National Columnist Mike Farrell is here with the 3-Point Stance ranking the Pac-12 top-tier wide receivers, potential defensive breakout players in the ACC, and the coaching debate — Lance Leipold, Kansas vs. Chris Klieman, Kansas State.
Top Pac-12 Wide Receivers
— Rounding out the top-tier wide receivers, we look at the absolutely loaded Pac-12.
1. Rome Odunze, Washington
— Odunze was part of that magical offense led by Michael Penix Jr., and I can’t see it slowing down.
2. Jalen McMillan, Washington
— Not to be overlooked is McMillan, who had a very similar season for the Huskies.
3. Dorian Singer, USC
— The Arizona transfer has a chance to be better than Jordan Addison was last year coming in.
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4. Jacob Cowing, Arizona
— With Singer gone, Cowing could put up bigger numbers than anyone on this list.
5. Troy Franklin, Oregon
— He’s a double-digit TD guy this season. Just watch.
Breakout ACC Defenders
— We move to the ACC for our defensive breakouts.
1. DL Akheem Mesidor, Miami
There’s a lot of talent coming back on the ‘Canes, but Mesidor isn’t one that’s as talked about as much. The former West Virginia transfer led Miami in sacks with seven in 2022, and that was as a rotational lineman. He should have a chance to rack up double-digits this season.
2. DB Aydan White, NC State
As a true sophomore in 2022, white graded out as the Wolfpack’s top DB per Pro Football Focus, and it’s easy to see why. He’s a smooth athlete with great instincts that does a great job sticking to receivers of all different builds. He could be one of the top corners in the conference this fall.
3. DB LaMiles Brooks, Georgia Tech
Brooks was quietly one of the top safeties in the conference in 2022, playing center field as well as anyone and improving his play in the box as he became a full-time starter. As a junior in 2023, he’s primed to lead a Yellow Jacket defense that is looking for consistent play after an up-and-down season last fall.
The Coach Debate: Lance Leipold vs. Chris Klieman
— And finally, we look at another coaching debate as we compare Lance Leipold at Kansas vs. Chris Klieman at Kansas State.
The Case for Leipold:
All the man does is win. He was incredibly successful at Wisconsin-Whitewater, going 109-6 with six national championships in eight seasons before taking the job at Buffalo. He was the most successful coach in the program’s history and the first with a winning record since the Lyndon B. Johnson administration. Now at Kansas, he’s made the Jayhawks not only competitive but potentially dangerous in a wide-open Big 12.
The case against Leipold:
After the hot start last season, the Jayhawks showed their warts down the stretch. And while the injury to Jalon Daniels played a big part, it was also clear that the team became more and more undisciplined through the course of the season. Finally, although the Jayhawks have done a solid job so far in the portal, Leipold’s recruiting has left a lot to be desired.
The case for Klieman:
Another former lower-level coach who was incredibly successful at his last stop, Klieman was 69-6 with four FCS national championships in five years at North Dakota State before moving to the Little Apple. He’s embodied the same no-nonsense, tough, dependable football that made Bill Snyder’s teams great and has the program set up for the long-term future on top of being the reigning conference champions.
The case against Klieman:
It will be very interesting to see how much offense the Wildcats will be able to create without Deuce Vaughn, who did everything for them the past few seasons. Additionally, while K-State has done better on the trail than their in-state counterparts, they’re still not great by any stretch.
The Verdict:
This might actually be the toughest one yet because they’re both so similar and have both done a ton of good already in their careers. I’ll take last year’s conference title as the vote to break the tie, so I’ll take Klieman by a hair.
