It's been said on here several times by Ryan that Swift mentioned that the combination of Barkley and Sanders would have some bearing on his decision. A logjam backfield is not something that more all-American RBs want to walk into, so it got me thinking: What are the roster breakdowns and recruiting trends of his top suitors? Below are lists of enrolled, committed, and targeted players by school with their current eligibilities. (Keep in mind that I'm not an expert on all of these schools, their rosters, or depth charts. Just some basic research)
Penn State:
Roster:
Johnathan Thomas (JR/SO)
Mark Allen (JR/SO)
Saquon Barkley (SO/SO) - 4*, #117 in 2015 R250
Andre Robinson (SO/FR) - 3* outside 2015 R250
Miles Sanders (FR/FR) - 4* #39 in 2016 R100
Commits:
(None)
Targets:
Anthony McFarland - Favoring the southern schools. UGA was the favorite at one point. Long shot for PSU.
Discussion:
Certainly Thomas and Allen will play roles for PSU this fall, but the 3-headed monster of Barkley-Robinson-Sanders will gobble up probably 90% of the reps. For Swift's freshman year (2017), Barkley (JR), Robinson (SO), Sanders (FR or SO) will still have plenty of eligibility left. It's far too early to predict Barkley as a 3-and-done to the NFL guy, but it is a possibility. Will Swift want to get minimal reps at RB as a true frosh or Redshirt? Tough to say, but his ability to catch passes could get him into gets more easily in the slot.
Alabama:
Roster:
Damien Harris (SO/SO) - Former 5* and #8 in 2015 R100
Bo Scarbrough (Jr/SO) - Former 5* and #16 in the 2014 R100
B.J. Emmons (FR/FR) - 4* and #33 in 2016 R100
Commits:
Najee Harris - 5*, #2 in 2017 R100
Cam Akers - 4*, #23 in 2017 R100
Brian Robinson - 4*, #145 in R100
Discussion:
The list of offers Alabama has sent is too extensive to cover, but just trust me when I say that if their is an elite RB in the country for the 2017 class, the Tide have probably extended an offer. Swift still seems very interest in Alabama despite what seems to be an even MORE loaded backfield than at PSU with three 5* guys and three more 4* players. Surely if Barkley and Sanders is reason for concern at PSU, then Alabama should be scratched off the list, right? More on this later.
Florida State:
Roster:
Dalvin Cook (JR/JR) - Former 5*, likely headed to the NFL after this season.
Jaques Patrick (SO/SO) - Former 5*, #18 in the 2015 R100
Johnathan Vickers (SO/FR) -Former 4*, Outside the 2014 R250
Amir Rasul (FR/FR) - 4*, outside the 2016 R250
Commits:
Zaquandre Wright - 4* ranked outside the 2017 R250
Targets:
Khalan Labron - 4* ranked outside the 2017 R250. FSU seems like the odds-on favorite to land him.
Discussion:
Yet another loaded backfield, albeit not as jammed as Alabama. Already on the roster are a 5* and two 4* players who will be Jr, So, FR/SO by the time Swift gets there. Also factor in the 1 or possibly 2 4* RBs headed to Tallahassee this cycle, and there will be 4 Running Backs with SO eligibility or less in the Fall of 2017.
Ohio State:
Roster:
Bri'onte Dunn (GR/SR)
Warren Ball (GR/SR)
Dontre Wilson (SR/JR) - 4*, #100 in 2013 R100
Mike Weber (SO/FR) - 4*, #59 in 2015 R100
DeMario McCall (FR/FR) - 4*, #66 in 2016 R100
Antonio Williams (FR/FR) - 4*, #128 in 2016 R250
Commits:
Todd Sibley - 3* outside 2017 R250
Targets:
Ty Chandler - 4* #153 in 2017 R250, seems to be leaning towards SEC
Trey Sermon - 4* #148 in 2017 R250, may stay SEC (from Georgia, but OSU making a push)
Discussion:
After reading the last 2, it looks very welcoming, but still a lot to contend with - at least as much as Penn State. Obviously Dunn and Ball are non-factors here and Wilson will be a GR/SR for 2017, but Weber, McCall, and Williams (all 4* players) will have Sophomore eligibility or less. Add in the possibility for Chandler or Sermon to pick the buckeyes, and that's jus t1 more body to contend with and very little class separation.
LSU:
Roster:
Leonard Fournette (JR/JR) - Will be entering NFL draft after this season
Darrel Williams (JR/JR) - 4*, #145 in 2014 R100
Derrius Guice (SO/SO) - 5*, #15 in 2015 R100
Devin White (FR/FR) - 4* outside 2016 R250
Commits:
Clyde Edwards-Helaire - 3* outside 2017 R250
Targets:
Toneli Carter - 4* #157 in 2017 R250 - Shaping up to be an LSU-TAMU battle
Cordarrian Richardson - 4*, #90 in 2017 R250
Discussion:
Maybe more of an outlier for Swift's services, LSU is still a notable offer to have. The depth here isn't quite as much as the other schools mentioned, but we all know LSU is a big factor for top RBs in the Southeast.
