Cover 3 College Football Podcast
Episode: Mailbag! What Was The Best Year For High School Recruiting?
Release Date: April 3, 2025
Hosts: Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, Danny Kanell, Bud Elliott
Episode Overview
This episode features the Cover 3 crew diving into listener mailbag questions with a focus on high school football recruiting. The main topic explores “What Was the Best Year for High School Recruiting?” The conversation is peppered with signature banter, in-depth analysis of current and future college football changes stemming from the upcoming House settlement, memorable personal sports moments, and hypotheticals only this crew could dream up (like how much NIL money it would take to buy Toledo a national title).
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. House Settlement and the Changing Landscape of College Sports
- Bud Elliott shares perspective on the looming House settlement (set for April 7), addressing concerns about seismic changes to college athletics such as roster sizes, possible loss of non-revenue sports, and impacts of new NIL/revenue-sharing regulations.
- The group discusses whether the changes will be immediate or drawn out, with a consensus that panic is overblown and schools have been preparing for a while.
- Bud on the nature of change in college sports:
“Everybody in power is always like, oh, no, change, change, like change is bad, etc. ... there were literally hundreds [of doom predictions], like one a year. Different issues going back to like Teddy Roosevelt.” (07:00)
- Concerns are raised about how NIL caps/enforcement will work, how “market value” for athletes could be determined, and how potential lawsuits might challenge new rules.
- Danny Kanell: “It is whatever somebody’s willing to pay.” (10:32)
- Bud notes nonetheless: “The players are getting ripped off far less than they used to be for sure. But like the schools are still making out like bandits here.” (16:09)
2. Mailbag: Most Memorable Athletic Moments
Each host (and some listeners) shares favorite sports moments from their own youth or careers, bringing humor, nostalgia, and camaraderie.
- Chip: Game-winning buzzer beater in Raleigh City League basketball. (17:48)
- Bud: Threw a one-hitter in Babe Ruth League with his firefighter dad in the stands; executed a memorable double play. (19:27)
- Tom: Only touchdown as a lineman; hit a home run into his ejected dad's lap in the car. (19:59)
- Danny: Hit a grand slam at the Big League World Series in Fort Lauderdale, beating Taiwan. (21:12-21:58)
“We were down. I believe we’re down three to nothing, bases were loaded, hit a grand slam, we end up winning 4 to 3. ... One of my all time best sporting memories.” — Danny Kanell (21:31)
3. Mailbag: What If Great Coaches Had ‘Bama or Ohio State Money?
- Discussion on how coaching legends like Lance Leipold, Jeff Brohm, and Kirk Ferentz would fare with power-program budgets.
- Danny: “I do think they would... be in the national championship hunt every single year, much like Ohio State and Alabama are.” (23:22)
- The group notes Iowa does already spend a good amount, but agree that with top resources, even more conservative programs might change play style and approach.
4. Mailbag: Most Underserved Locations for College Football
- St. Louis is suggested but rejected because of Mizzou/Illinois fans.
- Consensus: the Northeast (especially NYC/New England) is the most underserved major US region for college football.
- Danny: “Living in Connecticut for five years, it is NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball. There’s just not a lot of college football fans.” (28:05)
- Others suggest Idaho and New Mexico as “hard to get to” with limited access to big-time college football.
Main Event: Best Year for High School Recruiting
[32:03 and onward]
The hosts debate the greatest single year ("cycle") in high school football recruiting history—judged by eventual college and NFL stardom.
2013 Class
- Chip's pick:
“Chris MFing Jones. Okay, Hall of Famer right off the top... Laramie Tunsil, Trudevius White, Jonathan Allen, Derrick Henry, Reuben Foster, ... Joey Bosa, Alvin Kamara, zeke Elliott, and J.T. Barrett...” (33:39-34:35)
- Bud: Adds Jalen Smith and others, praising the class's depth.
- This class stands out for success both at college and pro levels.
