Three-point stance: UA observations, teams making waves, Baker Mayfield

More: UA Day One - Stock Up, Stock Down | Prospect comparisons

** I love Gators commitment Chauncey Gardner’s instincts as a cornerback. He is a natural at times reading the play.

** USC quarterback commitment Matt Fink looked way, way over his head on day one. This could be a disastrous week for him.

** I wanted defensive end Antonneous Clayton to be a bit bigger and longer when I first saw him Monday, but he’s athletic as heck and another Gators commitment that could be a star.

** DT Shavar Manuel looks like he’s dropped about 30 pounds since I saw him earlier in the season and it has helped a lot. He still may not be a five-star like he was, but he’s much quicker now.

** Houston commitment Ed Oliver has the quickest first step of anyone on day one at least to me, but he’s not a big inside guy, more of a ‘tweener.

** This is my first time seeing Notre Dame commitment Liam Eichenberg in person and I was impressed. I think he’s a very good right tackle down the line based on first impression.

** Vols commit Jarrett Guarantano was the best quarterback on day one when it comes to arm strength, release, ability to move and decision-making. He has a really good arm and plenty of room to fill out.

** Michigan running back commitment Kareem Walker fumbled on day one, an issue that has been concerning me for a bit.

** Offensive tackle Willie Allen is super awkward out of his stance in pass protection and fellow tackles E.J. Price and Jean Delance were also beaten soundly all day. Team Armour’s tackles don’t look ready at all.

** DT Rashan Gary showed his motor and power all day long, living up to the No. 1 tag early.

** Most of the corners here are small, so it will be interesting to see if they can handle the bigger receivers during the week, in the game and most importantly, in college. Auburn, LSU and FSU all have committed corners with a bunch of talent, but don’t appear to have much more room to grow. Nigel Knott’s size is a concern as well.

** If there is one player from day one I can say was the biggest surprise and could be a kid we’re talking about as a star in a few years, it’s LSU defensive end commit Andre Anthony. He’s fast, long and has room to grow.

On registration day, I interviewed dozens of players, as did the entire Rivals staff and one thing struck us all. Two teams, certainly not powerhouse programs and teams coming off horrendous seasons with new coaches, seemed to be on the mind of a ton of recruits. That’s good news for South Carolina and Maryland fans.

We all know Will Muschamp can recruit, as can Travaris Robinson. We saw that at Florida and at Auburn last year, but I didn’t know how deep their ties went into Florida until Monday’s registration. I don’t think they will get a lot of these guys that are suddenly taking a look at them like Sam Bruce, Nate Craig-Myers, Jayvaugh Myers, Elijah Stove and Riley Ridley, but the fact that they are suddenly mentioning the Gamecocks because of the way these two guys have recruited them over the years, sometimes since before high school, speaks volumes about the relationships they cultivated. I think this is a good sign that the Gamecocks will be a presence in the Sunshine State moving forward, something they didn’t do well under Steve Spurrier.

As for the Terps new head coach D.J. Durkin, most of the top kids in the DMV are now considering Maryland again and a few outside that area as well (Craig-Myers). Even with the loss of local recruiter Mike Locksley, Maryland will be just fine with new hire Azaar Abdul-Rahim, who was a head coach in DC but also made great connections down in the Southeast.

The path to victory may be quicker for the Gamecocks in the SEC East, but look for Maryland to keep a lot more kids at home at least for a couple of years until they are forced to show they can win in the Big Ten East.

Just when I was really warming up to Baker Mayfield as the fiery leader of the Sooners, he took it a bit too far. Yes, we get it that you were under-recruited as a high school player and yes we understand that the chip on your shoulder is largely because of being disrespected. But do you have to use the national stage of the College Football Playoff to call out TCU for allegedly stringing you along during your recruitment a few years back? Sorry Baker, but that happens all the time, it’s a business and it happens.

If, as you say, you put all your eggs in the TCU basket because you thought they were going to offer you, then that’s on you. Deal with it. It’s a massive mistake for any recruit to put all their hopes on one school and to call out TCU at this stage is something he could have avoided.

And for Gary Patterson to fall into the debate and call out Mayfield’s father as being arrogant is also ridiculous. The bottom line in recruiting is that sometimes when things don’t work out, that’s the best thing that could happen. If Mayfield had been given a scholarship at TCU, he could very well be sitting on the bench or have transferred someplace less desirable than Oklahoma, where now he has a chance to win a title and stuff it in everyone’s face the right way –- by his play on the field.