Fact or Fiction: Colorado's Purge, Ole Miss QB1, Joe Milton's Upside

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mike Farrell | Last updated 5/15/23

In today’s Fact or Fiction, I look at three big recent topics in college football and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.

1. The Colorado AD had to back Deion Sanders.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Colorado AD Rick George recently came out in support of Deion Sanders’ roster purge, as more than 60 players entered or were pushed to the transfer portal since his arrival. But what’s he going to say? He hired the man. He needed to make a big splash for a 1-11 program circling the drain, and he went out and got an inexperienced head coach who will bring his program massive attention. And Sanders has done just that, from his outspoken nature to the roster to purge to making the Buffs the only Power Five program with their spring game on ESPN. Time will tell whether Sanders is successful and if this push of players to the portal works or not, but his AD will have to back him every step of the way even if they start the season 1-4 as I expect they will.

2. Jaxson Dart wins the Ole Miss job.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Lane Kiffin didn’t waste time in the portal at QB, landing former 5-star Walker Howard from LSU and former Oklahoma State starter Spencer Sanders . Dart, a transfer himself from USC, wasn’t great last year as Ole Miss relied on a run-heavy attack, and he was more effective running than passing overall. But he’s shown signs of improvement and has more than held his own despite the incoming transfers. I think he’s the guy under center next year in game one. After that? Who knows?

3. The Anthony Richardson comparisons for Joe Milton are legit.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

Milton is a big kid and athletic. But when I see these comps, I wonder if that’s all anyone sees. Richardson is much, much more athletic than Milton, and while they both have a big arm, they both struggle with consistency. But for Milton, it’s more about a lack of touch or a “change up,” so to speak, while with Richardson, it was simply erratic accuracy and bad mechanics. Milton is a better passer; that’s night and day. But he’s not close to the athlete that Richardson is.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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