Started By
Message
re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition
Posted on 3/27/17 at 10:21 pm to TidalSurge1
Posted on 3/27/17 at 10:21 pm to TidalSurge1
I know someone who went to see Peterson play a couple times this past year (he knows a lot of HS coaches and watches big HS games all over every year). Said he was BIG TIME. Said that he spoke to Propst at length about him, and that Propst thinks he has a chance to be as good as anybody that he's ever coached. Hopefully we can get him.
2
Posted on 3/28/17 at 10:18 am to Bama3714
James Foster, the Montgomery QB, doesn't hold a committable offer. He has to throw in camp.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 10:44 am to TideSaint
quote:
Welcome to SEC Country’s daily Roll Tide-ings, a rundown of everything happening in Alabama Crimson Tide recruiting with Chris Kirschner. Today we discuss the latest with Georgia defensive back Christian Tutt, quarterbacks Tanner McKee and Bo Nix plus Tide targets Mark Pope and Gurvan Hall committing to Miami.
LINK
Posted on 3/28/17 at 10:47 am to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama tied on top for one of nation’s top corners
BUFORD, Ga. — When Christian Tutt announces his commitment on May 30, barring any snags, it will either be to Alabama or Florida State.
Tutt, a 4-star cornerback from Thomson (Ga.) High School, told SEC Country over the weekend that his top two teams are the Crimson Tide and the Seminoles. Those two teams have been recruiting Tutt strongly and he believes they both present the best opportunity to play early.
Alabama didn’t sign any cornerbacks in the Class of 2017, and it’s arguably the biggest position of need in the Class of 2018. Anthony Averett and Tony Brown will be gone after this upcoming season and Minkah Fitzpatrick likely is a candidate to bolt for the NFL draft.
Tutt sees himself immediately filling one of their roles.
?Tutt has dealt with a fair share of tragedy in his life. Not only did he lose his brother last year, but two years ago, one of his close friends drowned. Despite all of that, Tutt maintains a jubilant personality and keeps a smile on his face. (Chris Kirschner/SEC Country)
“I see myself being one of the next great defensive backs to come out of Alabama while getting the chance to play for national championships,” Tutt said.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound prospect is committing on May 30 to honor his older brother Chris, who died in a single-car crash on June 2, 2016. May 30 would have been Chris’ 21st birthday.
One of the people who Tutt leaned on during the tough time was Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, who he’s been close with since his ninth-grade year. Pruitt was one of the first coaches to believe in Tutt’s abilities.
“My relationship with Coach Pruitt is one of the strongest relationships with any coach that I have,” Tutt said. “We talk all of the time. He really got things started for me, and I appreciate him for that.”
Tutt said if he isn’t talking to Pruitt every single day, then it’s every other day. They’re that close. Pruitt has told Tutt that he sees him playing the star position, which is where Tony Brown mostly played last season for the Tide, his first season and then moving to cornerback his second year.
The nation’s No. 17 cornerback will graduate from Thomson High School early, which means he’ll be able to attend college starting in January and participate in spring practice. Tutt believes Alabama presents a clear path to a possible career in the NFL.
“That’s my ultimate goal,” Tutt said. “I want to get my degree, but if I have a chance to get out of there without it, and I know I have a chance to get picked in the first round, then I’ll be out of there.”
Tutt, who was once a silent commitment to Georgia, said the Bulldogs still are in the mix because of his familiarity with the program, but he said, “some places are just not going to be the right place for me.” He also once had the Buckeyes in the mix but realized it wasn’t a viable option for him because Columbus, Ohio, is too far away from his home.
The reason Tutt originally committed to Georgia was because it reminded him of his home in Thomson, Ga. The words he used to describe Tuscaloosa sound familiar.
“It feels like home,” Tutt said of Tuscaloosa. “That’s one of the feelings that I got at Georgia my ninth grade year. As time goes on, you start to see other options. Everything in Tuscaloosa is great.
