Take Two: Can teams afford to wait on Zachary Evans' decision?
Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling an issue in the college football landscape. Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com national recruiting director Mike Farrell and an expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites or a regional analyst.
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CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
THE STORYLINE
The recruitment of Zachary Evans continues to be one of the most interesting in the 2020 class as teams across the country jockey for position with the five-star running back from Houston (Texas) North Shore.
But as the season gets underway, the question now becomes not only where will Evans end up, but should top programs not take other running backs in this class as those coaching staffs wait to hear on Evans’ destination?
Texas A&M is a perfect example, because four-star all-purpose back Daniyel Ngata is seriously interested in the Aggies, but they already have a commitment from three-star Deondre Jackson in this class. So would waiting for Evans be more prudent or should the staff continue to pursue Ngata since he’s very talented as well?
Texas recently landed a pledge from five-star Bijan Robinson - after it looked like Ohio State was the team to beat - and now might wait on other recruits as Evans makes up his mind.
Georgia landed a commitment from five-star Kendall Milton and the thinking is that the Bulldogs are getting in better shape with Evans. A few recruiting cycles ago, Georgia landed two five-star running backs in the same class and might be able to do it again if Milton and Evans would play in the same backfield.
Alabama decided not to wait and has landed commitments from four-star RBs Roydell Williams and Kyle Edwards. LSU has no running back pledges as it pursues Evans in the coming months.
Should teams cool it with running back commitments until Evans makes up his mind? Or can they not risk it, take commitments now, and then let the five-star chips fall where they may later on?
FIRST TAKE: MARK PASSWATERS, AGGIEYELL.COM
“Would the Aggies like Zach Evans? Of course - who wouldn't? But I don't think they're going to simply wait around, either, especially if they believe he's leaning elsewhere. If Daniyel Ngata wants to commit, odds are they'd take him right then. They're also a factor for EJ Smith. If presented with the opportunity to take another high-caliber back, I think A&M will do it and continue to try to work on Evans. But sitting around waiting and letting other potential quality options go in the process sounds like a gamble they won't take.”
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM
“Zach Evans is going to commit to a school and then take visits. I think we all know that’s going to happen. I don’t know if he’s going to be an Early Signing period Kid or if he’s going to wait until February, but it’s going to be drama. Even if he commits soon, you continue to go after him.
“If Zach Evans is going to scare off another player, then so be it. Georgia is doing a good job recruiting Evans and they have a loaded roster of running backs, not to mention Kendall Milton. Alabama is in there. Texas A&M is in there. Competition shouldn’t be a reason to hold off. If you’re taking two running backs, go ahead, but keep working on Zach Evans until the very end.”