re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition

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InsideBamaRecruiting
?@RTRnews
Auburn HS 2016 OT Tyler Pritchett @tpritchett75 /Double Digit offers/invited to #Alabama Camp(Kirby Smart)will attend Sunday per Tweet

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2 I've been told are on commit watch

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@jeremycrabtree The word amazing gets thrown around way too much, IMO, but how can you not be awestruck by Nick Saban and Co. on the trail. #Bama

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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Keaton Anderson had small talk with Nick Saban and then asked the Alabama head football coach if he could take the floor.

The standout Florence High School linebacker visited the school with his family on Thursday night to give his verbal commitment in person. Anderson is rated as a 3-star linebacker on the 247Sports composite rankings and is Alabama's 17th commitment for the 2015 class.

"He let me (have the floor and speak)," Anderson said. "I took him through the whole recruiting process for me from the beginning of tenth grade until now. I went from all the blessings I've been able to take in and all the people and coaches I've been able to meet and grow relationships with and the knowledge I've been able to gain from each school

At the end, I said, 'Coach, I'm ready to be a part of the family and I'm ready to commit to the University of Alabama."

Anderson is closely linked to Tennessee. His brother, Carson, played offensive line for the Vols. His father, Terry, played linebacker and uncle, Charlie, was a Tennessee defensive end. Anderson said more people were surprised that he didn't commit to Tennessee.

LSU was also heavily in the mix. Defensive coordinator John Chavis and defensive backs coach Corey Raymond made the long trip from Baton Rouge to Jacksonville to watch Anderson's spring game.

"I'm extremely appreciative of LSU, Tennessee, Duke and Miami, all those top flight schools and so appreciative of all they've done for me and my relationship with those coaches," Anderson said. "They were surprised, but at the end of the day I had to make a decision based on my feel for my family."

And as it turns out, immediate family was the biggest influence on his decision.

"My family felt very comfortable with me there," Anderson said. "It being closer to home had a big deal with it. Even if football didn't work out, I think I would be happy at the University of Alabama if something was to happen. I felt comfortable with my future teammates and coaches. It just all felt right.

"They were one of the ones that felt the most comfortable and it was almost their school of choice for me to go to. With them letting me know that, I felt even more confident in my decision. I'm very appreciative in my family in the way they supported me in the process."

On the field, Anderson had 191 tackles last year as a weak side linebacker. He said he could play there or in the hybrid "star" position for the Crimson Tide. At 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, Anderson doesn't want to gain much more weight in order to keep his speed. Mentally, he stays sharp.

"I definitely think a big thing that I take very serious is the mental side of the game," Anderson said. "Where other people may have all the ability in the world, I think I study more film than most people. Of course the ability of the way I actually play (is a strength), but some tips that I may see on film that other teammates won't. That's something I look into very much."

Anderson said he's not going on any official visits other than Alabama. He'll make a few trips to Tuscaloosa this summer to meet with future coaches and teammates. He's also looking for ways to keep getting better.

"You can never be satisfied with where you are," Anderson said. "From anything to little things like technique, using my hands more, exploding through tackles - anything my coaches can give me or if Alabama coaches see on film and can let me know tips. Anything people are going to tell me, I'll use it on the field to make me a better player."

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At 6'3'" and 211 pounds, John Houston is a 5-star linebacker who gets the job done with speed and athleticism. It also helps that he has quick ball-location skills.

Houston has the toughness to work through offensive linemen to get to ball-carriers, but he usually eludes bigger bodies in pursuit. He has the hips and agility of a safety, which help him make plays in coverage.

USC, Alabama and UCLA are his top schools, according to 247Sports. The Trojans look good right now, but that could change with one impressive trip to Tuscaloosa

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