Rivals nationwide recruiting analyst Adam Friedman is joined by nationwide recruiting director Adam Gorney, Richie O’Leary of HappyValleyInsider.com and nationwide recruiting analyst Greg Smith to deal with three matters and decide whether or not they imagine every assertion is FACT or FICTION.
1.
If we rated the 2025 class just like the NCAA Soccer online game, greater than half the present five-stars would get a 99 ranking.
Friedman: FACT. There are some absolute dudes within the 2025 class with a five-star ranking already and at the very least half of them would get a 99 ranking from me in the event that they had been rated just like the online game. The highest two quarterbacks, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, and at the very least three of the talent place five-stars could be deserving of that lofty ranking proper now. The opposite five-stars are only a hair behind them in my ebook. Any participant who dominates on the sphere and has an extremely excessive ceiling would get a 99 ranking from me and at the very least half of the present five-stars within the 2025 class match that description.
Gorney: FICTION. There are a lot of respectable five-stars within the 2025 class however after concerning the high 10 or high 11 plenty of arguments may very well be made for different gamers getting bumped up into five-star standing and, fairly actually, some others being slotted right down to four-stars. If a 99 ranking is a sure-fire elite participant who’s unstoppable and separates himself from the pack in distinctive methods, I am undecided I see that with the highest group within the 2025 class – but.
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2. Allegations that James Franklin interfered in group medical selections will harm Penn State’s recruiting efforts.
Friedman: FICTION. James Franklin and the Nittany Lions have come beneath hearth but once more because of testimony from a former physician employed by the college. The lawsuit is not instantly geared toward Franklin however the particulars name into query a few of his actions. It actually does not paint Franklin in one of the best gentle however it will be surprising to see any impression on their recruiting efforts transferring ahead. With many essential visits set to happen over the following few weeks, Franklin could need to reply a couple of questions from dad and mom however the sturdy relationships the employees has already constructed with their high targets ought to be capable of overcome any doubts that this latest information could have introduced up.
O’Leary: FICTION. That is simply the identical lawsuit that has been occurring for years and continues to perform actually nothing. The lawsuit stems from former Penn State Director of Athletic Medication, Dr. Scott Lynch who’s claiming he was wrongfully terminated by the college. Nonetheless each James Franklin and PSU Athletics have already been dropped from the lawsuit. To not point out the most recent a part of the lawsuit was blaming Penn State for ankle taping over the Nike brand on gamers cleats, which is borderline insane.
Regardless, I don’t see this effecting the Nittany Lions in any respect on the recruiting path as they proceed to be in it with a number of extremely ranked youngsters and at present boast the No. 8 general recruiting class with a number of different high targets nonetheless on the board. Search for Penn State to shut on a few of these high targets over the following few weeks as they’ve 4 jam-packed official go to weekends arising.
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3. Immanuel Iheanacho will find yourself the top-ranked offensive lineman within the 2026 Rivals250.
Friedman: FICTION. Seeing Immanuel Iheanacho this previous weekend was enlightening after learning his movie from this previous season. The huge offensive lineman has but to essentially work on position-specific approach coaching so it’s onerous to undertaking what his sport will appear to be transferring ahead. That being stated, his efficiency this previous weekend was actually excellent and he will probably be an enormous riser within the subsequent rankings replace.
Might he be the No. 1 offensive lineman within the Rivals250? It’s onerous to essentially say however I lean in the direction of no proper now. That might change primarily based on the technical enchancment Iheanacho exhibits going ahead however his physique kind factors in the direction of him finally taking part in proper deal with or transferring to protect in school or the NFL. Typically, top-ranked offensive linemen have elite move blocking skills and undertaking as left tackles on the subsequent degree and past. Proper now, Jackson Cantwell, Keenyi Pepe, and others match that description higher than Iheanacho.
Smith: FICTION. That is going to be a query that rages on all through the recruiting cycle. Each are tremendous prospects on the offensive line. Iheanacho actually seems to be the half standing at 6-foot-7, 340 kilos. Seeing him on movie and in photographs it is onerous to imagine he weighs that a lot as a result of he carries it so effectively. He additionally strikes effectively and is simply scratching the floor of his potential.
Nonetheless, I imagine that Nixa (Mo.) Excessive five-star Jackson Cantwell will maintain on to the spot. We don’t see Cantwell as a lot through the camp season as a result of he’s centered on observe and he doesn’t play nice competitors throughout soccer season. So earlier than he graduates highschool it’d be nice to see him towards elite soccer competitors.
However he’s an explosive athlete that has put up large numbers in shot throughout his observe season. He set a sophomore nationwide report in shot by two toes this month. Cantwell has all of the instruments essential to sooner or later be a excessive NFL Draft choice.
That is doubtless not the final time we’ve got this dialogue.
