Three-Point Stance: Ranking recent commits, A&M, SEC QBs

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell’s thought-provoking Three-Point Stance is here as he ranks the recent commitments, discusses Texas A&M not slowing down after its AD’s comments and rates the potential of the SEC quarterbacks from top to bottom.

Farrell Three-Point Stance: June 1 | May 30

With so many big recent commitments, it’s time once again to rank their importance on a national scale from my 10,000-foot view. We start it off with yet another Ohio State commitment, who was leaning to another program forever.

I’ll go back as far as last Monday:

1. LB Teradja Mitchell, Ohio State – Why is this No. 1? Mitchell was a long-time lean to Florida State and Urban Meyer pulled him away. That’s what Meyer tends to do.

2. DB BJ Foster, Texas – The biggest commitment yet under Tom Herman? You could certainly make the case for Foster, who will help the defense immediately upon arrival.

3. QB Grant Gunnell, Texas A&M (2019) – How can a 2019 be so high? Simply because it’s a highly coveted in-state quarterback and we all know that QBs make the world go around. Lots of schools wanted this kid.

4. DE Max Wright, Texas A&M – A non-stop motor and powerful edge rusher who can play the run is much needed for the Aggies and Wright is a potential defensive leader.

5. QB Justin Rogers, TCU – A great get for Gary Patterson here as Rogers could be special and light up Big 12 defenses after some development.

6. DB Leon O’Neal, Texas A&M – Another key defensive piece for the Aggies, O’Neal is rangy, likes to hit and is an elite safety.

7. OL Warren Ericson, Georgia – UGA may be struggling in recruiting early for 2018 but the need at offensive line remains and this is an important in-state get.

8. WR Tre Turner, Virginia Tech – Turner added to Darryle Simmons is a huge deal for the Hokies, who are attracting top wide receivers more under Justin Fuente than they did in the last many years under Frank Beamer.

9. ATH Amari Burney, Florida – The Gators need in-state recruiting wins and this is a big one. Defense is his best bet to be successful and you know the Gators will develop him on that side of the ball.

10. DB DeMarvion Overshown, Texas – A big hitter and high-rising prospect, Overshown will be a fan favorite the moment he hits the field. This kid covers a ton of ground and with Foster and Caden Sterns, this defensive backfield group is impressive.

11. LB Andrew Charfield, Ohio State – Not quite as big a deal as Mitchell but not far off and another huge recruiting win for Meyer in Florida.

12. WR Maurice Goolsby, Florida (2019) – A huge skill position grab for 2019, this would be higher if it wasn’t such a big week.

13. LB Ayodele Adeoye, Texas – Why so low on this list? Let’s just say it was a big week but this is a key linebacker commitment for the Longhorns as Adeoye is raw but has the size and length to cover a ton of ground.

14. RB Keontay Ingram, Texas – The Longhorns hit this list for a fourth time and Ingram is only last because he was expected to commit to Texas for a long time.

15. QB Tanner Mordecai, Oklahoma – The Sooners get their quarterback after losing Cameron Rising a bit ago to Texas. Which signal-caller will have the better career? It should be fun to watch.

16. DB Judson Tallandier, Pitt – His teammate, John Morgan, may be rated higher in the state and offensive lineman Jake Kradel may be ranked higher at his position, but the fit of Tallandier as an aggressive press corner with length is bigger for Pitt.

17. DB Sean Michael Flanagan, Arkansas – A key get in-state and a big kid who can cover and also thump, Arkansas is thrilled to land him.

18. CB Michael Dowell, Michigan State – Michigan State produces defensive backs and Dowell could be the next great one.

So much for Texas A&M athletic director Scott Woodard’s comments about the job security of Kevin Sumlin affecting recruiting, huh? Just a few days after the story went national and Woodard said that Sumlin “knows he has to win and he has to win this year,” the Aggies landed two of the top five commitments of the week (see above) in defensive end Max Wright and defensive back Leon O’Neal. And now, just a few days later, they added elite 2019 quarterback Grant Gunnell and 2019 WR Chase Lane. Was this orchestrated by the staff to make the timing absolutely perfect to counter-act any initial negative recruiting coming off the comments?

Perhaps, perhaps not – and don’t think that the timing of commitments isn’t orchestrated in college football – but it sent a message regardless. It shows that Sumlin will continue to recruit at a high level and the fact that the first commitments were two key defensive players can’t be lost in the shuffle. The defense has, by and large, been much of the problem under Sumlin at A&M, especially the depth, and this small 2018 class is now much more balanced.

Woodard’s comments became major news because it’s a slow time for college football and honesty and truthfulness regarding a standing head coach’s job security is rare, but Sumlin’s response with a slew of impressive commitments should get equal coverage correct? Well at least it will from me.

Last week, I mentioned how much potential there is in the SEC at quarterback, but much of it is just that – potential. So I was asked a few times which quarterbacks have the most potential when it comes to a combination of college and pro success. Here they are, Nos. 1-14.

1. Jacob Eason, Georgia – With great size and arm strength, Eason just needs to add touch and scouts will be drooling.

2. Jarrett Stidham, Auburn – He showed flashes at Baylor, has size and is smooth as silk so he could be a home run.

3. Shea Patterson, Ole Miss – He’s going to be a star; his lack of great size is the only thing putting him behind Eason and Stidham.

4. Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State – Scouts are very intrigued with him and he should improve this season from a good year.

5. Kellen Mond, Texas A&M – He hasn’t played a down of college football or won the job, but Mond has home run potential despite expected struggles through his first couple of years.

6. Jake Bentley, South Carolina – He’s smart, reads defenses well and has the physical skills to be a very good one.

7. Jarrett Guarantano, Tennessee – He might not even win the job, but with his run/pass ability and toughness, he can be special.

8. Feleipe Franks, Florida – Malik Zaire will likely win the job and right now all Franks has is a huge arm, but what about in a couple of years? High ceiling, low floor.

9. Austin Allen, Arkansas – He does a lot of things well but doesn’t wow you with anything. Crazy he’s behind Mond and Franks? Not when it comes to long-term NFL potential.

10. Drew Lock, Missouri – I liked Lock a lot as he took his lumps early and he improved last season, but his ceiling appears to be limited.

11. Jalen Hurts, Alabama – This is where the pro portion of things kills a guy like Hurts. He’s a dynamic college talent and might have to play another position at the next level unless he improves his downfield accuracy greatly.

12. Kyle Shurmur, Vanderbilt – NFL bloodlines but he hasn’t shown me much when it comes to becoming an elite college or pro player.

13. Danny Etling, LSU – A game manager at best unless I’m missing something.

14. Stephen Johnson, Kentucky – Someone has to be last and Johnson’s accuracy issues don’t have him on many NFL radars.