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Posted on 10/26/16 at 9:19 pm to TideSaint
The #2 athlete in the 2018 class, Xavier Williams from Florida, tweeted to this to Tua earlier today:
quote:
@Tuaamann_ ?? throwing me Tds soon
Posted on 10/26/16 at 9:21 pm to TideSaint
So Hank South said today we have a better shot at signing Isaiah Wilson over Jedrick Wills. 
Posted on 10/26/16 at 9:32 pm to TideSaint
Hank said a guy we haven't offered to keep an eye on is Safety Markquese Bell from Bridgetown, New Jersey.
Markquese Bell Highlights
Markquese Bell Highlights
Posted on 10/26/16 at 9:40 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Johnson’s lack of communication with Pruitt a concern
Gary Johnson committed to Alabama out of the blue this past March. He hadn’t visited Tuscaloosa in two years, but he knew he wanted to play for the Crimson Tide because Alabama was his dream school growing up in the Yellowhammer State.
That’s still the case today, but there is one big concern he has with his commitment to Alabama — his lack of communication with Tide defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.
The schools that are hoping to flip Johnson, such as Florida State, Ohio State, Missouri, LSU and West Virginia, all have their defensive assistants speaking to the nation’s top junior college linebacker. Johnson only speaks to wide receivers coach Billy Napier.
“I just feel like it’s weird how I haven’t talked much with my position coach as opposed to other schools that are recruiting me,” Johnson told SEC Country.
Johnson said he communicates with Napier around one to three times a week. Missouri and West Virginia are recruiting him the hardest at the moment. Both of those schools keep in touch with him almost every day.
The last interview the Dodge City Community College prospect did with SEC Country, he said his commiment to Alabama was at 70 percent. That number has not changed because he’s waiting to take visits elsewhere. His mother also thinks Alabama is one of the best college programs in the country.
Despite his lack of communication with Pruitt, he doesn’t think about the possibility of reopening his recruitment.
“I’m just weighing out my options,” Johnson said. “I don’t think much could change my mind though, besides me going on a visit to a school where I could go to that program and produce more.”
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound prospect said he doesn’t have any official visits set yet and doesn’t know which schools will get one. He thinks he’ll take an official visit to Alabama in January.
Dodge City’s all-time tackles leader hasn’t been to Tuscaloosa this fall, but he still has visions of donning the crimson and white come 2017.
“Everyone, when they are a kid, wants to say that they played for their dream school,” Johnson said. “For me to have that opportunity, you might as well take advantage of it while you can.”
Johnson has 69 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception in eight games this season. A source close to the Alabama staff has previously told SEC Country that the Tide view Johnson as a player who can immediately contribute as soon as he gets on campus.
Posted on 10/26/16 at 9:43 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama still on top for Conliffe
After a performance that put Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen into the Heisman Trophy race, the potential No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL draft took 10 minutes to chat with his potential successor.
Elijah Conliffe, a 4-star defensive lineman from Hampton, Va., is being told by the Alabama staff that it is planning on using him in a similar role to what Allen is doing for the Tide now. The pair got to talk after the Texas A&M game this past Saturday.
“He told me that one of the best decisions he’s ever made in his life was joining Alabama,” Conliffe told SEC Country. “He said it was a hard decision, but he pushed through it. It’s obviously paid off. It was very exciting getting to talk to him. We didn’t talk much about the game.”
Conliffe, who was on commitment watch this past weekend, chose to hold off on a decision because he is announcing his college choice in a video with Bleacher Report. That video hasn’t been filmed yet, but he’s expecting it to be filmed soon. He also said Alabama is still his top school, which should give you a hint as to which school might receive that commitment in this upcoming video.
There has been some chatter about whether a commitment from Conliffe be accepted by Alabama because of how many top defensive linemen remain on the team’s board. He said he “knows” the staff would take his commitment, and that conversation was had between he and the coaching staff.
