re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition

quote:

---

What is Alabama getting in Ronnie Harrison? 'Special player' and 'terrific young man,' coach says

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Florida State University Laboratory School head football coach Jarrod Hickman remembers Ronnie Harrison's desire and ability as a young kid.

Harrison has been at the school since first grade, Hickman said, and he was involved with the football program right away.

"He's been jumping boxes and doing footwork drills with us for a long time," Hickman said. "We let him hang around when he was young, and he's turned out to be a terrific young man."

Tuesday, Harrison made the next big step in his football career when he committed to Alabama, becoming the Crimson Tide's 20th verbal commitment for the 2015 class. Hickman said that Harrison, a safety in college, plans to graduate early and enroll in January.

It was a tough decision for Harrison, who had been committed to North Carolina for a year. He picked Alabama over UNC and LSU at the end of a Tuesday ceremony in Tallahassee.

"Ronnie's a very loyal person," Hickman said. "He felt great about Carolina for a long time and visited a lot of other schools. Alabama offered him a unique opportunity and a special opportunity. They're an established, championship program and I think he felt compelled that this would give him the best opportunity to reach some high goals."

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Harrison is a 4-star recruit who seems to be climbing up recruiting rankings by the week. He excels at quarterback and in the secondary for Hickman and FSUS.

"He can really spin the football and run it when need be," Hickman said. "Defensively, he plays corner or safety, wherever we need him from week to week, and he does a tremendous job back there."

Harrison's last visit was to LSU's camp, where he ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash. His smarts also set him apart. He also had offers from the likes of Florida, Georgia, Michigan State and Notre Dame.

"He's got a chance to be a really, really good player down the road," Hickman said. "He's a very intelligent young man who understands the game and sees the field really well. Because he's played the quarterback position, that really helps him on the defensive side of the ball.

"He's got tremendous athletic ability, tremendous feet, he's a 4.4 kid with size. He's very long and rangy. He covers a lot of ground being long like he is and athletic. He's got a chance to be a special player at the next level and maybe even further than that."

Harrison set his announcement date after his second trip to Alabama on the weekend of July 18-19, but recently came to his decision.

"I really don't think it was until early this week and maybe within the last 24 hours," Hickman said. "He had a chance to visit both schools multiple times. They're both great institutions. I know he went back and forth multiple times, but I don't think he could pass up the great opportunity to play at Alabama."

Harrison's commitment adds to Alabama's nationally top-ranked recruiting class. He's the fifth defensive back in the group, joining safeties Shawn Burgess-Becker (Coconut Creek, Fla.) and Deionte Thompson (Orange, Texas) and cornerbacks Montrell Custis (Hampton, Ga.) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (Jersey City, N.J.).

---

quote:

---

Harrison's last visit was to LSU's camp, where he ran a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash

---

quote:

---

Idk if y'all have watched much blake Barnett film but that cat straight LEAVES folks when he tucks and runs.

---

quote:

---

Coker can't just come in and remove that.

---

quote:

---

I really hope Coker lives up to the hype generated from Jimbo's comments, but the compilation video of all his snaps from last year is just meh. I realize he was in there with second stringers, but I still was expecting more.

---