Fact Or Fiction: USC In The Big Ten, Purdue, Tony Alford And Michigan
Rivals nationwide recruiting analyst Greg Smith is joined by nationwide recruiting director Adam Gorney, BoilerUpload.com‘s Dub Jellison and Maize&BlueReview.com‘s Josh Henscheke to sort out three subjects and decide whether or not they imagine every assertion is FACT or FICTION.
1.
USC is now the West Coast staff greatest positioned to enter the Huge Ten?
Gorney: FICTION. The staff greatest positioned from the Pac-12 getting into the Huge Ten is Oregon as a result of the Geese are essentially the most proficient staff of the 4, they have been one of the best recruiters for a handful of years and whereas there can be some main turnover, Oregon nonetheless has a ton of expertise coming again.
What the Geese even have is the climate issue. They play within the Pacific Northwest so chilly climate, rain and wind is nothing new to the gamers or sport preparation. USC would possibly find yourself being essentially the most profitable over time however going into 12 months 1, the Geese are essentially the most ready.
Smith: FICTION. USC has closed the hole on the notion right here however it’s not the chief. The Trojans had March touchdown verbal commitments from 4 gamers all on the defensive aspect of the ball, together with five-star defensive lineman Justus Terry who is without doubt one of the greatest gamers within the nation. Getting a pledge from Hylton Stubbs, who could be an final chess piece within the Trojans’ protection shouldn’t be missed both.
Nonetheless, these are simply verbal commitments proper now. The Trojans are taking the suitable steps in really making an attempt to solidify the trenches heading into the Huge Ten. However this system continues to be behind Dan Lanning’s Oregon Geese on this key class. The Geese are nonetheless one of the best positioned staff out West to make noise within the Huge Ten.
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2.
In-state success for Purdue this cycle will make or break Ryan Walters?
Jellison: FICTION. The primary time Ryan Walters spoke as Purdue’s head coach, he stated the Boilermakers wished to construct a fence round Indiana. Whereas that hasn’t essentially occurred with a number of the prime in-state prospects going elsewhere, it didn’t deter Walters from netting Purdue’s greatest class since 2019.
Walters and his employees have already laid the inspiration for sturdy pipelines to different states, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio and Illinois, particularly. These 4 states, together with Indiana, made up 16 of Purdue’s commitments between 2024 and 2025. They’re additionally the house to all 4 of the Boilers’ four-star pledges.
Indiana’s 2025 class is loaded with the likes of Eugene Hilton Jr., Mason Alexander, Mariyon Dye and extra within the Boilermakers’ sights. Purdue continues to be going to stay a powerful participant for many Indiana prospects, however the employees’s skill to maintain pipelines elsewhere could have a better affect.
Smith: FACT. It sounds a bit loopy to be speaking about “make or break” for a coach getting into 12 months 2 at a program nevertheless it would possibly apply right here. Walters got here right into a scenario at Purdue the place it was accepted that it’ll take a while to rebuild this system. He’s (rightfully) received some runway earlier than worrying in any respect about his job.
However we nonetheless would possibly look again at how profitable Walters was on this cycle with the in-state expertise as a catalyst for his success or failure. Each coach hopes to return right into a scenario the place in-state expertise is robust sufficient to spice up this system. There are six four-star prospects within the state for 2025. All are undecided proper now. What number of can Walters land? There are some high quality three-star prospects within the state, too.
We’ll know quite a bit about Walters’ early recruiting operation after this cycle.
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3.
We’re already seeing Tony Alford make a big effect on Michigan recruiting.
Henscheke: FACT. Michigan was caught in a clumsy transition of Jim Harbaugh’s departure to Sherrone Moore taking up, plus having to navigate Mike Hart’s absence from this system. So that you’re seeing an affect by Tony Alford virtually by default within the recruiting sphere. A variety of recruits felt like Michigan was not and all it wanted was a sit-down with Alford to make issues proper. You hear glowing studies from recruits about Alford as a coach which, in flip, ought to assist Michigan in the long term. After all, everybody needs to see outcomes and never simply completely happy emotions, which I feel will present quickly sufficient.
Smith: FACT. This was a tough scenario for brand new coach Sherrone Moore to navigate. First off, I’d say he dealt with it very properly given the behind the scenes points that may come up with a reputation of Mike Hart’s stature departing this system. Moore needed to nail this rent and it seems he did.
We’re already seeing gamers contemplate Michigan extra now that weren’t earlier than. Ohio four-star working again Bo Jackson instructed me this week that Alford is an enormous a part of his elevated curiosity in Michigan. 5-star working again Jordon Davison is making a multi-day journey to Michigan this week due to his relationship with Alford.
If these two are an indication of issues to return, followers in Ann Arbor can be very completely happy about this rent long-term.