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Rival Views: Stars that could have taken a different path as recruits

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 about which star they’d be most interested to see on the team they committed to originally.

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FARRELL'S VIEW: Mike Weber and Michigan 

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I would be interested to see how Mike Weber would be doing at Michigan.

Remember, Weber was torn between Ohio State and Michigan on National Signing Day despite having decommitted from the Wolverines and pledging to Urban Meyer. Jim Harbaugh made a strong push and almost got him.

The Michigan rushing attack has been powerful this season behind an average offensive line, so imagine what a powerful and shifty back like Weber could do. He has rushed for 1,046 yards behind a so-so offensive line at Ohio State, but is averaging only 15 carries a game.

Would Harbaugh make him his workhorse instead of working through De’Veon Smith, Chris Evans and Ty Isaac with some Jabrill Peppers mixed in? Would Weber average 25 carries a game in Michigan’s pro-style offense and be at 1,700-plus yards right now? It would certainly be interesting to see.

Weber is fun to watch and the Ohio State offense has relied upon him in a big way, but he hasn't been a true feature back like Ezekiel Elliott was his last two seasons with the Buckeyes. Michigan fans might be wondering as well what he could do in Maize and Blue.

GORNEY'S VIEW: Reuben Foster and Auburn

Linebacker was a major issue heading into this season for Auburn and if former five-star recruit Reuben Foster would have stuck with the Tigers then a lot of those issues would have been assuaged.

Just to go over Foster’s amazing recruitment because it was one for the books, one where he ended up at Alabama – where he leads the team in tackles – but he definitely could have ended up at Auburn.

Early on, Foster committed to Alabama, only to decommit and then pick Auburn. After getting an Auburn tattoo, that alone should have wrapped him up for the Tigers. He officially visited Washington and San Diego State before ending up at Auburn for one last visit. But he reportedly left that trip early to take one final look at the Crimson Tide and he wound up signing with Nick Saban's program.

With Auburn’s outstanding front led by Montravious Adams, Marlon Davidson, Carl Lawson and others, Foster would have been a fantastic complement to come in and clean up with a bunch of tackles.

Auburn is strong up front and on the back end, but someone with Foster’s tremendous ability could have been used early and often in the Tigers’ defense.

The Tigers have actually missed on many top SEC linebackers in the last couple years including Foster, Raekwon McMillan (Ohio State), Zach Cunningham (Vanderbilt) and one-time Auburn commit Jarrad Davis (Florida).

Still, Auburn’s defense has been outstanding this season. If only Foster stayed in its recruiting class, he could have been a star for the Tigers instead over in Tuscaloosa for the top-ranked Crimson Tide.

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