re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition

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Watching Terry Godwin on tape brings back memories of current Georgia receiver Malcolm Mitchell. Like the current Bulldog, Godwin has a long and lean frame at 6'0" and 165 pounds.

He also is a fluid athlete who has smooth movement skills. Godwin can play cornerback or receiver, as his terrific ball skills and quickness are assets at both positions. Receiver could be his best bet in college, but the same can be said for cornerback.

Godwin is committed to Georgia.

Chad Simmons of Scout.com wrote on Jan. 18, "He is so versatile and he is such an elite athlete and when the ball is in his hands, he makes plays."

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11. Robert Foster

Position: Wide receiver

Height, weight: 6'3", 187 lbs



Robert Foster would have started at most places as a true freshman in 2013, but the combination of Alabama's receiver depth and not getting cleared by the NCAA until just before training camp put him behind the eight ball.

But now, with a year in the system, the former 5-star recruit looks to have a great chance to get lots of time on the field with the Crimson Tide losing two wideouts from their rotation. Foster won't have to be the No. 1 guy because Amari Cooper and Christion Jones are still there, but he'll have a shot to contribute and gradually move up the charts.

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Martez Ivey

Ivey is a talented left tackle who plays for Apopka High School in Florida. He has made a name for himself in the Sunshine State by shadowing rushers and driving away defenders in the trenches.

He has been invited to play in both the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and the Under Armour All-America Game in 2015, so he'll have to choose which premier all-star game he wants to play in. Yet, before that, Ivey will have the option of participating in The Opening this summer, according to 247Sports.

He is No. 1 in the Scout 300, No. 5 in the 247Sports composite rankings and No. 21 in the Rivals 250.

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Strengths

At 6'6" and 270 pounds, Ivey has an ideal frame for a left tackle. He has long arms, plus he could easily gain 40 pounds between now and the end of his senior season in college.

Ivey's best trait right now is his natural athleticism. He bends well at the knees, which allows him to fire low out of his stance when setting up as a pass-protector. The Florida native is such a quick big man that he is rarely beat to his deep post when deep-setting.

Ivey has the agility and short-area quickness to slide and mirror in space with ease. He can wash rushers up and around the pocket, plus he can cut off inside moves.

In the running game, Ivey can get his hat on targets on the second level in and out of his track. His athleticism helps him settle down to hit moving targets, and he has the explosiveness and movement skills to be used on pulls, traps, counters and down-blocks.

If you're looking for a quick and athletic left tackle with a world of potential, Ivey is your man.

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Weaknesses

Ivey is a raw offensive lineman, and like with any raw blocker, he plays too high. He needs to lower his pad level, because college pass-rushers will be able to get under his pads at the point of attack if he doesn't.

Next, Ivey needs to work on his footwork and technique. He gets away with being more athletic than his competition, but college defensive linemen will be able to take advantage of his poor hand placement and inconsistent footwork.

Finally, he needs to get stronger. Ivey will struggle versus powerful opponents at the point of attack, plus he lacks a stout anchor.

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Predictions

Alabama, Auburn and South Carolina are among Ivey's top schools, according to 247Sports. However, he will sign with Florida.

Interestingly enough, Ivey is nearly a clone of current Gator left tackle D.J. Humphries. He probably will not be ready to play a significant role as a true freshman, as he'll need to get stronger by spending a considerable amount of time in the weight room.

Yet he'll leave Gainesville as a decorated left tackle.

Amy Campbell of Scout.com wrote on March 14, "Ivey is dominant on the line and has his pick of colleges."

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Another in-state prospect Auburn must stay on is Tyler Carr, an offensive lineman from Gadsden. The 4-star blocker is a 6'5", 311-pounder who will be able to play tackle or guard in college.

Carr uses his long arms and solid strength to control rushers as a pass-protector, and he has the toughness and short-area quickness to hold his own inside as a guard.

Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Vanderbilt are a few schools out in front for Carr, says 247Sports.

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Having an athletic defense is critical in the SEC, as defenders need to have great speed and quickness to dominate the field.

Darrell Williams has the athletic ability to fit in well in the conference, which is why he's coveted by several SEC programs. At 6'3", Williams looks bigger than the 205 pounds he's listed at. He has ideal short-area quickness to close on ball-carriers, as well as the ability to stick with tight ends and running backs on passing plays.

Auburn and Alabama are the Birmingham native's top suitors, according to 247Sports.

