Three-Level Stance: Signing Day, high lessons, sneaky Syracuse
Rivals nationwide recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. has ideas on Nationwide Signing Day, how high uncommitted prospects may affect the recruiting group rankings and a Syracuse group that is having a sneaky good season.
1. SIGNING DAY IS ABOUT TO BE A MOVIE
Do not look now, however the de facto Nationwide Signing Day is developing proper across the nook. Whereas the primary day of the Early Signing Interval is all the time a busy one with commitments, confirmations of high prospects and naturally the flip recreation, it would really feel extra frantic than ordinary this 12 months. We’re starting to count on extra chaos than ordinary on this entrance due to the timeline.
Signing Day is Dec. 4, as early as it has been in years, and naturally that is the primary 12 months of the expanded Faculty Soccer Playoff. It means extra groups will likely be enjoying deeper into the winter, subsequently probably spending much less time on the highway and or recruiting come December. The weekend prior, the final likelihood to see prospects on campus in particular person, is just not solely a vacation weekend (Thanksgiving) however it’s rivalry weekend. The next Monday was the day most failing coaches obtained phrase that they had been headed out the door. Ought to that occur, think about prospects making an attempt to signal with a program simply two days later?
Throw within the switch portal, the standard NIL-led surprises and the standard change-of-heart components and we may very well be set for a present on the primary Wednesday in December.
2. SOUTHERN RECRUITS TO DECIDE TOP CLASS?
Piggy-backing off of the preliminary subject, there might nonetheless be loads of shakeup atop the Rivals recruiting group rankings. At one level, the highest class appeared like a foregone conclusion with Ohio State operating away with issues. The Buckeyes nonetheless maintain the highest spot by a substantial margin, however a number of of their high commitments have taken journeys elsewhere of late from five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord to blue-chip go rusher London Merritt. Linebackers Riley Pettijohn and Tarvos Alford stay extraordinarily coveted by others, too, so the house stretch for these out-of-state and out-of-region recruits might change into storylines that stick.
Ought to there be a departure or two from the stacked dedication listing, the door would certainly really feel open come December. The applications ranked behind the Buckeyes, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Auburn, Texas, Oklahoma and Miami are all within the combine for among the finest nonetheless out there corresponding to five-stars Jahkeem Stewart, Justus Terry, Javion Hilson and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng. The choices from these prospects may very well be sufficient to sway the highest of the group rankings.
3. SNEAKY SYRACUSE AND REMEMBER-ME QB
The ACC has been on the butt of low-hanging fruit jokes for years, particularly since Clemson‘s run atop the game got here to an finish, however the 2024 season has been a pleasing shock on Saturdays. Miami and Pitt are undefeated, Clemson has bounced again from the Georgia loss in a giant manner, newcomer SMU is ranked and the remainder of the league has loads of motive for optimism.
Even Syracuse, below first-year head coach Fran Brown, has an opportunity to see a rating subsequent to its identify with a win over the Panthers on Thursday night.
Sneaking below the radar alongside along with his group, switch quarterback Kyle McCord deserves his personal due. He’s approaching his landing numbers (19 passing, one speeding) from your complete 2023 season with a — let’s be sincere — a lot much less proficient group of targets to function with in comparison with the one he left at Ohio State. The Orange offensive momentum ought to proceed, too. It’s about to face a protection that hasn’t proven nicely in opposition to the go, with the Panthers ranked outdoors of the highest 100 in yards in passing yards allowed per recreation.
