National recruiting director Mike Farrell and national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney tackle three topics daily and determine whether they believe the statements or not.
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RELATED: Fidone becomes Huskers' top commit
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team
CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
COVERAGE: Rivals Transfer Tracker | Rivals Camp Series
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1. Thomas Fidone is the biggest commitment for Nebraska in years.
Farrell’s take: FACT. Quarterback Adrian Martinez was very important as a flip from Tennessee and Nebraska has landed some key four-stars in recent years like Lamar Jackson who was the No. 1 safety in the country and Wandale Robinson who was a flip from Kentucky.
But Fidone is a kid Nebraska had to have. Talent like his doesn’t appear often within such a small radius from Lincoln and he’s a kid who grew up a huge Nebraska fan. So if the Huskers lost him to Big Ten West rival Iowa or even LSU, it would be a disaster for Scott Frost. From a public standpoint this was a huge get.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Fidone is in the running for the top tight end nationally but he’s more than that because he can split out, stretch the field and maybe no one at his position has better hands or is a better playmaker. He should be phenomenal in Nebraska’s offense if the coaching staff makes it a priority to get him the ball.
Martinez was big. Robinson was big and should have an even bigger role this season. Zavier Betts could be a superstar. But Fidone is the biggest because the Huskers kept him away from Big Ten foes and he’s going to be such a huge target in Nebraska’s offense.
MORE FIDONE: Rivals100 TE chooses Huskers
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2. Notre Dame TE Cane Berrong is underranked.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. This has somehow become a big issue as Berrong has dropped to a three-star after yet another evaluation. This is nothing against the player, but we don’t see four-star talent there. There’s a lack of elite athleticism and he’s not the tallest or biggest tight end around.
This reminds me a lot of Notre Dame going on Greer Martini a few years ago. The Irish offered early and he just never got much better. Martini has a solid career at Notre Dame, the career of a three-star, and I see the same for Berrong.
Gorney’s take: FACT. Berrong might not be a burner and he might lack elite athleticism but I also don’t believe there are 29 tight ends in the 2021 recruiting class better than him. He has great hands, he has solid speed, he gets open and I also like that the Notre Dame commit is a good blocker who isn’t afraid to get scrappy from time to time.
In his offense, Berrong is used all over the field and he makes plays. The Irish coaching staff knows what it’s looking for in tight ends. Is he a top-five tight end in the class? No. But he’s better than his ranking right now.
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3. Alabama commit JC Latham is the four-star who should be a five-star by now.
Farrell’s take: FACT. I’ve been on the JC Latham train since I saw him at the Future 50 in January and I still say he has the highest ceiling of any player in the 2021 class. The issue? He’s only played one year at offensive tackle after playing defense in Wisconsin. But after another season just watch. This kid could be very special.
Gorney’s take: FICTION. I know it’s easy to pick the first prospect right outside of the five-star rankings, but that’s what I’m doing because Jacorey Brooks should already be a five-star receiver. He might be the best overall receiver in this class and a Jerry Jeudy clone. Brooks is so bouncy and athletic, he knows how to set up defensive backs, he has great hands and then fantastic speed to run away from people after the catch.
Brooks is also committed to Alabama, which clearly knows how to develop players at his position. The upcoming discussion about whether Brooks is a five-star should be a good one. Whether he’s also the best receiver in the country should be heated as well.
