Truth or Fiction: Billy Napier can flip issues round at Florida
Rivals nationwide recruiting director Adam Gorney and nationwide recruiting analysts Adam Friedman and Sam Spiegelman together with Jason Higdon of 1stAndTenFlorida.com deal with three subjects and decide whether or not they imagine every assertion is FACT or FICTION.
1. Dabo Swinney actually does want to vary and use the portal extra.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. An injection of switch portal couldn’t harm and I disagree with coach Dabo Swinney that many of the gamers that went within the portal couldn’t play for Clemson (particularly the highest group of prospects) however the Tigers program is as a lot a few sure tradition than any in this system. Georgia depends closely on highschool recruiting and improvement to construct a nationwide energy. Others do the identical. One of many actual points is that D.J. Uiagalelei was not so good as anticipated and Cade Klubnik has not been a blockbuster but, both. In the event you don’t have an elite quarterback, you’re going to have points. Swinney must be extra open to taking items by way of the portal however he doesn’t want to vary his profitable methods as a result of Georgia slapped them. Georgia crushes nearly all people.
Spiegelman’s take: FACT. Dabo Swinney has continued to attempt to maintain Clemson success by way of merely highschool recruiting, which in 2024 is antiquated. The groups vying for spots within the faculty soccer playoff are being assembled, not solely by way of highschool recruiting however by way of the switch portal, which like an NFL entrance workplace permits groups to have instant influence gamers in addition to touted prospects that they’ll develop by way of their system. if Clemson was profitable marquee video games just like the one towards Georgia final weekend or recruiting at such a excessive clip that they’d a roster filled with immediate influence gamers, then Swinney‘s strategies may yield totally different. Clemson isn’t recruiting at that very same clip and the dearth of roster meeting by way of the portal is changing into evident .
2. Billy Napier can save this at Florida regardless of some immense stress.
Gorney’s take: FACT. It’s going to be very powerful however it may be completed as a result of my guess is that Miami goes to be a lot better than anticipated this season – a playoff run could be very a lot inside attain – and Florida simply ran right into a buzzsaw within the season opener. The tough half particularly in Gainesville is that the fan base is perhaps turning on Billy Napier and it’s practically inconceivable to come back again from that.
And the schedule is simply homicide. The following month is hard sufficient however I’m eyeing that November stretch the place the Gators need to play Georgia, Texas, LSU and Ole Miss in four-straight weeks. That may simply be the stretch that actually ends the Napier period in Florida or it might be a month the place Florida exhibits lots of promise and progress since he’s clearly a sensible coach with a plan nevertheless it’s been sluggish to soak up Gainesville to this point.
Higdon’s take: FACT. Billy Napier and the Gators have 11 video games remaining on the 2024 schedule. The Gators should win six out of the remaining 11 video games to complete no worse than 6-6 on the season. Something lower than that, and also you may see a change in Gainesville.
3. It is early however the 2024 WR class is proving to be one of the best in Rivals historical past.
Gorney’s take: FACT. There have been different elite large receiver courses in Rivals historical past however they’re solely bolstered as a result of we all know lots of their names as a few of the finest receivers within the NFL. The gamers on this 2024 class will comply with go well with and go even past lots of their successes.
Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is off to an outstanding begin with two landing catches in his first faculty sport. I’ve mentioned quite a few instances he’s one of the best highschool receiver since Julio Jones. Alabama’s Ryan Williams had two catches within the Crimson Tide’s season opener, each for touchdowns and he averaged practically 70 yards per catch. Auburn’s Cam Coleman had a robust begin with a landing catch. Teammate Perry Thompson additionally had a landing and Texas loves Ryan Wingo, who led the workforce in receiving yards within the season opener.
Certain, there are various different large courses however we haven’t even talked about Micah Hudson, Mike Matthews and so many others within the 2024 class. For my cash, it should find yourself as one of the best receiver class in Rivals historical past relationship again to 2002.
Friedman’s take: FICTION. There’s little doubt the 2024 receiver class was particular however don’t overlook about a few of the different teams of receivers from the previous. Different courses of receivers to think about right here embody 2022 (Luther Burden, Tetairoa McMillan, Evan Stewart and Isaiah Bond), 2017 (Jerry Jeudy, Tee Higgins, Ceedee Lamb, Devonta Smith and Henry Ruggs), and 2011 (Jarvis Landry, Sammy Watkins, Odell Beckham Jr. and Kelvin Benjamin). After all, the gold commonplace for receivers is the 2008 class with future Corridor-of-Famers Julio Jones and A.J. Inexperienced on the high of the listing.
There’s little doubt the 2024 class of receivers have been elite. Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams, Cam Coleman, Micah Hudson, Mike Matthews, Jeremiah McClellan, Perry Thompson, Mylan Graham, Terrance Moore, Cam Williams, Ryan Wingo, and others have already got or are anticipated to make an influence sooner or later this season. With this type of depth and expertise, the 2024 receiver class is monitoring to be one of the best in Rivals historical past however they haven’t confirmed it simply but.