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Daron Payne is a 5-star defensive tackle who can dominate the trenches. The Birmingham native is 6'2" and 316 pounds, and he plays like a giant at the point of attack.

Payne has great first-step quickness to quickly punch blockers at the snap. He then reads a play to see if it's a run or pass, showing sudden ball-location skills. Against a running play, Payne can sit and anchor with ease to make a mess in the middle.

He can push the pocket as a pass-rusher, and the big man has deceptive short-area quickness to finish on the quarterback. It's Alabama versus Auburn for him, per 247Sports.

Andrew Bone of AlabamaVarsity (Rivals.com) (subscription required) wrote on March 18: "This is an elite player in every aspect."

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Alabama running back Desherrius Flowers elected to stay in his home state with a commitment to the Crimson Tide last April. The 4-star prospect aims to be the latest addition to a proud lineage of rushers in Tuscaloosa, exhibiting outstanding skills and physicality.

Flowers, a 6'1", 212-pound junior at Vigor High School (Prichard, Ala.), is rated the nation's No. 4 running back prospect in 247Sports' composite rankings. He's listed at No. 54 among all members of the 2015 class.

His recruitment gained steam after a sophomore season that featured 922 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. A pledge to the Tide quickly shut things down and he remains on track to join the team next year.

Flowers has already drawn comparisons to current Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon, a possible 2014 Heisman Trophy contender who also hails from the Mobile area (Daphne). Expectations will be high from the moment Flowers arrives on campus, especially if Yeldon decides to depart early for the NFL draft after this season.

We examined the game film to discover what puts Flowers in the upper echelon of offensive playmakers.

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Positives

Flowers' game is defined by his violent approach as a rusher. He doesn't leave any questions about his tenacity or physicality, attacking opposing defenses without a shred of hesitancy.

Few athletes in this class are a more appropriate fit for the north-south ground game than Flowers. Equipped with a formidable frame, he carries the ball with authority and refuses to sacrifice yards by yielding or stepping out of bounds.

Flowers is quick to get out of the backfield, firing upfield with a burst off his front foot. Once he reaches the line of scrimmage, his aggressiveness shines.

Even while operating within a crowd of defenders and offensive linemen in the trenches, Flowers doesn't delay or waste steps. He charges though and keeps his feet churning through contact.

Opponents might grab a piece of his jersey in the process, but it doesn't matter. Flowers is deliberate and steadfast while moving forward toward daylight.

His efforts require just one cut and then it's a straight-line sprint. He isn't a burner, but this approach allows him to gain chunks of yardage in a hurry while putting pressure on the defensive secondary.

Once he identifies a rushing lane, impressive acceleration allows him to beat defenders to space and he exploits the gap with a low center of gravity. Flowers is a balanced runner who maintains proper pad level, so tackling him is a tough task.

Given his style and size, it's impressive how quickly Flowers is able to gain velocity. He's an absolute load for defensive backs to handle when he reaches the secondary and most of his takedowns in high school require gang-tackling.

Flowers is an ideal candidate to carry the football in short-yardage situations. He's adept at moving the chains and plunging into the end zone, even when dealing with clogged rushing gaps.

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Negatives

Flowers isn't going to dance his way out of tight spots. Some running backs can wiggle through containment with an array of lateral moves, but that's not a strong suit for him.

His strength is apparent, but so is a slight lack of hip fluidity. Flowers doesn't always look smooth when forced to cut at the second level and usually loses acceleration on those attempts.

He doesn't have the speed to blow by defenders in space, so sure, tacklers will be able to at least slow him down until help arrives. Flowers will find his way into the end zone often in college if he stays healthy, but it would be unfair to anticipate routine touchdown sprints from midfield at the next level.

Like most high school running backs, Flowers is a relatively unknown commodity in the passing game. If his physical demeanor transitions into blocking efforts and he becomes a capable receiving threat out of the backfield, it will encourage Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin to steadily increase Flowers' role.

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Projection

It certainly appears that Nick Saban has his hands on yet another ferocious downhill runner. Flowers fits the mold of what we've recently seen from Tide running backs and Alabama should feel comfortable with him after receiving a commitment almost two years before his signing day.

The offensive backfield is always crowded in Tuscaloosa so Flowers will need to impress early if he hopes to fight his way onto the field as a freshman. He's already quite physically developed, so there isn't necessarily a need to give him time on the sidelines to bulk up.

