re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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Alabama just offered #elite Newton defensive lineman Darnell Jeffries

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One of the hottest prospects in America was in Tuscaloosa over the weekend for Alabama’s junior day.

Since Alabama offered 3-star running back Tavion Thomas 10 days ago, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and Oregon are a few of the programs that also have extended a scholarship offer.

Thomas made the eight-plus hour drive to Tuscaloosa from Dayton, Ohio, along with two teammates and his coach this weekend. His first visit to Tuscaloosa could not have gone any better.

“It really was a blessing to go down there to meet Nick Saban,” Thomas told SEC Country. “Man, it’s really a great place down there. They really took care of us. It felt like me and my boy Joe (4-star WR Joe Scates) actually went to ‘Bama.”

That family feel has Alabama, along with Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin in his top group. On the visit, Thomas met defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley, who is his primary recruiter, running backs coach Burton Burns and wide receivers coach Mike Locksley.

Those coaches made Thomas feel comfortable while he was at Alabama for the weekend.

“Their people are great down there,” Thomas said. “They really don’t play around about football and academics. They really know how to have fun, too. It was a blessing to meet all of the staff. We all had fun.”

Thomas met with Saban for about 10 minutes. During that conversation, Thomas was in awe for the most part. He never imagined that he would be in a position to meet Saban, along with Scates, who added an offer from Alabama this weekend.

Thomas said he plans on making it back to Tuscaloosa at some point, but he’s already seen enough of the school to envision a future there.

“I can see myself playing at ‘Bama,” Thomas said. “I’m still open, though. I play just like the running backs that they have now. They love big backs. I can run through you and I can run around you.”

Not only was Thomas impressed with Alabama, but his teammate and good friend was, too. Scates, who is committed to Michigan State, considers Alabama his dream school.

“It’s really crazy that they offered me and my boy Joe,” Thomas said. “This is his dream school since he was a little kid. I saw his face when Alabama offered him, and he was so, so, so happy. He couldn’t even say a word. We ran out of his room yelling. We are really brothers. We really have to work for greatness now.”

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It was the first time Cartavious Bigsby visited Alabama and it is a visit to Tuscaloosa (Ala.) he will always remember.

The 6-foot, 180 pound freshman out of Hoganville (Ga.) Callaway left for Alabama early Saturday morning with the plan to see learn more about the school, meet some of the coaching staff and see what it is like to be a recruit.

The freshman was not prepared for what happened before he left.

"Coach [Derrick] Ansley (defensive backs) was on the side talking to my coach (Pete Wiggins) at the end of the tour and I didn't see it coming," said Bigsby. "They called me over and that is when I learned about the offer.

"I was shocked. When I heard him offering me, a lot of things went through my mind and it was pretty amazing. I just did not expect it."

Bigsby is a 2020 prospect who could play offense or defense on the next level. He will be used all over the field the next three seasons and while talking to coach Ansley after the offer was presented, the Alabama coach liked what he heard from Bigsby.

"Coach Ansley was talking to me about my ability, how he sees potential in me and then we started talking about the positions I play. When I told him that I wanted to play safety in college instead of running back, he really liked that.

"He likes how I can hit, how I can run and he was happy about me wanting to play defense."

Alabama did to Bigsby what it usually does when it has recruits on campus — it amazed him. The freshman received a big first offer and he loved that part of the visit, but he learned some things about Nick Saban's program.

"I saw a lot of things during the visit, but what stood out to me was how Alabama cares about their players and how they really put in the work to be great," said Bigsby. "I really liked the coaching staff too. They are some good guys."

His favorite part of the visit (outside the offer) was his time at Bryant-Denny Stadium. He loved the feel there and the locker rooms he was able to spend some time in.

Next up for Bigsby will be a visit to Clemson. He plans to visit the Tigers Saturday.

Alabama definitely got his attention with the offer and he will likely be back to camp there this summer. Bigsby also plans to camp at Georgia, the school he grew up a fan of, later this summer.

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