re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition

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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - James Lockhart made the drive from Ennis, Texas with his high school coach and spent a few days in Tuscaloosa last week.

It looks like the long drive, nearly 10 hours each way, was worth it. The four-star defensive end shined at Saturday's camp, winning the majority of his 1-on-1 battles.

"I competed in the camp on Saturday and I felt I earned the players' respect," Lockhart said. "I went 10-2 in 1-on-1s and Coach (Nick) Saban came over on my side and he was checking me out, so that was neat."

Lockhart made his first trip to Tuscaloosa last week.

"It was a good trip," Lockhart said. "I enjoyed myself. I really did. It was a good trip. I did a lot of learning. I got to meet a lot of great people. I was stunned. It was a great facility. The town was nice. The people were very friendly. I liked it there."

Alabama started recruiting Lockhart at the beginning of his junior year.

"When I started talking to them back in September, they were telling me that they were actually trying to recruit me my sophomore year, but it was hard for them to get in touch with my head coach," Lockhart said. "We've had a great relationship with each other and it continues to get better."

Coach Saban! Learned a lot from him. Great to meet him him finally in person. pic.twitter.com/P8T8Pzfa50

-- James Lockhart IV (@James_Lockhart9) June 13, 2014
Lockhart is listed at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds. He said Saban sees him as a JACK linebacker, but he could move around to several positions depending on if he gains or loses weight.

"If I was to get bigger, they could move me to defensive end," Lockhart said. "Coach Kirby Smart and Coach (Billy) Napier, my recruiting coach, said I could play middle linebacker.

"My coach thinks the JACK position is for me but he thinks I could be a really outstanding middle linebacker as well. What they told me is that they think I'm a very versatile player and that my weight and my size is flexible and they could use me where they wanted me to."

Lockhart said he was going to visit Texas A&M early this week, but is in the process of reaching Texas A&M coaches. Texas A&M got a commitment from linebacker/defensive end Landis Durham on Sunday.

"I see they got a commitment from a defensive end and I think he's in my grade," Lockhart said. "I know they were telling me that they might fill up early and they had a spot left. I'm going to have to get back with them. I think they may have filled up and I think I'm going to probably end up going to Alabama."Right now, I'm weighing out my options. I'm trying to stay in touch with A&M to see what's the deal there."

Lockhart said he planned on taking another trip to Alabama in July, but a commitment anywhere could happen at any time. Alabama and Texas A&M are his top two schools.

"It's 50-50," he said. "It's either A&M or either Alabama. They're both great schools. At Alabama, they treated me and my coach with a lot of respect and they took very good care of us."

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Sorry fellas. My attention has been completely focused on the World Cup today.

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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Even after losing out on 4-star tight end Jackson Harris to Georgia, Alabama still has plenty of options if it wants to add a second tight end to the 2015 recruiting class.

Alabama picked up its first tight end commitment in late May with Hale Hentges, but coaches have been recruiting more. Here are some prospects to keep an eye on in case Alabama gets another tight end prospect to commit this summer.

Montgomery (St. James) standout Jalen Harris, 6-foot-5, 230, has seen his stock rise this summer. He told AL.com that he was like "a little kid in a candy store" when Nick Saban offered him a scholarship last week at camp, and he made a return trip to Tuscaloosa this week. After getting the Alabama offer, he picked up offers from LSU and Vanderbilt. Auburn hasn't offered, but Harris is visiting Auburn this weekend hoping to earn an offer. Harris is rated as a 3-star prospect, but could see that ranking improve.

Dumas, Ark., tight end Will Gragg is still in the mix, though it may be a tough pull to get the 4-star out of his home state. Gragg's brother Chris is a former standout tight end at Arkansas. Ole Miss and LSU are also in the mix for the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Gragg. He's supposed to officially visit LSU when the Tigers host Alabama on Nov. 8.

Devonaire Clarington, a 6-foot-6, 222-pound 4-star recruit from Hialeah, Fla., has an Alabama offer. Not much has been said on Clarington's front regarding Alabama, but he does hold an offer. He's visiting Tennessee and Georgia this weekend. Miami and LSU are also heavily involved in his recruitment.

Lafayette, La., 3-star prospect Bry'Keithon Mouton has an Alabama offer and three of five 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions predict the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Mouton to Alabama. LSU also has offered and Mouton attended Alabama's camp last week.

Other prospects listed as having Alabama offers on 247Sports include 4-star Buffalo, N.Y. standout Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. and 4-star Chris Clark of Avon, Conn.

PREDICTION: If Alabama gets a tight end out of this group, it'll be Jalen Harris, who wants to make a decision by the start of his senior season. Auburn wants to get a good look at Harris as well and Vanderbilt, with former St. James teammate C.J. Duncan already up there, is a factor.

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