Take Two: Will five-star Jordan Burch stay in-state?
JUST RELEASED: Updated top 10 for the 2020 class
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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.
THE STORYLINE
No player moved up more in the top 10 of the newly-updated Rivals100 than five-star defensive end Jordan Burch – and the Columbia (S.C.) Hammond School standout might not be done yet.
Burch jumped 10 spots all the way up to third nationally behind only Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and Upland, Calif., linebacker Justin Flowe, and the 6-foot-6, 255-pound defensive end could push even higher right to the top of the list.
He’s big. He’s fast. He plays a premium position. There is almost nothing to be concerned about with Burch, who has kept incredibly quiet about his recruitment but the feeling is that South Carolina and Clemson will be the teams to beat.
The state of South Carolina has produced five other five-star defensive ends in the history of Rivals dating back to 2002 and four of them ended up playing for the Gamecocks or the Tigers.
Will Burch follow suit and stay in the Palmetto State for college?
FIRST TAKE: WES MITCHELL, GAMECOCKCENTRAL.COM
“His recruitment has been interesting. He’s been one of the few kids who has kept things under wraps not just where he’s leaning but when he wants to make a decision. South Carolina is expected to get him on campus for his official visit which is huge and it will be a step to figure out where he’s at and whether he’s ready to actually start to think about narrowing it down. Or is this something that’s going to expand through the summer and into the fall. I think it’s ultimately South Carolina or Clemson but I do think the one you can’t count out is Georgia just following the visits there.
“As for his move to No. 3 in the Rivals100, it is definitely justified. The thing that I’ve always been most impressed about with Jordan is just how naturally he moves, how naturally he makes everything look. I’ve watched him play tight end, I’ve watched him play wide receiver, I’ve watched him play defensive end, and he’s a kid where things come easily. For him to have a frame like he does and for him to do the things he does on the football field – catching the ball, ball skills and the natural quickness off the edge defensively – he looks like that elite player you’re looking for in a top-five kid."
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM
“I think he’s going to stay in-state. How special could he be? The sky’s the limit. He’s 6-foot-6, 255 pounds, long, angular, fast, athletic as heck, plays with good leverage and dips his shoulder well. He does everything. He’s very athletic and he’s just starting to scratch the surface on what he could be.
“He’s not Jadeveon Clowney but it wouldn’t surprise me if he had a Clowney-like career where he’s just outstanding. Clowney was amazing those first two years and Burch could be a guy who has three great years and comes out as a potential No. 1 pick. That’s how good he is.”