The Rundown Take
Breakout Watch and a Rivalry Grudge Match: U Talk's Post-Jacksonville Show
Fresh off a football-season kickoff barbecue in Jacksonville hosted by Derek Alford, Devin and Larry Frank Jr. brought the family back together to ask one question: name your two breakout players for 2024, one on each side of the ball. What started as a straightforward preview turned into one of the night's most heated calls when a Florida State fan phoned in looking to debate — and got exactly what he came for.
Key Takeaways
- Larry Frank's picks: Jacobe George on offense and a young linebacker on defense, comparing him to a classic sideline-to-sideline workhorse type.
- Devin goes with a pair of players returning from injury with something to prove: Elijah Royal on offense and Akheem Mesidor on defense.
- Caller Kyle Stallin adds Jacobe George plus a standout middle linebacker to the mix, arguing George's numbers should jump now that Cam Ward is under center instead of a limited passer.
- A Florida State caller nicknamed "Jimmy Hart" by Chris Kane sparks a full rivalry debate with Larry Frank over talent, transfers and championship history — Miami's five national titles against FSU's three headline the back-and-forth.
- Shoutouts roll in for coach Hayes's interview with signee Gavin Nicks and for the hospitality crew in Jacksonville, including a running bit about the crushing handshake of a guest named Lawrence.
Who Breaks Out in 2024
The defensive backfield got real attention after Michael Redding's status came up — Mr. Magic confirmed he's off the roster but still enrolled in school. Callers built a case for a young, largely unproven secondary anchored by Daryl Porter Jr. and Damari Brown, both of whom held up in spot duty against Clemson and Florida State last season. On offense, the tight end room drew praise as a unit nobody's fully accounted for yet, with the panel circling back again and again to Jacobe George as the receiver most likely to stretch a defense vertical this season.
The Florida State Call
The night's centerpiece was an extended, spirited call-in debate between Larry Frank and a Florida State-fan regular, sparring over whether the Seminoles' 13-0 season last year proves anything about this year's team, and whether Miami's deeper, more experienced roster finally closes the gap in the rivalry. Both sides traded history — ACC titles, national championships, and the 2013 near-miss — before Chris Kane jumped in to back up the panel and needle the caller's "Jimmy Hart"-style theatrics.
"At the end of the day, it's too much money in this program and too much money invested for it to be a repeating cycle every single season."
Bash Countdown
The show closed with reminders that U Talk Bash 2 lands November 8th at the Georgia Palms Event Center in Atlanta, followed by a group watch party, plus a preview of the next Winning At The Game Of Life episode with Kerri Smith airing August 6th.