National Columnist Mike Farrell is here with the 3-Point Stance ranking the Big 12 top tier wide receivers, potential defensive breakout players in the SEC and the coaching debate — Kirk Ferentz, Iowa vs. PJ Fleck, Minnesota.
Top Big XII Wide Receivers
— We continue to roll through the top-tier WRs next season in college football with the Big 12.
1. Xavier Worthy, Texas
— Hands down, the best coming back. And with the maturity of Quinn Ewers, he should have a huge year.
2. Brennan Presley, Oklahoma State
— He’s little, but he’s electric and would be even better with consistent QB play.
3. Jerand Bradley, Texas Tech
— Haven’t heard of him? He’s coming off nearly 800 receiving yards as a freshman.
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4. Lawrence Arnold, Kansas
— Kansas doesn’t get the attention of some others, but this kid has size and can make yards after the catch.
5. Adonai Mitchell, Texas
— This is a ceiling projection for the Georgia transfer who has a chance to push even his own teammate Worthy.
SEC Defensive Breakouts
— Onto the potential breakout players in the SEC on the defensive side of the ball.
1. DL Mykel Williams, Georgia
The Dawgs rotate their defensive line as much as anyone because of their unique depth, but expect the sophomore to play the most snaps of anyone in that unit this fall. The 6’5″, 270 lb. Williams has the strength to hold up against the run and the explosiveness as a pass rusher that makes him as versatile of a piece as they have.
2. DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Another sophomore defensive lineman, Stewart elected not to join the mass exodus out of College Station. He brings more as a pass rusher than his classmate Walter Nolen, and opposite of Shemar Turner, he could get a lot of one-on-one opportunities.
3. DB O’Donnell Fortune, South Carolina
Fortune acquitted himself well as a situational DB in 2022, and with Cam Smith and Darius Rush off to the pros, he steps in as CB1. At 6’1″ with long arms, he fits the profile of the outstanding corners we’ve seen come out of Columbia in the past few seasons.
The Coach Debate: Kirk Ferentz vs. PJ Fleck
— And we continue the ever-popular coaching debate, this time heading to the Big Ten West with Kirk Ferentz of Iowa vs. PJ Fleck of Minnesota.
The case for Ferentz:
The dean of Big Ten coaches has been inordinately consistent during his tenure in Iowa City, with two losing seasons in the Hawkeyes’ past 22. His defenses have also been consistently excellent, especially under coordinator Phil Parker, and the program continues to produce outstanding defenders and offensive linemen on a yearly basis.
The case against Ferentz:
The last few seasons off the field have been pretty disastrous, between the Chris Doyle scandal and the creation and subsequent dissolution of a panel of Hawkeyes to look at issues of racism and abuse that keep creeping up around the program. But the biggest issue is the complete inadequacy of the offense under his own son. The nepotism is startling, and that side of the ball has been so bad that they have squandered some historically great defenses. As long as Brian Ferentz is coaching the offense, they won’t be a true factor even in the Big Ten, especially as USC and UCLA join the conference in 2024.
The case for Fleck:
The former Western Michigan coach has done an excellent job rebuilding a Minnesota program that had fallen on some serious hard times. He not only broke the Gophers’ nearly two-decade-long losing streak to Wisconsin but has since taken the upper hand, winning three of the last four against their historic rivals. And while some may smirk at some of his gimmicks, they’re clearly working as they continue to move up the recruiting rankings.
The case against Fleck:
Accusations of Fleck being all sizzle and no steak are somewhat misguided but not entirely untrue either. Additionally, his teams have become more and more one-dimensional as they have struggled to find a passing game since the departure of Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman.
The verdict:
The nepotism of Ferentz is what will ultimately bring him down, as the cries for his job get louder and louder with every three and out. So despite his antics, it’s hard to deny that Fleck is the better coach at this moment in time, despite Ferentz’s long track record of success.
