Rival Views: Can anyone in the ACC catch Clemson?
Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney don’t always see eye to eye. In this edition of Rival Views, the two debate whether any team in the ACC can top Clemson on the league food chain – and which ones might be able to do it.
FARRELL'S VIEW: YES
While I am beyond impressed with the recruiting efforts of Dabo Swinney and his staff, as long as Florida State is in the ACC, the Tigers won't be distancing themselves anytime soon.
Jimbo Fisher and his staff do an equally amazing job on the recruiting trail, have the advantage of being an in-state choice for the deepest group of college football prospects in one place and recruit up and down the East Coast as well as anyone.
And keep an eye on Miami under Mark Richt, as it is starting to put it together on the recruiting front and will be a force to be reckoned with as well. FSU, Clemson and Miami should be at the top of the recruiting rankings in the ACC each year, and I don't see the difference being as large as Alabama's over the rest of the SEC.
GORNEY'S VIEW: NO
Clemson has already distanced itself, at least in the short term, by beating Alabama for the national championship this season and playing for the title last season.
Of course, Florida State is a perennial power and is not going anywhere in the ACC, but Clemson is now the frontrunner in that conference. Based on its recruiting, it's not going to relinquish that title easily. The Seminoles have a fantastic team and a great recruiting class, but Clemson is not going anywhere.
If Clemson fans liked Deshaun Watson to Mike Williams in the passing game, Hunter Johnson to Tee Higgins is not far behind. On the defensive side, five-star AJ Terrell could be a star in the making as well.
Even after winning the national championship by pounding Ohio State and then getting by Alabama, I don’t think Swinney gets the respect he deserves on the national stage, and defensive coordinator Brent Venables is one of the best in the game.
I’m not saying Florida State cannot beat Clemson. I have a ton of respect for what the Seminoles have done, even recently. As for Miami, the Hurricanes are still years away. The Tigers are now the top team in the ACC, and I don’t see that changing soon.
