Fact or Fiction: TCU has become go-to spot for undecided players
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. TCU has become a great option for the undecided.
Farrell’s take: FACT. First five-star running back Zach Evans didn’t know where he wanted to go after leaning toward Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, LSU and a slew of others during his recruiting process. TCU became his comfort zone late in the process. Now we have seen Mark Jackson (Oklahoma), Marcel Brooks (LSU) and JD Spielman (Nebraska) look to TCU to continue their college careers and I can point to one reason — Gary Patterson.
Patterson is a great head coach and is well-respected around the country for the job he has done at TCU. Watch out for TCU down the line for other transfers and to be a tough team to beat in a year or so as it is very young.
Gorney’s take: FACT. All of a sudden, TCU looks like a serious contender in the Big 12 and could definitely surprise a lot of people in the coming years. Maybe it’s a collection of misfit toys, but Patterson has done an excellent job blending elite prospects like Evans with an outstanding group of transfers including Brooks and now former Spielman, who led the Huskers in receiving last season. There is a ton of talent at TCU now, so don’t be surprised if it shocks a lot of teams if all that talent can work together.
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2. Ga’Quincy McKinstry will choose Alabama.
Farrell’s take: FACT. The state of Alabama’s No. 1 player is down to Alabama, Auburn and LSU, and it’s surprising he hasn’t committed yet, especially after visiting Tuscaloosa so many times. That might bode well for LSU and especially Auburn but I’m sticking with Alabama here.
Gorney’s take: FACT. McKinstry is the state’s top player and a huge target for Alabama coach Nick Saban, so I’m not betting against the Crimson Tide. Auburn has made solid in-roads here and has recruited the elite players in the state well, while LSU has tremendous defensive back tradition (along with those two other schools) and is the defending national champion. But when Alabama really wants someone, it usually gets him. Roll Tide wins again.
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3. Of the first-year coaches, Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz is doing the best recruiting job.
Farrell’s take: FACT. I like what Missouri is doing in recruiting quite a bit whether it be close to home or heading into SEC country. Tyler Macon is a very good local QB and I love the combo of Taj Butts and BJ Harris at running back. But going into Florida for speedy players like LB Zachary Lovett and DB Zxaequon Reeves is also important.
Drinkwitz will expand his recruiting territory as he continues on the job. Mizzou is a top 25 recruiting team right now with a new coach who has had to deal with a pandemic. That’s impressive.
Gorney’s take: FICTON. Missouri is putting together a nice class but I'm looking at Rutgers and what first-year coach Greg Schiano has been able to accomplish. He's taking over a program that has won three games over the last two seasons, hasn't had a winning record in years and has endured some really embarrassing losses. Schiano has Rutgers at No. 20 in the team recruiting rankings.
Out of 22 pledges, 16 are three-star commits including DB Alijah Clark, DE Keshon Griffin and LB Khayri Banton. Schiano is selling a vision he built of a program that was once a contender, but kids nowadays don't remember those glory years. So for him to be doing so well recruiting this early is impressive.