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re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition
Posted on 8/22/17 at 8:59 am to TideSaint
Posted on 8/22/17 at 8:59 am to TideSaint
quote:
The Mississippi State recruiting class got better on Friday night, when defensive end Fabien Lovett joined the 2018 class.
Lovett, a defensive end out of Olive Branch, Miss., is a 3-star recruit and the No. 20 player in the state of Mississippi. He picked the Bulldogs over offers from the likes of Alabama, Ole Miss and Memphis. Lovett is listed at 6-foot-3 and 302 pounds.
With the addition of Lovett, Mississippi State now has 22 members in it and ranks 20th in the 247Sports Composite rankings. Among SEC teams, Dan Mullen’s team ranks sixth. He’s the second player from Olive Branch to commit to the team, joining cornerback Jaylon Reed.
The Bulldogs open the 2017 season against Charleston Southern on Sept. 2.
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Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:02 am to TideSaint
LINK
Oh Pat. You silly fricker.
quote:
To no one's surprise, Alabama opened preseason No. 1 in Monday's initial AP Top 25 release, the second consecutive season the three-time defending SEC champs were voted top dog in August.
But not all voters tabbed the Crimson Tide as the team to beat in college football.
Longtime Gainesville Sun columnist Pat Dooley pegged Alabama fourth, easily the lowest ranking for Nick Saban's team among 61 total ballots.
Paul Finebaum asked Dooley about his off-the-wall pick on Monday's radio show.
"Well, umm, I will say this, the winner of the Florida State-Alabama game will probably be No. 1 in my second week's poll," Dooley said, partially skating the question. "I'm not one of these stats guys where you stack them and whoever loses, you move everybody up one. To me, that would easily be the most impressive win of the year, whoever wins.
"I like Ohio State. Ohio State has a really good team. Any of those top four teams I think could be tossed around."
Alabama received 52 of a possible 61 first-place votes in Monday's poll. The Crimson Tide, a 7.5-point favorite over the Seminoles in the seismic opener, should be the betting favorite in every game this season.
Oh Pat. You silly fricker.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:07 am to TideSaint
quote:
The latest Rivals100 for the class of 2018 has been released, and with it we have four new five-star prospects, one player who lost his fifth star and a lot of big moves in both directions. But perhaps most importantly, we have two quarterbacks in the top two spots in the nation for the first time in history.
Usually the talk of a new release is about the new five-stars or perhaps a new No. 1, but the biggest development here is that quarterback Justin Fields is now No. 2 behind No. 1 Trevor Lawrence, the quarterback who has topped the list from the beginning.
Could we be headed toward the best quarterback showdown in Rivals.com history? It’s possible. I can’t remember a time where two signal callers were Nos. 1 and 2 in our Rivals100. The closest I can recall was when Shea Patterson made a run toward Jacob Eason in the 2016 class, although neither topped the list as Rashan Gary edged out Dexter Lawrence in a battle of defensive tackles.
There has never been a one-two punch like this, as the closest Eason and Patterson ever got was Nos. 1 and 3. Fields, who had a great summer, has closed the gap on Lawrence by moving up six spots from No. 8 to No. 2.
Aside from that push, there was little movement in the top 10, although we have some great positional battles brewing. Who will end up as the No. 1 running back, Georgia commitment Zamir White or Miami commitment Lorenzo Lingard? Can Clemson commitment Xavier Thomas hold off fellow defensive end Micah Parsons for the No. 1 spot along the defensive line? And can cornerback Anthony Cook push his way up and past fellow corner Patrick Surtain for the top spot there?
The Rivals.com analysts break down the new five-stars and the lone player who lost his fifth star.
LINK
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:08 am to TideSaint
quote:
NEW FIVE-STARS
Isaac Taylor-Stuart
Teradja Mitchell
Devon Williams
Mark Pope
quote:
LOST FIFTH STAR
Matt Corral
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:09 am to TideSaint
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Today's release of an updated Rivals100 for the 2018 class features numerous risers and sliders; many of these prospects made significant impressions at talent-filled offseason events. The Rivals.com analyst team breaks down the noteworthy moves in the Rivals100 below.
Note: The listings below include only prospects that jumped 30 or more spots either within or into the Rivals100 and those who dropped more than 20 spots within the Rivals100.
LINK
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:10 am to TideSaint
quote:
RISERS
quote:
TE Luke Ford
Old rank: 136
New rank: 72
Difference: +64
Analyst's take: “Ford's meteoric rise from little-known downstate Illinois prospect to the No. 1 tight end in the 2018 class has been earned through his play this offseason. Junior film was very strong, but any remaining questions after that footage have been resoundingly answered by Ford against top competition over the last eight months. He decommitted from Arkansas in June and visited Alabama, Auburn, Illinois, LSU, Michigan and Texas this summer.”
