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Published Jan 25, 2019
Take Two: Jerrion Ealy's next step will be ... Clemson? Baseball?
Adam Gorney and Mike Farrell
Rivals.com

CLASS OF 2019 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position | Team

CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position

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Take Two returns with another 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 National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and an expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.

MORE TAKE TWO: Can Hurts complete Sooners' Heisman three-peat? | Is Ohio State's recruiting slide in 2019 alarming? | With Tate Martell, is Miami an ACC contender? | Can Scott Frost keep up fast recruiting start?

THE STORYLINE

Ole Miss is going to have one final crack at high four-star athlete Jerrion Ealy this weekend, but it seems like Clemson is the front-runner in his recruitment just weeks before National Signing Day.

The Jackson (Miss.) Prep standout was outstanding at the recent Under Armour Game. He had been committed to the Rebels, but he backed off that pledge earlier this month. Clemson has filled that void, and the Tigers could be the team to beat.

But Ealy is also a standout baseball player and he could be a first-round selection in the MLB Draft in June, which could further muddy his football future.

Rated as the fifth-best athlete in the class, Ealy would be a huge addition at Clemson or Ole Miss. It’s expected he would play running back in college and would be a major bonus to either team’s backfield.

Will Clemson be too tough to beat in his recruitment? Will the Jackson Prep recruit even decide to play football if he’s a high draft pick by a pro baseball team?

  FIRST TAKE: PAUL STRELOW, TIGERILLUSTRATED.COM

“Clemson is the leader in the clubhouse going into this final Ole Miss official visit. He committed to the Rebels well before Clemson offered, but his affinity was apparent with subsequent visits for the Tigers’ spring game and their November win against Louisville. His decommitment was always a matter of when, not if.

“The threat Ealy never even reaches his college choice is absolutely real. But it’s also somewhat premature. Scouts are saying that how he hits this spring will factor into his baseball draft stock. Plus, we just don’t know yet what dollar figure compels Ealy’s family to write off the college path. So there’s an inherent risk vs. reward decision to be made for Ealy’s suitors. Clemson believes the potential reward is worth it.”

  SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM  

“You have to recruit him. Ole Miss has a chance and Clemson is the school to beat, but baseball is really the biggest obstacle here. He’s going to be a first-rounder in baseball, and he’s going to make a ton of money there. I don’t know if he has enough football love to risk his baseball career.

“If he does, he definitely reminds me of Travis Etienne. The way he has tremendous balance and vision, the way he runs the football, similar in size, so he could definitely be that type of guy if he goes to Clemson. But baseball probably has the bigger lure for him.”

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