Recruiting Fact or Fiction: Peyton Bowen, Alabama, Under-the-Radar Longhorns

In today’s Fact or Fiction — Recruiting Edition — I look at three big recent topics from the recruiting trail and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.

1. Peyton Bowen will be worth the drama.

Farrell’s take: FACT

I like this kid as a player. And so far he hasn’t shown me to be an attention hound despite three commitments essentially in a two day period. This was an internal family struggle and that doesn’t always mean the player won’t succeed. I look at Landon Collins and his infamous recruitment as an example and while Bowen is a tick below Collins in talent out of high school he should have a successful career at Oklahoma. That is if he gets all the support needed and makes his own decisions from here on out.

Abilene High receiver Frederick Johnson tries to break a tackle by Denton Guyer’s Peyton Bowen during the first half of Saturday’s Region I-6A Division II semifinal at Globe Life Park in Arlington Dec. 26, 2020. Final score was 38-21, Denton Guyer.

2. Alabama is head and shoulders the No. 1 class.

Farrell’s take: FACT

To me it’s not close. With the addition of Desmond Ricks and Kadyn Proctor down the stretch, two unexpected commitments, I have Alabama with potentially seven 5-stars in my own rankings in this class. No one else comes close.

Southeast Polk lineman Kadyn Proctor (74) takes in the final seconds of the Class 5A playoff championships on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

3. Texas has the best “quiet” class.

Farrell’s take: FACT

WR DeAndre Moore was a nice late addition but even before him this was a great class without a lot of drama down the stretch. They added 5 star LB Anthony Hill a week before ESD and since then it’s been pretty drama free and that’s great. To finish with a top five class without all the attention of losing or flipping recruits is the sign of a great class.