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re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition
Posted on 10/19/16 at 8:32 am to TideSaint
Posted on 10/19/16 at 8:32 am to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama has kept its word to Tennison
One of the main things Tennison has closely watched when it comes to Alabama this year is the team’s use of tight end O.J. Howard.
Howard only has 14 catches for 209 yards, but Tennison said he’s been impressed with the Tide’s use of the senior. When Tennison visited this summer, the message he received from the coaching staff was Howard would be used more in the offense.
Though the stats may not paint that picture, Tennison has been happy with Howard’s season so far.
“I think it proves how honest their coaching staff is,” Tennison said. “They told me in the summer, as their recruitment of me picked up, that O.J. was going to be more utilized and that the tight end position in general was going to be more utilized. Sometimes coaches say things to recruits to catch their eye, but they’ve been 100 percent honest. I have been very impressed with that.”
Not only has Tennison been impressed with Howard but also Jalen Hurts. Tennison feels like Hurts’ performance this season is one of the major reasons why Alabama has dominated its opponents.
“I think they’ve done an extremely great job with a freshman quarterback,” Tennison said. “He really plays better than a lot of these seniors I’ve seen on Saturdays.”
The nation’s No. 11 tight end is hoping to have a similar impact in his freshman season, but there will be competition as the Tide have a commitment from fellow Texan prospect Kedrick James. The two recruits have met before, and Tennison believes if he chose Alabama, their games will complement one another.
Tennison has also heard from 5-star offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood, 4-star linebacker VanDarius Cowan and 4-star quarterback Mac Jones — the three best recruiters Alabama has committed to it. If you’re a major priority for the Alabama staff, it’s highly likely you’ve heard from at least one of those three commits. Side note: That’s another prospect Leatherwood is helping Alabama recruit. Would he really be thinking about flipping if he’s recruiting this hard for the Tide?
The main message he has heard from those three prospects is the reason why they committed to Alabama is because it felt like a second home.
“Going away for three to four years and being away from home for that long, the message that stuck with me the most is that you’re coming to a competitive environment, but at the same time, you work your butt off every day, but you’re with a family,” Tennison said.
As far as his upcoming visit this weekend to Tuscaloosa, Tennison said he’s most looking forward to seeing a Crimson Tide win.
“I was raised a (Texas) Longhorn and to hate A&M, so that’s always exciting,” Tennison said. “I’m just excited to see Alabama in person once again.”
7
Posted on 10/19/16 at 8:32 am to TideSaint
quote:
Florida staff visits two Alabama commitments
Florida is using its bye week to recruit its top recruiting priorities, and two of the prospects Gators coaches saw on Tuesday were Alabama commits.
According to SEC Country’s Zach Abolverdi, 5-star wide receiver Jerry Jeudy received a visit from Florida wide receivers coach Kerry Dixon II and 3-star junior college cornerback Jhavonte Dean was seen by linebackers coach Randy Shannon. Alabama athlete commit Chadarius Townsend was visited by Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins on Monday.
Those three Alabama commits chose the Crimson Tide over the Gators when they originally committed. If I were to choose one of those commits who could possibly flip his commitment to Florida, it would be Townsend. He’s been most open about visiting other schools despite Alabama being his dream school since he can remember.
Townsend also recently told SEC Country that Florida has worked hard to flip him away from Alabama.
Jeudy and Dean are long shots to change their commitments.
Posted on 10/19/16 at 8:33 am to TideSaint
quote:
Quick note on Todd Harris
I spoke with 4-star safety target Todd Harris almost two weeks ago, but our own Sam Spiegelman saw him at Plaquemine (La.) High School on Tuesday for the recruit’s Under Armour All-American ceremony.
Things are still very much the same with Harris — Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss are the big players in the nation’s No. 9 safety’s recruitment.
He told Spiegelman that he’s going to visit Alabama for the Iron Bowl next month, and possibly visit once again in January. What’s interesting about that is that Harris is set to announce his commitment Jan. 1 at the Under Armour game. I confirmed with Harris that the plan is to commit at the game, but he will continue taking visits after that announcement.
