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re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition
Posted on 5/26/14 at 10:58 pm to chattabama
Posted on 5/26/14 at 10:58 pm to chattabama
Someone already started a reinstatement thread for Diddy on the Help Board. 
He was banned for making light of DT's car accident.
He was banned for making light of DT's car accident.
1
Posted on 5/26/14 at 11:00 pm to crimsontidefan07680
quote:
In yalls opinion assuming Bo qualifies what position(s) will he play this year other than special teams?
Maybe some sort of H-Back position. I just don't see him beating out TJ, Drake, or Henry at RB. Also don't see him beating out the WRs.
Posted on 5/26/14 at 11:24 pm to I Like FBall
Johnny Dwight fell a few points short on his graduation test. He will get a waiver for it, but this delays his enrollment until June 12.
Posted on 5/27/14 at 7:21 am to chattabama
quote:
Someone already started a reinstatement thread for Diddy on the Help Board.
Dude should stay banned. He really helps bring the quality of this website down.
Posted on 5/27/14 at 8:57 am to chattabama
quote:
Johnny Dwight fell a few points short on his graduation test. He will get a waiver for it, but this delays his enrollment until June 12.
Full Bolt:
quote:
Many of Bama's class of 2014 signees reported to campus this weekend for the first summer session. One signee who will have to wait to enroll is Rochelle (Ga.) Wilcox County DT Johnny Dwight.
"I didn't go up this weekend. It's going to be June when I go up," Dwight told BOL.
The former 4star prospect hit a snag with his graduation test, but expects to be in Tuscaloosa sooner than later.
"I took my test and fell a few points short. My school filed a waiver for me. I'm guaranteed a waiver, but it's going to be June- like June 12. I'm still good. My grades are good- I got A's and B's- and I'm qualified."
Dwight chose the Tide over LSU and others and signed with UA on National Signing Day.
Posted on 5/27/14 at 9:00 am to TideSaint
BOL put together a list of the Top 5 Impact Summer Enrollees (free article):
I would have put Hand in there over Scott, but I guess we need a punter pretty bad.
quote:
Tuesday in Tuscaloosa marks the start of the first summer semester at the University of Alabama. For the football team, that means the rest of its signees will start making their way to campus over the coming weeks. With that in mind, here are five summer guys who could make an impact this coming season. These aren’t necessarily the five best, but the five who step into situations that could get them on the field the fastest.
Offensive lineman Dominick Jackson: Coach Nick Saban doesn’t just bring in transfers to ride the bench. He has a history of getting guys who can come in and contribute right away, and that’s exactly what the Crimson Tide hopes it will get from Jackson. The offensive line lacked some of the nastiness that the ‘12 and ‘11 units had and Jackson could be the fresh dose that’s needed to get that unit back to elite. He has played on the right side for much of his career, and with Austin Shepherd the veteran at right tackle, Jackson could find a home inside at guard, where Alabama never really found a consistent guy in the spring.
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey: Alabama lost its No. 1 guy, Deion Belue, to graduation, and Belue never had a steady No. 2 next to him all season. Those vacancies, combined with the loss of Eddie Jackson for an indefinite amount of time, is a good sign for the 5-star cornerback from Hoover. Before Jackson went down with a knee injury, it looked like he was the top guy, followed by some combination of Tony Brown, junior Bradley Sylve and junior Cyrus Jones. Humphrey could throw a wrench into that mix, working his way in as a Nickel or Dime back or even locking down a starting role by season’s end.
Defensive tackle Josh Frazier: Like Humphrey, Frazier’s cause will be helped by a mix of iffy play in 2013 combined with some injury. Brandon Ivory was the starter last year, and while he didn’t light the world on fire, he was a serviceable option inside. Behind him, though, is anyone’s guess at this point. Darren Lake looked like the No. 2 option before injuring a pectoral muscle in the spring. Even if Lake comes back 100 percent by fall camp, which he’s expected too, Frazier could impress early with his size and skill and work his way into the defensive line rotation.
