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

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5. Seth Williams, 4-star wide receiver, Paul W. Bryant — uncommitted

Seth Williams is a big-bodied receiver from the Tuscaloosa area. While you may think Alabama is the favorite, it’s Auburn that has the best chance at landing his commitment. Williams is highly coveted by major schools because of his size and how electric he is with the ball in his hands.

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2. Coynis Miller, 4-star defensive tackle, Jackson-Olin — uncommitted

Aside from the only person ranked ahead of him, Coynis Miller is the state’s most heavily recruited prospect by Auburn and Alabama. The big defensive tackle has the strength and ability to be one of the top prospects in the entire country. As his high school coach says, if his motor matches his skill set, there’s nothing stopping Miller from being one of the top-10 prospects in the class. There aren’t many offensive linemen in the nation who can stop Miller from doing what he wants.

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Clay Webb isn’t going to judge Auburn’s O-line play yet

AUBURN, Ala. — When Clay Webb watches Auburn offense, he sees some similarities to his own high school team.

The Tigers have a lot of talent up front, but things have yet to click 100 percent along the offensive line, which has held back the Auburn offense through three weeks. But Webb isn’t quick to judge. In fact, the 5-star offensive lineman in the 2019 class draws on some of his own Oxford (Ala.) High experiences to explain the process the Auburn line will need to use to get out of the funk.

“It’s probably going to work,” Webb said. “Our team’s having some offensive line struggles, too. We need to block a little bit better to start getting some more yards. They’ve just got to keep on working to try to get better.”

Webb attended Auburn’s Week 3 game against Mercer.
Clay Webb-Florida-Florida Gators

It didn’t look pretty, but that wasn’t what Webb was watching. Most of Webb’s time was spent talking with coaches, players and fellow recruits. The No. 16 overall player in the 2019 class felt right at home on the Plains.

“Definitely. I got to talk to some of the coaches, some of the players. I got to talk to my friend KJ [Britt, a former high school teammate] too, which is good. He says he loves it. He wants me to join right now,” Webb said. “It’s up to anything right now. I like the players. I like the coaches here. Just watch the way the coaches and players interact to see if there’s a mutual respect, bond, brotherhood.”

Webb isn’t in a rush — far from it.

Despite being a junior, he has experienced the recruiting process a good bit already. Alabama, Auburn and Georgia appear to be the early front-runners, though Webb said “most of the schools down in the SEC” remain in contention. It’ll be a long process, however.

Webb’s timeline right now is set for National Signing Day of his senior season, so its a long way until decision time.

Auburn finds itself in a solid position so far, at least.

“It’s like a really big family. Everybody comes together. Everybody works together. Everybody sweats and bleeds together,” Webb said. “I love the feeling I get when I come here. It’s like a big family. It’s like I’m walking right through my door.”

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Alabama commit Quay Walker stayed overnight in Auburn on Saturday. He was in Tuscaloosa for the Alabama game during the day and stopped by for the night on his way back to Cordele, Ga. There isn’t much more to report than that, but it’s certainly worth mentioning.

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What team should be considered Bama’s best, regardless of classification? That’s what the AL.com Power 25 poll tries to determine.

AL.com staffers pick the state’s top teams on a weekly basis. whether it’s a massive Class 7A school or a tiny 1A powerhouse, and rank them.

See this week’s rankings:

