Cooper Pategna, national recruiting analyst for 247 Sports, gives McElroy & Cubelic a recap of all the massive recruiting news & decisions we've seen over the last few days & says why Ohio State has the best class right now
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All right, welcome back in. McElroy and Kubelik in the morning, Monday, July 8th, 8.33 a.m. on JOX 94.5. Bill Smith Buick GMC is the GMC dealer of the year. It's really amazing. When you look at some of the deals that they have on the lot, you'll understand exactly what I'm talking about, and you'll find deals...

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with recruiting all over college football, not just in the Southeastern Conference. Cooper Pategna is going to join us now to discuss the recruiting that took place over the week. Let's start with Alabama, Cooper. And four-star outside linebacker Justin Hill commits, considered by many to be just a big-time edge defender. How good of a player is Alabama getting there? And just...

The momentum that Kalen DeBoer and his staff have, how real is that compared to what we've seen from Alabama, say, the last, I don't know, decade plus?

Yeah, we'll start with Justin Hill. I mean, he's legit top 10 edge in the country, top 64 player for us, and a guy that Alabama, Kalen DeBoer, they go up all the way to the state of Ohio out of the Midwest, and they pull him out. Guy had double-digit sacks last season. He kind of fits what we've seen in the past in terms of that Jack linebacker. I know they got a new name for it now under Kalen DeBoer and Cain Womack, but

This guy is twitched up, 6'3", 225 pounds. He runs well. He can play off-ball, on-ball, and just super productive. There's not a ton of flash, speed to power. That's what you get off the edge, and he's going to join a really, really talented room there and a guy that I think physically is more ready to play.

sooner rather than later. And then in terms of momentum, I mean, it's real. You know, what we've seen out of Alabama, I think, you know, even me just kind of watching these guys over the last couple months since Kalen DeBoer and his staff have arrived, I've just kind of waited for the other shoe to drop, but they've been able to keep pace and now have one of the top-ranked classes in the country sitting at number two, charging for the number one class. So it's been real. I think the biggest thing is can they keep it up?

Not really so much in the 2025 cycle, but year over year over year. That's going to continuously kind of be the question. But so far, so good for Alabama. You've got to be really, really pleased if you're a Crimson Tide fan. Yeah, well, what do you attribute this success on the –

on the, I guess, trail to be. I mean, it's not like these guys have had the opportunity to develop tons of relationships. It's obvious that Alabama's got a really nice, we got access to really good NIL, no doubt about that. But how is it that they're able to make these inroads so quickly when it hasn't really proven to be the case dating back to his time at Washington? Yeah.

Yeah, I think, you know, a concerted effort. I think when the staff came in, I think they were very aware of kind of where they stood and how they were perceived nationally when they were viewed in terms of, okay, what is their recruiting prowess? And that was the biggest question. We kind of saw this with Brian Kelly, too, when he arrived from Notre Dame to Baton Rouge. A lot of people had these questions, and then he responded with a top-ten class response.

recruited the state of Louisiana really well. And that's what we've seen with Kalen DeBoer. I think that was one thing that they've just really attacked since his first day on campus. And they hired Courtney Morgan. They bring him over from Washington. And a guy just talking with him recently, you know, it's been all hands on deck, a lot of urgency, a lot of relationships. I think they've been aligned from an NIL standpoint. I think all that helps. But, you know, I think the other thing that helps is you look at Washington, what they have, 10 players drafted.

So Michael Penix helps with Keelan Russell. Keelan Russell, a guy that's surging in the rankings, one of the best quarterbacks in the country. They've got momentum right now, and they've been able to kind of build off of it. So it's been one of those things, you know, to have Uncle Mo in your corner. Yes, but you've got to give a lot of credit to Keelan Moore and his staff. I mean, this is one area that I think a lot of people felt really comfortable with him on the field, what type of coach he is, but what are we going to get from the recruiting standpoint?

they've been answering all those questions. I think they know they're under a microscope, and I think you've seen them respond to that. Cooper Pategna joining us on the Bioshock Hotline. Quickly stay with Alabama's class. You mentioned Keon Russell, quarterback. He's going to get a lot of the noise regardless, but I know Dijon Lee, cornerback, highly rated. Caleb Edwards, highly rated tight end. Micah DuBose, a big-time offensive lineman. Who is maybe, I guess, the flying under-the-radar jewel of this class so far for Caleb DuBose and his staff?

