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re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition
Posted on 10/25/16 at 9:17 pm to TideSaint
Posted on 10/25/16 at 9:17 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Wade visiting Alabama for Iron Bowl
One of Alabama’s biggest priorities in the Class of 2017 is committed to Ohio State, but the confidence the Crimson Tide have in flipping 5-star cornerback Shaun Wade is high.
Wade, the nation’s No. 3 cornerback from Trinity Christian High School (Jacksonville, Fla.), confirmed with SEC Country that he will be in Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl in late November. He’ll also take official visits to Ohio State on Nov. 5 for the Buckeyes’ game against Nebraska and on Nov. 12 for Virginia Tech’s game against Georgia Tech.
The timing of his visit to Alabama is enormous because a “final” decision on his commitment to Ohio State is expected in late November or early December; however, his parents are likely not going to accompany him on that trip to Tuscaloosa because the Wades have family in town that weekend. His parents have visited Tuscaloosa before, but his father, Randy, told SEC Country that they are closer to the Ohio State staff than they are to Alabama’s coaches. More time for his parents to be around the coaches would be ideal, but Alabama will be happy to just host the 5-star prospect.
The U.S. Army All-American has been committed to Ohio State for two years now, so it’s not going to be the easiest flip for Alabama to pull off. After all, if Wade didn’t have love for the Buckeyes, he likely would have de-committed by this point with several top schools continuing their pursuit of him.
But the reasons for why many in the recruiting industry are confident a flip is likely in Wade’s future is because of Alabama’s proximity to a bunch of his family members in Montgomery. That’s where he was born and where a lot of his extended family remains. Wade has previously said he wants as many family members in the stands at his games on Saturdays as possible, so Alabama would be the logical destination for that to happen.
Wade’s father downplayed the significance of that in a recent interview with SEC Country. The reason why Wade would flip, if that’s what he chose to do, would not have anything to do with the school being closer to home.
“It’s ultimately about the relationships he has with the coaches,” Randy Wade said. “It’s his decision at the end of the day, and people are going to believe what they want. I understand people are going to say (Alabama) is close, but I just think it’s crazy. His relationships with the Alabama staff is going to be what brings him over there and not just because he was born there.”
Despite his interest in other schools such as Florida and Virginia Tech, this recruitment is ultimately a two-team battle between Alabama and Ohio State. The Tide are going to go all out in this battle until his National Letter of Intent is signed.
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Posted on 10/25/16 at 9:18 pm to TideSaint
quote:
5-star DE no longer has a top 3 after Alabama visit
Xavier Thomas, the nation’s No. 2 overall player in the Class of 2018, was in Tuscaloosa this past weekend for the first time. For that reason, Alabama was admittedly not one of his top schools prior to the visit.
That has now changed.
Entering this past weekend, Thomas, a 5-star defensive end from Wilson High School (Florence, S.C.), had a top three of Clemson, Georgia and South Carolina in no specific order. Florida State and Ohio State were also in the mix, but this visit to Alabama for the Texas A&M game was a turning point in his recruitment.
“I actually changed it right after this visit because after visiting Alabama, I am confused on who my top schools in order are,” Thomas told SEC Country. “So, I’m just going to take it slowly now. I didn’t have Alabama in my top 5 at all, but now after this visit, that is definitely changing.”
One of the reasons for the big change is two conversations he had prior to the game with coach Nick Saban and outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi. Both coaches told Thomas he is Alabama’s No. 1 priority in the Class of 2018.
Thomas kept a close eye on Alabama linebackers Ryan Anderson and Tim Williams on Saturday because that’s how the Crimson Tide plan on utilizing the 5-star recruit if he chooses the Tide. Both players will have moved on from the program by the time 2018 rolls around, and depth moving forward is needed.
“Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson are both projected to be first-round picks, and that position is low because they only have one commitment on the defensive line in the 2017 class, so I am very needed,” Thomas said. “It doesn’t really make a difference, even if the depth was thick. I would still be willing to go because I know my work ethic and what I am capable of.”
With this being Thomas’ first visit to Tuscaloosa, he went in with high expectations, and they were exceeded.
“People told me I would fall in love if I came to Alabama, and they weren’t lying,” Thomas said. “The fans are everywhere. The game-day experience is amazing. That place was rocking from start to finish. It was a great experience, one of the best ones I’ve ever actually experienced.”
The U.S. Army All-American plans to make it back to Tuscaloosa in the future, but no dates for those visits have been set just yet.
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