re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition

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You are speaking of Chris Allen, who gave Cam and LSU a silent during a visit the night before my tweet. Allen also gave Alabama a silent 2 months prior. He has gone back and forth and the two and I think it will stay that way until the end. Bama may have an edge right now because LSU does not have a permanent head coach.

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Stars galore will walk Bryant-Denny’s sidelines this Saturday

Commitment watch

There’s a good chance Alabama will land at least one commitment this weekend when it hosts Texas A&M. Alabama fans should keep a close eye on 4-star defensive tackle Elijah Conliffe and 3-star tight end Major Tennison as both recruits could potentially pull the trigger and commit.

Tennison, who is taking an official visit, is the more likely prospect to commit. He has been on commitment watch since July, which is when he last visited Tuscaloosa. He spoke with SEC Country on Tuesday night and said he’s down to three schools: Alabama, Georgia and Michigan.

But the reason why I think it’s likely he commits this weekend or early next week is what he said about his potential trips to his other top schools.

“If Alabama is the place for me, I really don’t think there’s a need to take an official visit and put doubt in my mind when I’ve already been up there, talked to their coaches and experienced their specific towns,” Tennison said. “Like I said, if I feel like Alabama is the place for me, then there’s no reason to see anywhere else when those schools are going to put out all of the stops to impress me.”

Alabama has a tight end commitment in the Class of 2017 in Kedrick James, but the Tide would like to add another. Tennison is the guy Alabama wants. It’s very possible it gets him this weekend.

As for Conliffe, Alabama took the lead for him when he was offered by the Tide in July after attending one of the team’s summer camps. He made it a goal to get that offer after leaving Tuscaloosa last year without it. Now that he has it, it’s going to be hard for any other team to overtake the Tide.

“I just want to make sure that’s the right choice,” Conliffe said last month for why he hasn’t committed yet. “I’ve pretty much seen all that I have wanted to see out of them already. I’ve seen how the coaches coach and how much passion they have for coaching. That’s something I always look for in a coaching staff.”

He still might decide to hold off on making a commitment this weekend because he did say in our last interview that he is going to film a commitment video and announce his decision that way.

Conliffe, who is taking an unofficial visit, will bring along his mother, which is always important in recruiting. It’s likely his recruitment is over very soon, and I expect him to be in the Tide’s class when he makes his decision.

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Official visitors

— 5-star Florida State cornerback commit Stanford Samuels

Alabama would love to add Samuels to its secondary, but he’s going to be a tough flip from Florida State. His father played for the Seminoles and remains very close to the program. However, if Jimbo Fisher were to leave Florida State for LSU, where the Tigers have him at the top of the wish list, things could surely get interesting for Samuels. Alabama has been Samuels’ No. 2 school for some time now, so the Tide would benefit if he decides to change his commitment.

— 5-star running back Cam Akers

Akers was once committed to Alabama. He de-committed back in March to explore all of his options, and it seemed highly unlikely that he will rejoin the class. However, the visit shows us that the interest in Alabama is still there. Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee and Ole Miss all likely have a better shot at signing Akers than Alabama.

— 5-star linebacker Baron Browning

Browning, like Akers, likely won’t end up in Alabama’s class. Outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi would like to add Browning to Alabama’s other four linebacker commitments, but the Tide are on the outside looking in at this point. Texas, UCLA, Texas A&M and Ohio State are in better position for Browning.

— 4-star Alabama linebacker commit VanDarius Cowan

Cowan is planning to take multiple official visits elsewhere, but his commitment to Alabama is solid. He’s one of the team’s best recruiters, as he’s helped Alabama land several other highly rated recruits.

— 4-star safety DeAngelo Gibbs

Alabama is trying to gain better position in Gibbs’ recruitment. Georgia and Tennessee are likely the top two teams for one of the top safety targets. The Tide need a safety in this class, and Gibbs is near the top of the wish list.

— 3-star Alabama junior college cornerback commit Jhavonte Dean

Dean committed to Alabama this summer and has not visited any other schools since then. He has no current plans of visiting any other schools. Florida assistant coach Randy Shannon visited Dean at his school earlier this week.

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Alabama commits in attendance

• 5-star offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood
• 5-star linebacker Dylan Moses
• 4-star linebacker Markail Benton
• 4-star offensive guard Kendal Randolph
• 4-star running back Brian Robinson
• 3-star defensive back Kyriq McDonald
• 2-star long snapper Thomas Fletcher
• 2018 4-star running back commit Dameon Pierce
• 2019 4-star athlete Trey Sanders

Other top recruits expected in attendance

• 5-star offensive tackle Trey Smith
• 2018 5-star defensive end Xavier Thomas
• 2018 5-star offensive tackle Jackson Carman
• 2018 5-star wide receiver Terrace Marshall
• 4-star wide receiver Nico Collins
• 4-star defensive end Markaviest Bryant
•4-star linebacker Tyler Taylor
• 4-star wide receiver Henry Ruggs
• 4-star linebacker Walter Grant
• 4-star defensive end Ryan Johnson
• 4-star defensive end LaBryan Ray (tentative due to ACT on Saturday)
• Junior College South Carolina defensive end commit Javon Kinlaw
• 2018 4-star wide receiver Justyn Ross
• 2018 4-star wide receiver Seth Williams
• 2018 4-star linebacker Bumper Pool
• 2019 4-star linebacker Owen Pappoe
• 2019 4-star offensive guard Clay Webb
• 2020 quarterback Harrison Bailey (potential No. 1 QB in 2020 class)

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FARRELL'S VIEW: JERRY JEUDY

I could see Jerry Jeudy jumping ahead of Grimes. Many people felt Jeudy was the better receiver in Florida before Grimes suffered his injury, but we liked Grimes' size and catch radius a bit better.

But now with the injury, which of course we hope Grimes recovers from 100 percent, you have to start looking at other prospects who are still playing and if they have the talent to surpass him. Jeudy, to me, is that guy over Donovan Peoples-Jones, Joseph Lewis and Nico Collins.

Does this mean Grimes will lose his top spot? Nope. We will meet to update the 2017 rankings in about six weeks, and I know many of our analysts are still very high on Grimes’ ceiling compared to others. But when you have a top player injured, it opens the door for others to perhaps jump in their spot and that’s something that will be discussed when we meet as a team. And Jeudy, who is ranked No. 5 at wide receiver right now, will be in that discussion.

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4-star linebacker Bumper Pool

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