Harris is one of Alabama’s main safety priorities along with 4-star target DeAngelo Gibbs, who will take an official visit to Tuscaloosa this weekend, and 4-star recruit Devon Hunter. Depending on what LSU’s coaching situation looks like, it’s possible Alabama could flip 5-star talent JaCoby Stevens, but it’s unlikely as of right now.
Posted on 10/19/16 at 12:45 pm to TideSaint
Hank South thinks Moses sticks with Alabama.
He's holding a recruiting chat today.
He's holding a recruiting chat today.
Posted on 10/19/16 at 12:45 pm to TideSaint
Hank says Major Tennison and Elijah Conliffe may commit this weekend during their visit.
Posted on 10/19/16 at 12:47 pm to TideSaint
Hank doesn't think we have a very good chance of flipping Stanford Samuels FWIW.
Posted on 10/19/16 at 12:51 pm to TideSaint
Hank is still saying we sign 28 in this class.
Posted on 10/19/16 at 1:56 pm to TideSaint
quote:
An intensifying chase for conference titles and College Football Playoff inclusion coincides with a crucial stretch of the recruiting cycle. Just three weeks separate the national championship (Jan. 9) and national signing day (Feb. 1), forcing programs to maintain momentum on and off the field.
Now midway through the regular season, most recruiting classes have a solid foundation, and the key is to collect elite high school talent that further enhances a corps of committed athletes. For some of these prized prospects, the recruiting process started freshman year and continues to evolve courtesy of coaching staff developments and campus visits.
We've assessed college football classes as currently constructed to rank the top 25 talent hauls of this 2017 cycle, though a frenzied final 15 weeks will undoubtedly shake things up. Favoring the average quality of a recruiting class over simple quantity, here's our order.
LINK
Posted on 10/19/16 at 1:57 pm to TideSaint
quote:
2. Alabama
Class Size: 21 commits
Analysis
The Crimson Tide continue to knock on the door of a potential eighth consecutive No. 1 composite recruiting class, building rosters that annually challenge for national championships.
This latest haul already features four 5-stars, including recent commit Dylan Moses, a former LSU pledge rated No. 1 overall among linebackers. He is joined on defense by fellow top-10 recruits at linebacker (Markail Benton and VanDarius Cowan), defensive tackle (Akial Byers) and athlete (Chadarius Townsend; projected to play defensive back).
Running back Najee Harris, committed to Alabama since his sophomore year, is considered the No. 1 overall recruit in this cycle, and he could someday join forces with Elite 11 MVP Tua Tagovailoa in the Crimson Tide backfield. They each have class counterparts, respectively, in 4-star rusher Brian Robinson and fellow Elite 11 finalist Mac Jones.
The offensive arsenal is also set to add 4-star studs at receiver (Jerry Jeudy and Tyrell Shavers), tight end (Kedrick James) and along the line (Kendall Randolph and JUCO product Elliot Baker).
Posted on 10/19/16 at 1:58 pm to TideSaint
quote:
More than three months ago, Plaquemine, Louisiana, safety Todd Harris had the recruiting world in the palm of his hand when he held a press conference during which many expected him to end his recruiting process.
The 4-star prospect sat in the Plaquemine High School gym with the hats of three schools in front of him—Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss.
The final result: Harris pulled out a Plaquemine hat. He then committed to his high school. While Harris received heat from critics on social media, Plaquemine head coach Paul Distefano immediately took full responsibility for the publicity stunt.
Since then, Harris has been relatively quiet with the ultimate plans of his recruiting. That includes official visits, potential favorites and even sleeper teams that may have a shot on national signing day.
On Tuesday, after taking part in his Under Armour jersey presentation, Harris chatted with Bleacher Report and gave an update on his recruitment status.
In short, don't expect any major moves any time soon. He's considering announcing his verbal commitment during the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 1. Until then, he's doing his own research in an effort to make one decision—and one decision only.
"I'm just waiting, because when I do decide, I want to be 100 percent committed to that school," Harris said. "I still have to see what's my parents' opinions are on what schools I have in mind as well."
