Three Predictions: Pro days, Brian Kelly, Tennessee

Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney has three predictions on the usefulness of pro days, more heat coming LSU coach Brian Kelly’s way and Tennessee getting a five-star QB/WR combo by signing day:

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Cam Ward didn’t work out at the NFL Combine. Neither did Shedeur Sanders. They’ll probably be the first two quarterbacks taken in the NFL Draft.

Travis Hunter didn’t work out in Indianapolis and ran a few routes at Colorado’s pro day, which was loaded with pro scouts, Friday in Boulder. But what are these guys really getting out of seeing Hunter again in person, run routes he’s designed? Everyone knows he’s an athletic freak show and if you didn’t already then you’re in the wrong business.

Sanders threw at Colorado’s pro day but the viral clip is one of him throwing a behind-the-back pass. Great. That will get numbers on Instagram but did NFL scouts really learn anything new about Sanders or Hunter at Colorado’s pro day? Probably not.

Pro days could actually be dangerous for scouts because they fall in love with a throw and then start believing the hype.

Whether it’s a behind-the-back pass from Sanders or people falling in love with Zach Wilson during his BYU pro day where he rolled left and then threw a deep ball back across his body – good luck trying that in an NFL game – things are shown at pro days that aren’t realistic.

Everyone is getting excited about Joe Milton because he can throw the ball 85 yards. But can he throw an out route without sailing it into the stands? The same questions were raised about DJ Uiagalelei for years – that his velocity is unquestionable but his control is suspect – and look what happened there.

Pro days provide some value. But when everybody has a great pro day and their draft stock is rising because of a pro day, I grow very suspicious. Hunter hardly did much at his and he should be the first skill player off the board. Sanders and Ward hardly showed all that much. Good.

Pro days are fine but let the overall resume do the talking.

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Late in the 2025 recruiting cycle, five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood flipped from LSU to Michigan after Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison delivered a $12 million NIL deal. Coach Brian Kelly begged LSU supporters to donate to the NIL cause so it wouldn’t happen again.

But just a few months later, Blaine Bradford committed to Ohio State over LSU and this one hurts for a few particular reasons. He’s from Baton Rouge, LSU took his brother in the 2025 class to also get the five-star safety in 2026 and the top prospects in the state might not be done heading elsewhere.

The word is that Texas A&M has the edge for high four-star two-way lineman Lamar Brown, who goes to high school at Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab, which is on LSU’s campus.

If Bradford and Brown stay the top-two prospects in the Louisiana state rankings and sign elsewhere, it would be the first time in over a decade that LSU didn’t get at least one, if not both, of the top players in the state.

Signing day is light years away at this point and things can change but going into Year 4 of Brian Kelly in Baton Rouge, the Tigers don’t have much to show for it and they’re paying him exorbitant money for results, not misses on Bryce Underwood, Jahkeem Stewart and others.

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Tennessee quarterback commit Faizon Brandon is the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 Rivals250 right now and after seeing him multiple times this offseason it seems very unlikely unless something shocking happens that he would move off the five-star list.

The Vols only have two receivers committed but Tyreek King continues to prove he’s one of the best receivers in this class and if things continue on that upward trajectory, Brandon and King could form a dynamic five-star duo in Knoxville.

King, a four-star from Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic, impressed again at a recent camp where he showed off such a high level of athleticism and dynamic ability with the ball in his hands.

Oftentimes, we fall in love with these big outside receivers but slots like King, who are so difficult to defend in the open space are killing it at all levels of football. King reminds us of Jaylen Waddle at the same stage.

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