National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
FACT OR FICTION: A national title won't mean much in 2020
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022: Top 100
1. Quinn Ewers is the best QB Texas has had committed since Vince Young.
Farrell’s take: FACT. On paper, at least, Quinn Ewers is the best quarterback the Longhorns have landed since Vince Young signed in 2002. Ewers isn’t Vince Young, so let’s get that clear. He has a slightly irregular release and he’s not nearly the athlete that Young was. However, Ewers' accuracy is exceptional whether in the pocket or on the run and he can extend the play. Garrett Gilbert was a five-star in 2009 and was supposed to be great, but he was more of a project than Ewers.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Let’s not forget about Sam Ehlinger, because while his rating was not as high, he’s been outstanding at Texas and should be in this discussion as well. I also want to caution against using terms like “the next Trevor Lawrence” or “generational talent” as well, because those words are thrown out every recruiting cycle and it can lead to unrealistic expectations.
But Ewers is really talented. He will continue to develop into his frame and for someone who’s on the lean side he can zip passes, put touch on them, keep plays alive with his legs and do everything elite quarterbacks do. It’s a massive recruiting win for Tom Herman and Ewers could be something special in the coming years.
2. Justin Fields’ petition will work.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. The Ohio State quarterback started a petition this weekend to try to overturn the Big Ten decision to push the season back to the spring. And it’s getting a ton of traction. But I don’t see it working. While it’s an amazing effort by Justin Fields, I can’t see the Big Ten walking this decision back. If they are going to die on the shield of player safety, then a petition won’t work. Some miracle would have to occur between now and late September for the league to reverse its decision.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. If Fields’ petition works, then I have to question Kevin Warren’s leadership even more at the Big Ten after the conference talked so much about the uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic as one of the reasons why it decided to push fall sports to an uncertain spring season. I applaud the Ohio State quarterback’s efforts and it’s telling that more than 215,000 people signed it as of Monday morning, but a conference commissioner cannot be guided by the whims of the masses if he feels what he did last week was the correct call. I don’t believe it was the right decision, but Warren does and he calls the shots. Liability issues are a major concern here and that has not changed because of Fields’ petition and the public backlash from all sides.
3. Oklahoma's COVID outbreak will hinder the Big 12’s attempt to play.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. The Sooners had nine players recently test positive for COVID-19, leading many to wonder if this would be a sign for the Big 12 to shut it down. My answer is no. In making the decision to move forward after the Big Ten and Pac-12 waived the white flag last week, the Big 12, SEC and ACC have the opposite attitude. The feeling from sources is that COVID-19 is here to stay and you either run from it or adapt to it and positive tests are surely coming. I can’t see much stopping the resolve of these conferences barring mass outbreaks at numerous schools.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Here’s what concerns me: The headline out of Oklahoma about a surge in cases surrounding the football players; a headline out of Notre Dame about a surge in cases once students returned to campus; a viral video circulating this weekend at Oklahoma State about a nightclub or bar filled with people dancing. Four outbreaks have been reported at North Carolina.
Over the next few weeks, thousands more college kids will be heading back to campus and the stories will be predictable about spikes in certain places. I understand that the Big 12, SEC and ACC are doing their level best to keep going and to play a season - and it could be a huge embarrassment to the Big Ten and Pac-12 if those other conferences can accomplish an entire season while keeping players healthy - but the headline risk looms large here. And the news out of Oklahoma is not positive, so it could start to stoke questions about the decision to move forward.
