National Columnist Mike Farrell is here with the 3-Point Stance ranking SEC top-tier offensive lines for next season, potential true freshmen breakout players in the Pac-12, and the coaching debate — Dino Babers vs. Jeff Hafley.
Best SEC Offensive Lines
— Offensive line play in the SEC is always key. Here are the best OLs in the conference headed into next season.
1. Georgia
— Easily the top group headed into the season, UGA should continue to dominate in the run game and give whoever the starter is plenty of time to survey the field. Amarius Mims could be special.
2. Alabama
— JC Latham is one of the highest ceiling prospects in the country next year, and while the OL has taken a dip in the last couple of seasons, it’s still elite.
3. LSU
— This is where things get tough. LSU’s rushing attack is average, but Will Campbell and company should take a big step forward.
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4. Texas A&M
— The team wasn’t good last year, but the OL talent is very good. Bryce Foster can make a case for the best center in the country.
5. Missouri
— There are a lot of candidates for this fifth spot, but Javon Foster leads an underrated group.
Top Pac-12 True Freshmen
— Pac-12 impact freshmen to watch.
1. WR Zachariah Branch, USC
Branch has the chance to not only be the most impactful true freshmen in the conference but in the country as a whole. He’s an electric pass catcher who is as polished a route runner as you’re going to find coming into college football. Even with the addition of Dorian Singer via the portal, there are going to be plenty of targets for the five-star recruit.
2. DE Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
One of the biggest wins on signing day for Dan Lanning, Uiagalelei already has the frame of an elite pass rusher. The five-star from St. John Bosco in Bellflower, CA will start as a rotational pass rusher but could be starting for Tosh Lupoi and the Ducks sooner rather than later.
3. RB Dylan Edwards, Colorado
The easy pick on the Buffs might be Cormani McClain, but Edwards should get a ton of opportunities for touches early and often in Sean Lewis‘ offense. The speedster from Kansas is so hard to contain in space, and a well-above-average pass catcher, so they’ll be able to get him the ball in a variety of ways.
https://twitter.com/CUBarstool/status/1644137631830212608
4. WR Mikey Matthews, Utah
Matthews lit up spring ball in Salt Lake City, clearly asserting himself as already one of the best pass catchers on the team. He operates efficiently and smoothly out of the slot, and gets amazing separation in confined spaces.
https://twitter.com/CodyBellaire/status/1609226630056054784
5. CB Caleb Presley, Washington
Surprise, surprise, another elite defensive back for the Huskies. Presley was the crown jewel of a strong first full recruiting class for Kalen DeBoer, and the local product should continue the long lineage of outstanding defensive back play in Seattle. He’s got a shot to be the starting nickel back in the fall.
https://twitter.com/LoganJonesCFB/status/1611049367892525056
The Coach Debate: Jeff Hafley vs. Dino Babers
— And finally, the coach debate series continues with Jeff Hafley, Boston College vs. Dino Babers, Syracuse.
The case for Hafley:
Boston College is one of the tougher jobs in the Power 5 to begin with, and Hafley has been dealt an incredibly tough hand. His first season was the pandemic year of 2020, taking over for Steve Adazzio, and he did an admirable job finishing over .500 and then winning six games again in 2021 despite a lot of offensive woes. Hafley’s calling card is his defense, and he’s been able to put together some really good units, especially against the pass, as both a DC and as head coach.
The case against Hafley:
2022 was a disaster, and while injuries (especially along the offensive line) can be blamed for some of it, there were still serious issues with the offense at large. They finished in the bottom ten nationally in total offense and dead last in rushing. In 2023, without multi-year starter Phil Jurkovec, the Eagles need to find a way to get some semblance of an offense.
The case for Babers:
When things are clicking for Babers, their offense is a sight to behold, moving up and down the dome with ease. He’s done a good job at making it work at one of the toughest schools to recruit to in the entirety of the Power 5, finding diamonds in the rough like Sean Tucker and Duce Chestnut and turning them into all-ACC players.
The case against Babers:
Outside of the miraculous 2018 season, the Orange under Babers are 26-46 with a 12-37 in-conference record. His teams routinely finish at the bottom of all the recruiting rankings, and now in the transfer portal era, they’re losing top talent more and more easily, just like the aforementioned Chestnut.
The verdict:
At the end of the day, I think that Hafley has the higher floor as both a recruiter and overall coach, so he’s my call. It’s a tough choice because both coaches are at programs that do not have as many built-in advantages as the teams they’re competing against, but Hafley’s defensive acumen and upside as a recruiter give him the edge.
