Fact or Fiction: Tennessee still has a chance at Walter Nolen
Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney along with national recruiting analysts Sam Spiegelman and Ryan Wright, and Austin Price from Volquest.com tackle three topics and determine whether they believe each statement is FACT or FICTION.
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1. Walter Nolen is expected to visit Tennessee again this weekend. The Vols still have a real chance here.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. Walter Nolen could end up at Tennessee. It would not be the first time someone who was committed elsewhere flipped late especially to the in-state school that’s down the road and it won’t be the last. But I’m just not getting the sense that it will happen. The Aggies continue to feel like they’re in a good spot and Nolen and his family absolutely love the coaching staff in College Station. That has to be reinforced even more now that any danger of Jimbo Fisher leaving for LSU is completely off the table.
Price’s take: FACT. Sure they do. I’ve said for months that the recruitment of Nolen was like a rollercoaster and it will come as no surprise to anyone if it has one more big turn. Texas A&M is very much in the best spot but anytime you have a committed prospect visiting his in-state school just before signing day it is worth taking notice of in some form or fashion. Nolen and his family could easily have shut things down but they are electing to take one more trip to Tennessee after he plays in the state championship game on Friday night.
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2. After his decommitment from Oklahoma, Texas is by far the leader for Kobie McKinzie now.
Gorney’s take: FACT. After Lincoln Riley left for USC and then Texas came in with an offer, the Longhorns have immediately become the favorite and the likely landing spot for the four-star linebacker. Since he’s from Lubbock (Texas) Cooper, there is security right down the road if he went to Texas Tech and played for first-year coach Joey McGuire but all signs point toward a visit to Austin and a probable commitment at sometime before the Early Signing Period.
Spiegelman’s take: FACT. It's moved quickly, but with Oklahoma originally set to be Kobie McKinzie's destination in January to a decommitment and sudden surge by Texas, recruiting changes in a hurry. The West Texas four-star is expected to be on-campus within days of landing an offer from coach Steve Sarkisian and the Horns -- who are in need of help at linebacker in this class -- all of a sudden are in the driver's seat with the state's top linebacker. It's a colossal shift among conference rivals within the state of Texas after Riley's departure for USC.
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3. LSU is the early leader for recent Notre Dame decommit Devin Moore.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. Florida seems to have the edge here right now even though the Gators coaching staff is new. There is familiarity with the school and once Billy Napier really gets recruiting the in-state guys, Gainesville could be the spot for Devin Moore. I wouldn’t be shocked if new LSU coach Brian Kelly makes a major run at him, but right now Florida has the edge.
Wright’s take: FICTION. The logical line of thought after a head coach leaves from one school to the other is that all recruited players will follow, but that is not always the case. LSU has a great tradition, competes in the SEC and is “Defensive Back University”, but there is another claimed “DBU” in the SEC that would allow Devin Moore to stay close to home and that is Florida. Notre Dame, LSU and Florida are still influx with their coaching staffs. One of the keys to Moore’s recruitment could be where Fighting Irish defensive backs coach Chris O’Leary and/or corners coach Mike Mickens end up. Those relationships could be impactful on his final decision.