Harris has yet to take an official visit and said they most likely will take place immediately after his senior season. Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and in-state LSU are among the schools that have a chance at an official visit. None of those, he emphasized, are set in stone.
All four SEC schools have something that intrigues the 6'0", 185-pounder. The next few weeks will be big on the field for all of the schools, and Harris said he will be watching.
"All have great programs and great coaches," he said. "All the schools are competing for the national championship every year."
Harris is a safety with a cornerback's coverage skills and a linebacker's tackling ability. He's an athlete with the versatility that every coach wants in a guy in the secondary. Add the fact that Harris returned a kickoff 76 yards for a touchdown last week against Livonia High School, and the options on how to use him on the field are heightened.
He entered his senior season averaging 82.5 tackles and 19 pass breakups in two varsity seasons. He has 53 tackles, nine pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery this season, according to Andrew Lopez of NOLA.com.
Harris has 12 reported offers, according to Scout.com, and is ranked No. 79 overall in the 2017 class.
Harris said he is excited about the future with next-level football, but for now, his focus is on helping Plaquemine make the playoffs. The team is 4-3 on the year and riding a three-game winning streak entering Friday's clash with Woodlawn High School out of nearby Baton Rouge.
Harris has seen athletes commit, then decommit, and he said that while he understands every athlete has their reasoning, he doesn't want to be placed in that category.
"I'm going to commit, and that's going to be it," he said. "I'm not going to flip decisions."
Harris added that wherever he goes, he's looking to compete immediately. Playing in the Under Armour All-America Game will give him a chance to show his skills against some of the college football household names of the future.
"It's a blessing. It shows how much of hard work, sweat and dedication I have put into the game of football," Harris said of the Under Armour invitation. "It makes me more proud because my parents are so pleased and happy with me. They've supported me throughout my whole life no matter what."
LINK
Posted on 10/19/16 at 2:02 pm to TideSaint
quote:
More than 4,000 miles west of Tuscaloosa, an integral part of Alabama's offensive future flourishes for Hawaiian heavyweight St. Louis High School.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, orchestrating the same offensive attack that once starred Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, decimates defenses with dual-threat capabilities that make him among the most coveted recruits in the 2017 class.
He threw 33 touchdowns and just three interceptions as a junior, tallied 2,583 passing yards and 576 rushing yards (6.6 per attempt) last fall. Midway through his senior season, Tagovailoa is now less than 500 yards shy of the all-time career state passing record (8,001), according to Hawaii Prep World.
Considered a relatively unknown commodity earlier this cycle, he earned an invitation to Elite 11 finals after attending an Oakland, California, regional showcase. He proceeded to impress peers and coaches alike en route to The Opening, where Tagovailoa earned Elite 11 MVP honors and overall seven-on-seven tournament MVP recognition.
This six-week stretch of pressure-packed competition lasted from late May through early July, helping alleviate concerns about his ability to adapt to the Crimson Tide offense.
"After what I've seen from him [at Elite 11 finals in Los Angeles] and being with him [at The Opening], I'm so impressed with him and I think the sky is the limit for him," Elite 11 instructor Matt James told Bleacher Report's Sanjay Kirpalani. "If he gets in that offense and he does what he did here, watch out."
Now well underway with his final prep season before joining forces with Alabama head coach Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, Tagovailoa warrants a greater spotlight than ever. Let's dig in here with our latest B/R breakdown.
The Basics
High School: St. Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Size: 6'1", 216 lbs
Recruitment Status: Committed to Alabama on May 2
Prospect Assessment
-He was undoubtedly the most galvanizing figure we've seen emerge in Elite 11 process.
-Seven-on-seven teammates at The Opening became supporters immediately but this sentiment wasn't exclusive to them. Tagovailoa led a bible study during the event and alpha players were drawn to him.
--star receiver KJ Hamler (from Detroit area): "Tua is the happiest, most energetic person I've ever met in my life."
-Answered the bell in a big way for Elite 11 staff, who challenged Tagovailoa to retrain himself fundamentally to flourish from under center. He posted the top "Pro Day" score at Elite 11 finals.
