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

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CUB TO A BEAR

At Jackson-Olin, coach Tim Vakakes taught Miller the proper lifting technique. T.D. Moultry, his 2016 teammate and current Auburn linebacker, showed Miller how to handle the recruiting limelight, and how to lead his peers.

Now, it's all up to Miller.

Moultry inspired him last season, telling Miller he expected him to become stronger than him. Moultry then set a herculean-level effort for Miller to follow and eventually, surpass.

"Seeing him benching more than me, squatting more than me, just made me think, 'Hey I have to step it up,'" Miller said.

Said Vakakes: "It took awhile for him to catch on in the weight room and really embrace it... I put him with TD for a reason; so he could see what 'elite' looks like. That's how they work, that's how hard they lift, they don't skip reps.

"If he ever embraces it 100 percent - he's embraced it, and developed his body, turning himself into an elite prospect - but if he ever fully embraces it, he's a first-day guy in the (NFL) draft. That's the kind of talent he is."

Miller remembers sending a workout video to Moultry the day he passed him in the weight room. Nowadays, Miller tosses weight room plates around like so many pillow on his mom's sofa.

"Wake up every day with a good mindset," Miller said. "Go hard every day. Go harder than the person beside you. A lot of things aren't given to you, so you have to take it. Go out, keep grinding, keep going."

Speaking of workouts, Miller's gym idol is James Harrison, a future Hall of Fame linebacker with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Harrison's creative and entertaining workout videos, from tossing a medicine ball over a volleyball net and one-handed barbell shoulder presses, inspire and educate Miller.

"I think that's why I like him," Miller said of Harrison, a two-time Super Bowl winner and five-time Pro Bowler. "He does stuff that catches my eye. Some of the things he does, we started doing it in here. I even begged my dad to buy me his jersey."

Miller has never worn his Harrison jersey. He just wants to get it signed.

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TRUE HONOR

Miller receives regular text messages from a defensive tackle at a Texas high school. The player discovered Miller's football ferociousness online.

"Man, I look up to you, I watch hour film every day," the lineman recently told Miller.

That's why of all Miller's many college offers - from Clemson and Alabama to Auburn and Florida, he said this relationship marks his biggest accomplishment of high school football.

"Having somebody look up to me," Miller said, "it made me feel like I did something right."

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Slade Bolden is now a 4-star on Rivals

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The updated 2018 Rivals100 was released on Monday with four new five-star prospects in WR Mark Pope, CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart, LB Teradja Mitchell and ATH Devon Williams moving up to that elite status.

Today, we take a look at the entire 2018 Rivals250 with a focus on the biggest movers up and down.

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Jeremiah Martin

Movement: NR to 189

Analyst’s take: “Martin is one of those hybrid defensive ends/outside linebackers who are becoming more useful in defensive schemes. He’s physical enough to put his hand down and be a lethal edge rusher and he’s athletic enough to stand up and play in space. Either way, I suspect he’s going to find the field early in his career and be really productive. Alabama, Texas A&M, UCLA, Oregon and others remain in the mix.” - Gorney

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SLIDERS

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Xavier Williams

Movement: -48

Analyst’s take: “Williams’ hands fail him from time to time, but the fact that he can create separation with ease make him a high-upside prospect. If he improves when it comes to making catches, he’ll be nice addition to the Alabama offense.” - Cassidy

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Asa Martin’s coach breaks down expectations

There has been a lot of chatter about where Asa Martin will commit on Thursday. That noise has existed for a while, ever since Auburn and Alabama were late to the offering party. Since then, Crystal Ball predictions have come flooding in for the Crimson Tide, who are the perceived leaders despite Martin never saying anything to support that.

Jeremy Perkins, who is Asa Martin’s high school coach, says that’s by design.

“What everyone thinks they know out there, it’s not coming from him. Your guess is as good as mine,” Perkins told SEC Country. “He has kept this really close to the vest. I’m pretty sure when he makes his announcement on Thursday that he and his mother will be the only two that know. He may talk to the college coaches before, but as far as teammates, coaches and the public, he isn’t telling anyone.”

It’s likely down to those in-state programs at this point.

Martin’s two most recent visits came for the respective cookouts at Alabama and Auburn. He went to Tuscaloosa for a day trip. Auburn became a three-day, two-night excursion. Whether or not that extended stay is telling remains to be seen, but it proves the Tigers are much more of a threat than many expert predictions suggest.

Alabama and Auburn bring different offensive styles, which is something that has made Martin think deeply. But Perkins doesn’t think his star pupil will have trouble in any scheme.

“I think he has the skill set to do so many different things,” Perkins said. “Whichever offense he chooses, I know he can be a great downhill runner. He can run the zone and stretch plays. He does that for us. He can fit in the spread system where he’s running more power, sweeps and inside-outside zones out of the shotgun. He fits in any system. There’s a lot of variety in his game.”

The depth-chart opportunity at Auburn is much more open, a big reason why the Tigers are receiving extra consideration. In the past, Martin told SEC Country he worried about his fit with Alabama, but those concerns have diminished over time.

Like Perkins said, if that was a true concern, the Crimson Tide wouldn’t be in the final conversation.

“I think if it was an issue for him, he wouldn’t have Alabama as one of his top four teams,” Perkins said. “Some would argue one of his top two teams. If it was an issue, we would have had a conversation about it. He’s a competitor. He’s not shying away from competition. He never has done that.”

Alabama has a track record recently of landing the No. 1 running back in the state when it wants him. Auburn has a history of compiling 1,000-yard rushers. When Martin makes his decision Thursday, it won’t necessarily be the end of each side’s chase for the 4-star running back.

Does his coach think the Thursday commitment is the end?

“I would hope so. He’s planning on being a December grad, so that’s only a few months away. The plan is for him to be done. With recruiting how it is today, I wouldn’t put my John Hancock on that or bet the house,” Perkins said. “I think he has taken the due diligence needed to make this decision. I think he’s going to feel very comfortable with this. His plan is that when he makes his commitment that the school he picks will be the place he signs, but who knows what the future holds.”

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