3-Point Stance: Top Big Ten RBs, Underrated SEC Recruits, Prime vs. Dillingham

National Columnist Mike Farrell is here with the 3-Point Stance ranking the Big Ten top tier running backs, under the radar 2023 recruits to watch for in the SEC and the hiring debate — Dillingham vs. Deion.

Top Big Ten Running Backs

— I move on to the running back top tiers heading into next season with the Big Ten.

1. Donovan Edwards, Michigan

— Nope, not his teammate. Edwards is about to break out and be the next Bijan Robinson in college football.

2. Braelon Allen, Wisconsin

— Look at the recent UNC running backs. The Air Raid under Phil Longo will help him.

3. TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State

— He’s coming off an injury that will keep him out of the spring, and last season was a bust, but he’s too talented to be lower.

4. Blake Corum, Michigan

— Coming off the ACL, he may struggle at first, but this kid is special as a college back and could move up.

5. Nick Singleton, Penn State

— He’s shown his dynamic nature, and this season could be even better than his 1,061 yards last year.

Underrated SEC Recruits

— Can you be an underrated recruit in the SEC? You sure can. These guys are.

1. OL Paris Patterson Jr., Arkansas

Surprise, surprise, Sam Pittman landed a truly massive specimen of an offensive lineman that he'll get to mold into another road grader. The 6'6", 350 lb. IOL out of East St. Louis already has the requisite size to play in the Razorbacks' physical offense, and he'll be surrounded by like-minded (and like-sized) individuals that could push the three-star prospect into all-conference contention early in his career.

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2. LB Ethan Crisp, Vanderbilt

A linebacker with as good a motor as anyone in the class, Crisp is a local product in Nashville that seems to fit in line with exactly what Clark Lea wants out of his linebackers. With a lot of turnover on the Commodores' defense heading into 2023, there's a chance he cracks the 2-deep as a true freshman.

3. DE Tavion Gadson, Kentucky

A great win for Mark Stoops and the Wildcats on the trail this year, Gadson picked Kentucky over Florida State, Auburn, and others and could be a huge steal. He's got a great frame at already 6'4", 280 lbs., and has the versatility to line up all across the defensive line.

4. OT Zay Alexander, Mississippi State

A big, long tackle, Alexander was part of a massive in-state class for the Bulldogs. The 6'7" prospect from Tupelo is very light on his feet and carries his 315 lbs. with ease. He's got all the makings of a future blind-side protector in Mississippi State's air raid offense.

5. DB Cameron Upshaw, South Carolina

Shane Beamer used the Gamecocks' momentum at the end of the season to land some big commits (most notably Nyckoles Harbor). But one of the earlier commits from the class that could make early waves is hard-hitting safety Cameron Upshaw. He's a little thin right now on his 6'3" frame, but he's got sneaky make-up speed and an elite football IQ.

Deion Sanders vs. Kenny Dillingham

— And we continue our new hire comparison series with the PAC 12. These two are slightly different in name recognition.

The Case for Sanders:

There is zero doubt that the Buffaloes made the biggest splash in the coaching carousel this season. Hiring the former Jackson State coach sent shockwaves through FBS football. Sanders's magnetic personality has already served him unbelievably well on both the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal. The amount of talent that he has injected into the Colorado program is second to none in terms of a one-season turnaround. Sanders has more eyeballs and interest in Boulder than ever before and has given life to a moribund program.

The Case Against Sanders:

To begin with, he's never coached at the FBS level. While at Jackson State, he had such a significant talent advantage over his competition that it was very difficult to determine just how strong his coaching chops were versus the sheer ability of his players to just be better at every position. Secondly, how long will he stay? If Sanders finds any success at Colorado, there is almost zero chance he doesn't get a blue-blood job within two years, and then where is Colorado? Back to square one.

The case for Dillingham:

Despite being the youngest FBS coach, Dillingham has quite a resume already. The architect of Oregon's offense under Dan Lanning last season, Dillingham resurrected Bo Nix's career and turned him into one of the most productive quarterbacks in the country. He's already landed one of the most highly touted prep quarterbacks in Jaden Rashada (after a drawn-out recruitment) and has a roster that, despite not being excellent by any means, had fewer holes than Colorado's.

The case against Dillingham:

Similar to Prime, he's never been a head coach at the FBS level. And also, like Prime, if he has a lot of success, who's to say he won't jump for an elite job? And while his age more than likely won't be a detriment, it's something to keep in mind as he simply doesn't have the relationships that most of the coaches in the Power 5 have.

The verdict:

As good as Dillingham's upside is in the long run, Sanders brings so much to the table in terms of media attention, talented players, and in turn, big donors, that you can't deny him. The questions around him are valid, but what he's done already in turning Colorado into the center of the CFB universe is unprecedented.