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re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:21 am to TideSaint
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:21 am to TideSaint
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Date: April 19, 2014
Time: 2 p.m. EDT
TV: ESPNU
Much like most other SEC squads, head coach Nick Saban will be heavily focused on replacing a talented quarterback. Saban recently told reportersthat senior Blake Sims has "taken some command," adding that redshirt freshman Cooper Bateman and redshirt sophomore Alec Morris have been his main competition.
Don't count out incoming Florida State transfer Jacob Coker, though. Coker, a 6'5", 230-pound native of Mobile, Ala., graduated FSU as Heisman winner Jameis Winston's backup and should be a threat to Sims.
The sheer amount of talent and experience at wide receiver and running back should be enough for a good show, too. Saban's known for meaning what he says, and, and he recently called his trio of running backs in T.J. Yeldon, Kenyan Drake and Derrick Henry "oustanding."
Look for senior linebacker Trey DePriest to emerge as a leader of the defense, as well as the recovery of fellow linebacker Reuben Foster from a "stinger."
There is likely no college football team that can put the amount of talent on one field that Alabama can, and that reason alone makes Alabama's spring game a can't-miss.
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Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:30 am to TideSaint
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Coveted recruit: Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB
Although he's a head coach, Nick Saban will always be a defensive backs coach at heart. Alabama has a realistic chance with ton of elite prospects, so a number of recruits could have taken this slot.
Yet, 5-star cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick gets the nod due to playing a position Saban pays special attention to. The New Jersey native is 6'0" and 185 pounds, and he has the strength to reroute receivers at the line. Fitzpatrick is a smart player who uses his instincts to read routes and make plays.
Saban would enjoy working with him in Tuscaloosa.
Adam Friedman of Rivals.com (subscription required) wrote on April 5:
“He has visited Tuscaloosa twice and he is very aware of some of the recruiting success Alabama has had in the 2015 cycle."
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:37 am to TideSaint
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Committed to Alabama, 4-star offensive lineman Richie Petitbon is a great fit for the Crimson Tide's run-first offense.
The Washington, D.C. native is already 6'4" and 301 pounds, plus he is strong on his feet. Petitbon excels as a nasty run-blocker who loves to work through the whistle. He takes pride in taking his opponent completely out of a play and drives to finish blocks.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:40 am to TideSaint
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At 6'3" and 318 pounds, 5-star defensive tackle Tim Settle definitely belongs on a list such as this one. He's a physical presence inside the trenches who overpowers people at the point of attack.
Settle has excellent strength, and he also has a powerful anchor to call on when defending the run. The Virginia native makes sure offensive linemen know immediately that they're in for one long and physical night with him.
Alabama, Virginia and Ohio State are his main suitors, says 247Sports.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:40 am to TideSaint
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There's nothing soft at all about 5-star defensive tackle Daron Payne. The Alabama native is a big-bodied defender who has terrific strength and power.
Payne is at his best when striking offensive linemen with his strong and heavy hands and holding his block until he reads the play. He sheds with authority, and he hits ball-carriers with violent force.
Alabama, Auburn and Texas are key schools, according to 247Sports.
Jason Howell of Rivals.com (subscription required) wrote March 16, "He makes it look effortless in the trenches."
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:41 am to TideSaint
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If you're looking for a heat-seeking missile at the linebacker position, 4-star stud Leo Lewis is your man. The Mississippi native is a classic hunter on the second level who is feisty and physical.
At 6'3" and 225 pounds, Lewis can also play defensive end in a pinch. He'll fight an offensive lineman at the point of attack, and he plays like a shark who senses blood in the water when he locates a ball-carrier.
The big-hitting defender likes both of his in-state schools, plus the Iron Bowl schools, says 247Sports.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:41 am to TideSaint
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At 6'4" and 315 pounds, 5-star guard prospect Jalin Barnett has the size to intimidate people once he breaks the huddle. Yet, he seems to take pride in letting defensive linemen and linebackers know he's not only big, but awfully strong.
