Published Jan 10, 2018
Take Two: Should Army Bowl hiccups affect Lawrence's rank?
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Adam Gorney  •  Rivals.com
National Recruiting Director
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@adamgorney

Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues 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.

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THE STORYLINE

Trevor Lawrence is the top-rated prospect in the 2018 class, a five-star quarterback who has had a nearly flawless high school campaign.

The Cartersville, Ga., standout and Clemson signee has been superb at numerous events for years, so it was out of character that Lawrence threw two early interceptions last weekend at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He also fumbled, but his team recovered the ball.

After the early struggles, Lawrence settled down and finished the game well, including a drive late that would have tied the game if the East did not decide to go for two in an attempt to win the Army Bowl.

Were his early struggles on the biggest stage - against the best competition he’s seen at the high school level - a worrisome sign that maybe Lawrence is a tad overrated and that he was a little exposed in San Antonio? Remember, the five-star quarterback did have an excellent week of practice.

Or was one quarter - or half - of play at the Army Bowl not enough to slide Lawrence in the rankings in favor of some other quality five-star players?

The final 2018 rankings will be released soon. Is there a heated debate ahead about which player should be on top or has Lawrence done enough over many years to prove he’s the No. 1 prospect in the class?

FIRST TAKE: WOODY WOMMACK, RIVALS.COM SOUTHEAST RECRUITING ANALYST    

“I think he struggled early in the game, but I really like the way he responded later, especially in the fourth quarter when he led the team down the field for a touchdown that would have put his team in a position to tie things up if they hadn’t elected to go for two instead. It was unusual to see him start a little shaky, but he showed his trademark poise and playmaking ability. Add in the fact that he was impressive all week and I’m not going to let a quarter of bad play override a terrific high school career. I still think he finishes No. 1, but I’m sure there will be some debate.”

SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM NATIONAL RECRUITING DIRECTOR    

“We still have to debate that, and we still have to meet as a team and figure out who’s No. 1 and whether we want him to stay No. 1. I don’t think he looked bad in the game. He started off poorly, dropping the ball and throwing a couple picks, but he was very strong at the end of the game. The drive he put together for what would have been the tying score if they had not gone for two was very impressive.

“I don’t think anything has changed. He’s an impressive kid. His arm strength, the way he throws, he’s so fluid in everything he does. Those people who are saying he’s overrated, they’re just haters. That’s it. They’re just people who just want to hate against him because there is nothing about his skill set that tells me he’s not going to be an elite quarterback.

“He’s probably the best I’ve ever seen at the high school level when it comes to size, arm strength, accuracy, pocket feel and mobility. I would put him slightly ahead of Josh Rosen - and that’s saying something.”