Linebacker Rashaan Evans: Pass rush is an area many are pointing too for improvement in 2014, and Evans could be one of the reasons why. As an outside linebacker, he won’t necessarily be fighting the scary-deep defensive line rotation for playing time. Denzel Devall looks to be entrenched in one of the outside linebacker spots, but it’s a little murky behind him. Dillon Lee has plenty of talent but has dealt with some off-the-field issues. Xzavier Dickson took a step back in 2013 production-wise and Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson haven’t seen consistent playing time yet. At the least, the uber-talented Evans could work his way into the rotation as a situational pass-rusher.
Kicker/punter J.K. Scott: It’s not exactly going out on a limb to say Alabama’s kicking game was woeful last season, especially in key moments. Adam Griffith has yet to inspire confidence in game situations as a placekicker and coaches probably aren’t hoping “starting punter Alec Morris" becomes a thing. So the versatile Scott will have a chance to contribute at both positions, averaging 35.9 yards per punt as a senior in high school, and going five of eght on field goals, including a 54-yarder.
I would have put Hand in there over Scott, but I guess we need a punter pretty bad.
Posted on 5/27/14 at 9:02 am to TideSaint
The soulless ginger is gone:
quote:
Redshirt freshman quarterback Parker McLeod will transfer from Alabama, sources close to the situation tell BamaOnline. The Marietta (Ga.) native signed with the Tide as a part of the 2013 class and enrolled early in January of 2013 before redshirting during the fall. McLeod, who initially chose Alabama over the likes of Oklahoma State, Louisville, UCF, Boston College, Maryland, and others, has yet to determine his landing spot.
McLeod's departure leaves Alabama with five scholarship quarterbacks- Blake Sims (RS Sr.), Jacob Coker (RS Jr.), Alec Morris (RS So.), Cooper Bateman (RS Fr.), and David Cornwell (Fr.).
Posted on 5/27/14 at 9:11 am to TideSaint
AL.com story on Rashaan Evans:
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AUBURN, Alabama -- The door opens, and there it is. Perched on an entryway table, you can't miss it.
On Feb. 5, Rashaan Evans smiled for the cameras and reached into a bag that contained two hats. His hands touched both the crimson Alabama hat and the white Auburn hat as he reevaluated his decision one last time. The five-star outside linebacker's whirlwind recruitment had reached its climax, but second thoughts were resurfacing as he fished his hand around the bag.
"I had to overthink the whole recruiting process and the things I saw," Evans said. "At first, I kind of changed my mind, but at the same time I had to confront my decision."
The Auburn hat never surfaced, as Evans stunned many who figured he'd break the perceived tie between the in-state rivals by choosing the school just 10 minutes down the road from the only house he's ever known. He didn't, of course, as he doffed the Alabama hat and officially gave the Crimson Tide the kind of prototypical fast-twitch pass rusher it's sought in its recent recruiting classes.
Three months later, as he enjoyed his final few days at home before his move to Tuscaloosa, Evans and the hats came together one more time. He opened the door, flashed the same smile he did on National Signing Day and walked past the Auburn hat on his way to the kitchen.
Seated at the table was his father, Alan, a former Auburn running back whose son is the first known Tigers' legacy to accept a scholarship to play at Alabama. The same hat Rashaan pulled out of the bag in February sat on top of Alan's head.
"I do it all the time," said Alan, who finished his playing career at Chattanooga. "It's something I got to learn to live with now because we live here in Auburn, but my son now goes to Alabama. Quite naturally, we have to convert over and be Alabama fans because of him."
***
The transition, as a whole, has been relatively seamless, but the initial reaction was unsettling. The scars are fading, but they linger.
Just five days removed from his decision, Evans used Twitter to express his frustrations with the blowback he continued to receive. His messages quickly went viral, as his first 140-character burst of frustration was re-Tweeted more than 1,000 times, and it turned into a national story when he opened up to TideSports.com's Andrew Bone later that night.
All I did was commit to a university to get my education and pursue my dreams but a whole city gone try and treat me like I'm satan #Really
— WareWolf (@616evans4) February 11, 2014
"It's hard for me to go out and chill with my friends like I have always done because people keep coming up to me telling me I made a bad decision," Evans told TideSports.com. "It's grown men. They are asking me why I did this to them. I told them I had to do what is best for me.
"You know, I knew this would happen. I knew people would be mad and say stuff. I didn't think it would be like this. It wasn't a complete shock to me, but I guess that's just how fans are."