The Oklahoma native is a bully on the field. He pushes people around with his powerful punch and seems to seek contact at all times. Watch the play at 1:53 on the above highlight reel.
Alabama and Oklahoma are his top schools, according to 247Sports.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:42 am to TideSaint
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The scariest, most feared-but-respected man in Westeros? Meet the scariest, most hated-but-admired man in college football.
Like Tywin Lannister, Nick Saban has worked his way to the top of his craft. Like Tywin, he has also spent this offseason playing politics, as he reportedly worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure passage of the 10-second runoff rule that would slow uptempo offenses.
Saban sprung into action when he sensed a new threat to his dominance. The uptempo offense is to him what the King in the North was to Tywin. Was it anything like the Red Wedding? Nope.
But that just means Tywin is better at his job.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:43 am to TideSaint
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Date and site: Nov. 8 at LSU
Unlike most rivalries on this list, this one is borne simply from competition rather than a territorial origin. Simply put, the Alabama vs. LSU games have become some of the most hotly contested in college football over the years, and thus this series has ascended to full-fledged rivalry status.
Consider this: In the 22 years since the SEC went to divisional format, Alabama or LSU has either won or shared the title 16 times. Another stat: The schools combined for six BCS title game appearances, including one against each other in 2012.
They're two of the best—not just within their league but nationally—and the outcome of this game each year has a huge impact on the conference and national title picture. Add in that the coach of Alabama, Nick Saban, previously was the coach at LSU, and it's no surprise this is one of the biggest rivalries around.
Winner: LSU
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:45 am to TideSaint
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Date and site: Nov. 29 at Alabama
The Iron Bowl was already at legendary status before last year's game, which gave us the phrase "kick-six" to toss around after Chris Davis' missed-field-goal return for a touchdown with no time on the clock to send Auburn into the SEC title game.
It was just the latest of a long line of fantastic games between these bitter rivals. The series has been in place since 1893 and somehow keeps getting more intense.
Auburn's win last season helped it get into the BCS title game, same as it did in 2010, while the Crimson Tide claimed victory (and went on to win national titles) in 2011 and 2012. With that kind of evidence, it's not incorrect to say this game helps shape the national championship picture.
Winner: Alabama
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:48 am to TideSaint
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Listed as an athlete, 4-star prospect Kerryon Johnson will play safety or running back in college. The Alabama native is a 6'0", 200-pounder who packs a punch at the point of attack.
Johnson works with a lot of functional strength, plus he's an athletic player. He has the speed to get by second-level defenders as a running back, and he has above-average ball skills as a safety.
Alabama, Auburn and Florida State are his core suitors, according to 247Sports.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:50 am to TideSaint
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It shouldn't be surprising to anyone who has followed college football recruiting over the last several years to see Alabama ranked this high.
Its eight-man class features six high-end 4-star recruits, plus 5-star defensive end Mekhi Brown. He'll be joined in Tuscaloosa by 4-star defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter.
Deionte Thompson is a smart and athletic 4-star safety who deserves an extra star by his name, while 4-star running back Desherrius Flowers runs with tremendous force and power. Dallas Warmack and Lester Cotton are stud 4-star guards, and 4-star receiver Daylon Charlot will help 'Bama's offense on the perimeter.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:50 am to TideSaint
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Tyrone Wheatley Jr. is a 4-star tight end who can be a nightmare for defenders as a blocker. At 6'6" and 260 pounds, he has a lot of strength and athleticism to be a terror on the field.
Wheatley, who plays in Buffalo, has potential as a tight end. But don't be surprised if he winds up in the defensive trenches in college. Wheatley's size and strength would work well as a strong-side defensive end, plus he could be an ideal 3-4 defensive end.
Michigan, Alabama and Penn State are standing out, per 247Sports.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:51 am to TideSaint
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Jamal Peters is a talented 4-star safety who is at his best when he's inside the box. In fact, Peters is so good on the second level that he might move there in college.