“I’m ready to go out there and make plays.”
Tutt said he’s set to visit Tuscaloosa in the coming weeks.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 10:48 am to TideSaint
quote:
QBs headed to Tuscaloosa
As I wrote last week, it’s very likely that finding an elite quarterback in the Class of 2018 is going to be difficult for Alabama because of who’s currently on campus. The 2016 SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 was freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Tide brought in the nation’s No. 1 dual-threat prospect Tua Tagovailoa and 4-star prospect Mac Jones.
Though there’s a lack of depth at the position, it’s not favorable for early playing time for any quarterback in the Class of 2018. There is one very interesting prospect in the Class of 2018 to keep an eye on though.
That would be 4-star California quarterback Tanner McKee. McKee is rated as the nation’s No. 7 pro-style prospect, and he’ll be in Tuscaloosa on Thursday, he told SEC Country. McKee is using his spring break to visit several Southern schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Duke, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
McKee is a devout Mormon and plans on making his 2-year mission trip after graduating from Centennial High School. That would mean he’d be a freshman in 2020. If an elite quarterback were to commit to Alabama in the Class of 2018, McKee would make the most sense because the young quarterbacks on the roster right now wouldn’t affect him at all because he won’t be in college until 2020.
Because the Tide’s depth chart isn’t favorable to an ’18 prospect, it’s more likely Alabama will end up signing an elite player at the position in 2019. One of the team’s top targets will be in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday for spring practice, 4-star prospect Bo Nix, who attends Scottsboro (Ala.) High School.
It won’t be easy for Alabama to land Nix’s commitment. He’s the son of Patrick Nix, a former Auburn great. Nix remains close to the Auburn program to this day.
For now, Nix is saying all of the right things when it comes to his recruitment; he’s not saying it’s a slam dunk that he’ll commit to the Tigers just because his father went there. The Tide, led by primary recruiter Brent Key, are going to do what they can to get Nix to play for them in 2019.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 10:49 am to TideSaint
quote:
Tide targets headed to Miami
Nick Saban landed in a helicopter this past January on Palm Beach Lakes’ football field. He was there to see elite safety Gurvan Hall. Hall is one of the top defensive back targets in the Class of 2018, but the Tide’s chances of landing Hall became more difficult Monday night.
Hall announced his commitment to Miami, and now the Hurricanes have the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class.
In addition to Hall’s commitment, the Canes also added a pledge from 4-star wide receiver Mark Pope. Pope, at one time, named Alabama his leader. When Mario Cristobal left for Oregon, though, communication between he and the Tide coaching staff dropped off.
It remains to be seen if Alabama will try to recruit Pope. I expect the team to continue to try to recruit Hall.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 1:33 pm to TideSaint
Just trying to kick start some conversation because currently the Barn thread has more posts than ours.
Who's a player everyone would love to see come here that isn't a five star?
Who's a player everyone would love to see come here that isn't a five star?
Posted on 3/28/17 at 1:35 pm to TomRollTideRitter
I like Seth Williams at Bryant a lot. He's stronger than Justyn Ross imo.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 1:39 pm to TomRollTideRitter
Richt is doing a good job recruiting down there. I wonder how it will translate on the field
Posted on 3/28/17 at 1:47 pm to TomRollTideRitter
Andres Fox. Kid is going to be a stud.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 2:57 pm to remaster916
No way he should be rated as low as he is. Look at all the great teams who have offered him?.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 3:35 pm to TomRollTideRitter
Could be a 5 star by January.