Michigan
Roster:
De'Veon Smith (SR/SR)
Karan Higdon (SO/FR) - 3* outside 2015 R250
Kareem Walker (FR/FR) - 4* #181 in 2016 R250
Kingston Davis (FR/FR) - 3* outside 2016 R250
Commits:
Kurt Taylor - 3* outside 2017 R250
Targets:
Anthony McFarland
Several 4* that will likely stay in the SEC as well as a few 3*
Discussion:
Ready for your stomach to turn? Well as if Harbaugh and staff weren't enough of a pain already, they probably have the most appealing depth chart of all the teams listed here. Kareem Walker is the only player rated 4* or better and ranked inside the R250 in recent classes. Of course, those aren't perfect indications of future success, but it is noteworthy nonetheless. Only time will tell to see Swift's interest in Michigan. A trip to Ann Arbor should be expected.
Clemson
Roster:
Wayne Gallman (SR/JR) - A repeat of 2015 would likely push him into the Spring 2017 NFL draft
C.J. Fuller (JR/SO) - 3* out of 2014 R250
Tyshon Dye (Sr/JR) - 4* ranked #217 in 2013 R250
Adam Choice (JR/SO) - 4* ranked #109 in 2014 R250
Tavien Fester (FR/FR) - 4* ranked #102 in 2016 R250
Commits:
(None)
Targets:
Colin Wilson - 4* ranked #147 in 2017 R250
Corridarrian Richardson
Discussion:
The hottest/Trendiest team in the country, Clemson needs to be discussed. After this season, the cupboard is left relatively bare in the Tiger backfield. Big signing of Tavien Fester in 2016's class, but he is the only player who will have Sophomore eligibility or less in the fall of 2017. Wilson and Richardson are also big time targets, so if either or both of them pick Clemson, it could change things.
Summary:
After evaluating the other rosters and recruiting situations for these schools, I have a few ideas of how this recruitment will shake out, but I'll save those for another day. For now, it's just interesting to look and see where things stand this early into the cycle. It's also interesting to see that Penn State actually is on par with (or has less) the depth charts of his other main offers. Will the John Reid factor come into play for PSU? Does Swift want to get out of cold PA (who can blame him)? So much more to discuss, but this is a good starting point.
Penn State:
Roster:
Johnathan Thomas (JR/SO)
Mark Allen (JR/SO)
Saquon Barkley (SO/SO) - 4*, #117 in 2015 R250
Andre Robinson (SO/FR) - 3* outside 2015 R250
Miles Sanders (FR/FR) - 4* #39 in 2016 R100
Commits:
(None)
Targets:
Anthony McFarland - Favoring the southern schools. UGA was the favorite at one point. Long shot for PSU.
Discussion:
Certainly Thomas and Allen will play roles for PSU this fall, but the 3-headed monster of Barkley-Robinson-Sanders will gobble up probably 90% of the reps. For Swift's freshman year (2017), Barkley (JR), Robinson (SO), Sanders (FR or SO) will still have plenty of eligibility left. It's far too early to predict Barkley as a 3-and-done to the NFL guy, but it is a possibility. Will Swift want to get minimal reps at RB as a true frosh or Redshirt? Tough to say, but his ability to catch passes could get him into gets more easily in the slot.
Alabama:
Roster:
Damien Harris (SO/SO) - Former 5* and #8 in 2015 R100
Bo Scarbrough (Jr/SO) - Former 5* and #16 in the 2014 R100
B.J. Emmons (FR/FR) - 4* and #33 in 2016 R100
Commits:
Najee Harris - 5*, #2 in 2017 R100
Cam Akers - 4*, #23 in 2017 R100
Brian Robinson - 4*, #145 in R100
Discussion:
The list of offers Alabama has sent is too extensive to cover, but just trust me when I say that if their is an elite RB in the country for the 2017 class, the Tide have probably extended an offer. Swift still seems very interest in Alabama despite what seems to be an even MORE loaded backfield than at PSU with three 5* guys and three more 4* players. Surely if Barkley and Sanders is reason for concern at PSU, then Alabama should be scratched off the list, right? More on this later.
Florida State:
Roster:
Dalvin Cook (JR/JR) - Former 5*, likely headed to the NFL after this season.
