re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition

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Tyler Donohue ?@TDsTake 10m
5-star LB Malik Jefferson shares he's committing Dec. 19. Based on our conversation, I think it's Texas vs Texas A&M. Alabama is wild card.

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Drew DeArmond ?@DrewDALIntel 9h
Bo Scarbrough qualifying note exclusive f/ @AlabamaIntel: the RB will return 2 TCHS this fall to take 2 classes & then enroll at @in Jan.

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After initially predicting Drew Richmond to Ohio State, I've made a change on my Crystal Ball and have now predicted him to Ole Miss. Rebels247's David Johnson reports that the Memphis (Tenn.) University School native is going to take a visit this weekend to Ole Miss with his parents. That visit adds to what has been growing confidence in Ole Miss from sources in Memphis.

According to sources, location has always been a factor with Richmond and it is a big plus that Ole Miss is close to home. Another new factor is the relationship that Richmond is starting to build with sophomore Laremy Tunsil at Ole Miss. According to Memphis sources, the freshman All-American is taking an active role in Richmond's recruitment and has given the four-star prospect comfort in knowing that a veteran talent is eager to take him under his wing.

Richmond has set a commitment date of Sept. 9.

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“It’s a great problem to have when a player is offered scholarships to two of the finest schools in the nation,” McGraw said. “It was an honor to be offered by both schools. But I chose Alabama because the coaching staff will put me in positions that will help me in the future. The last few weeks have been crazy trying to keep recruiting in prospective. The Alabama coaching staff was the first to offer me a scholarship the summer after my freshman season in high school. I loved their summer camp and getting to know the coaches such as Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt, Coach (Kirby) Smart and of course Coach (Nick) Saban.”

Because of McGraw’s established relationship with Pruitt, McGraw committed to Georgia first. He has a lot of respect for the Georgia program and feels they’ll win an SEC title again soon.

“Georgia is a sleeping giant in the SEC,” McGraw explained. “They always seem to come up short in the big game such as the SEC Championship several years ago (Alabama beat Georgia 32-28 in the 2012 SEC Championship game). However, I believe Coach Pruitt will help Georgia turn it around.”

One of the reasons McGraw is now an Alabama commitment is the relationship the Crimson Tide coaches developed with him in the past three years. After the 2013 season, Saban tweaked his defensive staff and Kevin Steele moved from an administrative position to linebacker coach. Steele had also helped recruit McGraw and the dividends eventually paid off.

“Coach (Kevin) Steele is one of the best recruiters, if not the best in the nation,” McGraw commented. “When Coach Saban was making changes on his staff last January, Coach Steele kept my parents updated on what was going on. He did a good job of winning my mom over.”

Recruiting is an ‘arms race’ and many schools use its facilities as a ‘wow factor’ in getting a commitment. Saban has invested a lot of money into upgrading Alabama’s athletic facilities. Alabama has one of the nicest indoor practice facilities in the nation and Georgia is currently building one. Alabama’s facilities were a contributing factor in McGraw’s decision to flip to the Crimson Tide.
“Every program in the country wants to win the ‘wow’ factor with recruits,” McGraw replied. “Certainly as a recruit, Alabama’s facilities catch your eye immediately.”

The 1992 Alabama national championship team is known for its legendary defense. One of the cornerstones of that team was former Alabama linebacker (1990-93) Lemanski Hall. Hall is now an assistant coach at Ensworth high school and McGraw has established a close relationship with Hall.

“I love Coach Hall, I have a good relationship with him,” McGraw said. “He never put any pressure on me to commit to Alabama. He was excited to hear about my commitment. He has always wanted the best for me and my family. Of course he won a national championship for Alabama (in 1992) and he has always been a role model for me.”
McGraw has the ball skills to play several positions in the secondary. The Alabama coaches have expressed an interest in putting McGraw in the rover position.

“Coach Saban told me he will allow me to choose what position I want to play,” McGraw stated. “They like me to play the rover position because I can cover a lot of space against the uptempo teams. But Coach Saban and Smart have said let’s see what happens when I get to Alabama and then we will choose what is the best position for me and my skill set. But I can play corner or safety if I need to.”
Another contributing factor in McGraw’s decision was his official visit to Tuscaloosa last season to watch the Tide’s 38-17 win over LSU.

“My official visit last fall was the LSU game in Tuscaloosa and it was a tremendous experience,” McGraw said. “The LSU game really opened my eyes. I can see why any recruit would love to come to Bama after watching a game in that atmosphere. The fans were wild and came up to me after the game and wished me well.”

McGraw’s has the skill set to be successful in multiple positions. He is a thoughtful, articulate young man but his biggest asset is his competitive desire to excel.
“My biggest strength is I like to compete and be the best I can be,” McGraw said. “I have a competitive edge because I want to win every down and every series of each game.”
One of the many changes in the recruiting process the past five years are verbally committed players recruiting uncommitted players. McGraw is good friends with Alabama target Drew Richmond. Richmond, a four-star 6-5, 320 pound elite offensive tackle, plays at the Memphis University high school and is considered by many recruiting services to be the No. 1 player in the state of Tennessee. McGraw was asked if he is helping the Alabama coaching staff recruit Richmond to sign with Alabama.

“Drew is my guy, I am close to him,” McGraw admitted. “Our teams have played each other the past three years. We really don’t talk too much recruiting, but I tell him what’s going on at Bama. We’ll see what he decides to do.”
Despite earlier reports, McGraw will not be an early enrollee in December.

“Our high school has stringent academic requirements and I will not be able to enroll early at Alabama. I will use this season to improve my technique. I want to lower my pad level and try to elevate my game. There is a huge difference between high school and college and I want to be on my game.”

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DAVIS SAYS HE'S CRIMSON
John Garcia Jr.
Recruiting Analyst

Raekwon Davis visited Alabama twice this summer, and he says he gave his verbal pledge to Nick Saban shortly after an August 2 unofficial trip to see a fall camp practice.

In what can only be described as unheard of in today's college football recruiting, Alabama picked up a commitment and it didn't get out for nearly two weeks.
That's the case, per 2016 Meridian (Miss.) defensive tackle Raekwon Davis, who told BamaMag on Monday evening that he had been pledged to UA since late July. His coach confirmed the news with Scout, too.

"I committed to Alabama a couple of weeks ago," Davis said. "It was just for me and 'Bama to know. They were excited when I did it. Me and 'Bama knew, and my coaches, nobody else knew. I told my coaches first, and they got me on the phone with Nick Saban and I told him.

"He (Saban) was happy to have me down there. He just wants me to keep that commitment and not break it."
UA made headlines in being the first school to offer the Magnolia State standout, who recently measured in at 6-foot-7, 315 pounds. He participated at Saban's summer camp, and one source in attendance said he "dominated" competition in multiple classes.

"They were my first offer, they think I can get down there and get it going," Davis said of Alabama. "The Tide is coming, that's all I have to tell them."

Ole Miss since offered him a verbal scholarship, and his recruitment may be far from over despite this month's declaration.

"I'm looking at it strongly," he said of Saban's message to keep his commitment. "But things might happen, you never know."
Davis is the fourth class of 2016 commitment for Alabama to this point, and the second Mississippi defensive line product, joining early four-star Benito Jones.

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