Evans and his father don't offer up many specific details about the negative reaction, other than acknowledging that it was fierce and compelled them to at least consider moving to a new city. Even though they knew there'd be a backlash, it didn't make it any easier to experience.
Alan and his wife, Chenavis -- who holds four degrees from Auburn, including a Ph.D -- have lived in the same house since 1990. Chenavis makes the one-hour commute to Columbus, Georgia, for work while Alan owns a convenience store in the city. A big front yard separates the road from their house, which looks the part of a dwelling that's experienced three active children and a few pets. The drive to Toomer's Corner is no more than 10-15 minutes.
It's comfortable but it may not be permanent.
"It just has gotten to the point now where you're living in a town where you know you're not hated, but you're not liked," Alan said. "We're still on the fence as far as moving because we don't know what it's going to be like when Alabama-Auburn and all of this stuff starts to heat back up in the fall leading up to that Iron Bowl game ... All of that stuff could start to escalate back up again."
Evans said his life got back to normal shortly after his series of Tweets made national headlines. He wrapped up his studies at Auburn High and enjoyed his final few weeks at home like any other teenager would. To stay in the kind of shape Alabama wanted him upon arrival, he primarily focused on his cardio. Though he was no longer able to run with the horses his parents recently sold, he'd run hills at Auburn High to pass the time.
The life of a signed, five-star prospect comes with significantly less stress than what he experienced for more than a year as one of the most coveted recruits in the nation.
"(The negative reaction) didn't stop cold turkey, but after that it kind of stopped," he said. "They kind of got over that and they go on to the next guy that's coming up in the next class of 2015.
"It's been a long process. I always dreamed about playing college football and now I get a chance, I'm going to be playing for a college team this fall. It's kind of crazy. It really hasn't hit me yet. It probably won't hit me until I actually get there and spend those few weeks in Tuscaloosa."
Posted on 5/27/14 at 9:11 am to TideSaint
Cont'd:
quote:
In hindsight, Evans' high-profile recruitment began and ended with Reuben Foster.
Evans first popped on Alabama's and Auburn's radar as a ninth-grade backup quarterback. He ultimately wasn't long for the position and was moved to defense by the end of his sophomore season.
A few months later, Evans, who played defensive end, had a new high-profile teammate when Foster transferred from Troup County High in Lagrange, Georgia, to Auburn High in April 2012. They became fast friends.
"We hit it off just like that," Evans said. "Me and him personality-wise, us being very social and all those things, we just meshed like real perfect. Me hanging out with him and all those things, he taught me a lot of things through the recruiting process and what to look for."
Evans, much like Foster, soon had plenty to look for as the offers from major programs piled up. College coaches who stopped by Auburn High to visit with Foster were soon intrigued with the raw, out-of-place defensive end who had the instincts and speed to make life miserable for quarterbacks, even the mobile ones.
The offers grew and grew after Evans' successful junior season. Eventually, he narrowed his choices to Auburn, Alabama, Georgia and UCLA. He never made an official visit to Georgia.
Alabama viewed Evans as the prototypical, fast-twitch pass rusher at Jack or Sam linebacker who could keep pace with the mobile quarterbacks who operated uptempo offenses. UCLA saw him as the next Anthony Barr, the ninth pick in the 2014 NFL Draft who didn't thrive with the Bruins until he switched from running back to outside linebacker. Auburn, which brought on Ellis Johnson as its defensive coordinator at the beginning of Evans' junior season, wanted him to play Star, a hybrid safety/linebacker in the Tigers' 4-2-5 scheme.
Ultimately, Evans said, this was the most important factor in his decision. "Star" was the least favorite of the options and his visit to UCLA prompted some soul-searching.
"A lot of guys my age would like to go to UCLA because it's L.A. and all that stuff," Evans said. "You're not going to be in college for 10 years. You're going to be there for just maybe three years depending on how you play. After that, I could live in L.A. my whole life. That's how I had to look at it."
But about that visit to UCLA he took in September...
"The glitz and glamour, going to the clubs and all that stuff," he said. "They threw the women at me and all that stuff. I had to kind of be like, 'Look, that's fun and all. You could have that every day at UCLA but at the same time, am I going to get my job done, am I going to get my work done and all that stuff and achieve my goals?'"
