Fact or Fiction: Zachary Evans will now end up at Texas A&M
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. Jake Fromm made the right decision leaving Georgia early for the NFL.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Jake Fromm declared for the NFL Draft on Wednesday and he didn’t make the right decision. I know he has had some frustration with the offense and Georgia is thin at receiver, but honestly Fromm has regressed and has no one to blame but himself. Coming back to college for another year of development would not only be good for him but it would improve his stock as well with the NFL. With his skill set and regression this season, I think he’s a third-round pick this year. And that’s not good enough to come out.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Fromm has more career touchdown passes than Joe Burrow and more career passing yards than Tua Tagovailoa. Is he the best quarterback of those three? No, but he’s hardly chopped liver and he had more passing yards this season than in any of his three years although his touchdowns were down from last year. And he did that with average or young receivers and an offense that focused on running the ball.
There is a narrative that Fromm has gotten worse during his time at Georgia and that he will slip to the third round. I don’t believe either one. NFL teams love quarterbacks who don’t make bad errors and Fromm fits that perfectly.
2. Zachary Evans will now end up at Texas A&M.
Farrell’s take: FACT. The roller coaster continues with Zachary Evans as it is now being reported that he signed with Georgia but they are letting him out of his letter. LSU remains interested while Alabama has moved on and there were some rumors about programs like Ohio State and Florida State jumping in but I think he ultimately ends up at Texas A&M, which has been recruiting him since the start and has always been there. Jimbo Fisher will win this one with patience.
Gorney’s take: FACT. I have to think Texas A&M is the team that eventually lands Evans although this has been arguably the wildest recruitment in Rivals history. Georgia is letting him out of his letter of intent and like Farrell said, Ohio State and Florida State could be getting in the mix, but Texas A&M is close to home, the Aggies have been on him forever and he has a connection with Demond Demas and others. I would say Texas A&M makes the most sense, but when it comes to Evans’ recruitment, nothing has made sense.
3. Steve Sarkisian is the right fit at Mississippi State.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. Sark has done a good job re-inventing himself since the USC debacle, but I don’t think he’s a Power Five head coach even with his experience with Washington and the Trojans. Some guys are better assistants and coordinators than they are head men and Sark is one of those guys. I can’t see him having a ton of success at Mississippi State.
Gorney’s take: FACT. I’m torn on this question because part of me feels Sarkisian can win at Mississippi State, maybe not to the level of Dan Mullen but certainly better than Joe Moorhead, as all three were great offensive minds. Sarkisian looks refocused on coaching football after spending time at Alabama and getting a better understanding of the conference while in Tuscaloosa.
Is it a perfect cultural fit? No. Are there risks hiring Sarkisian? Yes, just ask USC. But for some reason it can work and I do think Sarkisian could beat Lane Kiffin for some in-state recruits. Just having Kiffin and Sarkisian coaching in the same state is worth supporting this.