It also helps that the Mississippi native is already 6'3" and 200 pounds. Sure, Peters has enough athleticism to play on top of the defense, but outside linebacker could be his college position.
Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State are among his main suitors, says 247Sports.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:53 am to TideSaint
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Minkah Fitzpatrick is a 5-star cornerback who has good, but not elite, speed. However, his hips are awfully loose, which is why he is rarely sticky or late coming out of transition.
Fitzpatrick is not going to intimidate receivers with a hard punch in press-man coverage. However, he can sit in off-man coverage and mirror their movements all day long. He has great instincts in coverage, evidenced by his ability to drive hard out of his backpedal to close before his man is completely out of his break.
He has the vision and range to excel in zone coverage, as he can peel off and attach himself to another receiver with athleticism and quickness. The New Jersey native will fight to stay stacked on a receiver when running deep, and he'll help out in run support when he can.
Alabama, Ohio State and Florida State have the best chance to land him, per 247Sports.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:55 am to TideSaint
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4. UCLA (12-1)
The Bruins get their hardest opponents—Oregon, Stanford and USC—at home, so if they can hold serve at the Rose Bowl and avoid losing multiple games against plucky opponents such as Texas, Arizona State, Arizona and Washington, there is a plausible scenario where they host the Pac-12 title game with a one-loss record.
If that is indeed the case, a rematch with Oregon will loom. UCLA held the Ducks in check for the first half at Autzen Stadium in 2013 before fading and getting blown out, but this year's team should be stronger both physically and mentally.
If Eddie Vanderdoes (sidelined for the spring with a broken foot), Kenny Clark and Ellis McCarthy all play to their potential along the defensive line, Jim Mora's defense could give Oregon's offense troubles the same way Stanford has the past few seasons. This team, my friends, is not gonna be a fluke.
3. Ohio State (12-1)
Senior quarterback Braxton Miller returns in 2014 and should be one of the most important players in college football—especially in what should be a a low-scoring slugfest in East Lansing. Even after a surprise projected loss at Penn State earlier in the season, that victory will give OSU the tiebreaker and put it in the Big Ten title game.
From there, the season-long improvement of the Buckeyes' front seven should stymie either Wisconsin's or Nebraska's running game, leading Urban Meyer's team back to the throne of the conference and giving it a spot in the final four.
2. Florida State (12-1)
The more I think about it, the more I find it unlikely that Florida State goes undefeated next season. If it did, it would enter the CFP on a 29-game winning streak—the longest since Miami's 24 almost a decade before it. And while certainly very talented, this team is not quite transcendent.
Whether it be against Oklahoma State, Clemson, Notre Dame, Louisville, Miami or (my actual prediction) Florida, the Seminoles will find a place to trip up along the way to a one-loss regular season.
But after beating UNC in the ACC title game, they will still be a higher seed in one of the first ever playoff games, so crisis in Tallahassee will be averted.
1. Alabama (12-1)
No AJ McCarron? No problem. Alabama's offense will be just fine, no matter who assumes the starting quarterback position. That holds doubly true if the "who" is Florida State transfer Jacob Coker, who has the highest ceiling of anybody in the pack.
Either way, a backfield with two potential All-Americans (T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry), another deep group of pass-catchers and a defense that should reload at positions of loss and also returns Trey DePriest, Landon Collins and A'Shawn Robinson should still be good enough to be...well, Alabama.
Let's give the Tide one loss at LSU—because it's LSU, on the road and Alabama always loses at least one game in the regular season—a surprisingly comfortable 14-point win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl, a close win over Georgia in the conference title game and the No. 1 overall seed in the inaugural CFP.
That sounds about right.
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:55 am to TideSaint
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Matchup: (4) UCLA vs. (1) Alabama
UCLA does many of the things Alabama struggles with. It is capable of running an uptempo offense with a mobile quarterback who doubles as a first-round NFL prospect in Brett Hundley. That makes the Bruins a decent analogue for Texas A&M these past two seasons.