Yeah, I really like the Jackson Wood kid out of Carmel, California. You know, a three-sport athlete guy that almost averaged a double-double last year on the hardwood. Big kid, man, 6'7", 290 pounds, probably well over 300 now. Left tackle, more of a power scheme guy, but quick twitch, explosive, can climb up to the second level. I think they've done a really, really nice job on the offensive line. And then I wouldn't call it under the radar, but this Dawson Merritt kid from Kansas, he's

I love, got the NFL pedigree, another guy that we're really, really high on to play on-ball, off-ball, a lot of versatility. So when you think about that position flex and how they can move these guys around, that kind of gets me really excited about how they can attack opposing offenses. I know everybody wants to talk about offense with Kalen DeBoer, and for good reason, but what they've done defensively, especially on the back end and the second level, there's a lot to be excited about. That's going to raise the floor of this team because obviously the ceiling is going to be set

on the offensive side of the ball, but they're doing some really, really nice things on defense as well. How would you assess kind of the pitch? I know I'm sure you've talked to certain prospects. What is the pitch defensively? Because a lot of us, I mean, they can tell us

We can watch what Kane Womack's done in the past. We can look at the scheme, but we hadn't seen it in Crimson and White. What has been the pitch defensively with the scheme that they're going to run out there and how it's going to put guys in position to make plays?

Yeah, I think more so opportunity. You know, I think a lot of people look at Kaelin DeBoer, you know, coming from the Pacific Northwest and from Washington and a two-year stint down in Alabama, and they see Alabama, and they still hold Alabama in this really high regard, as they should, but they see an opportunity to play for a new coach with a new identity and a really blank slate and a blank canvas there that they can be a part of. And, I mean, you know, I...

I can't tell you what they're pitching or what that looks like, but in terms of, you know, this is still one of the most talented rosters in college football. That being said, they got a lot of inexperience at a lot of places where they haven't had that in years past over the last 17 years. So there's an opportunity for these young guys to come in and play early. I mean, look at the defensive backfield, what they did last year.

They're losing a lot of parts, sure, but they signed guys like Zabian Brown, Zay Mincy, and Jalen Mbakwe, three five-stars. Now you add in Dejon Lee, a guy that's knocking on that conversation. I think for a lot of these guys, just an opportunity to come in, establish themselves, and be part of something new and something different for a place that hasn't had a lot of change already.

over the last 17 years or so. Cooper Patagna, recruiting expert, joining us on the Buyer's Right Hotline, talking a big week of recruiting. All right, let's move off of Alabama. Oregon gets who many say the number one wide receiver in the country, 2025 five-star Dakarian Moore.

But 5'11", 185, I think when I think number one receiver in the country, I wouldn't immediately go to a kid that size. But obviously, he's got big-time speed, state champion in the 4x200 relay, very productive career. What is Oregon getting, and how much separation is there between he and maybe some of the other wide receivers in the country? Yeah, great question. I mean, I think the biggest thing when you look at DeCorey and Moore, and you kind of bring up the height weight, I mean, put

puts them a little bit in a corner, but you got to be a box checker of every degree, especially if you're going to be number one receiver in the country, number five player overall. And you talked about, I mean, he's playing for a Duncanville team. That's one state championships at the highest level in Texas over the last two years, you know, ran 10, four and the hundred millionth,

meter there's no questions in terms about the verified speed um and then the the game speed as well and then his run after catchability i mean if there is a comp there and this might make lsu fans a little bit upset because he was once committed to the tigers i mean it's malik neighbors i mean you talk about a guy instant spark plug can win inside outside uh run after catchability is one of the most dynamic uh players in the country and then just in terms of uh

you know, the gap between him and whoever's next in this case, it would be a guy like Koweek Lockett at number 11, um,

Like me personally, I'm so firm on DeCorey Moore and what he brings to the table. Sure, there might be a range on him. Maybe you see him from 5 to 15, but just in terms of where you could potentially miss on this guy, there's such a slim margin of error. I just feel so confident and convicted that this guy is going to have an immediate impact at the next level where some of the other guys you get in the conversation are

Kalik Lockett, even though he's got the production, he's more kind of a spec developmental upside guy. You go down the board, same with Caleb Cunningham, big guy, basketball background, you know, some guys that are going to need a little bit of polish, a little bit of seasoning, maybe have higher upsides at the end of the day, but you know what you're getting with DeCorey Moore, which is, you know, why you saw Oregon and

