Rival Views: The most important five-star target

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 which five-star recruit is the most important get for which team.

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The overall number of five-star prospects in Texas has been down in recent years, which could correlate in many ways to the Longhorns' struggles. However, this year there are four players in the state currently ranked as five-stars and Browning is the one Texas has the best shot at.

We all saw how important landing Malik Jefferson was for recruiting a couple of years ago as it set the stage for a very strong year in the Lone Star State for Charlie Strong in 2016. I think Browning could be that guy this year.

Texas needs all the help they can get on defense. The Longhorns landed five-star linebacker Erik Fowler, a one-time LSU commitment, last year and Browning could keep the momentum going. He would also be able to learn under Jefferson and Texas could begin stockpiling talent to add to an already young front seven.

Browning is a must get for Strong this cycle and, depending on how the season plays out, I think he ends up in Austin before all is said and done.

Penn State needs a big splash in this recruiting class and the answer could be Wade, the top-ranked cornerback in the country.

Wade is an in-state prospect, he has developed a great relationship with James Franklin and the Nittany Lions' coaching staff and he could be an immediate contributor for the program.

Think Saquon Barkley is a star at running back? Wade could be that answer on the defensive side of the ball and he is athletic specimen who could contribute in all three phases.

Wade is just what Penn State needs on the field – and in this recruiting class.

Franklin’s calling card is that he’s one of the best recruiters in the country. So far, that has proven true at Penn State. but the results on the field have been lacking for various reasons.

One of those reasons is because the Nittany Lions don’t have elite athleticism and skill at multiple positions – like Ohio State, like Michigan, like Michigan State and others in the loaded Big Ten. That’s why Penn State is 18.5-point underdogs at Michigan this weekend and no one is really shocked by it.

Penn State needs to load up with supreme talent all over the field. The Nittany Lions cannot let Wade go. He’s a top priority and it will speak to Franklin’s recruiting ability and the cachet of the Penn State program if they land him or not.