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re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:38 am to TideSaint
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:38 am to TideSaint
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Huntsville High tight end/receiver Will Cooper is set to join Alabama as a preferred walk-on.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Cooper finished with 572 yards receiving in 10 games last season.
Cooper is the latest Rocket City-area player to walk-on for the Crimson Tide. Alabama's roster includes senior tight end Jacob Parker (Westminster Christian), junior receiver Jonathan Rice (Bob Jones) and sophomore tight end Sean Goodman (Bob Jones). Brewer 2017 linebacker Cole Weaver is another preferred walk-on.
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Senior Highlights
This post was edited on 3/29/17 at 10:38 am
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Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:47 am to TideSaint
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Back for another edition of AL.com's All-Access, and the best thing I've got is from a recruiting combine in Atlanta over the weekend.
This was the Opening Regional. We've got plenty of content from the event here, which also includes some from the New Orleans Opening Regional two weekends ago.
Top prospects compete for spots at The Opening Finals in Oregon - the most prestigious high school event in the country for recruits going into their senior seasons. (Some juniors are also invited).
Just some observations to start today's All-Access chats.
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Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:47 am to TideSaint
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** People are saying Pinson Valley QB Bo Nix is the best state QB prospect since Jameis Winston. Nix has a very good arm, has the "it factor" and is athletic. I suspect he'll commit to Auburn maybe sooner than later.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:47 am to TideSaint
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** Loved watching Athens, Ga., standout Richard Jibunor rush off the edge. He's a high Auburn target, though Alabama has offered. He's listed at 6-foot-4 and about 206 pounds, so he looked like a receiver out there. He looked so dominant, but this wasn't a pads event. If he gets an Opening invite, he'll put the pads on up there.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:48 am to TideSaint
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** Harold Joiner and Asa Martin, two in-state running backs, had good performances. Alabama hasn't offered either yet. Could Auburn take both? Hard to tell, though Joiner has the body type to play other skill positions such as receiver or even as an athletic tight end.
As I posted on the previous page, Alabama has started to recruit Asa Martin more.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:48 am to TideSaint
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** Wanted to see a little more out of Justyn Ross and Seth Williams, but was watching the linemen when they were at their best. Ross got an Opening invite. Williams, who plays at Paul Bryant in Tuscaloosa, says Alabama isn't coming after him hard now. Both are tall, physical receivers.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:49 am to TideSaint
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** Enjoyed watching two of the state's top junior OL in Clay Webb of Oxford and Pierce Quick of Hewitt-Trussville compete. Webb had a great case to be named to the top five. He's looking like the top prospect in the state in 2019 and there could be a few top 100 prospects nationally. I like Alabama's chances with both right now.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:50 am to TideSaint
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Alabama signed four elite tackles last year, so there is a focus on landing some dominating interior players in this class.
Jamaree Salyer is one of the top players in the country and is a five-star recruit. The 6-foot-3.5, 327-pound Salyer is the country's No. 6 overall player, No. 2 prospect in Georgia and top offensive lineman in the 247Sports composite rankings. The Atlanta standout earned his second straight trip to the Opening finals in Oregon after a dominating performance at the Atlanta Regional where he was also named the offensive line MVP.
Salyer noticed when Alabama head coach Nick Saban stopped by Pace Academy during the visit period earlier this year and said he talks to offensive line coach Brent Key on a regular basis.
"It was fun to see those guys," Salyer said.
Salyer said he would narrow his list down to six or seven in late May or early June. He told Scout.com that Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State and Stanford would make the cut.
Alabama should like its chances as well.
"They're a powerhouse," Salyer said. "They impose their will on people. It's fun to see them go out and just beat guys every week. It's interesting to see how that program stays on top week after week."
Salyer said he could play any position on the offensive line, but has a good idea of where he will end up in college.
"Mostly guard and center, maybe tackle," Salyer said. "They had a pretty good tackle class (last year), so maybe guard.
"I feel like I can play all three positions, but the way my body is, I'm probably a guard or a center."
Salyer said he hopes to get over to Alabama for a spring practice and hopefully for the spring game on April 22.
He will make his decision after the season, he said. Salyer will not be an early graduate.
He said "a lot of people" think he'll go to Georgia, but not everybody. Every prediction on the 247Sports crystal ball is Georgia.
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Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:50 am to TideSaint
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Austin four-star running back Asa Martin says communication has picked up from Auburn since they offered in February.