Jaques Patrick (SO/SO) - Former 5*, #18 in the 2015 R100
Johnathan Vickers (SO/FR) -Former 4*, Outside the 2014 R250
Amir Rasul (FR/FR) - 4*, outside the 2016 R250
Commits:
Zaquandre Wright - 4* ranked outside the 2017 R250
Targets:
Khalan Labron - 4* ranked outside the 2017 R250. FSU seems like the odds-on favorite to land him.
Discussion:
Yet another loaded backfield, albeit not as jammed as Alabama. Already on the roster are a 5* and two 4* players who will be Jr, So, FR/SO by the time Swift gets there. Also factor in the 1 or possibly 2 4* RBs headed to Tallahassee this cycle, and there will be 4 Running Backs with SO eligibility or less in the Fall of 2017.
Ohio State:
Roster:
Bri'onte Dunn (GR/SR)
Warren Ball (GR/SR)
Dontre Wilson (SR/JR) - 4*, #100 in 2013 R100
Mike Weber (SO/FR) - 4*, #59 in 2015 R100
DeMario McCall (FR/FR) - 4*, #66 in 2016 R100
Antonio Williams (FR/FR) - 4*, #128 in 2016 R250
Commits:
Todd Sibley - 3* outside 2017 R250
Targets:
Ty Chandler - 4* #153 in 2017 R250, seems to be leaning towards SEC
Trey Sermon - 4* #148 in 2017 R250, may stay SEC (from Georgia, but OSU making a push)
Discussion:
After reading the last 2, it looks very welcoming, but still a lot to contend with - at least as much as Penn State. Obviously Dunn and Ball are non-factors here and Wilson will be a GR/SR for 2017, but Weber, McCall, and Williams (all 4* players) will have Sophomore eligibility or less. Add in the possibility for Chandler or Sermon to pick the buckeyes, and that's jus t1 more body to contend with and very little class separation.
LSU:
Roster:
Leonard Fournette (JR/JR) - Will be entering NFL draft after this season
Darrel Williams (JR/JR) - 4*, #145 in 2014 R100
Derrius Guice (SO/SO) - 5*, #15 in 2015 R100
Devin White (FR/FR) - 4* outside 2016 R250
Commits:
Clyde Edwards-Helaire - 3* outside 2017 R250
Targets:
Toneli Carter - 4* #157 in 2017 R250 - Shaping up to be an LSU-TAMU battle
Cordarrian Richardson - 4*, #90 in 2017 R250
Discussion:
Maybe more of an outlier for Swift's services, LSU is still a notable offer to have. The depth here isn't quite as much as the other schools mentioned, but we all know LSU is a big factor for top RBs in the Southeast.
Michigan
Roster:
De'Veon Smith (SR/SR)
Karan Higdon (SO/FR) - 3* outside 2015 R250
Kareem Walker (FR/FR) - 4* #181 in 2016 R250
Kingston Davis (FR/FR) - 3* outside 2016 R250
Commits:
Kurt Taylor - 3* outside 2017 R250
Targets:
Anthony McFarland
Several 4* that will likely stay in the SEC as well as a few 3*
Discussion:
Ready for your stomach to turn? Well as if Harbaugh and staff weren't enough of a pain already, they probably have the most appealing depth chart of all the teams listed here. Kareem Walker is the only player rated 4* or better and ranked inside the R250 in recent classes. Of course, those aren't perfect indications of future success, but it is noteworthy nonetheless. Only time will tell to see Swift's interest in Michigan. A trip to Ann Arbor should be expected.
Clemson
Roster:
Wayne Gallman (SR/JR) - A repeat of 2015 would likely push him into the Spring 2017 NFL draft
C.J. Fuller (JR/SO) - 3* out of 2014 R250
Tyshon Dye (Sr/JR) - 4* ranked #217 in 2013 R250
Adam Choice (JR/SO) - 4* ranked #109 in 2014 R250
Tavien Fester (FR/FR) - 4* ranked #102 in 2016 R250
Commits:
(None)
Targets:
Colin Wilson - 4* ranked #147 in 2017 R250
Corridarrian Richardson
Discussion:
The hottest/Trendiest team in the country, Clemson needs to be discussed. After this season, the cupboard is left relatively bare in the Tiger backfield. Big signing of Tavien Fester in 2016's class, but he is the only player who will have Sophomore eligibility or less in the fall of 2017. Wilson and Richardson are also big time targets, so if either or both of them pick Clemson, it could change things.
Summary:
After evaluating the other rosters and recruiting situations for these schools, I have a few ideas of how this recruitment will shake out, but I'll save those for another day. For now, it's just interesting to look and see where things stand this early into the cycle. It's also interesting to see that Penn State actually is on par with (or has less) the depth charts of his other main offers. Will the John Reid factor come into play for PSU? Does Swift want to get out of cold PA (who can blame him)? So much more to discuss, but this is a good starting point.
