Fact or Fiction: The attrition at Nebraska is concerning
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. Nebraska's attrition is concerning.
Farrell’s take: FACT. JD Spielman is the latest to leave Nebraska and he’s arguably the most important as the leading receiver for the team. He’s had 800+ yards receiving for three straight seasons. It is not a great sign that since the end of the 2019 football season, 14 players have transferred.
Perhaps Scott Frost is just restructuring his roster and weeding out some issues or maybe players aren’t as excited about playing at Nebraska as they used to be. Whatever the reason it’s a bit unsettling for the optics alone.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. No one can argue that Frost’s tenure at Nebraska hasn't gotten off to a good start as the Huskers have had three-straight losing seasons for the first time since 1959-61 (and yes, Mike Riley was responsible for one of those losing campaigns), but I still trust that Frost is building the roster to his liking and there is a lot of talent there in Lincoln with more coming in.
Losing Spielman is a major loss because he was such a consistent threat in the passing game and he put up big numbers. But I expect Wan’Dale Robinson to have a bigger role, Zavier Betts could be a superstar and quarterback Adrian Martinez should bounce back as well. It’s never good to lose your best receiver, but the Huskers have talent and Frost can get this turnaround done.
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2. Tyrell Shavers will have a big impact at Mississippi State.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Shavers is a huge receiver and target with a lot of talent but he was stuck behind a ton of NFL receivers at Alabama. Now he has a chance to enter a Mike Leach offense at Mississippi State and he’ll be very key in the red zone. Leach loves to throw it around and KJ Costello is at the helm this season so this could be the perfect match for the former four-star receiver.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Stuck behind Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle and Henry Ruggs, Shavers never emerged as a top target at Alabama, but that’s about to change. The former mid-level four-star is a huge target on the outside and he’s going to an offense that will throw, throw, throw and then when Mississippi State is tired of throwing the ball, it’s going to throw again. Shavers is a talented kid who was just in a bad position stuck behind NFL-level receivers. He should be fantastic in Starkville.
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3. Reggie Bush's Heisman Trophy should be returned to him.
Farrell’s take: FACT. While Vince Young should have topped Reggie Bush for the Heisman Trophy in 2005, it is ridiculous to tell the story of college football with a vacated Heisman. It makes no sense. What Bush did on the field can’t be taken away no matter what scandal surrounded him and history needs to reflect Bush as the Heisman winner. USC is welcoming him back and the NCAA needs to re-instate his Heisman.
Gorney's take: FACT. Enough is enough. Bush has more than served his penance and it's time not only for USC to welcome back Bush with open arms but to re-instate his Heisman Trophy. For too long, Bush has been treated like a pariah and that needs to stop. A way-too-harsh penalty was levied by the NCAA and now it's over and done with. Bush was one of the best players ever in college football and he should have his Heisman Trophy. Partly because of the sanctions surrounding Bush, USC has fallen from being a national power. With Bush back, with USC embracing him again and with the Heisman restored, the Trojans can come out of this on a positive note and Bush can move forward, being honored as one of the best ever.