The Bruins remained in the picture all the way until National Signing Day, but there was enough skepticism about the distance and potential distractions to safely place them third in the pursuit for Evans. He took visits to Alabama and Auburn on back-to-back weekends in January before hosting the schools' coaches on various occasions as the deadline neared.
It was only the beginning of the final crescendo.
On the final night of permitted contact between coaches and players, Evans hosted Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, numerous members of the Tigers' defensive staff and four Alabama assistants -- Kirby Smart, Bo Davis, Lance Thompson and Burton Burns -- while simultaneously attending his grandfather's 80th birthday party.
"It's a weird feeling," Evans said. "You really can't do what you want to do with your family like you want to do. You've got coaches here and there pulling you aside and wanting to talk to you. Auburn on one side, Alabama on one side. Alabama would come talk to you and tell them to come talk to them. When you're done talking to them, Auburn wants to talk to you. They want to say something back as well.
"It was kind of like they were pulling me back and forth making sure they got the last word."
While the awkward get-together quickly solidified its place in recruiting lore, another surprise visitor that night, Foster, may have very well had the biggest impact on Evans' decision.
Hours after Evans' signing ceremony, Alabama coach Nick Saban said Foster had called him to say "he was a much better recruiter than I was and he was really responsible for that."
As he reflected on those final days last week, Evans laughed at how he initially viewed Foster's wild recruitment, which featured multiple flips, an Auburn tattoo and a nationally televised final decision. There was no way, Evans thought, "it would end up being the same as his."
"Ours was almost identical," Evans said. "I thought it was going to be a normal process, just going to schools and everything was going to be A-OK.
"After that, I thought wrong."
Posted on 5/27/14 at 9:24 am to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama has 16 commitments, but the UA staff is not expected to turn their attention away from the tight end position. It remains a priority with hopes to sign one more in this class. All of the Tide's remaining tight end targets are expected to return to campus this summer.
Alabama has spent a lot of time recruiting three prospects the past several months: Will Gragg, four-star from Pine Bluff High School in Ark., Devonaire Clarington, four-star from Champagnat High School in Hialleah, Fla., and Jackson Harris, four-star from Central High School in Columbia, Tenn.
Gragg has visited Alabama several times and has a great relationship with Alabama wide receivers coach, Billy Napier. His older brother, Chris Gragg, played at Arkansas. There is a lot of in-state pressure on Gragg, but Alabama remains a very strong contender.
Most expect Clarington to stay in-state, but Mario Cristobal has built a strong relationship. Coach Cristobal is one of the hottest assistant coaches on the recruiting trail this year. It will not come as a surprise to see him pull another player from south Florida.
Harris has been to Alabama a few times, and the Tide remains a major contender for his signature. He earned an offer earlier this spring.
Alabama's best chance is possibly with Gragg or Harris. Will Alabama find a new tight end at camp? Maybe, but the odds of another tight end joining the class will likely come from one of these three mentioned.
Posted on 5/27/14 at 9:28 am to chattabama
quote:
He may not have moved up much, just two spots, but Byron Cowart ascended to the No. 1 spot overall. What did you see from him since the last rankings update that caused the jump? Why is he special enough to considered the overall top prospect in the nation?
Farrell: Cowart reminds me a lot of Da'Shawn Hand from last year, a super athletic end with good size, excellent balance and agility and a great desire to get better. He is simply a dominant player at his position and after seeing so many No. 1 prospects over the years, you just get a feel for when a player is that special.
Wommack: Cowart has been in the mix for the No. 1 overall player based on his film and his body of work. He only slightly lost out on the top spot during the last round of evaluations. After coming to and dominating the Rivals Camp Series Orlando, he had done enough to push over into the top spot. However, just because he's currently the top dog, doesn't mean he's not going to have to fight to keep it. Unlike in years past, there is no runaway No. 1, at least not yet.
Posted on 5/27/14 at 9:28 am to TideSaint
quote:
Florida received a visit from Damien Harris, the top overall running back and No. 4 rated prospect in the nation. Realizing that it is early and anything can happen, who are the legitimate contenders here?