-Exudes a quiet confidence expressed through calmness in the pocket and an almost constant smirk across his face; the kind of guy you want 10 teammates to turn to in the huddle during crunch time.
-Some quarterback recruits—even blue-chip prospects—noticeably force themselves to show leadership. It occurs naturally in this case and he's comfortable as pressure mounts.
-A serious rushing threat who can bolt by defenders off the edge and routinely evade pressure by rotating beyond the pocket.
-Also shreds opponents without bringing his fleet feet into the equation. Tagovailoa, a left-handed thrower, implements a blend of velocity and touch that others struggle to master at this stage of their career.
-Whether he's targeting a running back behind scrimmage or a receiver streaking 40 yards downfield, pass attempts are crisp and consistent, with limited wobble to impede trajectory.
-Though Tagovailoa doesn't possess prototypical 5-star size; he carries an excellent physique at 6'1" with a strong base.
-Quick response to defensive alignment combines with a rapid release, allowing him to flick darts downfield with limited time.
-Launches accurate long-distance attempts that measure up against the best quarterbacks in this class.
Tagovailoa doesn't simply rely on physical gifts, looking off defenders during the initial progressions of a play before adjusting his sight line to sling it toward an intended target.
LINK
Posted on 10/20/16 at 10:07 am to TideSaint
Posted on 10/20/16 at 11:12 am to TideSaint
quote:
Wills likely won’t commit until end of November
On July 29, 4-star offensive tackle Jedrick Wills tweeted to his followers that they should stay tuned to these next two weeks. SEC Country confirmed at the time that his announcement was for an upcoming commitment, and it was likely he was going to choose Alabama.
Fast forward almost three months and Wills is still uncommitted. The last time SEC Country got in touch with Lafayette High School (Lexington, Ky.) coach Eric Shaw he said a commitment could possibly come at the end of October. Now a decision is not likely until the end of November.
Wills is fresh off an official visit to Michigan a few weeks ago, and the Wolverines have some momentum. It’s the only official visit Wills has taken so far. An official visit to Alabama has not been scheduled at this time, but Shaw believes Wills is still interested in the Tide.
“I’m still sure Alabama is high on his list,” Shaw said.
Another source close to Wills’ recruitment believes Alabama is not going to be the school for the nation’s No. 10 offensive tackle because of the position the Tide want him to play. Alabama is recruiting him at guard, and Wills wants to play tackle in college.
One of the reasons why Alabama wants Wills to move inside on the offensive line is because it has two big-time tackle commits in 5-star talent Alex Leatherwood and the nation’s No. 1 overall junior college prospect Elliot Baker.
Shaw is unsure if Wills has an official visit to Tuscaloosa set, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him on campus at least one more time before making a decision.
If Wills doesn’t end up at Alabama or Michigan, my pick is Notre Dame.
Posted on 10/20/16 at 11:12 am to TideSaint
quote:
Browning comments on upcoming official visitor
Baron Browning would be welcomed with open arms into Alabama’s Class of 2017, and he’s one of the handful of 5-star prospects who will be on the Tide’s campus this weekend for the team’s game against Texas A&M.
Browning is being recruited as an outside linebacker, and even though Alabama has four linebacker commits in this class, the Tide would love to add him.
He’ll be bringing along his family this weekend to Tuscaloosa and knows what he’s looking forward to seeing on this trip.
“Getting my parents down there to get them to meet coach Saban, the strength coach (Scott Cochran), get more familiar with (outside linebackers coach Tosh) Lupoi, the university and how they can develop me mentally, physically and academically.”
Many people in the recruiting industry don’t think Alabama has much of a chance to land Browning when he makes his commitment on Nov. 29, but things could change this weekend.
This trip by Browning shows genuine interest in the Crimson Tide because he was originally scheduled to visit Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl, but he didn’t realize the Ohio State-Michigan game was on the same day.
When SEC Country traveled to Texas in September, Browning was unsure if that official visit to Alabama was going to get rescheduled, but he got it done.
Ohio State, UCLA, Texas and Texas A&M all appear to be in better shape for his commitment than Alabama at this point, but he does see a great opportunity in Tuscaloosa.
