re: Elliot Baker (JUCO) visiting Georgia next weekend

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If Nick Saban doesn’t get fired from now until Dec. 14, which is the date junior college prospects can sign their national letter of intent, then Alabama should be able to hold onto one of its top commits.

Despite his change of plans of visiting other schools, Elliot Baker, the nation’s No. 1 junior college offensive tackle from City College of San Francisco, said there’s nothing that would change his decision of playing for the Crimson Tide in 2017.

“I am 100 percent sure of that,” Baker told SEC Country late Sunday night. “Maybe if Coach Saban got fired, but I don’t think that’s happening.”

There has been some concern from fans on social media lately because of Baker’s decision to take official visits to schools not named Alabama. He visited Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl and Texas A&M for the Aggies’ game against UTSA.

He’ll also take an official visit to either Georgia, LSU or Miami this weekend. Baker disputed reports of him setting an official visit to Athens. As of Sunday night, his mind on which school he’ll see this weekend was not made up yet.

Three weeks ago, Baker told SEC Country that he wouldn’t visit other schools. He said the reason why he changed his mind is because he felt like he earned the right to take all of the visits he can. Baker was not recruited coming out of high school, so this is the first time he’s actually gone through the recruiting process.

Baker told Alabama outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi and offensive line coach Brent Key about his decision to take additional trips and they “weren’t cool with it,” but they understood his reasoning.

“They told me to enjoy myself and have fun but not too much fun,” Baker said. “I love those guys. I have a great relationship with the coaches over there, so nothing is going to change. They understand that I’m a 20-year-old guy and it’s a free trip, so I have to take advantage of it.”

Alabama is still recruiting two other offensive tackles in the Class of 2017 in 5-star prospects Trey Smith and Isaiah Wilson even though it has three committed in Baker, 5-star prospect Alex Leatherwood and 4-star prospect Jedrick Wills.

Georgia offensive line coach Sam Pittman visited Baker in San Francisco on Saturday and pitched to the recruit the Bulldogs’ need for several quality offensive linemen. Baker is leaning toward visiting Athens this weekend mainly because of Pittman’s pitch, his desire to visit Athens, which he has heard is “a really great college town” and Kirby Smart’s recruiting efforts. Smart talks to Baker’s mom often.

He understands that Georgia may offer a better opportunity to play right away, but it’s not going to sway him.

“It doesn’t really change anything with my commitment,” Baker said. “It looks good on paper though.

“I’m someone who likes a challenge. I feel like surrounding myself with the best players in the nation. I feel like that’s what would make me a better player. Competing against the best players in the country would really raise my playing level. That’s what I like about Alabama. It’s also my dream school.”

What if Alabama landed either one of the 5-star tackles mentioned above? Smith is making his commitment on Tuesday and Wilson is expected to announce at the Under Armour All-American game on Jan. 1.

“It wouldn’t change anything for me,” Baker said. I want to come in with the No. 1 class. Like I said, I want to surround myself with the best talent. I’m only there for two years — three, actually — I have a redshirt, but I don’t plan on using it.

“I know Isaiah. I was on my official visit with him. I hope he comes. I hope we can get Trey, too. That would just be ridiculous. Can you imagine if we do that? Having those guys there for three to four years would be awesome to see.”

Saban and Lupoi are expected to be in San Francisco on Wednesday to see Baker at his school. He will be signing his letter of intent on Dec. 14, which is the first day midyear junior college recruits can sign.

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For the last few years, schools that lose to Bama for recruits (like us) have been trying to sell this idea that Bama has too much talent, like all of a sudden there will be this tipping point where recruits stop wanting to go there because there are too many good players there already.

It should be clear by now that this hypothetical tipping point is not real. If anything, Alabama recruiting has picked up this year. It is really crazy.

I will say that is is nice for us to get Baker and Leatherwood on campus, but I don't think any realistic Georgia fan expects anything to come of it.

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That's the risk you take when you keep the sitting HC of a competitor in your football offices for an extra 5 weeks.

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They let him stay, though.

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Alabama offensive tackle commit Elliot Baker has cancelled an official visit to Georgia scheduled for this weekend, opting to instead stay at home, he tells BamaOnLine.

The four-star product of City College of San Francisco (Calif.) was paid a visit from Alabama head coach Nick Saban and outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi on Wednesday a little over a week and half after returning home from an official visit to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl.

Baker had long maintained he would not take visits elsewhere, but after his season ended earlier than expected, the Tide commit decided to enjoy the recruiting process, using an official visit to Texas A&M in November. He had planned to visit LSU this coming weekend, before changing the plans to Georgia before ultimately cancelling the trip all together.

Baker has maintained throughout the process that he is 100 percent committed to Alabama.

He will sign with the Tide next week and enroll in January.

At 6-foot-7, 295 pounds, Baker is rated the No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 3 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

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Officially signed with Alabama.

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so it's all good

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