Competitors nationwide recruiting analysts Adam Friedman Also joined by the National Director of Recruitment Adam Gorney, Paul Strelow TigerIllustration.com and Jesse Zambar TheWolfpackCentral.com was tasked with addressing three topics and determining whether they believed each statement was fact or fiction.
1. Linebacker replaces running back as least valuable position in NFL draft
Friedman: Novel. It hasn’t been a great year for linebackers or running backs in the NFL draft, but NFL teams still value running backs less than linebackers.
Green Bay selected Texas A&M’s Edgerlyn Cooper with the 13th pick in the second round as the first linebacker in the draft, and running back Jonathan Brooks was selected by Carolina with the next pick.
A total of 20 linebackers and 19 running backs were selected in this year’s draft. Only four running backs were selected in the first three rounds of the draft, but seven linebackers were selected.
When it comes to NFL free agency, linebackers are still more valuable than running backs. Three linebackers (Patrick Queen, Azeez Al-Shaair and Frankie Luvu) recently signed new contracts averaging over $10 million per year. Only two running backs (Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs) received deals this big.
Gorney: Novel. Only one linebacker was selected in the first round of this year’s NFL draft, and Dallas Turner was more of a rusher anyway, but there were still two linebackers selected in the second round, which is considered to be the A weaker group of linebackers in the draft. Last year, four linebackers were drafted in the first round, so it’s still an important position for NFL teams looking for length and athleticism, but sometimes that’s hard to come by.
Many of the top NFL running backs are getting big salaries again, so maybe the position is back in popularity, but it’s still a case of running backs being taken out early in the first round, but that’s no longer the case.
Linebackers aren’t as important this year, but running backs and safeties seem to decline every draft year.
*****
2. The recruiting competition between Clemson and the University of Tennessee is intensifying.
Freeman: Facts. The Tigers and Volunteers have recruited players from each other for years, but two high-profile recruits have put both programs in the spotlight again. Five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. is seriously considering Clemson State and Tennessee, as well as Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and South Carolina. Two visits to Clemson earlier this year gave the Tigers a lot of momentum, but back-to-back visits to Knoxville will really help Tennessee as we get closer to the official visit season.
Four-star safety Jordan Young lists Clemson and Tennessee as his top contenders, but Tennessee appears to be in good position to overtake early favorite Clemson. Young isn’t expected to announce his commitment until October, but Tennessee will take his final official visit in June before his death. Young is expected to take multiple other official visits once the season begins this fall, but the battle between Clemson and Tennessee will continue to rage.
Clemson State and Tennessee have competed for North Carolina’s top prospects in the past, but Sanders and Young appear to be focusing on those two programs as the recruiting process enters a critical stage.
Strelow: Facts. The fact that Tennessee launched an explosive offense that usurped Clemson as the region’s sex attraction two seasons ago makes this situation play out again.
That allowed the Vols to win last season with high-profile Mike Matthews and beat the Tigers with forward William Satterwhite. However, as they squared off in more head-to-head matchups, Clemson matched up with Tennessee’s desired linebacker Sammy Brown by snatching up offensive lineman Ronan O’Connell. (Sammy Brown) earned his share along with safety Ricardo Jones and others.
Tennessee recently surpassed Clemson as Sanders’ favorite, arguably putting more focus on this emerging rivalry. But they also legitimately compete for Monroe (N.C.) four-star safety Jordan Young, as well as Roswell (Ga.) Fellowship Christian four-star forward Josh Petty and Bowen Bogart, Prince Avenue Christian Four Star, Georgia (Georgia).
As we look ahead to the 2026 class, you can see them going to be Charlotte (NC) Providence Day four-star lineman Leo Delaney and maybe Irmo (SC) Receiver Donovan Murph or Knoxville (Tennessee). Hoff four-star corner Samari Matthews.
Josh Heupel NIL is playing games in the region again.
Share your thoughts with Clemson fans at TIGERILLUSTRATED.COM
Share your thoughts with Tennessee fans at VOLREPORT.COM
*****
3. New state law will help recruiting in N.C. and N.C.
Friedman: Novel. North Carolina officials are considering a bill that would force North Carolina and NC State to play each year against East Carolina, Appalachian or Charlotte State. Lawmakers also want to ensure East Carolina, Appalachia and Charlotte host North Carolina and North Carolina every six years.
It may seem like an odd topic for lawmakers, but state politics could take an odd turn. Good for lawmakers if they try to raise the profile of schools within their borders, but in doing so they would harm the state’s two flagship universities.
A win over a small school like this won’t do much to help NC State or NC State in the polls, and a potential loss to either of them would obviously hurt more. Missing out on the spotlight that comes with a matchup against a superior opponent would obviously hurt their wallets, as well as the benefits of a win in this hypothetical matchup and help push the College Football Playoff.
Bigger matchups, the attention it attracts and the possibility of being in the College Football Playoff all help recruiting.
Zebar: Fact. North Carolina and NC State probably won’t be excited about being forced to play Appalachia, Charlotte and East Carolina permanently, but it could help if the Wolfpack and Tar Heels win Recruit players. Two ACC programs have or will play football games against neighboring schools — in part because of past state politics. The N.C. State men’s basketball team doesn’t typically play against those three programs at home and home, and they haven’t faced Charlotte in any game since the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
NC State has played East Carolina on a semi-regular basis since 1970, with its longest droughts occurring between 1987-1992 and 1999-2004. The games are played in a lively atmosphere, usually packed with fans, which is better than for lesser-known opponents from outside the region. The last time NC State played Appalachian State in football was in 2006, and NC State has never played Charlotte. The Wolfpack will have series with the Mountaineers in 2025 and 2026 and series with the 49ers in 2030 and 2031.
For recruiting purposes, a game in Charlotte will open a window into a pool of talent-rich players within a 60-minute drive. Recruits from Charlotte and the suburbs, Rock Hill, S.C., or Shelby, N.C., could easily handle the task, and maybe even from Asheville, N.C., which has played showcase games in the Queen City in the past , Tennessee will also make its debut this year. Sure, some players will drive to Carter-Finley Stadium, but they’ll enjoy watching the game closer to home. There aren’t many prep football recruits near Boone, NC or Greenville, NC, but if the drive is shorter and you can get them in, that’s always a win.
Share your thoughts with NC State fans at THEWOLFPACKCENTRAL.COM
Share your thoughts with UNC fans at TARHEELILLUSTRATED.COM