Farrell: He loved Gainesville I am told, so Florida is a real contender and option. He's so quiet about everything it's hard to tell, but I know he liked Florida, Alabama, Ohio State and a few others. Michigan fans think he is going to re-commit and he could, but I don't think they lead at all. I think he's still wide open.
Helmholdt: Florida is in play with Harris, and I would comfortably put them in his top five. The team to beat at this stage would be Ohio State. Alabama is in play, Michigan - where he committed to originally - is still in play, and Kentucky is the fifth school I would mention. Getting an official visit from Harris is going to be key. The Gators need him to spend as much time in Gainesville as possible to give them the best possible shot here.
Wommack: He's sort of all over the map. The fact that Florida got a visit means they're in the mix but I think Ohio State is shaping up as the team to beat.
Posted on 5/27/14 at 9:29 am to TideSaint
quote:
CeCe Jefferson moved down five spots from No. 5 to No. 10 overall - as well as moving from defensive tackle to strongside end. What are the thoughts on him and the position change?
Farrell: Love his film but he isn't big enough to be a defensive tackle and he was a bit of a fish out of water at defensive end when we saw him. His bump down is minimal overall and he's a 3-4 gap end or a 4-3 5 or 7 technique with his size. I think it's impressive how dominant he is in high school at around 6-2 and 244 pounds. He's amazingly agile and his motor is non-stop, but he's not a defensive tackle at the next level at least not now.
Wommack: Jefferson's film is solely at defensive tackle, and his height and weight was previously listed much higher than he actually weighed in at the Rivals Camp in Orlando. This doesn't mean he's any less of a player, but it's clear his future will be at end not tackle. He still has a ton of talent, but he's still learning to play end and that's why he slipped a little.
Posted on 5/27/14 at 9:44 am to TideSaint
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RIVALS100 FIVE-STAR CHALLENGE - TOP MATCHUPS
Our team of recruiting experts examine 10 matchups we're anticipating when the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge Presented by Under Armour kicks off at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD on June 6. Matchup No. 6 is one of the top inside pass rushers against the nation's top interior lineman.
quote:
DT Rasheem Green
Gardena, Calif. - Junipero Serra (2015)
Lester Cotton
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Central (2015)
OL
quote:
Adam Gorney - West Recruiting Analyst
The most impressive thing about Green's game is his speed. The five-star is 290 pounds, but he moves so quickly that any interior lineman has a difficult challenge to stay in front and then block him. Not only is Green athletic, but he's also powerful, so if he has even the slightest edge, he's going to get into the backfield. To beat Green, the lineman has to have the foot speed to move quickly but also the power to stave off Green's rush. That is rare and that's why Green holds the edge in this matchup.
quote:
Woody Wommack - Southeast Recruiting Analyst
Cotton has made quite the impression over the past six months, camping at several marquee events and using his size and technique to neutralize bigger defensive tackles. He's also shown his versatility by working out at guard and center and it's easy to see why Alabama worked so hard to lock him up early in the process. In Green, he'll be facing a monstrous defensive tackle. When it comes to slowing him down, it's going to be quite the battle of strength vs. strength. Green and Cotton are the same height, but Cotton actually weighs about 30 pounds more than Green. If he can get his hands on Green all while keeping proper leverage and setting a good base, it's going to be tough for Green to get around him. Cotton has drawn the ire of opponents for his tendency to grab inside and sometimes rip jerseys, but his tactics, both physical and mental, have served him well thus far and I expect to see same against Green.
quote:
Mike Farrell - National Recruiting Director
Talk about a great battle. Green is so quick off the snap and into his second move that many offensive linemen are just flat-footed after the initial contact. But Cotton moves his feet so well, keeps his arms extended and can re-set with the best of them that I have a hunch that his power and footwork will allow him to do well in this battle. On the inside, there isn't as much of an advantage for the defensive linemen and in a phone booth I'll take Cotton in an upset.
Posted on 5/27/14 at 9:57 am to TideSaint
quote:
Dual-threat quarterback Travis Waller is quickly rising to the top of elite programs' big boards. The Anaheim, California, native is currently the No. 4-ranked dual-threat QB, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, and he just received an offer from the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Alabama is not traditionally known for its dual-threat QBs, but Nick Saban has been interested in bringing one in for years. Is Waller finally the top dual-threat QB who can lead the Crimson Tide?