So much that the early enrollee may make his commitment before the season instead of after, as he alluded to last month.
"They told me to stay in-state and come join the family and help recruit," Martin said Sunday at the Atlanta Opening Regional. "Auburn's right up in the top (group with me), it's at home and in the state."
The 6-foot,195-pound Martin wants to visit Michigan soon. He also said Nebraska is coming on lately.
He said he's hearing from Auburn assistants Chip Lindsey, Tim Horton and Herb Hand frequently, and is planning to visit Auburn for its spring game on April 8.
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Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:51 am to TideSaint
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Jackson-Olin standout in Auburn now
Coynis Miller, a four-star defensive lineman from Birmingham's Jackson-Olin, left Sunday for Auburn. He'll be there until Wednesday. He said his teammate, Auburn signee T.D. Moultry, was already there.
"Just being around the coaches, building a relationship with Coach (Rodney Garner)and the rest of the coaches," Miller said about the trip. "We talk a little bit more on the phone now. We're just building a relationship."
Miller will be at Alabama on Thursday. He said offensive line coach Brent Key has taken over his recruitment after Mario Cristobal left for Oregon.
It wasn't exactly a smooth transition, but Miller said everything is fine now.
"For a minute, I didn't hear from them for a week or two," Miller said. "Coach Key came in and has been talking to me ever since. It did (bother me), until I found out what happened (Cristobal left). It's all right now."
Miller said he's wide open. LSU is heavily in the mix, and he's hoping to get to Florida and Clemson.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:51 am to TideSaint
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Other in-state recruiting notes
** Pinson Valley quarterback Bo Nix, the 2019 standout who won quarterback MVP honors at the Opening Regional in Atlanta, received an offer from Clemson while on a visit Monday. He is at Alabama today and Auburn Thursday. Those schools, plus the likes of Georgia and Ohio State, have extended offers.
** St. Clair County defensive lineman Jalen Cunningham, who stands about 6-foot-5 and 350 pounds, is visiting Alabama today for spring practice. He earned an offer last month.
** Central-Phenix City receiver Justyn Ross was offered by Clemson on Tuesday night.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:52 am to TideSaint
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Christian Tutt was wearing a Georgia pullover before Sunday's competition at the Atlanta Opening Regional.
Turns out, that may have been just for the four-star cornerback from Thomson, Ga., to keep warm.
Tutt, who stands nearly 6-feet tall and weighs 190 pounds, was one of the top performers on Sunday. The nation's No. 151 prospect will commit on May 30 - the date of his late brother's birthday - and while he has a top four of Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and Ohio State, he said, "it'll probably end up out of 'Bama and Florida State."
Alabama needs cornerbacks in this class and Tutt has a great relationship with Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. Tutt received his first offer from Georgia going into his ninth grade season while Pruitt was Georgia's defensive coordinator.
"He likes how I'm physical," Tutt said. "I can cover and also come up and make plays on the running backs, too."
Tutt said he plans to make a trip to Alabama probably next week when he's on spring break.
"It's a winning program," Tutt said. "I want to be a part of a national championship team. They get their DBs to the league and get all their players to the league. That's my ultimate goal."
Tutt said his top reasons for picking a school will be if they have his major - sports management with a minor in business (Tutt wants to coach one day) and if he can play early.
With head coach Nick Saban working with the defensive backs, that's another plus.
"That says a lot," Tutt said. "Nick Saban is a tough guy and he's tough on you. That's what I like in a coach."
Tutt has been to Alabama in the past. As a junior, he had 80 tackles and four interceptions. His older brother Chris was killed in a car accident on June 2 of last year. He was 20.
Christian Tutt will honor his brother again by committing on Chris' birthday.
Per 247Sports' evaluation Sunday, Tutt "overed like a blanket, always had the receivers inside hip."
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Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:54 am to TideSaint
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Mountain Brook running back Harold Joiner isn't planning on making a decision until December, but Auburn is in the mix with two SEC West rivals for his commitment.
"It's unofficial, but LSU, Auburn and Ole Miss (are my top three) right now," Joiner told AL.com Sunday during Nike's The Opening Atlanta regional camp. "(Auburn) runs a similar offense as we do as my high school, and they're a family team down there so that's pretty cool. And the coaches communicate with you pretty well."
The 6-foot-3, 217-pounder has been targeted by Auburn running backs coach Tim Horton, though the Tigers also like him at receiver.
