National Columnist Mike Farrell is here with the 3-Point Stance looking at some underrated classes in 2023, teams with a lot to figure out this spring, and an under-the-radar recruit in each Power Five conference.
Underrated 2023 Recruiting Classes
— Everyone focuses on Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and others at the top of the recruiting rankings but did we sleep on TCU and what Gary Patterson built and Sonny Dykes took over? Probably. I’m not saying these teams will have that same success, but maybe we should be wary of these classes that don’t get the attention.
1. Florida State
— The ‘Noles are outside the Top 20 in most places but watch for this defensive class to be stellar.
2. Ole Miss
— We all know Lane Kiffin whiffed on some and this is a small class. He was one of my ESD losers and I wasn’t the only one. But what if we’re wrong? There are no reaches here it just lacks depth.
3. Michigan State
— Another small class but I’ll tell you this — there are so many guys on the cusp of 4 stars this class could stun.
4. Louisville
— It would have been better without the coaching change but there is elite talent at QB, OL, LB, DB and DE.
5. UCLA
— You won’t see the Bruins high on any lists because it’s a small class but if QB Dante Moore is as good as I think he can be and a few of the versatile players like Jeremiah McClure and RJ Jones pan out this could be an interesting one to watch.
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5 Teams with Big Questions to Answer This Spring
— Spring football is coming and these teams are looking for answers in some cases to keep momentum going and in others to figure stuff out in a hurry.
1. Tennessee
This is specific to Joe Milton. He looked good in the Orange Bowl against a good Clemson team (albeit without some key pieces). But he and the revamped receiving corps need to prove that they can continue to produce near the same levels as Hendon Hooker and Jalin Hyatt if they’re going to take the next step and truly compete with Georgia in the SEC East.
2. Ohio State
This might sound strange, considering how good the Buckeyes have been for the past decade. But after back-to-back losses to Michigan and a disappointing playoff loss, Ryan Day and company have some acute problems to fix. The first is to find a replacement quarterback for CJ Stroud, and the second is to fix a defense that has been susceptible to big plays against high level opponents.
3. Texas A&M
Bringing in Bobby Petrino reeks of desperation from Jimbo Fisher. And after a mass exodus to the portal, the former national champion coach first needs to prove that he still has control over this program. Between figuring out who’s simply going to even be on the team come the first day of spring practice and trying to incorporate a lot of new coaches, he’s got his work cut out for him.
4. Cal
Justin Wilcox came out of the gates in Berkeley with some very strong defenses and competed well with the best in the conference. But after a couple of down seasons, he’s arguably the coach on the hottest seat in the conference, especially with all of the new coaches on the west coast.
5. Iowa State
After the immediate impact of Breece Hall and Brock Purdy at the pro level, coupled with Matt Campbell‘s worst season since his inaugural one in Ames, there are very faint questions bubbling up. With a big rebound season in 2023, Campbell can show why he’s been one of the most coveted coaches in the country for the past half-decade. But another bottom-of-the-table campaign could lead some to question whether it was really Hall and Purdy who were most responsible for the recent success of the program.
Underrated Recruits in Every P5 Conference
— And finally, these dudes are flying under the radar in the 2023 class.
ACC:
ATH Kahlil Ali, Boston College
Ali’s recruitment was a bit of a wild one, which saw him commit, de-commit, and finally re-commit to the Eagles. But in the end, the versatile athlete ended up in Chestnut Hill where he has the chance to see the field early, especially if he ends up at defensive back. He’s a playmaker with a nose for the ball who’s not afraid to hit either.
Big Ten:
ATH Justin Taylor, Wisconsin
The 3-star athlete has the potential to be an impact player on day one for the Badgers on either side of the ball, and be a contributor in the return game as well. His football IQ is top-notch, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him become an all-conference player early in his career.
Big XII:
WR Tre Spivey, Kansas State
The 3-star receiver had his share of notable offers, but he’ll team up with four-star quarterback Avery Johnson to form a great connection in Manhattan. The 6’4″ receiver from Arizona is a huge downfield threat and is a great pickup for Chris Klieman and staff.
PAC-12
DE Grant Buckey, UCLA
A big, physical defensive end, Buckey has the frame to be an elite strongside end. Already 6’5 and 265 lbs, you could see him grow into a Bosa-brothers level player because of his violent hands and quick first step. A great flip late in the cycle from Chip Kelly, who stole him from Lincoln Riley across town.
SEC:
WR Daquayvious Sorey, Auburn
The 3-star receiver had a litany of SEC offers, but chose Auburn and should see the field early and often in his career. He’s an old-school receiver that isn’t afraid to go over the middle and make contested catches.
