Cover 3 College Football Podcast

Episode: Week 6 College Football Standouts and Looking Ahead on UNC, Nebraska | Recruiting Show

Date: October 7, 2025
Hosts: Bud Elliott, Andrew Ivins (Recruiting Hour)

Overview

This episode of Cover 3 zeroes in on Week 6’s standout performances—especially dynamic wide receivers from Florida—then pivots to deep-dive recruiting conversations. Bud and Andrew assess North Carolina’s troubled recruiting approach, dissect Texas and Nebraska’s offensive line woes, and spotlight rising quarterback prospects. The dialogue is packed with insider observations, honest critiques, and recruiting stories, making it a must-listen for die-hard college football and recruiting fans.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Florida’s Wide Receiver Resurgence

[01:07 – 05:15]

• Bud and Andrew open by celebrating the return of elite wide receiver talent in Florida.
  • Ex: Malachi Tony (Miami), Dallas Wilson (Florida), Vernell Brown (Florida), plus Jordan Fasan (Notre Dame), Romello Brinson (SMU), Michael Trigg (TE from Florida), J.C. Brown (Kansas State).
• Quote:

  “Receivers in the state of Florida are back in a big way. …Honestly, receiver play in Florida had been down for a minute…But there's a lot to be excited about right now.”
  – Bud Elliott [01:14]

• Only one first-round WR from Florida in five years (Zay Flowers), compared to three straight previous drafts: Jerry Jeudy, Calvin Ridley, Hollywood Brown.
  • Now, 15-20 Power 4 signees at WR per cycle, resurgence visible.

Malachi Tony’s Story

[03:44 – 08:46]

• Undersized but explosive; not a combine/star rating darling.
• Skipped senior year, highest-ranked 3* in his class, didn’t participate in track measurables or camps (“never ran anywhere, never measured anywhere…just a football player” – Ivins [05:15]).
• Comes from powerhouse American Heritage (Pat Surtain Jr., Brian Burns).
• Decommitted from Miami, considered FSU/Oregon/Alabama but stuck with Miami.
  • Miami trusted their evaluation, made him a focus after losing Xavier Restrepo.
• Quote:

  “Ability to deliver in key moments throughout his football career, despite not being the biggest, despite not being the fastest, shouldn’t be overlooked. And I think that fits Malachi Tony to a tee.”
  – Andrew Ivins [06:39]

• Typical ‘small guy’ red flags, but Tony is an exception—tough, savvy, and delivers.

2. Next WR Standouts – Florida’s Pipeline

[11:06 – 14:47]

• Calvin Russell (Miami Northwestern): 6'5”, basketball background, five-star, committed to Syracuse but open recruitment.
  • Bud sees shades of Plaxico Burress (“big time, a little bit taller dude who just...beat the angle for everybody”) [14:03].
• Dallas Wilson (Florida): Called a potential Tamarick Vanover comp for size/speed: “I didn’t realize he had that kind of juice…Florida’s got a total stud there for sure.”
  – Bud Elliott [14:33]

3. UNC’s Bleak Rebuild and Unorthodox Recruiting (Michael Lombardi ‘Manifesto’)

[14:53 – 20:56]

• North Carolina’s regime is deeply troubled (“Worst Power 4 team in the country…” – Bud [15:03]).
• Donor letter from GM Michael Lombardi outlined a massive 40-man high school recruiting class as the path forward.
• Andrew skeptical: high number of commits makes rankings look better, but real quality is questionable (“I saw them take guys at powerhouse schools who weren’t even starting…there’s no one on staff providing context.” – Ivins [17:33])
• Huge roster turnover likely; project will need 2-3 years minimum.
• Quote:

  “If they are going the high school route, we're talking two, three years from now where you would really see the benefits from that class.”
  – Andrew Ivins [19:18]

• Disconnect evident between NFL-type staff and the realities/nuance of high school recruiting.

4. Texas’s Offensive Line and Roster-Building Problems

[21:56 – 26:30]

• Disastrous OL play has sunk Texas’s offense (“It’s recruiting malpractice, bud. Roster management malpractice.” – Ivins [23:14])
• Texas signed only 1 Top247 OL in last three cycles—volume disastrously low.
• Deep dive into why they’re missing out on national blue-chippers (Proctor, Mauigoa, Seaton).
  • NIL and brand advantages not leveraged.
  • “I was in the Swamp on Saturday, like what happened? Where are these big individuals?” [25:05]
• Receiver group similarly mediocre. Committee approach usually a red flag in college football.
  • “If you tell me you got four you like [at receiver], more often than not that is complete media BS.”
    – Bud Elliott [26:23]

Recruiting Outlook

[28:48 – 31:00]

