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

quote:

---

There is an article on al.com about this and Wills says he is committed regardless if Cristobal is here or not.

---

quote:

---

Mario Cristobal has been an important member of the Alabama coaching staff for the past four seasons as the team’s offensive line coach and one of the best recruiters the Crimson Tide have; however, it appears that he’ll soon leave Tuscaloosa for the Oregon offensive coordinator and/or offensive line position on Ducks coach Willie Taggart’s staff.

SEC Country got in touch with the three Alabama offensive line commits who are not signed (junior college tackle Elliot Baker) and not currently on campus already (5-star tackle Alex Leatherwood) to see if Cristobal did leave for Oregon would it affect their commitment to Alabama.

None of the recruits said they have been notified of Cristobal possibly leaving Alabama for Oregon. Another current offensive lineman on the team said he hasn’t been told of a possible change. It doesn’t mean that Cristobal isn’t leaving, but it could mean that details are still being sorted out. One source close to the team told SEC Country that a move is likely because of the promotion he would receive at Oregon to be the team’s offensive coordinator instead of just being an assistant on Nick Saban’s staff.

Jedrick Wills, a 4-star offensive tackle from Lafayette High School (Lexington, Ky.), said if Cristobal left it wouldn’t have any affect on his commitment to Alabama. He’s locked in, despite Kentucky trying everything it can to change his mind.

“I’m done,” Wills said. “Everybody has stopped recruiting me. It’s mainly just been Alabama and Kentucky that have been recruiting me. I know Alabama is the place for me.”

Kendall Randolph, a 4-star offensive guard from Bob Jones High School (Madison, Ala.), echoed Wills’ comments. He, too, is set on going to Alabama. Randolph was supposed to visit Florida later this month, but he doesn’t know if that’s going to happen now.

Hunter Brannon, a 3-star center from Cullman (Ala.) High School, also remains strongly committed to Alabama. Brannon was trying to be an early enrollee, but he remains a possible greyshirt candidate because numbers in the Tide’s Class of 2017 remain tight.

“I hope the best for Cristobal if he leaves,” Brannon said. “He is a great coach and recruiter. He was my main recruiter before Lane Kiffin took over. He was the first real college coach relationship I had.

“Whenever they call my name, I’ll be ready. I’m training hard every day and trying to put my best foot forward when I get down there.”

Of note, Alex Leatherwood, the nation’s No. 2 offensive tackle, before early enrolling at Alabama, told SEC Country numerous times that if Cristobal did ever leave the school, he would have likely explored his options and re-opened his recruitment. He can’t do that now because he’s already at Alabama and has practiced with the team.

---

quote:

---

The final push to National Signing Day begins Thursday as college coaches race back onto the road to close out recruitments or secure the next wave of options after missing out on top targets.

Things to keep an eye on as Feb. 1 and National Signing Day fast approach.

--

Let’s start with the three biggest names.

There’s just three five-stars still in play according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite in defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, receiver Joseph Lewis and defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon.

Diving right into the juice, in talking to sources I believe LSU is the team to beat for Wilson. The nation’s No. 1 defensive tackle and No. 3 recruit overall is the headliner for what will be a huge recruiting weekend this weekend in Baton Rouge. Ed Orgeron has led the charge here for the Bellaire (Texas) Episcopal standout. I get the sense Florida State is the chief competition for the Tigers. If Ohio State were closer to home they’d have as good a chance as anyone. Oklahoma and Charlie Strong and USF round out the top five. Wilson took his official to Tallahassee back in October and saw the Buckeyes in November.

I like my 247Sports Crystal Ball forecast in favor of USC for Los Angeles (Calif.) Hawkins receiver Joseph Lewis, who will give the Trojans his final official visit the weekend of Jan. 27. Nebraska rounds out the top two for Lewis who was last in Lincoln for his official in October. Oregon and Arizona State are also in play for Lewis who ranks as the No. 3 receiver in America and No. 16 recruit overall.

The nation’s No. 2 defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon said Alabama was his leader last week during check-in at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and that’s where my 247Sports Crystal Ball sits as they continue to battle Georgia for the Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County standout. Michigan is still in play and USC is set for an official this weekend but I don’t see Solomon playing outside of the SEC. Alabama had Solomon in town for the Iron Bowl. Georgia still has an official in play.

--

There will certainly be flips down the stretch, but will there be five-star turns?

I don’t think I can point to an obvious one to date. The 29 current 247Sports Composite five-stars off the board look solid to their destination, many having already enrolled early.

