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

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PRODUCING ON THE FIELD

Armour-Davis was a first-team Class 5A All-State and AL.com All-Coastal Alabama selection a year ago. He finished his junior season with 31 tackles and three interceptions.

"He's always had a great skill set," Mask said. "The only real question was the same as any player - would he mature enough to handle all the stuff that comes with being a big-time recruit. I think he's done that."

While Armour-Davis' primary position is now - and will be in the future - at cornerback, he also plays some offense and returns kicks for the Saints. In 2016, he had three touchdown receptions and one rushing score.

"He can affect all aspects of the game," St. Paul's assistant coach Dan Drum said. "He's a factor on offense, defense and special teams -- a big factor."

Mask said there is no doubt that Armour-Davis can factor into Nick Saban's secondary at Alabama - probably as soon as next year - though he is hoping the Crimson Tide will redshirt him.

"I don't think they will, but I hope they do," he said. "I just think that transition from high school to college is so huge. I don't doubt for a minute he has a chance to be a great player. I just like for the guys to have a little time to adjust.

"I will say this: Jalyn is a guy who will only get better. He's not underrated at all."

Armour-Davis, meanwhile, has big goals on the football field this year at St. Paul's, during his time at Alabama and, hopefully, in pro football. But he also never loses focus of the big picture.

"If I look 10 years down the road, I hope I have a stable family and I hope I can provide for my mom," he said. "My main goal has always been to help my mom retire as soon as I can. She's done so much for me, made so many sacrifices. If that wasn't my goal, I would be a pretty selfish guy.

"It would be nice to have a lot of money and buy nice things for myself, but that is all material stuff. In the grand scheme, I've got to take care of family first. That will never change."

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Slade Bolden

“The versatile athlete does it all for his high school team, from playing quarterback to running back an even filling in on defense. But what finally helped Bolden earn his fourth star was his progression as a wide receiver, a position he dominated at during camp stops over the summer. The Alabama commit’s hands plus impressive speed showed that he belonged in the elite group of four-star athletes.” – Rivals.com Southeast recruiting analyst Woody Wommack

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Micah Parsons

The top-rated prospect in the region can't shy away from the spotlight and Parsons, who has been under a microscope since he was a freshman, is quite used to it by now. The former Penn State commit has taken a series of visits this offseason but official visits are around the corner. Parsons will head to Ohio State and Nebraska for official visits, and more are coming, presumably to USC, Georgia, Florida State or Alabama. His recruitment will be fun to watch down the stretch and his play on the field is almost can't-miss TV.

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HIALEAH, Fla. – One of the top uncommitted prospects in America, Patrick Surtain knows plenty of people are waiting on his decision. The five-star defensive back won’t let that affect him, though. This is not a man in any sort of rush.

His measured approach to the process matches his larger demeanor.

“I haven’t set anything yet,” Surtain said on Friday. “I’m still planning out officials.”

Still, there are some things to which Surtain will concede. He says LSU, Florida State and Clemson, all of which are seen as possible landing spots, will likely get official visits. The other schools in running to get officials, however, are in less certain positions. He rattles those off from memory.

“Florida, Miami, Ohio State, Alabama; those schools,” Surtain said. “I’ll be figuring it out soon.”

The timing of his visits, like some of the destinations, remain uncertain. Surtain isn’t worried about classes filling up or his options dwindling. His skill set ensures he avoids such issues. It’s why his plan is, well, leisurely.

“I will take some during the season and some after,” he said. “It just depends on what the coaches want. I’ll do whatever the coaches want, I guess.”

The No. 3 player in the class of 2018, Surtain is America’s top-rated defensive back. He attends Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage High School.

IN HIS WORDS:

-- “I was thinking I’ll either commit late in the season or just waiting until Signing Day. One of those.”

-- “I still talk to coach [Corey] Raymond and Coach [Ed] Orgeron over at LSU a lot. I talk to Coach [Dave] Aranda, too.”

-- “I still hit up Miami I’m still talking to them. They’re still a school. They’re still that school, you know?”

RIVALS REACTION: It seems unlikely that visits to places not names Florida State, LSU or Clemson will matter much here. You never know with recruiting, but it would take a pretty special official to sway Surtain away from his three assumed frontrunners. Then, anything is possible.

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Alpharetta (Ga.) product Jaycee Horn is set to announce a commitment on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. CT, he confirms to BamaOnLine.

The announcement will be broadcast by SEC Country on the network's Facebook.

Horn, a four-star cornerback, was set to announce a commitment on July 15 between Alabama and South Carolina, but at The Opening Finals he told BOL he was reconsidering that decision with Tennessee coming on harder. Ultimately Horn postponed his decision.

The son of former NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver Joe Horn, Jaycee named Alabama his leader following his visit for A-Day, before crowning South Carolina atop his list a few weeks later. After a return visit to Tuscaloosa for camp in June, Horn backed off naming leaders all together.

At 6-feet, 174 pounds, Horn is rated the No. 25 cornerback and the No. 219 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

The Gamecocks hold the Crystal Ball edge at 90 percent.

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Alabama's four national championships under Nick Saban are the byproduct of the Crimson Tide's recruiting success in the tenured head coach's time in Tuscaloosa.

The Crimson Tide is coming off a cycle that saw the program sign its seventh straight No. 1-ranked recruiting class, per the 247Sports Team Rankings.

It goes without saying that Alabama has signed some of the best players in the nation over the course of the last decade, so we decided to break it down into an all-time top signees under Saban list.

BamaOnLine will break it down into two parts, starting with offense today.

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RB Mark Ingram

BOL's Travis Reier says: "Thought to be a solid signee as a part of the 2008 recruiting class, Ingram became UA's first Heisman Trophy winner a year later."

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