Posted on 3/28/17 at 3:57 pm to remaster916
Not 5* but 4* we would want. Qb- not a big deal this year unless he's elite. Rb- definitely happy with Pierce, wr- Scates and Joshua Moore, te- not a big deal, ot, Wrays,og- we are loaded at guard next couple yrs. Dt-Matt Jones, Def ends, E Anoma, Lb, again not a huge need but P Wilson and Jj Peters both studs cb- we need to steal Jobe from Miami, Safety- steal Hall from Miami .... Miami if they hold onto players are gonna be good. Athlete- l. Christian Smith needs more weight but would be best tight end in draft if he can learn to block. A lot of 4* here. Some will be 5*
Posted on 3/28/17 at 5:00 pm to Cobrasize
quote:
I wonder how it will translate on the field
spoiler alert:
- a few adequate annual resume building wins
- 1 annual embarrassing loss
- annual nice guy award nominee
Posted on 3/28/17 at 5:09 pm to TideSaint
Why 4-star cornerback Christian Tutt will likely have Alabama in final 2 | AL.com
quote:
Christian Tutt was wearing a Georgia pullover before Sunday's competition at the Atlanta Opening Regional.
Turns out, that may have been just for the four-star cornerback from Thomson, Ga., to keep warm.
Tutt, who stands nearly 6-feet tall and weighs 190 pounds, was one of the top performers on Sunday. The nation's No. 151 prospect will commit on May 30 - the date of his late brother's birthday - and while he has a top four of Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and Ohio State, he said, "it'll probably end up out of 'Bama and Florida State."
Alabama needs cornerbacks in this class and Tutt has a great relationship with Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. Tutt received his first offer from Georgia going into his ninth grade season while Pruitt was Georgia's defensive coordinator.
"He likes how I'm physical," Tutt said. "I can cover and also come up and make plays on the running backs, too."
Tutt said he plans to make a trip to Alabama probably next week when he's on spring break.
"It's a winning program," Tutt said. "I want to be a part of a national championship team. They get their DBs to the league and get all their players to the league. That's my ultimate goal."
Tutt said his top reasons for picking a school will be if they have his major - sports management with a minor in business (Tutt wants to coach one day) and if he can play early.
With head coach Nick Saban working with the defensive backs, that's another plus.
"That says a lot," Tutt said. "Nick Saban is a tough guy and he's tough on you. That's what I like in a coach."
Tutt has been to Alabama in the past. As a junior, he had 80 tackles and four interceptions. His older brother Chris was killed in a car accident on June 2 of last year. He was 20.
Christian Tutt will honor his brother again by committing on Chris' birthday.
Per 247Sports' evaluation Sunday, Tutt "overed like a blanket, always had the receivers inside hip."
Check out Tutt's junior highlights at Thomson High School.
This post was edited on 3/28/17 at 5:10 pm
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:05 am to TidalSurge1
JJ Peterson quote:
quote:
However, he later admitted it’s the Crimson Tide that truly has the edge.
“But basically, I really like Bama. Bama, it’s just, I like their atmosphere. It’s like a home team, family. Mostly all the players buy in, I like that buy in team.”
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:26 am to Bama3714
quote:
Alabama has started communicating with four-star running back Asa Martin of Decatur (Ala.) Austin, per 247Sports' Keith Neibuhr.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:33 am to TideSaint
quote:
Welcome to SEC Country’s daily Roll Tide-ings, a rundown of everything happening in Alabama Crimson Tide recruiting with Chris Kirschner. Today. we discuss the latest with priority defensive tackle target Jalen Cunningham and O.J. Howard’s cousin Nathaniel Watson.
LINK
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:34 am to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama still on top for in-state defensive tackle
BUFORD, Ga. — Jalen Cunningham has been to Alabama twice in the past two weeks despite living nearly 100 miles away from campus. He’s loved the Crimson Tide for his entire life and now he has a chance to play for them.
Cunningham, who is the first cousin of former SEC great linebacker Zach Cunningham of Vanderbilt, has Alabama on top out of the schools he’s considering. Georgia and Mississippi State, in no order, round out his top 3.
The Crimson Tide are going to be tough for any other team to beat when Cunningham announces his commitment, which is tentatively going to happen at Saint Clair County High School’s (Odenville, Ala.) first game this season.
