Fact or Fiction: WR Dee Anderson can have a huge year
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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CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team
CLASS OF 2022: Top 100
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1. Dee Anderson can have a huge year at Oklahoma State.
Farrell’s take: FACT. The former LSU receiver has size and is a huge target in a dangerous Oklahoma State offense. And with Tylan Wallace back and ready to have a huge year, Anderson will be in single coverage a lot. This is a great addition for the Cowboys.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Quarterback Spencer Sanders is back. Running back Chuba Hubbard is back. And Wallace, the Cowboys' top receiver, returns as well. With the addition of Anderson, Oklahoma State could be a serious contender in the Big 12 as it looks to win in shootouts with a very capable offense. I have some hesitations because it seems Anderson squandered his opportunities at LSU, but a fresh start is just what the doctor ordered. “Conditioning issues” kept him out of last season in Baton Rouge. If Anderson comes to Stillwater ready to play, the former four-star could be a major contributor.
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2. Making unlimited phone calls to recruits is a good idea in this climate.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. I feel bad for the 2021 prospects. Not only will they miss visits and summer camps because of COVID-19, but the NCAA recently allowed college coaches to call them constantly on an unlimited basis because of the extension of the dead period. This is a bad idea. It will lead to major annoyance for recruits and more commitments than usual to stop the madness. As usual, the NCAA got this one wrong.
Gorney’s take: FACT. There is definitely serious potential for bothersome phone calls and incessant badgering of these recruits, but we need to keep the communication lines open as much as possible during these times. Coaches cannot visit kids at their high schools. Prospects cannot visit college campuses. And yet many are still making decisions. That means relationships need to be built over the phone or Zoom meetings, and that can be a challenge. Recruits have the choice to pick up the phone or not. If a coach is being a nag, then those recruits can make choices for themselves.
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3. Trevor Lawrence is a better pro prospect than Joe Burrow.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Burrow had arguably the best season ever for a quarterback in college football and is considered a franchise player at the NFL level. How do you beat that? By being a generational talent, and I don’t use those words flippantly. Lawrence has the size, vision, arm strength, touch and mobility like we haven’t seen since John Elway. Burrow is very good, Lawrence is elite.
Gorney’s take: FACT. I don’t want to discount Burrow’s season or his ability - he has the potential to be a superstar NFL quarterback - but he also had only one great season in college football. Admittedly, it was maybe the best season by a quarterback in college football history, but he was basically surrounded by NFL talent at every position. If Lawrence was able to be in this past NFL Draft, my bet is that teams would have taken Lawrence ahead of Burrow. He’s a rare talent, has been from day one and has continued to prove it at the highest level. I agree with Farrell: Burrow is incredibly good, but Lawrence is just on another level.