It should be noted that anyone who ever doubts Alabama’s closing power, see Crimson Tide early enrollees Najee Harris, Alex Leatherwood and Dylan Moses, three Top10 recruits that took some visits after committing, but most likely never seriously considered going elsewhere. Moses is still the most eye-popping recruiting win of the 2017 cycle, a Baton Rouge native and one-time LSU commit saw all he needed to see during an October visit to Tuscaloosa and committed to Nick Saban and company. LSU got him to campus after that but it was for not.

Led by those three, the Crimson Tide have the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, but no doubt Ohio State has the best pound-for-pound class with seven 247Sports Composite five-stars in the boat.

--

As Alabama likely closes a seventh-straight No. 1 recruiting finish, it’s the battle to finish in the top five that will be an exciting one.

The Buckeyes and Georgia appear to be locks for the top five.

That leaves Florida State, Michigan, Oklahoma and LSU battling for the final two spots.

I’d say LSU and FSU have the best shot.

From this group I have the Tigers set up for the biggest close. I like them for Wilson, Top247 linebacker Willie Gay, Top247 safety Todd Harris and Top247 running back Travis Etienne. After those guys, I’m certainly not ruling out potential Arden Key clone in Top247 outside linebacker/defensive end prospect K'Lavon Chaisson, Oklahoma linebacker commit Jacob Phillips, Alabama linebacker commit Christopher Allen and defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis among others. How about this close for a program that fired their coach mid-season?

The Seminoles have a ton of big names left as they go toe-to-toe with all their fellow heavyweights for guys like Wilson, four-star linebacker Levi Jones, Top247 receiver Henry Ruggs, III, touted defensive end Jarez Parks, and a few targets committed elsewhere in safeties Hamsah Nasirildeen and Maleik Gray and defensive end Robert Beal.

Michigan is close to being in the barn. They have four big names still out there in Gay, Solomon, Top247 defensive tackle Jay Tufele and Top247 receiver Nico Collins but I’m thinking all four head elsewhere. I'm close to flipping my Crystal Ball to Georgia for Collins. Jim Harbaugh and company have 27 commits and have addressed about all their needs.

The Sooners may have all their headliners in the boat as well as Bob Stoops continue to pursue Wilson, Top247 receiver James Robinson, and Chaisson but I have those guys pegged elsewhere. Defensive tackle is the biggest need left and Joshua Rogers out of Texas and Austin Faoliu from California are a pair of prospects that looks promising for Norman.

--

Four more that will have exciting finishes are USC, Miami, Florida and Stanford, and not necessarily in that order.

The Trojans always close strong with guys like Lewis, Top247 offensive tackle Austin Jackson and the nation’s No. 1 athlete Greg Johnson being a few of the guys I have forecasted to USC, as Clay Helton and his staff aim to build on what is currently the No. 12 class in America.

I have a trio of guys 247Sports Crystal Balled to Mark Richt and Miami in their top running back target Anthony McFarland Jr., perhaps the nation’s fastest receiver in Jeff Thomas and JUCO cornerback Jhavonte Dean who is currently a verbal to Alabama. The Hurricanes class ranks No. 16.

Florida’s class ranks No. 19 as they hit the home stretch. I have four 247Sports Crystal Ball forecasts favoring the Gators in Top247 offensive lineman Tedarrell Slaton, receiver James Robinson, cornerback Christopher Henderson, and defensive tackle Tyrone Truesdell.

Stanford has just nine commits, three that rank as industry-generated 247Sports Composite five-stars in offensive tackles Walker Little and Foster Sarell and the top-ranked quarterback in the land Davis Mills. They also have three four-star commits and are in good position to add a couple more in a pair of athlete/defensive back recruits in Paulson Adebo and Connor Weddington. The Cardinal will likely land massive defensive tackle Dalyn Wade-Perry as well while they take swings at prospects like Top247 defensive end Ryan Johnson.

New coaches in Texas's Tom Herman and Oregon's Willie Taggart will be fun to follow too.

--

Some of my high-profile Top247 Crystal Ball picks not already mentioned.

Defensive end LaBryan Ray to Alabama.

Safety Devon Hunter to Virginia Tech.

Defensive end Jarez Parks to Alabama.

Defensive tackle Jay Tufele to Utah.

Receiver Devonta Smith to Alabama

Defensive back Deommodore Lenoir to Oregon

Cornerback Chevin Calloway to Arkansas

Safety Chaz Ah You to BYU

Receiver Henry Ruggs III to Alabama

Athlete Lynn Bowden to Kentucky

Tight end Josh Falo to Colorado

Defensive end Markaviest Bryant Georgia

Receiver Jaylen Harris Ohio State

Linebacker Leonard Warner Georgia

Defensive end Ryan Johnson to Auburn

---