Dan Lanning and Phil Knight and, you know, their operation put their best foot forward there and team him up potentially, you know, with a really, really good receiving core under Junior Adams. Who right now has the best recruiting class? Because it's kind of all over the board depending on which publication you look at. A lot of people have different opinions. Some have huge classes, some have small classes, but there's better quality in small classes than

Just curious, by your opinion, who has the best right now? Yeah, I think it's a blend of both when you're looking at quantity and you're looking at quality. I mean, I think there are a couple teams with some meat left on the bone. I would look at Ohio State to see what they've done. Davey and St. Clair, number two player in the country, and right now, honestly, coming off of Elite 11, and we'll wait until the senior season more than likely, but you

He could easily be the number one player in the country. Just a prototype fits exactly what they want to do in that Chip Kelly offense. And then you think about the two corners that they had, Devin Sanchez, Naeem Offord, they got a chance at the number one tackle in the country, and David Sanders here next month. So for Ohio State to potentially have four of the top ten players in the country, that says a lot about them. They've done a great job top to bottom. That's no different than what they do every year. I think Alabama has certainly –

surprise some people in a very good way. And then, you know, Georgia right now, out of the top three teams, you got Ohio State with 23 commits, Alabama with 20, Georgia sitting at 18. They're just one of those programs at any point. They feel like they can get whatever they want when they want it. And they just kind of get stronger and stronger and stronger as they get closer to that finish line. So Georgia and, you know, coincidentally enough, Oregon,

Oregon sitting there with 15 commits. Dan Lanning, Kirby Smart, they kind of have that same mentality. In Oregon, a lot of people were kind of questioning earlier in the offseason. I would kind of put Lanning in that same boat as Kirby Smart. These are dudes that eat, breathe, sleep,

recruiting and they're just absolutely maniacal but on top of that they're incredibly calculated as well so uh those three and obviously alabama doing a great job at ohio state georgia oregon right now those would be the three teams that i'm keeping an eye on kind of battling it out for number one cooper i just want to get a quick thought on auburn and what hugh freeze is doing uh they get jacoby ward uh big time offensive lineman out of savannah georgia it's a position of need

A couple of decommits a week or two ago, but all in all, the class still looks very strong. Just give us kind of the 1,000-foot view of Auburn recruiting right now. I like it a lot. You know, Josh Pate asked a question last night. Who's that? Yeah, exactly. Late kicks, Josh. Top 10 programs over the next three years. And, yeah, I was thinking to myself, I'm like, man, like,

But Auburn right now, the way that they're recruiting, they've got to get the quarterback position figured out. And it's going to be a really interesting storyline to see what they do in 2025. They've got Walker White, and we'll see what shakes out this year. But I love what they're doing across the board. Malik Autry, Caleb Falk, Eric Winters, Jordan Crawford, all those guys are from the state of Alabama. And the good thing about maybe Alabama right now, what's interesting is

Kaelin Boer's got six guys from California. He's got five in-state. I just feel like there's a little bit of opportunity there for Hugh Freeze in the state of Alabama, maybe a little bit more connected. But I like what they're doing, man. I feel like that's a program that's aligned from the start of early identification and the evaluation process all the way through in terms of what the money looks like, how that should be kind of shoaled out, all that type of stuff.

Auburn's in a really good spot. They're sitting at number 11. I think they're probably in position for another top 10 finish, probably surge, maybe even get closer to that top five. So they seem like a program right now that's got it figured out, and they're recruiting with urgency. They've been recruiting with urgency since Hugh Freeze has gotten there. They're doing the exact opposite of what Brian Harsin was doing, and I think that's what Auburn fans want.

Cooper, great stuff, man. Thanks for joining us. I know we kept you long, but I appreciate the time. We'll have you back again soon. Thank you, Gus. There you go. Cooper Pategna with the 24-7 Sports Network at...

C Patagna 247. That's P E T A G N A 247. One of the best when it comes to talking recruiting. And it was a massive weekend. We didn't even get through the four and five stars are committed to some of the other places. We'll talk about those on the other side next right here on McElroy and Kubelik in the morning. Catch up with all things McElroy and Kubelik in the morning by subscribing to the podcast. Mythically, he's grown. He's almost like a little bit bigger than a

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