National Columnist Mike Farrell is here with the 3-Point Stance ranking the Big Ten top-tier offensive lines for next season, potential true freshmen breakout players in the ACC, and the coaching debate — Bret Bielema vs. Pat Fitzgerald.
Best Big Ten Offensive Lines
— I won’t do individual offensive linemen for the Power Five as I did with other positions so here are the top offensive line units in the Big Ten.
1. Michigan
— Led by Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan, this could be the best unit in the entire country.
2. Ohio State
— Donovan Jackson leads a solid unit but the loss of Paris Johnson Jr. will be a tough one.
3. Penn State
— Olumuyiwa Fashanu could have been a high pick if he opted for the NFL Draft and he leads an offensive line that should be a strength for James Franklin.
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4. Illinois
— Bret Bielema always has tough and nasty offensive linemen and Isaiah Adams leads a group that should have another great season.
5. Wisconsin
— The Badgers are known for offensive linemen and Jack Nelson and Cincinnati transfer Jake Renfro are a nice 1-2 combo.
Top ACC True Freshmen
— Who are the top ACC true freshmen for next season? Here you go.
1. DL Peter Woods, Clemson
The Tigers have been churning out elite defensive linemen for nearly a decade, and Woods is the next in line. Woods plays like a bull in a china shop and collapses the pocket really well. Paired with fellow freshman Vic Burley, Dabo Swinney‘s squad is in good hands along the defensive line for years to come.
2. WR Israel Polk, Pitt
A rare get from California power St. John Bosco, Polk enrolled early and opened quite a few eyes this spring. The Panthers only have two receivers returning from last year’s squad that had double-digit receptions, so there will be a lot of opportunities available for him to get some targets. Polk is great at finding space out of the slot and making guys miss with the ball in his hands.
3. OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Mario Cristobal and OL coach Alex Mirabal landed two of the top tackles in the country for the 2023 cycle in Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola, which should bolster a line that has been up and down during the past few seasons. Mauigoa showed off why he deserved his five-star ranking in spring ball, finishing up camp as the number-one RT for the ‘Canes. He’s a true bookend tackle who will be a mauler in the run game.
If this doesn’t get Miami fans excited about 2023 signee Francis Mauigoa (61), I don’t know what will. @canes_county pic.twitter.com/WPXLrtfoCd
— Marcus Benjamin (@BenjaminRivals) January 21, 2023
4. Hykeem Williams, Florida State
Even on a stacked Seminoles roster, there will absolutely be snaps to be had for a player of Williams’ raw talent. The five-star receiver is one of the most polished players at his position in the class of 2023, and he’s already got a college-ready body. A three-receiver lineup of Williams, Johnny Wilson, and Keon Coleman will be an absolute nightmare against teams with smaller defensive backs.
5. DB 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. He has the chance to see the field early because of his athleticism at the safety position. He’s a playmaker with a nose for the ball who’s not afraid to hit, either.
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The @BCFootball commit was a shutdown defensive back for @PennsaukenFB, and led the Indians with eight touchdown catches.
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The Coach Debate: Bret Bielema vs. Pat Fitzgerald
— And we continue to roll through the coaching debates with a Big Ten in-state coaching comparison. Bret Bielema at Illinois vs. Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern.
The case for Bielema:
Known for building teams on toughness, Bielema is right at home in the Big Ten. And despite some tough times at Arkansas, he’s still had only three losing seasons in 14 as a head coach, and two of those were his first seasons in Fayetteville and Champaign, respectively, where he was asked to turn around programs that were in shambles before his arrival. The fact that he’s already turned Illinois – a program that hadn’t been relevant for nearly two decades – into a division contender within 12 months is nothing short of a miracle. Bielema’s teams are always among the best in the nation in running the ball and have nasty offensive linemen.
The case against Bielema:
Things deteriorated at Arkansas pretty quickly, and he was never able to get over the hump against superior competition or win the big game. That same issue reared its head at Wisconsin, where he lost consecutive Rose Bowls, especially against TCU when the Badgers had a far superior roster. And outside of Russell Wilson (a one-year rental as a grad transfer), he hasn’t been able to develop any difference-makers at quarterback.
The case for Fitzgerald:
Northwestern is one of the two or three hardest jobs in the entire Power 5 to win at, and Fitzgerald has won more than any coach in the history of the program by a country mile. With the recruiting limitations due to the academic standards in Evanston, Fitzgerald has to do more with less than almost anyone in the Big Ten and routinely does. The Wildcats have two division titles in the past five seasons and have finished .500 or better in 10 of 16 seasons that he’s been at the helm.
The case against Fitzgerald:
When things go bad for the Wildcats under Fitzgerald, they go very, very bad. So while they’ve won two division titles in the past five years, they’ve also gone a combined 7-29 in the other three seasons. What’s been most concerning, though, is that their defense – Fitzgerald’s calling card as a former All-American linebacker – has completely fallen off in the past few seasons.
The verdict:
Pat Fitzgerald’s body of work is undoubtedly impressive, considering the odds that are stacked against him, and he’s proven that he gets the most out of the talent on hand. But Bielema is a better recruiter at this point and appears to be on the upswing again as a coach and program leader. The toughness and attitude that he brings on a daily basis to the facility is something that any program would love to have.
