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

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Josh Jobe still strongly considering Alabama

Josh Jobe started a new chapter in his high school football career earlier this month.

Jobe, a 4-star cornerback from Cheshire Academy, is now in Connecticut after transferring to the boarding school from Miami. Jobe couldn’t play his senior year in Miami because he turned 19 before Sept. 1, which rules him ineligible in Florida.

The Miami commit has only been in the Northeast for a few weeks and has enjoyed his time so far, but he is missing those he’s closest to.

“I mean, it feels good to be away and explore a new environment,” Jobe told SEC Country. “I miss my family, but my family already knows that I have to take care of business up here in Connecticut. I think about my family a lot. That’s all I have in this world.”

What does that mean for the Miami native who has been committed to the Hurricanes since June 2015? Well, not much. Jobe said that him being away from home and missing his family doesn’t necessarily reinforce his commitment to Miami.

“Honestly, wherever I go, my family is still going to be right by my side,” Jobe said.

The U.S. Army All-American admitted that he did feel a lot of pressure from people in his community to remain at home and play for the Hurricanes because he’s from the area. But, Jobe said that he “doesn’t pay them any attention.”

When SEC Country spoke to Jobe during the summer, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound prospect was only considering Alabama and Michigan outside of Miami. That’s still the case. He will take an official visit to Tuscaloosa this fall, but he doesn’t have his trip set just yet. His preference is to visit for the LSU game in November.

What’s interesting about Jobe and where he stands with Miami is that he’s still telling the Hurricanes coaches that he’s all in, but when asked if he would say he’s strongly committed to the team, Jobe couldn’t give a response.

“I don’t have an answer,” Jobe said. “I am still committed.”

Alabama has remained in touch with Jobe nearly every day. He has been one of the team’s top defensive back targets for several months now along with Jalyn Armour-Davis, who’s committed to the Tide, Tyson Campbell, Patrick Surtain Jr., Saivion Smith, Nadab Joseph and Kyler McMichael.

Right now, my projections of who Alabama is going to sign in the secondary include Armour-Davis, Campbell, Smith and Joseph. I’m just not that confident right now that Jobe flips, but the Crimson Tide are right there with the Hurricanes.

“They have a really good chance,” Jobe said of Alabama’s chances with him. “It’s all on me now.”

Jobe met with the Tide coaches twice this summer. He visited Tuscaloosa once and traveled to Florida International for a satellite camp where Alabama coaches were. That allowed him to get lots of face time with the staff.

The message to Jobe hasn’t changed since the team started recruiting him. Depth in the secondary next season is going to be significantly thin with Levi Wallace, Anthony Averett and Tony Brown exhausting eligibility and Ronnie Harrison and Minkah Fitzpatrick likely candidates to leave for the NFL draft.

“Next year, it’s all about me,” Jobe said when discussing possible early playing time at Alabama. “I can play as a true freshman. The staff is telling me, ‘Be ready to play, Jobe.'”

The nation’s No. 12 cornerback said he’s been keeping up with Alabama’s games on TV. Jobe said he likes the team’s physicality on defense and he believes ”Bama is like the NFL.”

“Alabama is Alabama, at the end of the day,” Jobe said.

When Jobe visits Tuscaloosa later this fall, there will be lots of attention on him from the coaching staff. That visit will tell us more on where the Crimson Tide stand with him. Alabama certainly wants Jobe in this class and will continue chipping away at his commitment to Miami. It’s not going to be a guarantee that he flips from the Hurricanes because he does have a very tight bond with the Miami staff, but he is listening to Alabama with open ears. That’s all you can ask for at this time.

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