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 Alabama DE Andres Fox and in-state ATH Maurice Robinson.

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Posted by TideSaint

Hill Country

Member since Sep 2008

75840 posts

Posted on 3/24/17 at 11:59 am to TideSaint

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In-state athlete’s perception of Tide changes after talking to coaches

NEW ORLEANS — Maurice Robinson didn’t grow up an Alabama fan. He didn’t like the Crimson Tide until visiting last June for one of the team’s summer camps.

“I never really liked them because I was always thought they were so cocky and such a cocky team,” Robinson told SEC Country.

That negative perception he had of Alabama is gone now. After getting a chance to talk with Nick Saban and Jeremy Pruitt, Robinson, a 3-star athlete from Murphy High School (Mobile, Ala.), learned that the two coaches are just normal guys.

He found it easy to talk with Saban and Pruitt, and it’s a reason why he could see himself playing for Alabama one day.

“They impressed me on the visit,” Robinson admitted. “The atmosphere there was really great. I thought it was going to be a cocky, stuck-up place. It was very chill and I liked how they didn’t just tell me that I was the best and all of that.”

But Alabama is not his leader. That would be LSU. The reason why the Tigers are on top for him stems from the position they are recruiting him to play. Robinson plays quarterback for Murphy High School and he wants to be a signal caller in college. The Tigers are recruiting him at quarterback.

The Tide want Robinson, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect, to switch to cornerback if he were to commit to the them. He doesn’t have a problem making the transition, but, right now, he wants to be a quarterback.

Would he choose Alabama if it doesn’t change his mind and offer him as a quarterback?

“There’s a chance I might do that,” Robinson said. “I may choose Alabama as a backup plan.”

Robinson looked very raw as a quarterback in drills this past weekend. His ceiling would be much higher if he made the transition to defense, but he’s hesitant to make a change because of his lack of reps.

“When I was in little league, I played cornerback. That’s all the experience I have,” Robinson said. “But when I was up there for a camp at Alabama, coach Saban said I (could) switch and transition very well without having much experience at the position.”

If he’s dead set on playing quarterback in college — and if it’s something LSU is going to tell him throughout his recruitment — I don’t see Robinson being a part of Alabama’s class.

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Posted by TideSaint

Hill Country

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Posted on 3/24/17 at 12:06 pm to TideSaint

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Alabama fighting it out with two other SEC schools for in-state DE

Stability.

That’s what Andres Fox is looking for when he makes his college decision. Nowadays, it’s hard to find a coaching staff that remains fully intact for more than a year. But, at Alabama, recruits know that at least Saban’s job security is bulletproof.

For Fox, a 3-star defensive end from Mobile (Ala.) Christian High School, that stability he and his family see in Alabama makes it an appealing option for him.

“They (my family) want me to go to Alabama because they think it’s the best place for me just because Nick Saban isn’t going anywhere,” Fox told SEC Country.

When you combine that quote with the fact that Fox has been an Alabama fan “since I was born,” the arrows should be pointing to an obvious commitment to the Crimson Tide at some point. But, not so fast.

Alabama, Auburn and LSU make up Fox’s top 3 and no school holds an advantage over the next, he says. But the Crimson Tide sure have him thinking hard about committing there.

“That’s where all of the great players go and coach Saban isn’t going anywhere,” Fox said. “He’s legendary.”

Despite the 6-foot-4, 232-pound prospect’s love for Alabama, Auburn actually has him thinking a lot about the Tigers. It’s a 50-50 battle between Alabama and Auburn for Fox’s commitment, but stability may come into play for the Tigers down the road.

Once again, Auburn enters this season with high expectations, and if the Tigers fall flat, that could be the end of Gus Malzahn. Fox has already thought of that scenario, but he’s confident that’s not going to happen.

“I think they’re going to have a good season this year because I think Chip Lindsey is going to develop the quarterback position well,” Fox said.

If he does end up committing to the Tigers, how would his parents feel since they want him to be part of the Crimson Tide?

“I think they would be OK with it,” Fox said with a laugh. “It would be a business decision.”