Check out the video above as Matt Scalici of AL.com breaks down the latest on Alabama's recruitment of Waller.
Video
Posted on 5/27/14 at 10:01 am to TideSaint
quote:
When Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher named Jameis Winston the starter in August of last year, you could sense the hesitancy in his voice as a group of anxious reporters huddled around. This was genuine indecision, not the manufactured, company-man reply you’ve grown to expect from a coach delivering news.
He seemed torn—not with the announcement that Winston would start, but that a player of Jacob Coker’s caliber would be relegated to the bench.
Of course, this decision worked out brilliantly. Winston, despite the turbulent path to get there, won the Heisman. Florida State finished the season as national champion. And now, the Seminoles are in a position to add more hardware to the trophy case if all goes accordingly.
It was the right call at the time, and it remains the right call in hindsight. Of course it does. But at the time of his decision, Fisher also provided a scouting report of sorts on his backup quarterback. If his indecision was as genuine as it appeared, Coker might just be the most important and potentially impactful unknown in all of college football.
In January, we learned that Coker would be leaving Tallahassee for Tuscaloosa, eyeing the vacancy left by AJ McCarron.
"We think a lot of Jake and we are excited to have him join our team," Nick Saban said in a statement, via The Associated Press (h/t USA Today). "He is not only an outstanding football player, but he is also a fine young man who we feel will be a great fit with our program at Alabama."
Because Coker stayed at Florida State to graduate in May—which he did earlier this month—he is immediately eligible to play this fall. The only downside to this route is that he was unable to soak up valuable spring reps and hands-on time with coaches.
This part’s important. Not simply due to a player's lost reps, but because what this time told us in his absence. With an opening to make an impression—and perhaps an opportunity to send Coker to the bench once more—the Alabama quarterbacks on the spring roster did anything but instill confidence.
No quarterback completed more than 50 percent of his passes in the Alabama spring game. Cooper Bateman, who was 11-of-24 on the day and found the end zone once, was probably the most impressive. Overall, however, Bateman, Blake Sims, Alec Morris, Parker McLeod and true freshman David Cornwell did little to convince you that they were going to steal the job before Coker took his first snap.
Take from a spring game what you will. Heck, take from an entire spring what you will. But with the position still very much up for grabs, the likely starter hasn’t even completed his first pass yet. This much became clear.
When Coker does finally complete that pass—perhaps a quick screen to Amari Cooper to ease right into it—the perception of this team and offense could change entirely.
Here’s what we know about Coker right now: For starters, he has ideal size and build straight out of your dream create-a-player in Madden. While he might not be quite as big as Winston, at 6'5", 230 pounds he’s everything you look for at the position.
In terms of his style and skill set, he moves well for a player of his build. He’s not going to outrun many gifted linebackers, but he’s a threat—much like Winston—to take off and pick up yardage if needed. He also has the arm to go with the physique, and that’s where the excitement about his pairing with Alabama begins to build.
Statistically, at this point, there isn’t much to go off of. He completed 18-of-36 passes for the Seminoles last season and only threw five passes the year before. He has just one touchdown and one interception on his resume.
It’s also worth noting that he’s coming off November knee surgery, although his QB instructor this offseason, David Morris—who just so happened to be AJ McCarron’s instructor as well—saw him multiple times each week and liked what he saw.
"He’s a more experienced quarterback, he's grown into the position,” Morris told Andrew Gribble of AL.com. “He’s had a lot of reps practicing through the years. I was really pleased with how he kind of didn’t miss a whole lot. He didn’t miss a beat. He really looks strong right now."
Despite the lack of experience, the tools are there. It’s why many have assumed that he would be handed the starting-quarterback job all along, even before his competition struggled.
Winning the job is one thing. It’s his potential at this position—with this particular team—that could shake up the national college-football landscape in its entirety.
Even with the questions at quarterback, Alabama will open up in the top five of most preseason polls. Many will likely place the Crimson Tide at No. 2 behind none other than Florida State, and it would be shocking if they fell beyond No. 3.
Preseason polls, of course, mean absolutely nothing—the bane of our football existence—but it is telling that Alabama is garnering this much respect with a glaring opening at the most important position.