Expect Flowers to earn carries as an underclassman. If Yeldon is out of the equation in 2015, his chances of immediate playing time increase tremendously with a strong training camp.

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This is awesome

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What Alabama Must Pitch to 5-Star DE CeCe Jefferson During Visit

The revolving door of high-profile recruiting guests continues to spin at Alabama this week, as head coach Nick Saban is set to welcome 5-star prospect CeCe Jefferson to Tuscaloosa.

Jefferson, a 6'2", 250-pound junior at Baker County Senior High School, emerged as a key target for the Crimson Tide during early phases of the 2015 recruiting cycle. Alabama extended an offer during a team camp held the summer before his sophomore season.

Since then, Jefferson's stock has continued to soar. He holds offers from a lengthy list of programs, including Florida State, Auburn, LSU and Missouri.

Jefferson, rated the nation's No. 1 strong-side defensive end and the No. 7 overall prospect in 247Sports' composite rankings, enjoyed an outstanding junior season. He tallied 68 tackles and 17.5 sacks, per MaxPreps.

His dominance has been on display with 42.5 sacks through three high school seasons. That production keeps college teams in hot pursuit.

Jefferson spent time on campuses at Georgia and Florida last month. He comes from a household that quickly identified the Gators as a favorite.

“If it was up to my parents, I’d be signing with Florida right now," Jefferson told Gainesville Sun reporter Zach Abolverdi last July.

Nearly a year later, the coveted defender isn't in a rush to close the book on his recruitment. Despite a disappointing 2013 season and burgeoning uncertainty surrounding the coaching staff, Florida remains in the mix but is hardly alone.

His upcoming visit to Alabama is the latest step in a journey to find the right collegiate match.

"College is a four-year deal, and it could change your life or it might be miserable if you don’t pick the right place," Jefferson told Saturday Down South in March. "You might as well enjoy (the recruiting process) and take your time and find the best fit for you. That’s my take on it.”

The Crimson Tide hope to convince him that fit can be found in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama isn't clamoring for talent at any position after filling the roster with four straight No. 1 recruiting classes. Still, even the Tide would have a hard time keeping Jefferson off the field in 2015.

His versatility can open the door for Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart to design schemes that allow for Jefferson to start plays with his hand in the dirt or in a standing position.

"I can help you at multiple positions,” Jefferson told Saturday Down South. “They could label me as an ‘athlete’ instead of just defensive end, and I’d take that as a compliment, you know?"

And that's exactly how Alabama should address his potential role with the program. Prospects appreciate possibilities more than pigeonholes.

Many players are promised an opportunity to compete at various positions, but their fate is sealed long before they set foot on campus as an enrolled student. Given Jefferson's skill set, the Tide are likely encouraged to use an imaginative approach while implementing him within a star-studded defensive unit.

Saban can certainly stress the importance of playing alongside other elite athletes.

Alabama already landed a commitment from 5-star Georgia defensive end Mekhi Brown, but he complements what Jefferson brings to the field. The 6'6", 230-pound prospect is better suited for a career on the weak side, though he too possesses excellent range beyond the line of scrimmage.

The two have already addressed the possibility of teaming up in Tuscaloosa. Lofty expectations would undoubtedly be in place:


“@cecejeferson7 that's rhetorical lol. We'll win rings and go to the league

— Mekhi Quintay Brown (@mekhibrown_10) March 30, 2014”

The Tide also hold a commitment from dominant 4-star defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter, who is viewed as another potential instant-impact performer. If Jefferson is looking to earn his way onto the field, few programs compare to Alabama.

He would also contend with members of the team's 2014 recruiting class for multiple seasons.

Standout junior college defensive end D.J. Pettway is already on campus, while 5-star edge-rushers Da'Shawn Hand and Christian Miller arrive this summer. As usual, there's a surplus of stars in the Tide's trenches.

Jefferson shouldn't have any doubt about the team's ambitions with him. The early offer, combined with multiple visits from Saban and Smart tell the story.

Alabama presents an opportunity to compete against the best before your first collegiate football game kicks off. Practice performances ultimately determine who develops as the next star players in crimson and white.

Those who can't keep up fall by the wayside, relegated to reserve duties.

Jefferson has warranted a top ranking with his efforts and growth in high school. A commitment to Alabama would further signal that he has the confidence to live up to that lofty praise by beating out some of his most impressive contemporaries for playing time.

That's the challenge Saban stands to reiterate this week, as Jefferson takes a close look at yet another potential destination.

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