Alabama or Texas A&M's class, future Heisman winner plus more
The early signing period has come and gone. That means it’s time to answer some of the pressing questions in regard to the 2022 cycle. On3 National Scouting Director and myself answer six questions asked by many fans this week.
What class would you take right now in three years – Texas A&M or Alabama?
Charles Power: Man, that’s a tough one. I think the top of A&M’s class has some true difference-makers like Evan Stewart, Walter Nolen, Jake Johnson and Bryce Anderson. Chris Marshall may have as much ability as any wide receiver in this cycle. But I like the depth in Alabama’s class a little better. If you go down Alabama’s commit list, you have prospects like Kobe Prentice, Amari Niblack and Isaiah Hastings towards the bottom. They aren’t in the top 100 of the On3 Consensus. Obviously, we’re higher on them to than the industry and view each as among the better prospects at their relative positions nationally. But I also think that speaks to the extreme depth in Alabama’s class. Maybe a cop out answer, but I could see some the top few headliners/higher drafted players at the top of A&M’s class and more overall top picks from Alabama’s. We should also have a better feel for this after seeing more of these prospects at all-star games.
Gerry Hamilton: I lean to Alabama because of the fits. Four-stars Jeremiah Alexander and Jihaad Campbell are big time prospects off the edge. The receiver group signed will continue to make Alabama very difficult to defend. Four-star Aaron Anderson is a big time slot receiver and punt returner. Kobe Prentice is the same. Four-star Kendrick Law is one of the very best two-way prospects in the cycle. Both players have high-end quickness. Four-stars Khurtiss Perry and Isaiah Hastings will be disruptors on the defensive line. This is a well balanced class that filled needs with high-end playmakers. If there is a potential issue with an insanely talented Texas A&M class, it’s expectations. The Aggies will now have the highest of expectations, and the players coming in enter the program with intentions to play a lot early. Texas A&M has signed a handful of top 10 classes in a row, so the freshman class will have to show some patience at several positions.
Who is the most under valued prospect in the country, and why?
Power: Not undervalued by college coaches, but my instant answer is Tennessee EDGE signee James Pearce. Of the prospects in contention for this, I think he pretty clearly has the highest ceiling both in terms of on-field performance, rankings and ultimately the NFL Draft. He is the most gifted 2022 pass rushing prospect I watched play this fall and is not ranked in the top 150 by any of the other major media companies and is a three-star for two. The video, production and play on a snap-to-snap basis are that good. He’s electric off the edge. Some others that come to mind are Purdue quarterback signee Brady Allen. He has a bunch of physical ability and had one of the better senior seasons among quarterbacks nationally. Pearce’s fellow Tennessee EDGE signee Joshua Josephs has a similar rankings profile. Josephs is not as far along as Pearce as a player but has unique physical traits with elite, elite length to go with plus athleticism. Statistically speaking, the two biggest outliers in our top 100 at On3 are Kentucky offensive tackle Nikolas Hall and Missouri IOL signee Tristan Wilson. Hall has arguably the best measurables of any offensive tackle prospect in the cycle to go with phenomenal flexibility and functional movement skills. The video is very good as well. Tristan Wilson is similar in that he pairs outstanding senior video alongside athletic markers with a strong shot put.
Hamilton: The Tennessee class is full of them. On300 No. 67 James Pearce is easily the first answer. His quickness, agility, flexibility and closing speed are borderline special. Pearce has the ability to go from way undervalued in the industry to high first round draft selection if he maximizes his potential. Then there is Tennessee wide receiver signee Kaleb Webb. The On300 No. 161 ranked prospect went from an East Carolina verbal to a prospect being mentioned as the best senior receiver in the Peach State. And that is saying something. There are quicker receivers off the line, but not many with better ball skills and timing. Webb makes contest catch after contested catch in traffic.
What recruiting class do you like that isn’t being talked about?
Power: I keep hammering on it, but I think Oklahoma State signed a great class. And the majority of them were in the boat before the Cowboys were playoff contenders. They have a strong nucleus of skill talent with quarterback Garret Rangel, running back Ollie Gordon and wide receiver Talyn Shettron – all On300 prospects. Then you flip over to defense where they signed linebacker Xavier Benson, who was best football player in junior college, in my opinion. I would expect him to be an instant starter. EDGE Jaleel Johnson is one of their lowest-rated commits according to the On3 Consensus but we have him in the On300. Fellow EDGE signee DeSean Brown is one of the most productive pass rushers in the cycle. Linebacker Gabe Brown has some very strong video, as well. It’s just a deep, well-rounded class.
