Truth or Fiction: Naeshaun Montgomery would give Florida high receiver class
Rivals nationwide recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. is joined by rankings director Adam Friedman, Marcus Benjamin of CanesCounty.com and 1stAndTenFlorida.com‘s Jason Higdon to sort out three matters and decide whether or not they consider every assertion is FACT or FICTION.
MORE FACT OR FICTION: Auburn has one of the best defensive again class in 2025
1. IMG Academy has one of the best offensive line in highschool soccer.
Friedman: FACT. Give me the size and talent set of the IMG Academy offensive line on this battle. As prospects, it’s arduous to get any higher than what IMG is placing on the sector this 12 months. Keenyi Pepe is a borderline five-star sort out and his finest soccer is actually forward of him. Alabama commit Michael Carroll is enhancing every time we see him and his versatility must be extremely helpful as his profession progresses. The mixture of Breck Kolojay, Mitchell Smith, Kayden Strayhorn and G’Nivre Carr ought to make IMG’s offensive line probably the most strong group within the nation proper now.
Garcia: FICTION. Let’s roll with Bishop Gorman right here. Not solely does the storied program carry the star-power with five-star Douglas Utu, who stands 6-foot-6, 300 kilos, it has one other sort out with immense measurement in Alema Iosua at 6-foot-7, 292 kilos. In fact anchoring the center is the nation’s top-ranked middle in SJ Alofaituli, together with Oregon dedication Alai Kalaniuvalu and Hawaii dedication KJ Hallums amongst these rounding out the group. It will probably cope with IMG’s finest on the prospect entrance, however the distinction is chemistry and cohesion. A lot of the Gorman linemen have labored collectively already, some for a number of seasons, which is ever essential up entrance. Comparable measurement, but extra streamlined than IMG, Gorman has one of the best group in America.
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2. Miami has one of the best secondary haul within the class of 2025.
Benjamin: FACT. Underneath two cycles underneath head coach Mario Cristobal, there was a transparent emphasis on constructing the roster from the trenches with recruiting. Miami added 5 offensive linemen (together with five-stars Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola) with the 2023 class and flipped to the defensive aspect of the road in 2024, including eight defensive linemen (together with five-stars Justin Scott, Marquise Lightfoot and Armondo Blount).
On this 2025 cycle, the main focus has appeared to shift to defensive backs. Miami has six defensive backs dedicated, all the blue-chip selection with one five-star in Hylton Stubbs. Miami just lately added native four-star defensive again Bryce Fitzgerald to the combination, which vaulted the Hurricanes from rating No. 7 to No. 5 within the nation within the Recruiting Workforce Rankings. Not one of the 4 groups forward of Miami (Ohio State, LSU, Alabama and Georgia) match the Canes in numbers relating to the secondary. Nevertheless, the Buckeyes have two five-stars to Miami’s one. Miami will try and flip five-star DJ Pickett throughout the season so as to add one other to its class. Auburn, ranked sixth simply behind Miami, has six DBs dedicated, however two are three-stars and 0 are five-star prospects.
Total, Miami has probably the most gifted DB group within the nation, and it ought to keep that method.
Garcia: FACT. From the cornerback entrance, actually Ohio State can have one thing to say with its duo of five-stars dedicated, with three different four-stars on board together with top-50 recruit Faheem Delane. LSU has three blue-chippers on board led by top-10 prospect DJ Pickett. However Miami has star energy and depth with a half-dozen prospects dedicated on the place, all four-stars or higher. The final two in-state will get could also be one of the best of the bunch, too, with five-star security Hylton Stubbs because the headliner and top-100 nook projection Bryce Fitzgerald on board after his weekend pledge. The group has measurement and flexibility inside the remainder, too, with large corners Timothy Merritt and Jaboree Antoine on board. Native stars Chris Ewald and Amari Wallace have as a lot expertise as any varsity recruits at any place, nationally.
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3. Ought to top-100 wideout Naeshaun Montgomery choose Florida on Aug. 25, the Gators will problem for the highest extensive receiver haul nationally.
Higdon: FICTION. Whereas this trio would make for an distinctive haul for Billy Napier, the Gators would want so as to add a fourth extensive receiver, somebody who ranks within the top-50 vary general. As a result of lack of amount however actually not high quality, I’ll go along with fiction. Whereas Florida may “problem” for the highest spot, I consider somebody will present up with just a few extra higher-ranking guys on the place, preserving Florida from that high spot. As a result of lack of amount however actually not high quality, I’ll go along with fiction.
Garcia: FACT. The standard and flexibility of the would-be trio would make for a formidable group in each their particular person star energy and their complementary nature to problem for the highest spot. Ohio State, Oregon and even a program like UCF has some declare to be amongst these within the dialogue come later within the cycle, however UF’s bought a rock-solid argument right here. Montgomery is a clean, verified 4.4 speedster who can take the highest off of a protection. Joshua Moore is a giant, bodily specimen with basic X traits and a ceiling he has not come near reaching. Then there’s Vernell Brown III, arguably probably the most electrical participant within the nation with the ball in his arms, the kind of extensive receiver you manufacture touches for wherever on the sector.
