Take Two: McElwain, Alabama, Big 12
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Storyline: Alabama has only one five-star pledge so far in Folsom, Calif.,
offensive tackle Jonah Williams and just three commits in the Rivals100 so is
there any reason for Crimson Tide fans to worry?
Probably not. Five-star offensive tackle Gregory Little is expected to commit
Friday (Alabama and Ole Miss are the finalists) and so many other top recruits
are just waiting to announce their pledges later in the process.
Even if many other five- and four-stars go elsewhere, Nick Saban and his
coaching staff have proven to be one of the best at developing talent and making
the Crimson Tide special year after year.
Alabama sits at sixth overall and third in the SEC West so far in the team
recruiting rankings. Bad news for all its opponents: The Crimson Tide will be
just fine.
First take: "Alabama has several targets in the Rivals100 who they can close
with in the next few months. Alabama is in great shape for in-state five-star
linebackers Ben Davis and Lyndell Wilson. The Crimson Tide also remain in strong
Alabama also is in the running for five-star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence
and five-star athlete Mecole Hardman Jr.. Steam will really start to pick for the
Crimson Tide down the home stretch." - Andrew Bone,
Second take: "I don't think it matters. They're going to get theirs whether
they're four-stars or five-stars and sometimes three-stars. Amari Cooper was a
four, Derrick Henry was a four, Mark Ingram was a four. It helps to have the
five-stars to make an immediate impact but they develop enough players that a
class of three-stars at Alabama would compete." - Farrell
3. History may repeat itself in Big
12
Storyline: Baylor and Oklahoma State are steamrolling opponents but still the
Big 12 teams find themselves outside the College Football Playoff without a
clear path to getting in during the final weeks of the season.
The Bears play Oklahoma this week and then the Cowboys so at least two of those
three teams will be eliminated making a Big 12 path to the Final Four more
difficult.
Even if Baylor or Oklahoma State win out there's no guarantee for a top four
is certainly possible.
Weak non-conference scheduling by Baylor and Oklahoma State could really come
back to bite both teams. Crazy things happen all the time in the final weeks of
the college football season but even after pulverizing opponent after opponent,
Baylor or Oklahoma State could be left out in the cold.
First take: "There's really not a lot Baylor can do with its out-of-conference
schedules through 2019. It's pretty locked in. Baylor tried to reach out to
schools before 2019 but didn't get much traction. It's looking to do a game with
an SEC team in 2020 in Houston. The program understands and is confident that if
it runs the balance of 2015 and remains undefeated, it will be in the playoffs.
It's not concerned about its position at this point." - Kevin Lonnquist,
Second take: "If the current top four win out, it's over. There are a lot of options
for other teams to get in and these other teams (Baylor and Oklahoma State)
don't play anybody out of conference. They will have to run the table to have a
prayer. It's the schedule. Those out-of-conference schedules are embarrassing
and they have nobody to blame but themselves." - Farrell
Adam Gorney
National Recruiting Analyst
Mike Farrell
National Recruiting Director
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