re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition

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The dead period is now over and the race to National Signing Day on February 4th resumes starting today as the first major Crimson Tide recruiting weekend is upon us. It will likely be the biggest out of the remaining three before pen is put to paper on the first Wednesday in February. Six key commitments are slated to visit led by recent pledge Daron Payne of Shades Valley High School, who is one of the nation’s best interior defensive lineman. Six other key targets, one in wide receiver Daylon Charlot who was previously committed to the Crimson Tide since last February 1st until de-committing this past December following an official visit to in-state LSU, will also trek to the Capstone. It will be the first trip to Tuscaloosa for Charlot since his mid-August visit during fall camp 2014.

The other main storylines to watch will be Rico McGraw, the defensive back who was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the state of Tennessee. He committed last January 16th to Georgia following former UA assistant Jeremy Pruitt leaving FSU to take the DC job at UGA. Then, following much speculation, flipped to Alabama on July 31st. Since that time Pruitt has continued to pursue the elite defensive back and the in-state Vols have also continued to recruit him aggressively. This weekend will be huge for Nick Saban and Kirby Smart to lock he and his mother in to UA with possible visits to both looming the next two weeks before signing day, especially since his lead recruiter Kevin Steele, who had forged a great relationship with McGraw, has moved to LSU as DC.

Two wide receivers will be watched as Lawrence Cager of Towson, Maryland, takes an official after nearly committing to Alabama at the Army All-American Bowl on January 3rd. Cager was told he did not have a spot in the class at that time and pledged to the Miami Hurricanes, who have made a late charge in his recruitment. Will his fourth trip to Tuscaloosa change things with his parents in tow? We will see. K.J. Hill, the wide receiver from North Little Rock High School in Arkansas, has been committed to the in-state Razorbacks since late August, but will the Tide staff push for him this weekend with limits spots (2-3) available?

Tyrone Wheatley Jr, whose father, Tyrone, Sr., recently left the Buffalo Bills to return to his alma mater the Michigan Wolverines to work for nwe coach Jim Harbaugh, will make his first trek to Tuscaloosa. Before being hired by the Maize and Blue, most thought Wheatley Jr. would pick among his perceived top four of USC, UCLA, Oregon and Alabama. Will this recent move by his father lock him into Michigan? This weekend visit will be very interesting as the 6-6 260-pounder could be the in-line TE in this class that could compliment commit Hale Hentges, who will visit next weekend and could project at H-Back.

Lastly, the visit of Greenbelt, Maryland, offensive tackle Isaiah Prince is very important to the Tide class as OL coach Mario Cristobal wants to add a true left tackle to polish off another elite group of offensive linemen. A true heir apparent to rising sophomore Cameron Robinson is needed and Cristobal is very high on Prince, who will be visiting the Capstone for the first time since this past summer. The 6-6 280-pounder, whose other top schools are in-state Maryland (been a frequent visitor) and the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes (official visit next weekend), will likely receive the red carpet treatment with other top OT target, Ole Miss commitment Drew Richmond, canceling his official this weekend. The reasoning given has been due to “a death in the family.” But pressure not to visit from the Rebels coaching staff also likely played a huge role in not making the trip. It is not known for sure at this time if the visit will be re-scheduled. The guess is Richmond is now solid with Ole Miss and ends up in Oxford on Signing Day.

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