25. Andalusia (3-1)

Last week’s result: Defeated UMS-Wright 27-21 in overtime

This week’s game: at Escambia County

LW’s ranking: Not ranked

24. Clay-Chalkville (3-1)

Last week’s result: Lost 34-32 to No. 6 Pinson Valley

This week’s game: at Center Point

LW’s ranking: Not ranked

23. Saraland (3-1)

Last week’s result: Defeated Blount 42-14

This week’s game: vs. Robertsdale

LW’s ranking: Not ranked

22. Carroll (3-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Headland 29-0

This week’s game: at Eufaula

LW’s ranking: Not ranked

21. Mobile Christian

Last week’s result: Defeated Bayside Academy 27-17

This week’s game: vs. T.R. Miller

LW’s ranking: 23

20. Fairhope (3-1)

Last week’s result: Defeated Theodore 17-14

This week’s game: at Daphne

LW’s ranking: Not ranked

19. Fyffe (3-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Westbrook Christian 54-6

This week’s game: at Ider

LW’s ranking: 20

18. Auburn (3-1)

Last week’s result: Defeated Prattville 21-6

This week’s game: vs. Enterprise

LW’s ranking: 14


17. Homewood (4-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Jackson-Olin 28-6

This week’s game: vs. Helena

LW’s ranking: 16

16. Alexandria (4-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Boaz 42-14

This week’s game: at Etowah

LW’s ranking: 25

15. Leeds (4-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Dadeville 42-14

This week’s game: at Handley

LW’s ranking: 24

14. Mae Jemison (4-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated St. John Paul II 49-7

This week’s game: vs. Russellville

LW’s ranking: 19

13. Wetumpka (4-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Stanhope Elmore 40-13

This week’s game: vs. Chilton County

LW’s ranking: 18

12. Maplesville (3-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Highland Home 70-19

This week’s game: vs. Ellwood Christian

LW’s ranking: 13

11. St. Paul’s (4-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Williamson 9-6

This week’s game: vs. Dothan

LW’s ranking: 12

10. Spain Park (3-1)

Last week’s result: Lost 27-24 to No. 2 Hoover

This week’s game: at Mountain Brook

LW’s ranking: 8

9. Oxford (4-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Cullman 38-14

This week’s game: at Albertville

LW’s ranking: 11

8. McGill-Toolen (3-0)

Last week’s result: Did not play

This week’s game: vs. Foley

LW’s ranking: 9

7. Briarwood Christian (4-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Wenonah 34-0

This week’s game: at Fairfield

LW’s ranking: 7

6. Pinson Valley (4-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Clay-Chalkville 34-32

This week’s game: vs. Jasper

LW’s ranking: 6

5. Thompson (3-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Mountain Brook 40-13

This week’s game: at Oak Mountain

LW’s ranking: 5

4. Hewitt-Trussville (3-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Grissom 49-7

This week’s game: vs. Buckhorn

LW’s ranking: 4

3. Austin (4-0)

Last week’s result: Defeated Hazel Green 63-21

This week’s game: vs. Columbia

LW’s ranking: 3

2. Hoover (3-1)

Last week’s result: Defeated Spain Park 27-24

This week’s game: vs. Tuscaloosa County

LW’s ranking: 2

1. Central-Phenix City (3-0)

Last week’s result: Did not play

This week’s game: vs. Smiths Station

LW’s ranking: 1

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Fourth-ranked Hewitt-Trussville cruised to a 49-7 win over Class 7A, Region 4 foe Grissom.

The visiting Huskies dominated from the opening kickoff, building a 35-0 lead at the half behind an explosive passing game led by quarterback Paul Tyson and a steady hard hitting defense led by linebacker Simon Miskelley.

Tyson was a perfect 12-for-12 in the first half for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

The Huskies scored on four of their five first-half possessions and Miskelley scored on an interception return for a touchdown to build the big lead at the half.

Myles Mason scored twice in the first half on runs of 1 and 32 yards.

Grissom (2-2, 1-1) showed some resilience late in the first quarter, moving the ball down to the Huskies 5-yard line before Jacob Peake's third-down pass was picked off at the 2-yard line by George Steele.

Hewitt-Trussville scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter on Tyson’s 23-yard pass to Logan Pitts and then Antonio Reed got loose for 62 yards to close out the scoring for the Huskies.

Grissom finally scored on an 86-yard run from backup freshman quarterback John Allen Strogner.

Game ball: Tyson completed 14 of 15 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns.

Play of the Game: Strogner's 86-yard scoring run avoided a Grisson shut out.

Stat Sheet: Hewitt-Trussville: Tyson 14-for-15 for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Dazalin Worsham caught five passes for 126 yards and one touchdown. Mason rushed for 71 yards on only five carries and two touchdowns. Grissom: Mel Danzler 16 carries for 43 yards.

By The Numbers: 95 – Yards in penalties Hewitt-Trussville was flagged for. ... 13- Number of different players who carried the ball for the Huskies.

Coachspeak: “We had a really good week of practice after a sloppy game last week against Gadsden City and I was just super pleased of how strong we came out from the start. That’s a different team over there in Grissom and you have to give coach English credit for the job he’s done in just a few months.” -- Hewitt-Trussville coach Josh Floyd

“When you don’t play up to your ability against a good team that is the kind of thing that will happen. Good teams take advantage of your mistakes. We lost a lot of one-on-one battles at the line and in the secondary. You can lose some, but you’ve got to win some, too, and tonight we didn’t win many. They are one of the best teams in the state and they are a standard that we want to be able to play to.” -- Grissom coach Chip English

They Said It : “We just really had a great week of practice and the coaches put together a great game plan for this game. We’re 3-0 and we will build on this and keep this momentum going. It’s just easy on my part to make throws to so many play makers. I mean they never drop balls and we’ve got a great line, too, that gives me time to make the throws.” -- Tyson

Next week: Hewitt- Trussville will host Buckhorn while Grissom will be at Gadsden City.

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KN's insider recapping some nuggets on visitors this past weekend

- KN's intel says Bama still team to beat for 5* C Clay Webb but always good to get him on campus. Visited with some teammates. Long way off from a decision

- Torrance Gibson made the trip with Daquan Newkirk but as of now KN says not much going on between AU & Gibson.

- 4* Asa Martin stayed the night and apparently had about 20 minutes of 1 on 1 time with Lindsey. The two are close

- 4* Keiondre Jones made the visit as well and spent some time with Herb Hand and Rodney Garner. KN says kid isn't doing interviews but that AU is a factor tho UGA/CLEM considered top teams right now

- Newkirk has been playing mostly DT this season and that's where he will play when he gets to AU. Says plans on being at almost every home game this year because he now has a ride. KN say Newkirk appears to be a very solid commitment

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2019 four-star quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Alabama freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and the Thompson Warriors hosted Mountain Brook (Ala.) on Friday night in what ended up being a 40-13 victory.

Tagovailoa was 15 of 21 passing for 250 yards, and rushed two times for 15 yards and a touchdown.

At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Tagovailoa is rated the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 312 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

The Crystal Ball reads 100 percent in favor of the Crimson Tide.

Check out some of the highlights.

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The state of Florida always produces some of the nation’s best high school football players, and the Class of 2018 is no different. The Sunshine State is loaded with talent, and SEC Country has ranked Florida’s top 20 recruits for this cycle.

The list is based on evaluations by SEC Country reporters, recruiting interest from Power 5 programs and rankings from the four recruiting services (247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout). The star ratings below come from the 247Sports composite.

IMG Academy players from out of state were not included in our rankings, which will be updated once a month until National Signing Day. Here are SEC Country’s top 20 prospects in Florida for 2018:

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