“I love the program. I love coach (Nick) Saban, (defensive line) coach (Karl) Dunbar and (offensive line) coach (Brent) Key, who is my primary recruiter,” Cunningham told SEC Country. “I love all of those guys.”
The 6-foot-4, 362-pound prospect picked up an offer from Alabama in mid-February. Despite getting an offer from the Tide, Cunningham is still relatively unknown on the recruiting trail. When Alabama offered him as a nose guard, Cunningham was unranked. He’s now a 3-star prospect on 247Sports and has a 4-star rating on Rivals.
More schools will offer Cunningham before he makes his commitment, but it’s clear Alabama has an advantage.
“I never thought I would ever get recruited by Alabama, so it’s amazing,” Cunningham said. “I actually had the flu that day and coach Saban told me to call him later. It was amazing because he was the one to actually give me the offer. I’m telling you, the next day the flu was gone.”
Cunningham was back in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday for spring practice, and he said he has already envisioned himself taking over for Da’Ron Payne next season at nose guard. He said the Tide staff has told him if he commits, there’s a good chance for early playing time because depth is thin. The coaches are not lying about that. Defensive line is a big priority for Alabama in the Class of 2018, and Cunningham is near the top of the wish list.
The good news for the Tide is that Cunningham has come close to committing to Alabama.
“At junior day (back in February) when I went there and I put on that jersey, I was just like, ‘Dang, I need to go ahead and do this,'” Cunningham said. “I decided to wait to see what else was going to come along. It just felt amazing to put on that jersey because I never thought I would get that chance. I felt at home.”
How can Alabama lose its lead for Cunningham? He offered up a suggestion for other colleges:
“They would have to show me how they would develop me better than what Alabama is going to do,” Cunningham said. “Alabama is not only going to help me on the field, but they are going to make sure my grades are right, too, because I’m a student first.”
He either wants to major in graphic design or computer engineering when he gets to college. In his free time, the 362-pound prospect likes to draw. I have a feeling he’ll be doodling in his dorm room in Tuscaloosa come next season.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:35 am to TideSaint
quote:
O.J. Howard’s cousin hoping for an offer from the Tide
Nathaniel Watson has visited Tuscaloosa several times, but each time he’s been there, he’s left without the coveted offer.
Watson, a 4-star athlete from Maplesville (Ala.) High School, explained to SEC Country how an offer from Alabama would affect his recruitment.
“They would be pretty high on my list because my cousin, O.J. Howard, went there and now he’s headed to the draft,” Watson said. “I would like to follow in his footsteps.”
Watson isn’t as big or as freaky of an athlete as Howard. Watson stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs 215 pounds. He’s been clocked in the mid-4.6-second range when he’s run the 40-yard dash. Compare that to Howard, who stands at 6-foot-6, weighs 250 pounds and ran a 4.51 at the NFL combine earlier this month.
“He was shocked with his 40 time,” Watson said with a laugh. Because of his combine performance, there’s now a good chance Howard gets selected in the top 10 in the draft next month.
Watson talks to Howard as often as he possibly can, especially when the family gets together. The 4-star prospect said he looks up to Howard and always picks his brain about how to get better on the football field. He already said that whichever team drafts his cousin will automatically get a new fan.
Alabama wide receivers coach Mike Locksley and Watson talk at least once a week. They’re just starting to build a relationship. He is planning multiple trips to Tuscaloosa this spring and summer to get more face time with the new Tide staff and hopefully earn the offer.
Right now, Auburn leads for Watson with Ole Miss in second place. The Tigers have prioritized Watson and have made him feel at home.
“Auburn has a really good environment there,” Watson said. “The coaching staff is wonderful. They have some of the best coaches I’ve met.”
If the Tide offer down the road, they won’t become his leader. He said they’ll still be behind the Tigers because of the job they’ve done recruiting him.
Page 51 of 1304
Latest Alabama News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News