In at this time’s Three-Level Stance, nationwide recruiting director Adam Gorney has ideas on Deion Sanders’ current feedback, five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola’s recruitment and whether or not Georgia is already a top-three state for soccer expertise.
*****
MORE THREE-POINT STANCE: OL in Texas, RBs in Louisiana, DBs in Central Texas
TRANSFER PORTAL: Newest information | Switch portal participant rating | Switch portal crew rating | Switch Tracker | Message board | Crew rating FAQs
CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Crew | Place | State
CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Crew | Place | State
CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals100
*****
1. Sanders’ feedback are misguided
Colorado coach Deion Sanders’ feedback to Wealthy Eisen on the Tremendous Bowl had been so laughably misguided that it’s arduous to consider if he was really critical when he made them.
For quarterbacks, Sanders stated, he’s in search of “mom, father, you understand, twin dad and mom.”
Alabama quarterback Bryce Younger comes from a two-parent house, a number of the nicest individuals you’ll ever meet. The previous five-star might be the highest QB taken within the NFL Draft.
However Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud didn’t have the identical expertise rising up – as has been documented within the pre-draft course of – and he might be the No. 1 QB off the board. Based mostly on Sanders’ unusual strategy to quarterbacks, would the Buffaloes go on Stroud due to his circumstances?
4 out of 10 marriages finish in divorce, so is the Colorado coach mainly saying that 4 out of each 10 QBs are mechanically off the board?
Malachi Coleman went via reported abuse within the foster care system after which he was ultimately adopted by his household.
Would this be a state of affairs the place Sanders would go? As a result of the Colorado coach was doing every thing doable to get him to signal with the Buffaloes within the 2023 class earlier than the excessive four-star ultimately went again to Nebraska.
I actually hope Sanders was simply half-jokingly capturing the bull with Eisen throughout a Tremendous Bowl interview. His feedback had been nonetheless past perception. Not solely had been they the epitome of why the eye-roll emoji was created on the iPhone, they’re additionally not going to do him any favors in recruiting.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH COLORADO FANS AT CUSPORTSREPORT.COM
*****
2. Raiola retains us guessing
The recruitment of five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola continues to remain fascinating after it regarded like a ho-hum deal that he dedicated to Ohio State early.
The Phoenix Pinnacle quarterback, who’s at present No. 1 within the 2024 class, was dedicated to the Buckeyes from Might via mid-December. It regarded like the right state of affairs as Raiola would step right into a pass-friendly offense for among the finest groups within the nation with huge receivers galore.
After backing off his pledge in December, Raiola regarded destined for Georgia. One high-profile receiver within the class advised me over the vacations that the phrase was that the Bulldogs had been going to finish up with him within the class, that he wished to play in Athens.
Whereas that would nonetheless be very a lot in play, and Raiola is anticipated to go to Georgia in March, USC and Nebraska proceed to be very critical contenders for his providers.
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule and his whole employees lately stopped by Raiola’s old-fashioned, clearly in an try and recruit him. His uncle is on employees. His father performed there. The concept of turning round probably the most historic packages in America must be interesting.
USC is correct there as effectively, particularly after a current day-long assembly with coach Lincoln Riley as the 2 hit it off. The thoughts of Riley, paired with the uncooked talent and bodily potential of Raiola might be scary, and it’s very intriguing to the five-star quarterback.
The place does No. 1 find yourself? Nobody is bound at this level.
*****
3. Is Georgia now a top-three state for expertise?
The outdated thought has been that Florida, Texas and California had been the three superpowers in recruiting, three states with large populations and elite highschool soccer expertise that prime groups ought to recruit each single yr.
That just about stays the case, however now Georgia might completely make the case that it needs to be included in that prime three. Which state will get kicked out? Onerous to say, however the numbers are pointing to Georgia getting a lot richer and California staying elite on the prime however the depth slipping in recent times.
Within the 2023 Rivals250, 42 gamers every had been from Florida and Texas, Georgia had 22 and California simply 18. Different years these numbers have been flip-flopped, however the state of Georgia is getting into the image greater than earlier than – and with prime gamers.
Already in 2024, there are 4 five-stars in Florida and Georgia every, and solely two every in California and Texas.
Arguably, the top-two NFL quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts, are each from Texas. Two of the largest up-and-comers, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields, are from Georgia.
That’s to not say California can not make an argument. Bryce Younger and CJ Stroud are from California. Brock Bowers, arguably the perfect tight finish in faculty soccer, is from Northern California. Tennessee got here to California for five-star QB Nico Iamaleava, and Georgia got here to the Golden State for four-star RB Roderick Robinson II.
It’s an fascinating debate, however no less than an argument can now be made that Georgia is changing into one of many large three. In spite of everything, the doable No. 1 total choose within the NFL Draft is five-star defensive finish Will Anderson, the pleasure of Hampton (Ga.) Dutchtown.
