Competitors nationwide recruiting analysts Adam Friedman Also joined by the National Director of Recruitment Adam Gorney, Richie O’Leary HappyValleyInsider.com and National Recruitment Analysts Greg Smith Address three topics and determine whether they believe each statement is fact or fiction.
1. If we graded the 2025 class like the NCAA Football Video Game does, more than half of the current five-star players would receive 99 points.
Friedman: Facts. There are some absolute guys in the 2025 class that have earned five-star ratings, and if they were rated like video games, at least half of them would get a 99 from me. The top two quarterbacks, offensive linemen, defensive linemen and at least three skill position five-star players are all deserving of such high ratings right now. The other five stars are just a hair behind them in my book. Any player who dominates the field and has an incredibly high ceiling gets a 99 rating from me, and at least half of the current five-stars in the 2025 class fit that description.
Gorney: Novel. There are a lot of legitimate five-star players in the 2025 class, but there could be a lot of debate as to whether other players will advance to five-star status after finishing in the top 10 or top 11, and honestly, some of the other players Will be downgraded to four-star. A 99 rating would be an elite player who is unstoppable and stands out in a unique way, but I’m not sure I see that among the top players in the 2025 class.
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2. Allegations that James Franklin interfered with the team’s medical decisions will hurt Penn State’s recruiting efforts.
Friedman: Novel. james franklin The Nittany Lions are under attack again thanks to the testimony of a former doctor employed by the university. The lawsuit does not directly target Franklin, but the details raise questions about some of his actions. This certainly didn’t leave the best impression on Franklin, but it would be shocking to see their recruiting efforts suffer in any way. With a number of important visits set to take place in the coming weeks, Franklin may have to answer some questions from parents, but the strong relationships the staff already have with their top targets should overcome any concerns the recent news may raise.
O’Leary: Novel. This is the same lawsuit that has been going on for years and still nothing. The lawsuit stems from former Penn State sports medicine director Dr. Scott Lynch, who claims he was wrongfully fired by the university. However, both James Franklin and PSU Athletics have withdrawn from the lawsuit. Not to mention the latest part of the lawsuit, which accuses Penn State of placing Nike logos from players’ shoes on their ankles, is borderline insane.
Regardless, I don’t think this will have any impact on the Nittany Lions’ recruiting campaign as they continue to play with several highly ranked kids and are currently ranked eighth in the overall recruiting category with several others Top targets remain on the board. Expect Penn State to hit some of those top goals in the coming weeks as they have four crowded weekends of official visits coming up.
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3. Immanuel Iheanacho will end up being the highest-ranked offensive lineman in the 2026 Rivals250 class.
Friedman: Novel. After studying Emanuel Iheanacho’s film last season, I was inspired by seeing his work this past weekend. The burly offensive lineman hasn’t really had any position-specific skill drills, so it’s hard to predict what his game will look like. That being said, his performance last weekend was really impressive and he will move up significantly in the next ranking update.
Can he become the No. 1 offensive lineman in the Rivals250? It’s hard to say, but I’m leaning towards no at this point. That could change based on the skill development Iheanacho shows in the future, but his size suggests he’ll end up playing right tackle or moving to guard in college or the NFL. Generally speaking, the top offensive linemen have elite pass-blocking abilities and play left tackle at the next level and beyond. Currently, Jackson Cantwell, Gini Pepe and others fit that description better than Iheanacho.
Smith: Fiction. This will be an ongoing issue throughout the recruiting cycle. Both are top prospects on the offensive line. At 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds, Iheanacho certainly looks like a good fit for the role. Seeing him in movies and photos, it’s hard to believe he weighs that much because he weighs so well. He also moves well and has only scratched the surface of his potential.
However, I believe Nixa (Mo.) High School five-star Jackson Cantwell will retain the spot. We don’t see much of Cantwell during training camp season as he focuses on track and field and he doesn’t compete in intense competition during football season. So it would be great to see him play elite rugby before he graduates from high school.
But he was an explosive athlete who had huge results during the track season. This month, he set a national record for a two-foot shot by a sophomore. Cantwell has all the tools needed to become a master in the NFL draft.
This may not be the last time we have this discussion.