Hamilton: In complete agreement on Oklahoma State. The Cowboys signed a class that will keep the program in contention for the Big 12 title in future years. Four-star running back Ollie Gordon will be an impact player in Stillwater. Four-star receiver Talyn Shettron should be the same. CJ Brown and Braylin Presley will add more quickness and playmaking to Mike Gundy’s program. And the same can be said for 4-star junior college linebacker Xavier Benson. Three-star cornerback Dylahn McKinney is the sleeper in the class, and likely multi-year starter. He has tremendous length at corner. EDGE prospects Jaleel Johnson and DeSean Brown will bring pass rush ability. Remember the name Austin Kawecki on the offensive line down the line.
Which recruiting class signed will help elevate a program in the next couple of seasons?
Power: The biggest roster elevator among classes is Vanderbilt, in my opinion. This is roster that was in a very bad way when Clark Lea took that job. Their 26-man class checks in at No. 39 nationally and is the best they’ve signed since 2013. There are multiple future difference-makers in this group. Vandy had On300 prospects like Darren Agu and Maurice Edwards committed for a while, but they were also very resourceful towards the end of the cycle. Landing former TCU safety commit Jadais Richard is one example. I was impressed by the job Lea and his staff led by our former colleague Barton Simmons did, especially towards the end of the cycle.
Hamilton: Missouri, and not because they signed a class inside the top 15. The Tigers won huge battles inside the state lines, and in the area. Keeping Luther Burden close to home over Georgia was a massive perception win. The same can be said for On3 Consensus 4-star EDGE D.J. Wesolak over LSU. Five of the top 11 prospect from the state are staying home, and they care going to be multi-year starters. Missouri went into the Peach State for On3 Consensus 4-star quarterback Sam Horn. The staff dipeed into Texas and pulled out 4-star running back Tavorus Jones and 4-star cornerback Marcus Scott II.
More important quarterback recruit – Drew Allar to Penn State or Quinn Evers transfer to Texas?
Power: The most important of the two is clearly Ewers, just based on the difference in situations at each program. James Franklin just signed a ten-year contract extension. Meanwhile, Steve Sarkisian is coming off of a miserable 4-8 inaugural season in Austin. Plus, Texas quarterback Casey Thompson is in the portal and Hudson Card might not be far behind. It seems like it’s Ewers or bust for Sark. And Sean Clifford is coming back for his sixth year at Penn State, so Allar won’t be expected to take over immediatley. Now in terms of how I feel about their projection going into the fall, I side with Allar. We’ve seen him throw hundreds of passes in live games this fall. The improvement is obvious and he’s an ascending prospect. In years of doing this, that’s a strong indicator, especially at quarterback. On the flipside, Ewers is maybe the most murky top quarterback prospect I can recall, much due to his extenuating circumstances. The talent is obviously there, but it’s a much further out projection given we haven’t seen him take a meaningful snap in 10 months.
Hamilton: This one is clearly Ewers. Ewers will be the starter at Texas next season barring the unforseen. The former On3 Consensus No. 1 overall has a year of college practice/experience already under his belt, and is way ahead in terms of adjusting to the speed of the game. Ewers will also have two stars around him to take the pressure off in Bijan Robinson and Xavier Worthy. The Texas program is also in need of a quarterback now to help elevate the program. With Sean Clifford returning, Allar is in a terrific position to adjust to the speed of the game for a season. Long term for James Franklin, the Nittany Lions need Allar to be a difference maker at the position.
What prospect in the 2022 class is most likely to win the Heisman Trophy?
Power: I’ve found myself asking this question and don’t have a great answer. It’s part of why it’s so hard to pin down a No. 1 overall prospect in this cycle. I think you default to quarterback, naturally. Then you try to think who has the best chances of putting up the best stats at the school they signed with. The three I keep landing on are Nick Evers (Oklahoma), Ty Simpson (Alabama) and Devin Brown (Ohio State). Evers is more of a high ceiling/high floor prospect, but is going to a scheme that perfectly fits his skill set with the ability to whip the ball around with ease in addition to providing a run threat. We know quarterbacks in Jeff Lebby’s offense put up big numbers, too. If Ty Simpson locks down the starting job at Alabama, he’s basically a Heisman front runner from the jump. The same goes for Devin Brown at Ohio State. Simpson is an efficient passer and also ran for over 1,200 yards as a senior, so he has some rushing upside. Like Evers, Brown is a perfect fit for his team’s scheme. He excels as a vertical, downfield passer and should mesh very well with Ryan Day’s offense and the receivers they have on campus.
Hamilton: Someone is going to come out of the first handful of names to win the Heisman Trophy out of the 2022 cycle. I’m with Charles on Devin Brown at Ohio State. I’m not sure the Buckeyes have recruited the same level of wide receiver that are about to exit the program, but talent will be plentiful. A sleeper could be Conner Weigman due to the level of talent infusion in the Texas A&M program. Weigman will have big time talent at wide receiver, tight end, running back and on the offensive line around him. I am also watching to see where On3 Consensus 4-star running back TreVonte’ Citizen signs. Citizen has the ability to be a running back that finds his way into the conversation in two or three years.