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 a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.
MORE TAKE TWO: Will Alabama back its way into CFB Playoff? | Wisconsin recruiting
THE STORYLINE
One of the more interesting recruitments this cycle has been five-star wide receiver Jalen Hall - and mainly because he does not talk about his favorites a lot and even when he does, the Long Beach (Calif.) Poly standout does not give away many hints.
Some people think he’s a lock to USC. Some people think he’ll never go to USC. UCLA seemed like a long shot only weeks ago, but could new coach Chip Kelly interest the outside receiver to play in the Bruins’ new offense?
Then there is Oregon, where Hall just visited and by all accounts things went well. But what would happen with the Ducks if coach Willie Taggart leaves for Florida State, if that job opens with Jimbo Fisher’s possible departure for Texas A&M?
Then there are the SEC schools. Florida has been a hot contender for Hall’s services and Long Beach Poly teammate and four-star quarterback Matt Corral is committed to the Gators. However, Corral is also considering Alabama and possibly other schools, and there’s no telling what new Gators coach Dan Mullen is planning with his quarterback recruitment.
LSU has been mentioned for Hall, but how serious is that just weeks before the early signing period? Nebraska has also been a player, but the Huskers don’t have a coach.
When it comes to Hall, there are a lot of moving parts, a lot of questions - and quite frankly - not a lot of solid answers at this point.
FIRST TAKE: A.J. JACOBSON, DUCKSPORTSAUTHORITY.COM
“Jalen Hall is one of the more difficult Duck targets to read this recruiting cycle. The Long Beach Poly star has shown serious interest in Nebraska, LSU and Florida. He just finished his official visit to Oregon, and that trip could easily have made a big impression with 69 points of scoring fireworks against Oregon State.
“But what about UCLA? With Chip Kelly as its new head coach, playing wide receiver there might have suddenly become compelling. Or USC? Don’t Long Beach Poly guys always become Trojans? Picking any of the schools mentioned would not surprise me. Oregon, with its highly ranked recruiting class, exciting coaching staff and offense, could now be a real player for him.”
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM
“Nobody knows. Chip Kelly is going to be intriguing, because he’ll go after him. Florida is intriguing because of Corral, if Corral sticks with Florida.
“Everybody thought it was going to be USC from the start, but I don’t know if they have room for him or if they want him. Oregon is in there as well. Keep an eye on Kelly and keep an eye on Dan Mullen at Florida.”