"(Horton's) just telling me that he needs power," Joiner said. "Coach (Gus) Malzahn told me he could switch me out to receiver too. I'm fine with that. I have fine hands."
Joiner's most recent visits were to LSU and UAB. He said he believes Georgia is close to offering, and his interest in Alabama would be "pretty high" should the Crimson Tide do the same.
"They're a powerful offense and always a great team," said Joiner, who grew up a fan of both Alabama and Auburn.
Joiner is ranked as a three-star prospect and the nation's No. 18 running back in the 247Sports Composite. He will play running back and wide receiver this season and will attempt to graduate in December so he can enroll early in college.
As a junior last fall, he rushed for 744 yards and eight touchdowns with nine catches for 180 yards two more scores.
Auburn signed two running backs in the 2017 recruiting cycle -- Southside-Gadsden's Alaric Williams and Tampa Catholic's Devan Barrett. Both are four-star prospects. The Tigers also hold a 2018 commitment from all-purpose back Shaun Shivers.
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Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:59 am to TideSaint
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This week, Rivals.com turns its attention to the 2019 class, as we will unveil 20 prospects each weekday that has earned a star rating. The prospects listed are grouped by their Rivals Rating from 6.1 to 5.9 but are in no particular order otherwise. Check in each day this week for 20 more prospects from the 2019 class that have impressed our team of analysts enough to earn an early star rating.
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Posted on 3/29/17 at 11:00 am to TideSaint
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ATH Trey Sanders
In addition to Haselwood, there are a few others that stand out just below that five-star status led by Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy running back Trey Sanders, an early Alabama commitment. Sanders, a big and upright runner, fits perfectly into the mold of recent Alabama running backs. But no matter where he plays, he can dominate.
“Sanders has a sturdy build and brings the type of power Nick Saban loves from his back,” Rivals.com Florida Recruiting Analyst Rob Cassidy said. “He has surprising speed for his massive size, but his calling cards are his strength and vision.”
Posted on 3/29/17 at 11:01 am to TideSaint
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While the focus of most is the class of 2018 as we dive deep into the spring evaluation period, members of the class of 2019 are getting offers as well on a daily basis. Rather than rush out a Rivals100 on prospects who have played two years of high school football, we thought we’d put stars on 100 of them and release 20 a day. Here’s our second batch led by five-star standout quarterback JT Daniels. The prospects listed are grouped by their Rivals Rating from 6.1 to 5.9 but are in no particular order otherwise.
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Posted on 3/29/17 at 11:01 am to TideSaint
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QB JT Daniels
The stat-stuffing signal-caller from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei leads this group with his uncanny accuracy and pocket presence. Daniels can drop a dime anyplace on the field and does an amazing job with his downfield vision and going through his progressions.
“As a sophomore, Daniels is the best quarterback I've evaluated in more than seven years of covering West prospects and that includes Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold. He's that incredibly good in games, so poised that he calls the offense by himself and he has tremendous ability to make all the big throws,” said Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney. “Yes, he's been surrounded by super talented receivers led by Osiris St. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown but playing in arguably the toughest high school football league in the country and completing 74 percent of his passes for 4,849 yards with 67 touchdowns and six interceptions is definitely impressive. Stanford, Notre Dame and others are in the mix early.”
Posted on 3/29/17 at 11:02 am to TideSaint
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OC Clay Webb
As for Webb, it’s not often we talk about a center this early in the process but his Underclassmen Challenge performance this past summer and excellent sophomore year put him squarely on the map.
“Webb is just nasty. He loves to drives his man off the ball and put his man in the dirt. He has moved around the offensive line, but on the next level, he will be a guard or center. He has that flat-back in his stance and he plays with good leverage and strength,” said Rivals.com Southeast Recruiting Analyst Chad Simmons. “He fires off the ball with great hips and when he locks his hands in, it is over. Webb is an intense competitor who loves to fight in the trenches.”
Posted on 3/29/17 at 11:13 am to TideSaint
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King Mwikuta
It is scary to think 2019 LaGrange (Ga.) Troup County defensive end King Mwikuta has two years of high school left to play. The 6-4, 225-pound Mwikuta actually lined up at linebacker for most of the day and looked very comfortable. He reacted quickly and changed directions fluidly. Mwikuta was very physical and showed great athleticism. The Troup County standout was also great in pursuit and closed quickly on the ball. Many in the SEC are after his verbal commitment.
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