National recruiting director Adam Gorney has three predictions on the ranking of Winston Watkins, the running back position rankings and how early Dakorien Moore will have success at Oregon.
1. We will regret moving Winston Watkins off of being a five-star receiver.
We’re going to regret moving Watkins off the five-star list and this week at the Navy All-American Bowl only convinces me more that he should still be among that elite group. There have been times when he’s been quiet in practice but the Ole Miss signee is consistently very good, catches everything, runs great routes and gets open against any defensive back here.
Watkins is going to play for coach Lane Kiffin, too, and he’s been compared with Elijah Moore, who had more than 2,400 receiving yards in Oxford and while he was a second-round pick (which would put him as a high four-star prospect), he was No. 34 overall so a fringe five-star would be in the ballpark.
What has concerned us about Watkins throughout the recruiting process is that he’s transferred high schools a bunch and has worked through multiple commitments to land with the Rebels. But he found the right spot for his skill set. Kiffin knows how to get his playmakers the ball and if Watkins can stay focused then he has all the tools to be an elite receiver in the SEC.
If we’re searching for one or two more five-star receivers to fill out the 2025 class, we would be really smart to seriously consider – again – Watkins for a five-star ranking.
2. There will be a new No. 1 running back in the final rankings.
Throughout the 2025 recruiting cycle, we have had an issue finding a true No. 1 running back in the 2025 class. We still might not be done.
Five-star Harlem Berry leads the all-purpose back rankings since he can run between the tackles but can also catch passes out of the backfield or even line up in the slot. He’s a dynamic playmaker who has superstar potential at LSU.
But when it comes to the running back spot there has been some indecision and uncertainty basically because no one has clearly grabbed the top spot and run with it (pun intended).
Auburn signee Alvin Henderson is currently the top running back but has he shown that dynamic athletic ability needed for that No. 1 role? Clemson’s Gideon Davidson is rocked up and impressive-looking but does he have the resume? Alabama’s Akylin Dear has elite speed and playmaking ability so he could be in the running.
There’s also an argument that Ole Miss signee Shekai Mills-Knight is an elite player that’s been somewhat overlooked.
2025 RANKINGS: Running Back | All-Purpose Back
3. Dakorien Moore will have a freshman season like Ryan Williams.
Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is in a class by himself so I’m not predicting that Oregon’s Dakorien Moore will have that kind of impact in his freshman season. I’m not nuts. But there is a really good chance that the Duncanville, Texas, standout will have a similar season to Alabama’s Ryan Williams.
And that’s pretty great.
Williams, a former five-star who actually should be in the 2025 class but reclassified down to 2024, finished his freshman season with 48 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns.
That is pretty close to what Tez Johnson did at Oregon this season, which means the bar is super high for Moore coming into Eugene. But he has the speed, hands and opportunity to come in right away and make a huge impact with the Ducks