Is this a product of assuming Coker will step right in and play well? Or, are many simply assuming that the surrounding talent—especially at positions like running back, tight end and wide receiver—will excel regardless of who is throwing the ball against West Virginia on August 30?
Here’s where it gets interesting.
If Coker is great—not all-world, superhero, Heisman-snatching great, but solid throughout the year—he could quickly become the most important player in all of college football. Even if he’s only “good”—a mistake here and there, sprinkled in with an occasional “wow” moment—that might be good enough for a team with more talent and depth than anyone.
We don’t know if he’ll be either of those things, but we know that uniting a quarterback with incredible physical gifts with the likes of Amari Cooper, O.J. Howard, Robert Foster, T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry and others probably deserving mention could—stressing the maybe here—breed fascinating results.
There are no guarantees. Not in this sport, and not for a player still months away from his first practice with his team. His track record doesn’t scream instant success, but it certainly doesn’t scream dramatic failure, either.
That’s what makes Coker so intriguing. Less than a year after he was sent to the bench, he has a new opportunity, a fresh start. More than simply an added luxury at Nick Saban's disposal, Coker is teetering more toward necessity for a team that is one big piece away.
Posted on 5/27/14 at 10:04 am to TideSaint
quote:
When it comes to predicting out a season beforehand, never mind in May, there are two very important considerations regarding the University of Alabama football team under Nick Saban:
1.Even though he’s won four national championships, Saban has only had one team finish with a perfect record (2009).
2.Despite that, Alabama has been favored in 54 consecutive games.
The last time Alabama was considered an underdog was the 2009 SEC Championship, when it faced Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow at Florida. That was three titles ago, never mind being part of a different decade.
Overall, Alabama’s record since 2008 is 72-9.
Nevertheless, the Crimson Tide lost their last two games of the 2013-14 season: at rival Auburn and then against Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, where they committed four turnovers that resulted in 28 points for the Sooners, who pulled out the 45-31 victory.
“We created a lot of the adversity that we faced ourselves in some of the things that we did and didn’t do,” Nick Saban said after the game.
“We didn’t play very well on defense in the first half. We didn’t play very well on third down. We didn’t get off the field in 3rd-and-long three or four times in the game, which were critical factors in the game,” he continued.
Anyone want to bet against Saban now? Alabama is already considered a huge favorite for the season opener against West Virginia in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta on Aug. 30.
Perhaps the better question is which game is Alabama most likely to lose in 2014-15?
Posted on 5/27/14 at 10:05 am to TideSaint
quote:
Dana Holgorsen’s team is just 6-14 in its last 20 games and didn’t play in a bowl last season. West Virginia also lost defensive coordinator Keith Patterson to Arizona State.
Known as an offensive team, the Mountaineers averaged 26.3 points per game and 5.5 yards per play last season. Considering Alabama’s unsettled secondary, one would think that’s where West Virginia will try to challenge it the most.
However, Alabama may have a huge advantage with its run game, so look for T.J. Yeldon to score a couple of touchdowns and for Derrick Henry to get one as well in the first meeting of these schools.
Alabama 35, West Virginia 13
Posted on 5/27/14 at 10:05 am to TideSaint
quote:
As far as home openers go, this isn’t a good one.
Despite the ongoing scandal surrounding former coach Carl Pelini, FAU won its final four straight games under interim coach Brian Wright to finish 6-6 last season. However, school officials then gave the job to former Wisconsin assistant Charlie Partridge.
On offense, the name to know is quarterback Jaquez Johnson, while the Owls secondary leads the defense.
Alabama will again try to run the ball a lot, take a significant lead and get some playing time to numerous reserves.
Alabama 45, Florida Atlantic 10
Posted on 5/27/14 at 10:05 am to TideSaint
quote:
If Alabama doesn’t have a starting quarterback established yet, this will be the final Saturday there are any lingering doubts. The guess here is that it’ll be Florida State transfer Jacob Coker, but he still has to win the job and prove to coaches that he’s ready to take over.
Todd Monken’s first season at Southern Miss was a rough one, as in 1-11, with the lone win in the finale against UAB to snap a 23-game losing streak.
With Florida next up on the schedule this will be a prime spot for a letdown against a motivated opponent, at least for a half. Alabama then pulls away.
Alabama 38, Southern Miss 6
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