Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell’s Three-Point Stance is here with thoughts on the biggest potential disappointments in each Power Five conference, five teams recruiting like they’ll win a national title and the 10 most dynamic playmakers in football.
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1. POWER FIVE TEAMS THAT WILL DISAPPOINT
On Tuesday I listed the favorites and sleepers for each Power Five conference, but what about the teams that will fall short of expectations?
Big Ten – Ohio State and Michigan are set to battle for the Big Ten East title, right? But where does that leave Michigan State and Penn State? I think the Spartans will fail to meet expectations. I like the defense, but I'm not very confident in Brian Lewerke and the offense. Wisconsin would be another one to watch here as the Badgers have a great running game but the passing game could be awful.
SEC — I’m going with LSU here despite the roster talent because I think Georgia cruises in the East and Florida is clearly the next-best team over there despite a rough opener. But in the West I have Texas A&M giving Alabama the toughest run, with the Tigers falling short of the expected 10 wins.
ACC – Wow, this conference is ugly. It’s Clemson and everyone else. I think Miami is going to be the biggest disappointment. The Hurricanes were a popular pick to win the Coastal but, after what I saw from the offensive line in the opener against Florida, I doubt that happens. I think that line could kill their season the way the offensive line set Florida State back last year. I don’t see a losing record, but I think someone else will win the division.
Pac-12 – USC is the easy choice here despite the roster talent because I think the team will fold if adversity sets in and Clay Helton rumors begin to get stronger. Based on talent alone USC should win its division and likely the conference overall, but I think this team plays down to others and doesn’t rise to the occasion.
Big 12 – This is a tough one because I think it comes down to Oklahoma and Texas for the Big 12 title and I picked Iowa State as my sleeper, so who does that leave as a potential disappointment? I’ll go with TCU here although I think the Horned Frogs will be okay. But will they finish fourth as predicted? Not sure.
2. THESE PROGRAMS CAN CONTEND FOR A NATIONAL TITLE
As I was looking at the 2020 team rankings I began to wonder what programs, outside of regulars Alabama and Clemson, have been recruiting well enough recently to make a run at the national title in the future.
Georgia – Kirby Smart has been recruiting at an elite level since he arrived in Athens and the Bulldogs' roster talent is off the charts. This could be the year they break through and win it all, but if not this year it could be soon. The only problem? That pesky Alabama team. The Crimson Tide is the reason LSU doesn’t crack this list.
Texas – Tom Herman has it cranking on the recruiting trail and I think the Longhorns are just starting to own the state while spot recruiting elsewhere. Oklahoma is the team to beat this year in the Big 12 and the Sooners have made a couple runs at the national title, but Texas is next up.
Ohio State – Ryan Day can recruit and Urban Meyer left plenty of talent on the roster so the Buckeyes should make a run with in the next couple of years with Justin Fields. If they continue to own Michigan they will always be a playoff contender.
Michigan – This is the year, right? Jim Harbaugh needs to beat Ohio State and get to the playoff or the critics will get louder. Luckily for Harbaugh, he has the roster talent to do just that thanks to great recruiting. And Michigan continues to load up.
Notre Dame – The Irish have more academic restrictions than anyone on this list, yet Brian Kelly continues to recruit at an elite level and build talented roster after roster. Yes, there was a blip a couple years ago but last year showed that Notre Dame has staying power as a contender.
3. THE MOST DYNAMIC PLAYMAKERS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Here are the 10 most dynamic playmakers in college football entering the 2019 season.
WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama – The clear choice, at least to me, for No. 1 on this list. Jeudy can score from anywhere and will be hard for anyone to check.
RB Travis Etienne, Clemson – Not every running back can make this list but Etienne, with his speed, slashing ability and pass catching skills, is one of the most dangerous players in the country.
WR Rondale Moore, Purdue – Moore can be used so many ways in the Purdue offense that I think we just got a large spoonful last year. This year we could get the whole bowl.
S Grant Delpit, LSU – One of only two defensive players to make my list, Delpit is around the football all the time and has some of that Honey Badger in him.
WR Justyn Ross, Clemson – Ross was fabulous as a freshman and should be even better this year. It was honestly hard to pick between him and Etienne from Clemson.
WR Laviska Shenault, Colorado – He doesn’t get the attention of others but this kid is as dynamic as they come and will be the most dangerous player in the Pac-12 once again.
RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia – I think this will be a breakout year for Swift who can do damage in the run game but also is dangerous in the passing game. He’s the SEC’s version of Etienne, just a little thicker but not as fast.
WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State – The Cowboys don’t get as much attention as other programs in the Big 12 but this kid is ready to put up monster numbers like some of the receivers before him.
WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma – I am a huge fan of Lamb and the only reason he’s this low is that I don’t know how much Jalen Hurts has developed as a passer. If Kyler Murray was back, Lamb would be in the top five.
S Caden Sterns, Texas – Like Delpit, Sterns is always around the ball and while he’s not quite as athletic or rangy he’s a bigger hitter and does more near the line of scrimmage.