The nation’s No. 15 defensive tackle said he talks to Alabama defensive line coach Karl Dunbar almost every day. Conliffe had some time to speak with Dunbar and Nick Saban this weekend where the message to him was about the need for several defensive linemen.
“Coach Dunbar was telling me that they are going to need some more big guys who can move up front,” Conliffe said. “I have a really good chance at coming in and making an impact as long as I come in and put in some hard work.”
More importantly to his recruitment is the fact that Conliffe made the trek to Tuscaloosa from Virginia with his mother, Kachelle Brown. This was Brown’s first college game, and she said her son has her blessing to go to Alabama if that’s the school he chooses.
“I would be comfortable if he went there,” Brown said. “I really liked the atmosphere, and I feel like he could grow there and learn a lot of things. I think he has a lot to bring to the team as well. I think they could benefit from him being there. I also think Elijah could benefit from going there and getting his degree.”
Brown was also in those conversations with the coaching staff, and she desribed them as very informative. She left those conversations without needing to ask a single question about what her son would experience if he went to Alabama.
“They were very passionate about their team and making sure that it wasn’t all about football,” Brown said. “It’s also about academics and getting them prepared for their life. That’s something I could really appreciate.”
Conliffe is planning on returning to Alabama for the Iron Bowl and could potentially return shortly after that for an official visit in December or January. He is also planning on taking official visits to Ole Miss, Louisville and Southern California.
Posted on 10/26/16 at 9:43 pm to TideSaint
Are we completely out of the Marvin Wilson sweepstakes?
Posted on 10/26/16 at 9:44 pm to TideSaint
It seems to me, that since Johnson committed, he has done nothing but bitch about how we are recruiting him.
Posted on 10/26/16 at 9:45 pm to TideSaint
Yep. And I've heard he may not be in the class because of it. I wish we'd take him anyway, but it looks like we probably won't.
Posted on 10/26/16 at 9:55 pm to SoFla Tideroller
We've actually gone from "on the outside looking in" to right in the thick of things for Wilson. Someone who spoke with a couple staff members yesterday said that the Wilson situation is very complicated right now. It is and has been a circus (the people around his recruitment). But we like where we stand with him right now. That'll probably change back and forth again a dozen times before Signing Day.
Posted on 10/26/16 at 11:01 pm to Bama3714
Anyone got an update on the BOL recruiting chat today?
Posted on 10/26/16 at 11:13 pm to Bama3714
Thanks
I've always thought studs on the OL/DL are like pitching in baseball. You can never have too much. Hope we can pull him if he's the real deal.
I've always thought studs on the OL/DL are like pitching in baseball. You can never have too much. Hope we can pull him if he's the real deal.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 7:34 am to BIGJLAW
I posted the pertinent stuff already a couple posts back.
The people over there typically regurgitate the same questions week after week.
The people over there typically regurgitate the same questions week after week.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 7:56 am to TideSaint
So the sophomore QB for Mountain Brook is Paul Tyson. He's Coach Bryant's great-grandson. Hmm. Class of 2019.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 9:45 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Some momentum LSU’s way for Smith?
Devonta Smith, one of Alabama’s top targets at the wide receiver position in the Class of 2017, was in attendance for LSU’s game against Ole Miss this past Saturday, and that’s somewhat significant because it was his first visit to Tiger Stadium this fall.
Smith, a 4-star prospect from Amite, La., has definitely had a hot-and-cold relationship with LSU over the past several months. He told SEC Country this summer at The Opening he wanted to leave the state for college and said he wasn’t a fan of the Tigers’ offense. Fast forward a few months and LSU had ceased communication with the state’s No. 1 prospect after he delayed his commitment.
LSU’s coaching staff has picked up communication with Smith once again, and he’s been impressed with what he’s seen.
“They’re throwing the ball more,” Smith told SEC Country’s Sam Spiegelman. “I want to see them continue to do that. He (LSU wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig) just told me that now that the coach (Les Miles) was fired to watch the things that are going on. I have watched and he’s stuck to his word about the offense opening up.”