• 2026 signee John Turntine is promising but needs development; 2027 class deeper but help far off.
• Jordan Seaton (Colorado) potential portal target—could command $2M+.
• Positive future notes:
  • Jermaine Bishop, 5*, athlete/WR—potential Travis Hunter comp, “definition of a three-phase impact player…just get this guy on the field and let him make plays.” – Ivins [31:16]

5. Top QB Matchups & Recruiting Battles

[34:48 – 41:38]

• Preview: Oregon’s Dante Moore (former 5*, smooth, advanced, prototype) vs Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (former 2*, late Yale flip, developmental breakout).
• Contrasting journeys (“They could not be more opposite in terms of the paths they've taken to get where they are now.” – Ivins [36:26])
  • Moore was the high-profile recruit; Mendoza wasn’t noticed by major programs until late—now a possible top NFL pick.
  • Quote:

    “Fernando Mendoza completed three passes in a game as a senior in high school. I mean, his developmental rise is crazy.”
    – Andrew Ivins [39:37]

6. Quarterback Showdown: Izzy Abrams vs Trey Taylor (Class of 2027)

[42:53 – 48:23]

• Illinois juniors combine for over 1,000 yards in a 55-54 barnburner.
  • Abrams (No. 2 QB): Elastic, big arm, raw still but elite upside.
    • Mom’s an Iowa St. alum; big programs in play.
  • Taylor (No. 4 QB): Precision, maturing quickly, committed to Nebraska. Rule’s staff investing in 2027, aiming for transformative class.
  • “Trey Taylor is a big reason why. He's a precision passer…a lot of the high profile recruits in the class of 2027 know who Trey Taylor is.” [46:20]
• High-profile, Big Ten-centric recruiting implications.

7. Nebraska’s Strategic Recruiting Push

[50:03 – 52:33]

• Nebraska reworking its personnel apparatus, chasing 10+ win seasons to anchor a top 2027 recruiting class.
• Candid about portal “whiffs” on OL/DL; if those are solved, Huskers could capitalize on a winnable schedule.
• “Maybe they finally got it right…if they can like get to that 10 win mark or in the College Football playoff conversation…they have positioned themselves...to be the recruiting class everyone talks about.”
  – Andrew Ivins [50:51]

8. Missouri as a Recruiting Sleeper

[52:33 – 53:42]

• Missouri leveraging on-field success, quietly building with a smaller but strategic ‘26 class.
  • “If you are trying to identify a program that is going to parlay…what they're doing on Saturdays into success on the recruiting front, I think Missouri's one to keep an eye on here.”
    – Andrew Ivins [53:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bud Elliott [01:14]:
  “Receivers in the state of Florida are back in a big way…receiver play in the state of Florida had been down for a minute…there’s a lot to be excited about right now.”

• Andrew Ivins [06:39]:
  “Ability to deliver in key moments throughout his football career, despite not being the biggest, despite not being the fastest, shouldn’t be overlooked. And I think that fits Malachi Tony to a tee.”

• Bud Elliott [26:23]:
  “Anytime it’s like, yeah, we got like four guys we like. I’m like, okay, I have none you like. If you tell me you got four you like, more often than not, that is complete media BS.”

• Andrew Ivins [23:14]:
  “It’s recruiting malpractice, bud. Roster management malpractice.”

• Andrew Ivins [36:26]:
  “They could not be more opposite in terms of the paths they've taken to get where they are now.” (On Moore vs Mendoza)

• Bud Elliott [14:03]:
  “I see a little bit of Plaxico Burress there when I watch him as well…”

Important Timestamps

• 00:43–08:46 – Florida WRs; Malachi Tony’s evaluation & rise
• 11:06–15:00 – Next WRs to know: Calvin Russell, Dallas Wilson
• 15:00–20:56 – UNC’s recruiting plan, criticisms of the ‘manifesto’
• 21:56–31:16 – Texas OL problems, recruiting philosophy, Jermaine Bishop
• 36:26–41:38 – Dante Moore vs Fernando Mendoza (QB battle paths)
• 42:53–48:23 – 2027 QB battle: Abrams vs Taylor and Nebraska recruiting
• 50:03–52:33 – Nebraska’s structural pivots; portal/OL strategy
• 52:33–53:42 – Missouri’s under-the-radar recruiting rise

Tone & Language

The episode features knowledgeable yet unfiltered back-and-forth between Bud and Andrew—laced with wry humor, insider recruiting details, and passionate speculation on player development and college football program building.

Summary Suitability

This summary captures every major theme and insight, with embedded timestamps, key takeaways, and direct quotes. The details and structure should make it invaluable for listeners who need to catch up, reference segments, or inform their own college football opinions.