- Josh Helmholdt, Rivals.com Midwest Recruiting Analyst
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:12 am to TideSaint
Alabama outpacing foes for R100 TE Luke Ford
Please sweet baby Jesus let us land this kid.
quote:
After stepping away from an Arkansas commitment in June, Carterville, Ill., tight end Luke Ford visited six schools across the country this summer. One of those visits stood out among the rest for the four-star.
“If I had to put in into a 40-yard dash term, I’d say Alabama is running a 4.3 and everybody else is running a 4.4,” Ford said.
Ford and his family traveled to Tuscaloosa on June 17, just a week after he de-committed from Arkansas.
“It was just talking with Brian Daboll and him being the offensive coordinator for the Patriots, coaching Gronk (Rob Gronkowski), Martellus Bennett, Aaron Hernandez and all the rings he got with the Patriots," Ford said. "He’s obviously going to bring that offense to Alabama, with the tight end usage, that’s intriguing to me.”
Ford has tickets to attend Alabama’s season opener against Florida State in Atlanta on Sept. 2. He is also looking to schedule an official visit to Tuscaloosa, but that may take place after his senior season is complete. No other official visits have been scheduled, and Ford would prefer to take those after the college football season is complete.
Other schools Ford visited this summer include Auburn, LSU, Michigan and Texas. While other schools could enter the mix in the coming months, the schools he has made prior visits to are the ones Ford is most closely following at this point in his recruitment and he could name a top 10 during the fall.
Although he de-committed from Arkansas, Ford is still interested in the Razorbacks and keeps in regular contact with assistant Barry Lunney Jr. He was also looking closely at the home-state Illinois Fighting Illini prior to his original Arkansas commitment, and made a return visit to see head coach Lovie Smith in Champaign on July 28.
“It was another great visit. I love all the coaching staff and everybody there,” Ford said. “The facilities need work, but that will come later on. For me to buy in and play for the flagship (school) in-state, I just have to see them win games and use the tight end.”
In the recent update of the Rivals100, Ford emerged as the No. 1 ranked tight end prospect in the 2018 class. His senior season kicks off this coming weekend. The four-star expects to line up mostly in the slot, but also in-line in some sets. Ford doubles as an outside linebacker on defense for Carterville.
Please sweet baby Jesus let us land this kid.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:14 am to TideSaint
Take two: Alabama's slow start to 2018 recruiting
quote:
Take Two returns this week as a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape.
Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.
Storyline: For eight of the last 10 years, Alabama has won the Rivals.com team recruiting title. It’s been an incredible run as the Crimson Tide have absolutely dominated the recruiting landscape.
That streak could be in serious jeopardy this cycle if current trends continue.
Alabama is currently No. 31 nationally in the team recruiting rankings and ninth in the SEC rankings ahead of only Auburn, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Arkansas and Ole Miss. Other than the Rebels, Alabama, with 10 pledges, has the fewest commits in the conference.
No team ranked ahead of Alabama in the national team rankings has as few commits as the Crimson Tide. And that number increased dramatically just in the last few weeks for Alabama with half of its class committing since July 1. No five-stars are currently pledged to Alabama.
So what’s going on? Are players choosing other programs for a specific reason? Or is this really a sign of Alabama’s strength, that coach Nick Saban and his staff can wait until later in the recruiting process and then pick and choose – even if top prospects are committed elsewhere – to fill out the Crimson Tide's recruiting class?
First take: “Alabama is expected to have a small class this year. The slow start is more about waiting for top targets to decide instead of taking guys who are ready to commit to Alabama. The Crimson Tide also have a few major targets who are committed elsewhere who may jump on board down the road. There is zero concern in Tuscaloosa at the present time. Alabama will get several of its top targets down the road. Nick Saban has always been known as the ultimate closer. He will close on big targets during official and in-home visits.” – Andrew Bone, BamaInsider.com
Second take: “It’s not an issue, and I’m not concerned. They are recruiting a lot of guys and they don’t want to go to Plan B. Whether the guy is committed and they’re going to try to flip him or whether they want to take their time, Alabama is going to get theirs in the end. I don’t think Saban is in any hurry or gives really a bit of care what anybody thinks about the start of this recruiting class, because we know they’ll probably finish in the top five.” - Farrell
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:15 am to TideSaint
quote:
PETERSON'S BEING PATIENT
Some thought Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County linebacker JJ Peterson would be committed by now. Alabama has been in the lead since the spring, and the Crimson Tide is still the team to beat, but Peterson is not ready to make his decision just yet.