Should that matter when it comes to Alabama’s chances with its top remaining uncommitted wide receiver target? Not necessarily. Sources on the Tide’s side remain extremely confident that Smith will be a part of Alabama’s signing class.
There has been some chatter that Smith could make a decision before National Signing Day, but he said that’s not the case.
“I’m going to wait until signing day; even if I do know before then, I’m going to wait until signing day,” Smith said.
The U.S. Army All-American was in Tuscaloosa for Alabama’s game against Kentucky on Oct. 1. He is not planning on taking an official visit to Alabama because of how many times the Louisiana prospect has been there throughout his recruitment.
Alabama has two wide receiver commitments in the Class of 2017 in 5-star prospect Jerry Jeudy and 4-star prospect Tyrell Shavers. The Tide are hoping to add Smith and 4-star prospect Henry Ruggs III.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 9:46 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Is Shelvin a legitimate option for Alabama?
Tyler Shelvin is LSU’s longest-tenured commitment in the Class of 2017, but that hasn’t stopped him from flirting with Alabama throughout his recruitment.
Shelvin, a 4-star defensive tackle from Notre Dame High School (Lafayette, La.), hasn’t visited Tuscaloosa in more than a year and doesn’t seem like a major threat at flipping his commitment from LSU.
The only possible way Shelvin departs from the Tigers’ class is if Ed Orgeron is not retained by LSU.
“As long as he’s there, I’m there,” Shelvin told Spiegelman. “He’s recruited me throughout. LSU was my first offer and coach O — I can’t explain it — but he’s the best.”
The 6-foot-3, 350-pound prospect said his relationship with Alabama defensive line coach Karl Dunbar is not as strong as his relationship with Orgeron. One of the reasons for that is because the pair has not talked face to face. Dunbar has seen Shelvin play this season, but NCAA rules prohibit coaches and recruits from having conversations while at recruits’ high school.
“Coach Dunbar texts me and I text him,” Shelvin said. “He came to one of the games, but we couldn’t talk because of NCAA rules. We stay in touch every now and then. He just wants me to go there and play up front for him.”
Shelvin said he’s planning on taking an official visit to Alabama for the Iron Bowl. If Orgeron isn’t at LSU in 2017, this recruitment is one to watch, but until that happens, Shelvin is LSU bound.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 9:47 pm to TideSaint
quote:
New safety target emerging?
One of the least talked about recruits when it comes to Alabama and the Class of 2017 is junior college safety Johnathan Abram.
Abram, who attends Jones Community College (Columbia, Miss.), originally signed with Georgia. He actually got significant playing time for the Bulldogs before he decided to transfer. The main reason why he decided to leave UGA was because of Jeremy Pruitt’s departure from the school.
“We’re extremely close,” Abram told SEC Country.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound prospect is being recruited by Pruitt once again, and the Tide defensive coordinator wants him at nickel back and safety. Safety is one of the biggest needs for Alabama in the Class of 2017, so it would make sense for the Tide to target a junior college prospect with SEC experience.
Abram said he hears from Pruitt every single say.
“He just wants me to play for him again and come fill in because I’m needed,” Abram said.
Abram is down to Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee. He is a December graduate so a decision is quickly approaching for the junior college prospect.
He is planning on taking an official visit to Alabama, but a date for that trip has not been set just yet. Abram is definitely a prospect to keep an eye on moving forward.
Posted on 10/27/16 at 9:49 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Tua’s tweet
One of the most frequent questions I’m asked by Alabama fans is whether 4-star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will stick with his commitment. After all, Tagovailoa plays his high school ball more than 4,000 miles away from Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The tweet below shows where Tagovailoa’s mind is at with just a few months to go before his recruitment will come to an end.
The Honolulu native is planning to be an early graduate, so those five official visits he had talked about before seem unlikely to happen. His high school football team should advance far into the state playoffs, and if that happens, it’s highly unlikely Tagovailoa will take several official visits.
Again, I do not think there’s anything to worry about when it comes to his commitment.
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