re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition

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Cary Clark @ccbama · 12h 12 hours ago
Per @DrewChamplin, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will be at Adonis Thomas' game on Friday. An LSU coach will also be there.

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Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is committed to Alabama, made a recent visit to Florida State. What does it mean to the recruitment of the St. Peter's Prep four-star cornerback? Scout has the answer.


Alabama commit Minkah Fitzpatrick visited Florida State officially earlier this month, and the trip served its purposed.

It gave the four-star cornerback from Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter’s Prep perspective on his commitment to the Crimson Tide, and appears to have settled down his recruitment.

“He said he had a good time and he said he enjoyed it,” St. Peter’s Prep coach Rich Hansen said. “A lot of times you go on visits it does one of two things: it makes you feel better about your choice, or it makes you doubt it.

“I don’t think he’s doubting Alabama because of his visit to FSU.”

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Fitzpatrick was contemplating visits to South Carolina and Penn State, but Hansen said no visits are planned and Fitzpatrick doesn’t plan on making any other trips.

Fitzpatrick was looking hard at Penn State before St. Peter’s Prep four-star quarterback Brandon Wimbush flipped his decision from the Nittany Lion to Notre Dame, and the Irish are trying to make a push at Fitzpatrick.

However, a midweek trip to New Jersey by Alabama offensive line coach Mario Cristobal meant a lot to Fitzpatrick, whose only scheduled remaining official visit is to Alabama in mid January.

“He feels comfortable with where he’s at, and having Alabama come up here is important,” Hansen said. “They got to see him live for the first time. I think it was good to have him here for peace of mind, and a pride thing. But Minkah’s pretty savvy, pretty focused in on what he wants to do. Whether there are 10 college coaches here or none, he’s going to have the same kind of practice.”

Cristobal, who recruits the state for the Crimson Tide, apparently left impressed.

“He’s, like everybody else, impressed with how smooth he is,” Hansen said. “He said he’s got great hips, great ball skills, just a very fluid athlete. No matter where you go in the country, it is what it is; he’s a great player.

“He’s the No. 1 on their board. When Alabama tells you that, it’s gotta make you feel better.”

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Deionte Thompson has been committed to Alabama longer than any other senior on the list, but it doesn’t lessen the importance of his status with the program or lessen the time and resources put into holding onto him by Nick Saban and company.

He’s the longest standing Alabama commitment, a near five-star prospect on Scout.com, and he continues to impress all in attendance whenever he’s on the field.
So why is Orange (Tex.) West Orange-Stark standout Deionte Thompson seemingly overlooked by Alabama fans?
It could be his status as one of the most solid commitments, as news of him visiting anywhere but Tuscaloosa is as rare as it gets, or it could be because he’s been pledged to Nick Saban and company for more than 20 months.
Either way, it’s very clear that Alabama’s head man is quite eager for the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder to get to campus.
“When we went to the Florida game (September 20), we really didn’t get a chance to talk to him until it was over. When it was over, he made his rounds and by the time he got to us, the first thing he said to us was not, ‘hello, how are you doing?’ He walked up to him and said, ‘I have three safeties leaving,’” Vester Thompson, Deionte’s father, said Thursday. “Those were the first words he said to him. He shook his hand, and when we heard him say that, it spoke volumes as to how genuine his interest in our son really was.
“Whenever we get the chance to talk to Coach Saban, the message is still clear. ‘We want you here, we need you here.’ That’s been his message from day one and over the course of time; it seems to never change.”
Thompson is one of six defensive backs currently committed to Alabama in the class of 2015, but Saban’s honesty about the need at the position with the family has them at ease with the Crimson Tide. “Shutting it down” was the term used to describe the current state of the four-star’s recruitment, as no other trips will be made.
Instead, the Thompson’s will look to return to Tuscaloosa for the Mississippi State game on November 15 and for the Iron Bowl two weeks later, which is also the likely official visit weekend for the family at this time.
Either way, working towards an early January enrollment is often the biggest topic of conversation in the household.
“He’s just focused on his goals, and his goal is pretty much, ‘I want to finish high school early.’ He will be the first in school history to finish early,” Vester Thompson said. “He wants to get to Alabama, he wants to get into the strength and conditioning program, one of the best in the country, to be able to contribute as soon as possible. That’s his focus, and we don’t have any issues keeping him on that focus.”
Thompson is currently tabbed as the No. 34 overall prospect, and the No. 2 safety projection, in the class of 2015 by Scout.

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(ellitor's post)
It's early but looks like AU could be on the losing end of another legacy. This time 2016 4* DE Marlon Davidson. If I had a crystal ball pick right now I'd pick Bama LINK

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as a true defensive end they’re (Bama) telling me,” Davidson said. "Unless they need a big guy to get in and pass rush on third down

They (AU) see me playing as a five-technique (defensive end), moving down to a two-technique and three-technique (tackle) in that defense

I’m looking for a school to actually come at me and play me as a true defensive end.
He also says Bama is recruiting him slightly harder and the coach he is closest with is Kirby Smart.

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5* DT Daron Payne
-a source apparently close to the AU staff says the staff likes where they are at with DP FWIW
-Some staff feel DP is a bigger priotity for AU than Bama and believe that could play a role

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