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Posted by Taskrj

Murfreesboro, TN

Member since Jan 2013

992 posts

Posted on 3/24/17 at 2:56 pm to TideSaint

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Minkah Fitzpatrick made the minor gaffe when telling reporters that he was back at cornerback with the University of Alabama football team this spring.

“There was not a conversation,” said Fitzpatrick, who made a midseason switch to safety last year following Eddie Jackson’s leg fracture. “There was the depth chart in our film room and it was 29 at corner. That was it.”

Wait, depth chart? The thing that Nick Saban says doesn’t exist (yet)?

“Coach Saban calls it a rep chart, not a depth chart,” the All-American said with a smile due to the friendly prodding. “That was my mistake.”

Alabama’s had just two spring practices with no one in pads yet, and the season opener is still more than five months away. So we’re still a long way from having any firm decisions about how the Crimson Tide might line up against Florida State on Sept. 2 in Atlanta.

However, one thing that we did learn during this initial week of workouts is that Alabama’s overall depth might be unparalleled in college football — again.

That’s not to say that it doesn’t have some depth concerns. Every team does under the 85-man scholarship limit.

Where it especially stands out is at quarterback. Saban reminded everyone on Tuesday that he has only three, and combined they have one year of experience at the collegiate level.

Meanwhile, wide receiver Trevon Diggs is splitting reps at cornerback, a contingency precaution that Alabama has done before, and every coach will tell you that a team can’t have enough defensive linemen. Currently the Crimson Tide barely have enough.

“I think Isaiah Buggs can be a good player,” Saban said. “Da’Shawn Hand has been a good player for us. Da’Ron Payne has played a lot of football around here for two years and been a good player for us. Raekwon (Davis) played some last year. Quinnen Williams is going to have to play some. Josh Frazier played quite a bit last year.

“We’ve got a couple other freshmen coming in. I mean, they all need to get better and they all need to improve, but we’ve played with worse.”

Saban didn’t mean for that last part to be a slam on anyone, but it was his way of saying that replacing Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson won’t be easy.

But then one looks at the team in a broader sense and can’t help but be impressed.

A good example is the offensive line.

During Thursday’s viewing period for reporters (which was about 10 minutes, so it’s only a small sample of the entire practice), Brent Key ran his players through a drill in three waves with newcomers Alex Leatherwood and Eliot Baker in the back group, along with Josh Casher, who is coming off a foot injury.

How many teams would, or could do that?

Leatherwood was a prize 5-star recruit, rated the fourth best prospect in the nation according to the 247Sports composite rankings, and already the message is that he has to earn his spot. The same goes for the junior college transfer who was specifically brought in to compete for a starting job.

Alabama has to replace two of the five starters and Jonah Williams is apparently making the switch from right to left tackle, but even with those changes it’s not like the line is starting over.

“We did so much switching last year, we’re ready for any kind of substitution,” center Bradley Bozeman said. “It’s really the same guys from last year coming into the mix, and you just have to build on that.”

If you really want to know how good a team is, don’t look at the starters. Check out the reserves and see if they turn your head. Alabama’s do, at least physically.

For every 6-foot-7 lineman leading a drill, there’s another guy just as big behind him.

This team already goes three-deep across the board, and it’s a solid three deep as Saban has again assembled a roster made up almost exclusively of players who were considered 5- and 4-star prospects.

It has reserves who are more imposing than most opposing starters, and once again there will likely be some very good freshmen who will be redshirting in the fall.

It’s only been one week of spring football, but it all bodes well for another good season for the Crimson Tide.

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Posted by TideSaint

Hill Country

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Posted on 3/24/17 at 6:44 pm to Taskrj

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Alabama extended an offer to 2019 four-star receiver and Oklahoma commit Arjei Henderson on Friday afternoon, he announced on Twitter.

The Richmond (Texas) Travis product has been committed to the Sooners since February, but has continued to receive interest. Miami, Penn State and Texas all offered this week as well.

At 6-foot-1, 179 pounds, Henderson does not yet have a player rating.

Last season, the four-star wideout caught 100 passes for 1,401 yard and 18 touchdowns.

Arjei Henderson Highlights

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