In today’s Fact or Fiction, I look at three big recent topics in college football and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.
1. Kirby Smart already handed Kalen DeBoer his first loss.
Farrell’s take: FACT
By taking Travaris Robinson from Alabama and then retaining him after DeBoer tried to lure him back, Smart wins battle No. 1. Robinson worked as the CBs coach at Bama last season and will add the co-DC title, but this is about recruiting to me. Robinson is one of the elite recruiters in the Southeast and will add even more talent to the UGA roster. Saban knew what he had in T-Rob, and so did Smart. This is a bad loss for the Tide.
2. USC made another nice defensive hire.
Farrell’s take: FACT
Eric Henderson comes from the LA Rams of the NFL to be the co-DC at USC with former UCLA coach D’Anton Lynn, and now Lincoln Riley has some momentum on that side of the ball. Henderson worked with Aaron Donald, and honestly, this is more about what Donald taught him than the opposite. Selling the work with Donald in living rooms is going to be good for recruiting, and with Henderson, Lynn, Matt Entz, and Doug Belk, USC now has a fighting chance on that side of the ball.
3. Ryan Grubb might have been a better hire for Washington.
Farrell’s take: FICTION
I like Grubb, and he’s going to be a good OC at Alabama, but let’s remember that Kalen DeBoer is mainly responsible for the offensive success they had at Fresno State and Washington. Had Jedd Fisch said no, and they whiffed on Chris Kleimann and Lance Leipold, then perhaps Grubb would have been the guy and kept some continuity, but he’s too much of a risk with experienced guys like Fisch available.
