Reality or Fiction: Auburn might nonetheless flip Notre Dame QB commit Deuce Knight
Rivals nationwide recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman is joined by nationwide recruiting analyst John Garcia, Caleb Jones of AuburnSports.com and Jeremy Birmingham of DottingTheEyes.com to deal with three subjects and decide whether or not they consider every assertion is FACT or FICTION.
1. Deuce Knight returns to Auburn this weekend. The Tigers stay this system to observe to flip the four-star Notre Dame QB commit.
Jones: FACT. Auburn has stored the foot on the fuel in its pursuit of Deuce Knight, and whereas two visits and not using a flip isn’t best, I nonetheless really feel assured that Auburn is the workforce to observe for him. He’s set to return for an official go to through the weekend of Auburn’s sport in opposition to Oklahoma, together with three Auburn commits. Considered one of which is Alvin Henderson, who’s change into the Tigers’ main recruiter amongst commits. If Auburn doesn’t pull one thing off that weekend or within the days following, that confidence might start to slide. Nevertheless, I nonetheless consider Auburn is the workforce to observe at this cut-off date.
Spiegelman: FACT. Deuce Knight stays dedicated to Notre Dame, however there is a sense that there is an expiration date on that. Knight has made a number of visits again to the Plains since Huge Cat Weekend and is anticipated again the subsequent two weekends for the SEC opener in opposition to Arkansas and once more for an official go to on Sept. 28 when Oklahoma involves city. Notre Dame checked a ton of containers for the four-star QB apart from distance from residence in Mississippi. Auburn was an early participant for Knight and has circled again with authority since getting him again to the Plains in July. It is a matter of when, not if, he alters his thoughts at this price.
2. 5-star CB Na’eem Offord will finally ink with the Buckeyes in December.
Birmingham: FACT. Will Na’eem Offord signal with Ohio State is a query that might have a special reply each single week between now and signing day however as of at the moment I believe the reply is sure, Offord will signal with Ohio State.
However it’s going to be a battle between now and Dec. 3 among the many Buckeyes, the Oregon Geese and the home-state Auburn Tigers as a result of fairly in truth I don’t assume we’re anyplace close to the “greatest and closing” kind of NIL dialog which will very effectively form the final word resolution.
Offord actually likes Ohio State rather a lot. The Buckeyes have accomplished an awesome job managing issues with him and his household and have been gracious in permitting their prized Southern verbal to deal with the recruiting course of how he sees match and that goes a great distance towards holding onto issues over the subsequent two months. That mentioned, there has already been one in-season go to to Auburn and extra are probably. There’s an enormous go to to Oregon on October 12 — the weekend the Buckeyes play the Geese — that may to be navigated. The navigation ought to be made simpler by a possible Oct. 5 go to to Columbus the place the 2 sides are prone to get some actual readability on the place issues stand.
Spiegelman: FACT. 5-star CB Na’eem Offord has not but put a pin in his recruitment as Oregon and Auburn proceed to take their greatest pictures at attempting to alter the elite cornerback’s thoughts. No program has gotten Offord on campus as a lot because the Tigers, and the second-ranked CB within the Rivals250 has visits set to get again to Auburn and Oregon. He’s eyeing a 3rd again to Ohio State and these visits might finally be the catalyst between now and December when Offord makes his closing resolution.
The Buckeyes landed an early dedication from Offord and have staved off a number of applications to date. Relationships are an element. So is NIL and the chance to play early and play in huge video games. Oregon and positively Auburn usually are not taking place simple, however there’s nonetheless a way that Ohio State is in one of the best place long-term with Offord. There is a lengthy street till then, although.
3. Contained in the state of Alabama, there’s multiple potential five-star prospect for 2027.
Garcia: FACT. Jackson (Ala.) Excessive College operating again Ezavier Crowell has a number of the most full set of traits for the trendy asks of the place regardless of his youth. He has a balanced construct, but residence run capacity with nice imaginative and prescient and instincts on tape in addition. Crowell might very effectively wind up as the highest again within the class when all is claimed and accomplished.
There are a handful of extra candidates to probably eye, together with Crimson Tide linebacker pledge Jabarrius Garror and NFL legacy QB recruit Gunners Rivers amongst these already making main strikes on varsity for a number of years. The state is a top-five faculty soccer producer for a purpose, so it means scores of extra candidates will proceed to emerge this fall and past.
Spiegelman: FACT. Ezavier Crowell is the No.1 operating again within the high 100 for the 2027 class and is No. 12 within the nation. The Jackson (Ala.) Excessive four-star RB is without doubt one of the most explosive runners within the cycle and an absolute drive to construct a operating sport round. Crowell is already in five-star vary, and there is a slew of early candidates which might be promising sufficient to even be on the radar. Included in that group is four-star quarterback Gunner Rivers, the son of former NFL star Philip Rivers, who’s carving out his personal path at Fairhope (Ala.) St. Michael Excessive.
4-star Prattville (Ala.) Excessive defensive deal with Elijah Brown is a drive in the midst of the defensive position. He is constructed effectively for a sophomore at 6-foot-4 and 285 kilos, and strikes at a special clip. We’re additionally excessive on Cell (Ala.) Williamson linebacker Ellis McGaskin, a missile-launcher from the second stage of the protection. McGaskin has velocity, instincts and the flexibility to play on three downs whether or not it is in protection, pressuring the QB or defending the run. The complete state of Alabama may be very promising in 2027.