"I would have liked to have had JJ done with recruiting in the summer, but he wasn't ready," said head coach Rush Propst. "We talked about it some, but he is still not committed to anyone right now."
Auburn and Georgia are next in line for Peterson, with the Tigers likely the No. 2 team at this time. Peterson visited his top three schools over the summer, and he likely will again before he commits.
"I do not know about official visits yet," said Peterson. "I have not even thought about them yet. I will just see what happens this season."
With Peterson's head coach having ties to Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt and Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey from his days of coaching at Hoover (Ala.), most expect Peterson to leave the state at this time.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:18 am to TideSaint
Updated Rivals 100 for 2018
Targets/commits:
3. Patrick Surtain
6. Micah Parsons
18. Emory Jones
19. Justyn Ross
23. KJ Henry
40. Penei Sewell
44. Kelvin Joseph
63. JJ Peterson
71. Tanner McKee
72. Luke Ford
73. Jordan Davis
76. Nadab Joseph
78. Tyson Campbell
96. Jaylen Waddle
98. Stephon Wynn
99. Eyabi Anoma
Targets/commits:
3. Patrick Surtain
6. Micah Parsons
18. Emory Jones
19. Justyn Ross
23. KJ Henry
40. Penei Sewell
44. Kelvin Joseph
63. JJ Peterson
71. Tanner McKee
72. Luke Ford
73. Jordan Davis
76. Nadab Joseph
78. Tyson Campbell
96. Jaylen Waddle
98. Stephon Wynn
99. Eyabi Anoma
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:23 am to TideSaint
From some guy named WareagleKK on the Auburn board:
quote:
Got some pretty good intel on Ross this weekend. Clemson is his leader.
He has taken the bait on being the next in the great line of WR at "WRU". Will be very tough to overcome them in this race. Auburn would need a humongous year in the passing game and really showcase some WRs.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:23 am to TideSaint
I see Rivals is still high on Justyn Ross. What was Joseph ranking before??
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:25 am to Rizzy
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What was Joseph ranking before??
No idea. He wasn't listed in the Big Movers article so he had to be within 30 spots of where he is now.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:28 am to TideSaint
Didn't some guy say last week on Ross, that he was listening to Bama?
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:30 am to remaster916
quote:
Didn't some guy say last week on Ross, that he was listening to Bama?
No idea.
I honestly wouldn't be too upset if he went to Clemson.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:31 am to TideSaint
Penei Sewell has a torn labrum in his shoulder, but he still played Friday night.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:32 am to TideSaint
We got a CB for Vernon Jackson from a TCU mod.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 9:33 am to TideSaint
The Uncommitted: Where Pennsylvania's Best Stand
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Five-star Micah Parsons, the uber athletic defensive end from Harrisburg (Pa.) High was a one-time Penn State commit but opened his recruitment and is looking at a lot of schools. Penn State, Ohio State, Nebraska, Georgia, Alabama and Miami are each on his list, which could expand.
Posted on 8/22/17 at 10:05 am to TideSaint
quote:
Aaron Hernandez
Come on Ford, Daboll never coached him. Get your coaching timelines right
Posted on 8/22/17 at 10:29 am to TideSaint
A-List No. 3: Coynis Miller wants to help offers mimic his success (next 5 posts)
quote:
Defensive lineman Coynis Miller, No. 3 on AL's A-List, an annual ranking of Alabama's top senior football prospects, enters his senior season at Jackson-Olin ready to rumble his way to touchdowns from the Wildcat quarterback position and on defense - his primary position - cause havoc at and around the line of scrimmage.
Such efforts would immortalize Miller's legacy at the school. He sure has come a long way from daydreaming about football in elementary school; walking down the street with weights; learning how to compete after transferring to Jackson-Olin.
His football journey started modestly in Decatur, Georgia, when he was still in elementary school.
One summer, every morning around 5 a.m., Miller and his cousin and best friend, Anthony Mason, started their mile run to the park. The boys would spend the early morning working out and later in the day, play basketball before returning home around 7 p.m.
"We just did it. We got up at that time," Miller said. "Like, we heard that the great players woke up early to get work in, so we figured we should get started (early).
Miller was a fifth-grader, his friend a sixth-grader.
It's what today's high school players call grinding. Miller and Mason had noting but with a 30-pound dumbbell, which they carried the dumbbell down the road, jumped with it in their grasp, whatever exercises they could think of to place them closer to their mission of making a future out of sports.
"We were getting it from a young age," Miller said. "All the older guys would tell us, 'Y'all going to be something one day.' "
That day is here.
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