Defensively, UCLA also has a front seven capable of giving Alabama's running game some issues. Eddie Vanderdoes and Ellis McCarthy are former 5-star recruits playing the defensive end position in a 3-4 scheme, inside linebacker Eric Kendricks might be the most efficient tackler in college football (10.2 tackles per game since 2012) and outside linebacker Myles Jack was perhaps the best true freshman in America in 2013.
The Bruins secondary would thus be the key to this game. It struggled in spots last season but returns all four starters in 2014 and is being counted on as a strength of the unit. If it can keep tabs on Amari Cooper, DeAndrew White and tight end O.J. Howard, UCLA can hang with Alabama for all four quarters—which is exactly what I think will happen.
But in the end, I think it will still fall a little bit short.
The in-game coaching advantage of Nick Saban, Kirby Smart and Lane Kiffin is too large against head coach Jim Mora Jr. and a first-time defensive coordinator in Jeff Ulbrich
Result: Alabama 27, UCLA 21
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:57 am to TideSaint
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Matchup: (3) Ohio State vs. (2) Florida State
The hubbub leading up to this game would be all about Braxton Miller and Jameis Winston—two of the best quarterbacks in country, both of whom will likely be playing to extend their college careers by one game before leaving to join the NFL.
However, in truth, this matchup would be all about line play. Specifically, whether or not Ohio State's dangerous defensive line, which is led by a pair of youngsters in Joey Bosa and Noah Spence, can find a way to get though Florida State's experienced offensive line, which returns an embarrassment of riches from a unit that already might have been the best in the country.
No matter how much the Buckeyes secondary improves—if at all—with a talented group of youngsters arriving and due to the fact that it will be year one with Chris Ash running the defense, there is almost no way it will be able to hold the FSU passing game at bay should Winston be afforded time. Pressure would be the name of the game.
As much as I've gushed about OSU's line (Bosa in particular), I do not think anyone in the country is winning a dogfight against the likes of Cameron Erving and Tre' Jackson in the trenches.
Florida State keeps Miller in large part on the sideline, moving the chains and controlling the clock en route to a fairly comfortable win.
Result: Florida State 34, Ohio State 20
Posted on 4/8/14 at 11:58 am to TideSaint
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Matchup: (2) Florida State vs. (1) Alabama
If you're a member of the CFP selection committee or an executive at Fox, this is the ideal scenario. Not only would you get a final widely hailed as the "two best teams," you might also get the self-manufactured storyline of Jacob Coker against his old team and the quarterback who beat him out for the starting job in 2013, along with the redemption angle of Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.
But Coker and Jameis Winston wouldn't be the keys to this game, necessarily. Florida State's secondary will be the strength of its defense in 2014, and Alabama should dial back the passes after opening up the playbook a bit last year. This would be about FSU's front seven against Alabama's ability to run.
It hardly seems fair to have two potential All-Americans in one backfield. Alabama is no stranger to this accommodation, however, and neither is Kiffin, who guided Reggie Bush and LenDale White to a combined total of 3,739 scrimmage yards and 44 touchdowns at USC in 2005. He knows how to manage such weapons.
A cynical mind might point to the title game in 2006, when Texas beat USC on the last play in the Rose Bowl. An astute mind would counter that point, however, with a reminder that USC scored 38 points in that game and that Henry is eons more talented than White.
The comparison is obviously not direct and doesn't account for offensive line and quarterback, but something tells me Kiffin was the perfect person to coach this very particular 'Bama offense.
And something tells me it will lead to a championship.
Result: Alabama 31, Florida State 27
Posted on 4/8/14 at 12:03 pm to TideSaint
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Natrez Patrick is a 4-star defensive end who has deceptive strength at the point of attack. He can get upfield quickly at the snap, plus he bends well around the edge.
However, Patrick has the ability to surprise offensive tackles by converting his speed to power nicely during a rush. He hustles in pursuit, and he doesn't play like a robot. Patrick also has enough athletic ability to play outside linebacker.
Georgia, Alabama and Auburn are his top suitors, says 247Sports.
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