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

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NEW ORLEANS — Whether Maurice Robinson lines up behind center or in a secondary next year remains a question. But the program that is willing to give him the opportunity to play quarterback is the unquestioned leader for his services at this juncture of the spring.

Robinson, a 3-star athlete from Murphy (Ala.) High School, is being recruited by LSU and Alabama, but at different positions. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder secured an offer from the Tigers and former area recruiter Dameyune Craig in January to play quarterback, while the Tide believe Robinson could be an effective asset in their defensive backfield.

The former has caught the attention of Robinson, who named LSU his early leaders after spending time in Baton Rouge for national junior day last weekend.

“They’re still on top, they’re my No. 1 right now,” Robinson told SEC Country at Nike’s “The Opening” regional in New Orleans last Sunday.

“Other than that, my decision is still open, but mostly the atmosphere when I went down there — it was calming and it was something that I could get used to.”

LSU’s pursuit of Robinson as a quarterback is why the SEC power is out in front early on.

That’s where Robinson’s mindset is at this stage in his recruitment. He holds offers from Alabama, Memphis and Troy, but LSU’s overture looms the largest because of the potential offense he could engineer and the opportunity that’s available to him in the Bayou.

“I’m an athlete, but I like that LSU is recruiting me at quarterback,” Robinson explained. “If I get the chance or the opportunity, I’ll play quarterback. That’s what I want to play, but if I have to play something else to get out there I will.”

New Tigers offensive coordinator Matt Canada has taken over Robinson’s recruitment in place of Craig, who is now a quality control coach at Florida State.

Robinson and Canada had their first face-to-face meeting during junior day last Saturday and utilized their time together to get to know each other on a more personal basis.

“Right now, it was very much me introducing myself and just getting to know each other,” he said. “My previous coach was Dameyune Craig, but we (Canada and I) are just getting started. I’m supposed to call him when I get back home and continue to talk about knowing who I am and stuff.”

Robinson got a taste of who Canada is during LSU’s scrimmage last Saturday. He saw Danny Etling operate the offense, as well as Justin McMillan, Lindsey Scott Jr. and Lowell Narcisse get turns.

In other words, he saw pro-style quarterbacks and dual-threat quarterbacks leading the way. Canada’s versatility within his system was the 3-star athlete’s biggest takeaway from the afternoon.

“It’s very easy and something I can get very used to very easily,” Robinson said. “He described all of the different quarterbacks that he’s used and work off of, and that he can change the offense based on them. I liked that because I like that the offense would be based around me and what I can do.”

Like most quarterbacks, Robinson is planning to finalize his commitment early on. He anticipates making a decision sometime before the start of his senior season, most likely in the summertime close to August.

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This kid has said he wants to play QB in college on multiple occasions. Unless we offer him as a QB he is going elsewhere.

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Reuben Unije knows that Alabama signed a large class of players at his position in the last recruiting cycle.

It hasn't stopped him from showing major interest in the Crimson Tide, and it has been reciprocated.

"I like Alabama a lot," Unije said Sunday at the Atlanta Opening Regional. "I just got off phone with (offensive line) Coach (Brent) Key yesterday. I'll be up at 'Bama sometime next week (today, actually, March 30, per 247Sports) to watch a practice and see how everything is at 'Bama."

Unije is a 6-foot-6, 305-pound offensive tackle from Johns Creek, Ga., who is now at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Unije is the nation's No. 173 overall prospect and No. 13 offensive tackle.

Alabama signed four offensive tackles last year though one, Kendall Randolph from Madison, has already mentioned that he'll likely be a guard.

"Coach Key and I have a really strong, good relationship," Unije said. "We text or talk almost every day. I really like coach Key.

"I talked to him about (signing four tackles last class). Coach Key said they play the best five. If four of the best five are tackles, two of them are going to go to guard. I plan on being one of the best five and my job is to show I'm the best tackle whenever I'm on the field."

Unije, a four-star recruit, has offers from the likes of Tennessee, Florida and Arkansas as well. He said he's looking at every school that offers him and hasn't begun to narrow things down yet. But Alabama is certainly a program that sticks out.

"I love it," Unije said. "What's not to like about Alabama's program? They do everything to the top. Top program, Class A, class act, everything. Alabama's the school other schools look up to when they try to make their program right."

Unije plans to graduate early and said transferring to the IMG Academy has brought his game to another level. He said he wants to major in business or something related to pre-pharmacy.

"(I'm looking for) just how I fit in the scheme, the coaches, the environment and how I feel," Unije said. "(Also), the alumni. I need connections. Connections are the key to the world."

Other key visitors for Thursday's practice

-Jackson-Olin four-star defensive lineman Coynis Miller

-Centennial, Calif., four-star quarterback Tanner McKee

-Hewitt-Trussville 2019 offensive lineman Pierce Quick

-In another note, Alabama offered Fresno, Calif., quarterback Adrian Martinez on Thursday. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound Martinez is the nation's No. 12 dual-threat quarterback. He committed to California last November.

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