“I’ve talked to Alabama about it, and I know the opportunity is there for me to come in and possibly start if I work hard,” Browning said. “With where he wants me to play, the only player that would be there still is Terrell (Hall).”
Expect Alabama to roll out the red carpet for Browning this weekend.
Posted on 10/20/16 at 11:13 am to TideSaint
quote:
Moses headed back to Tuscaloosa
Dylan Moses, a 5-star linebacker commit from IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), announced late Wednesday night that he’ll be back in Tuscaloosa this Saturday for the Texas A&M game.
Moses committed to Alabama out of nowhere earlier this month after he took an official visit to Tuscaloosa for the Kentucky game. Last week, the nation’s No. 1 outside linebacker was on LSU’s campus for the Tigers’ game against Southern Mississippi. That surely raised eyebrows because, at the time of his commitment, he said he was done taking visits to schools not located in Tuscaloosa.
Getting Moses back in Tuscaloosa is always going to be a win for Alabama because it’s one less chance he can be at a different school that weekend.
Posted on 10/20/16 at 1:01 pm to TideSaint
A Clemson mod CB'd Najee Harris to USCw.
Posted on 10/20/16 at 1:02 pm to TideSaint
quote:
On Thursday, Sebastian (Fla.) Sebastian River defensive end Jarez Parks received his U.S. Army All-American jersey during a ceremony in front of friends, family, classmates and more. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Parks will take part in the prestigious game on January 7, 2017 in the Alamodome.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Parks said of playing in the premiere high school all-star football game. “I’m just grateful I have this opportunity. I just think, in this game, I would ask for anything better because the Army game is the best of the best.”
Parks went on to explain what he wants to get out of the week of festivities and practices leading up to the game.
“Just to enjoy the experience and learn whatever I can learn out there.”
On the recruiting front, Parks keeps pretty mum on the details of his recruitment. He was unsure of any future visits or even when he could possible announce his commitment.
Florida State sent linebackers coach Bill Miller to watch Parks play in a game on Monday night.
“They are saying basically what everyone is,” Parks said of the Seminoles. They want me. They like the way I play.”
Florida defensive line coach Chris Rumph stopped by Parks’ high school the following day.
“They are doing a good job of recruiting me,” Parks said of the Gators. “They talk to me a lot. I’ve always liked Florida.”
Alabama is a team that came on strong over the summer for Parks after he visited their campus.
“It’s Alabama, they have a great program. I loved the campus when I was up there. There is a lot to like about them.”
The 247Sports Composite, an industry generated average, currently ranks Parks as the nation’s No. 49 overall prospect in the 2017 class.
LINK
Posted on 10/20/16 at 1:45 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Week 8 of the college football season will showcase a trio of Top 25 matchups among SEC West schools.
In addition to the fireworks down south, there are a handful of matchups around the nation that figure to provide intrigue over the weekend.
With signing day less than four months away and the regular season nearing its final month, schools from coast to coast are relishing the opportunity to host elite recruits each week.
Which visits taking place this weekend should fans be paying close attention to?
Let’s take a look at the most important college football recruiting visits of Week 8.
LINK
Posted on 10/20/16 at 1:45 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama: 5-star RB Cam Akers
Class: 2017
High School: Clinton High School (Clinton, Mississippi)
Size: 5'11", 212 lbs
Scout.com Ranking: No. 2 running back; No. 4 overall
The marquee matchup of the week features a showdown of Top 10 programs doing battle when No. 6 Texas A&M travels to Tuscaloosa to face No. 1 Alabama.
The Crimson Tide are expected to have a bevy of elite recruits in the stands for a game that could loom large in the playoff picture.
One of the most important names on that list is 5-star running back Cam Akers—who was once committed to the Tide before reopening his recruitment in March.
The trip to the Capstone marks the first official visit for the nation’s No. 2 running back and No. 4 player overall in the 2017 cycle. He’s also taken unofficial visits to Georgia and Ole Miss.
Florida State, LSU, Ohio State and Tennessee are also among the schools in the mix for Akers.
But the Tide will take a big swing this weekend in hopes of earning his pledge for the second time.
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