could perk up his interest in other programs but Florida State looks like the strongest contender right now and the Seminoles could have a big lead. The way his visit went earlier this month coupled with the opportunity to get on the field early and have an impact and the class FSU is putting together are all big pluses in Coleman’s book. I’ve also heard rumors that Alabama - another favorite - might have some receivers higher on the board and in the end that might only help FSU’s chances even more.
Langston’s take: FICTION. No one should feel totally good on pulling Kevin Coleman but I do think FSU should feel the best. They've done a tremendous job recruiting him and I feel FSU is the team to watch currently. However, I wouldn't throw a parade yet as Coleman will visit other schools and wants to see how the teams fare during the season, especially FSU. So while they should feel good about how things stand early there's still a way to go here.
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2. Jaylen Sneed is the best outside linebacker in the 2022 class.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Ohio State commits CJ Hicks and Gabe Powers are excellent in their own right and do a lot on the football field but Jaylen Sneed has had such a tremendous offseason that I think he should be in the conversation for No. 1 at the outside linebacker position. He covers downfield like a cornerback, every time I see him he’s picking off passes and the Hilton Head, S.C., four-star covers all over the field. In today’s game that’s going to be super important as Sneed does everything coaches look for in an outside linebacker. Does he end up No. 1 at the spot in the rankings? That is yet to be determined but Sneed can easily make that argument and I would buy it.
Friedman’s take: FICTION. This is a really tough question that I don't think anybody would be overly confident in answering yes or no. CJ Hicks should still be ranked higher than Sneed but Sneed has more of an upside. Hicks is closer to a sure thing than Sneed because he is closer to being physically ready to play and he has a lot of experience playing in a role that is very similar to what he'll be playing at Ohio State. Sneed is one of the more athletic linebackers we've seen in a while and he's going to have a ton of success at the next level. Whichever school he ends up at -- Notre Dame and Oregon are his top contenders -- Sneed is going to have to learn to play a position that is much more complicated than he is used to and he'll need to add some mass to his frame to be able to effectively defend against the run. All that being said, Sneed likely has more developing to do before he sees the field in college but his impact on the games could be greater than Hicks. Sneed's athleticism is off the charts, he can get into the backfield, and has elite coverage skills. That combination and versatility will give offensive coordinators headaches if he's able to take advantage of the development opportunities available to him.
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3. Evan Stewart is a top-five receiver in the 2022 class.
Gorney’s take: FACT. There could be a lot of movement at the top of the receiver rankings through the end of the summer and into the fall and all-star games. One move I’d like to see is Evan Stewart into that top-five (or higher range) at the position. Everywhere he goes, Stewart turns in impressive performances with his speed and playmaking ability and quickly moves up recruiting wish lists. I don’t have a lot of complaints with the receivers ranked ahead of him as they all provide something special but Stewart has made a bigger impact at big venues this offseason and a bump could be in order.
Spiegelman’s take: FACT: There's a ton of talented receivers at the top of the 2022 rankings, including five-stars Luther Burden and Kevin Coleman, but behind that it's been an ongoing debate as camps and in-person evaluation opportunities pop up. Stewart dominated track season and posted impressive personal-best times of 10.58 (100-meter) and 21.58 (200-meter) this spring, then was at his best at Future 50 earlier this month. Stewart blends speed with good route-running and makes for a very consistent vertical threat downfield. Stewart showed off great hands and some toughness to make contested grabs in Florida and could be in the five-star discussion by season's end.