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Recruiting Fact or Fiction: Hottest Team on the Trail, Illinois Moving Up, VA Tech Making Noise

In Mike Farrell’s Fact or Fiction — Recruiting Edition, he determines which team is the hottest on the trail…

Mike Farrell| June 13, 2023 (Updated: July 9, 2025)
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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. USC is the hottest team in the 2024 class.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

It’s close as USC has landed six commitments since June 4, but some of them are reaches in my opinion, as USC should be recruiting at a higher level. I worry about the OL recruiting especially, but I do like what I see at the skill positions. It’s clearly Clemson that’s as hot as anyone as the Tigers have landed elite LB Sammy Brown and 4-star WRs Terrance Moore and Bryant Wesco in recent days. I’ve said it time and time again that Clemson is the most efficient program in the country in recruiting, with few wasted offers, very few decommitments, and a very focused approach.

Oct 22, 2022; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney and quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) celebrate in the closing seconds against the Syracuse Orange during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium.

2. Illinois has taken the next step in recruiting.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Illinois never has a huge recruiting weekend like they just had. Six commitments in a short time span? Unheard of. And they landed a couple of big names as well in OL/DL Eddie Tuerk and slot WR Tysean Griffin who are both important in-state keeps. Bret Bielema and his staff have stepped it up.

Oct 15, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema on the sidelines during the first half against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Memorial Stadium.

3. Virginia Tech recruiting has stepped up.

Farrell’s take: FACT

QB Davi Belfort is the first and most important get in this class as a 4-star, but they’ve added some quality since. Maryland LB Gabriel Williams is thin but very athletic and can run, and I like both Aidan Lynch and Marcellus Barnes Jr. as recent additions to shore up the OL and add team speed, respectively. It’s a long grind to get good again, but they’ve done a little better in recruiting in 2024 so far.

Oct 8, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Brent Pry looks on from the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh won 45-29.

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Category: Fact or Fiction, RecruitingTag: Aiden Harris, Aivery Haynesworth, Brent Pry, Bryant Wesco, Cameron Dickey, Dabo Swinney, Darrell Smith, Gabriel Williams, Illinois Fighting Illini, Marcellus Barnes Jr., Mike Farrell, Princewill Umanmielan, Shawn Simeon, Terrance Moore, USC Trojans, Virginia Tech Hokies, Zach Thompson
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