2018 Class
- Bud's pick:
“The quality of the quarterbacks at the top, I think, are nuts. ... Micah Parsons... Aman Ra St. Brown... Patrick Surtain [best corner in the NFL right now]... Jamar Chase, Quay Walker, Jalen Waddle, Aidan Hutchinson...” (35:04-36:25)
- Notably, many Detroit Lions stars came from this group: “The Detroit Lions were born in the 2018 recruiting class.” (36:25)
- Emphasis on its "top-heaviness" and how key players have become NFL stars.
Other Classes in Consideration
- 2011: Featured Jadeveon Clowney, Jarvis Landry, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Odell Beckham Jr., Johnny Manziel, Marcus Mariota, Melvin Gordon, but with more "misses" at the top than '13 or '18.
- 2024: (Recent, so incomplete)
- Bud: “We don’t need that many of these guys to hit for it to be like, oh, shoot. Like this is a real, real class.” (43:34)
- 2022: Travis Hunter and others, but not yet enough proven elite college/NFL production to compare to 2013/2018.
- Consensus: 2013 and 2018 are the best so far; newer classes have high upside but not enough time has passed.
Memorable Quote
“We are just guys naming dudes. That’s kind of what happens when you ask for the best recruiting class.” — Chip Patterson (39:39)
Chris Jones Story
- Bud tells an inside-scouting tale from 2013’s recruiting cycle, describing Chris Jones’ rural Mississippi roots and his dominance at the Under Armour game in Orlando. “By the end of day one, he’s kicking everybody’s ass.” (45:12-46:25)
Other Notable Mailbag Topics
Is Mike Norvell (FSU) Just Dan Mullen 2.0?
- Hosts discuss recruiting woes at FSU, comparing Norvell’s and Mullen’s successes and limitations.
- Bud: “So far, yeah. Probably sticks his foot in his mouth a little less... The lack of high school recruiting is gonna do them both eventually.” (46:48-50:53)
If a Billionaire Wanted to Buy Toledo a National Title—How Much NIL Would It Take?
- Hilarious spreadsheet breakdown of position group spending; consensus estimate for a one-year national title run:
- “$50–$60 million is all it would take to just go ahead and flip that roster, flip the staff and go buy yourself a title.” (55:08-55:53)
Notable Moments & Quotes
- “Everybody in power is always like, oh, no, change, change, like change is bad, etc.” — Bud Elliott (07:00)
- “I think [the House settlement] is not going to be a major change, but....our audience has been pretty prepped on.” — Bud (07:11)
- “College football and cheating go hand in hand. I don’t think anybody’s going to just say, ‘Sure, we’ll play by the rules.’” —Danny Kanell (12:09)
- “The Detroit Lions were born in the 2018 recruiting class.” —Tom Fornelli (36:25)
- “We are just guys naming dudes. That’s kind of what happens when you ask for the best recruiting class.” — Chip Patterson (39:39)
- “$50 million. And are we gonna have to get rid of Jason Candle? ... We’re trying to win a national championship here.” (55:00-55:33)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- House Settlement & NIL Discussion: 03:31 – 16:25
- Hosts’ Personal Athletic Memories: 17:48 – 22:31
- Coaching What-Ifs with Big Budgets: 23:04 – 25:28
- Underserved College Football Locations: 27:12 – 29:39
- Best Year for High School Recruiting (Main debate): 33:06 – 44:45
- Chris Jones Recruiting Story: 45:12 – 46:25
- Dan Mullen vs. Mike Norvell Recruiting Analysis: 46:48 – 50:53
- Toledo National Title NIL Hypothetical: 51:18 – 55:53
Episode Tone
Fun, offbeat, insightful, and occasionally irreverent. The Cover 3 team blends deep college football expertise with listener interaction, humor, and plenty of inside perspective.
For New Listeners
If you missed the episode, this summary covers everything from the House settlement’s impact on college football to the greatest recruiting classes and wild “buy-a-championship” hypotheticals. The hour is full of debates, nostalgia, and laughter—a true Cover 3 experience.