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re: Class of 2016 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Waiting On Demetris Robertson Edition
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:24 am to TideSaint
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:24 am to TideSaint
Free Bleacher Report Content
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The 2015 college football regular season featured plenty of breakout performances from true freshmen all across the country.
Josh Rosen soared from day one as the starting quarterback at UCLA, while Christian Kirk and Calvin Ridley created huge plays for their respective SEC West schools. Derwin James carved out a huge role at Florida State, and Jarrett Stidham was thrown into the fire early for Baylor.
But not all of the star-studded names from the class of 2016 got early opportunities to shine for their new teams. Whether it was because of injury or a strong amount of depth ahead of them, several sat out the 2015 campaign and focused on improving for the near future.
Here are 11 talented true freshmen from the top 100 of the 247Sports Composite Rankings who either are confirmed as redshirts or are on the path to one in 2015.
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Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:24 am to TideSaint
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Blake Barnett, who was rated the No. 2 pro-style quarterback and the No. 21 overall recruit in the class of 2015, competed in Alabama's massive quarterback battle in the preseason—one that went to senior Jake Coker.
With Coker taking the reins of the offense, Barnett was put on the path to redshirt, which is typical for freshman quarterbacks under Nick Saban.
"We're developing him as a player and if we develop him to the point that we think he's going to give us the best chance to win somewhere down the road, then we probably play him," Saban said in October, per John Talty of AL.com. "If that doesn't present itself, then we're certainly not interested in trying to waste a year if he's not going to play enough to help his development."
Barnett was hospitalized with an unknown illness in October but later served an important role in the Tide's late-season preparations, practicing as Mississippi State's Dak Prescott, per Matt Zenitz of AL.com. With a year of practice under his belt, the California native will most likely be a top contender in the Tide's 2016 quarterback battle.
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:25 am to TideSaint
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The highest-rated player in the 247Sports' Composite Rankings who is on the path to a redshirt, Kendall Sheffield has also spent the 2015 season putting in scout team work for Alabama.
As Bleacher Report's own Christopher Walsh noted earlier this season, Alabama's great depth in a revamped secondary put Sheffield and another highly touted defensive back in line to take a redshirt season.
Like Blake Barnett, the 5-star from Texas also served as a practice stand-in for an opposing SEC star. According to Charlie Potter of 247Sports, Sheffield wore a No. 1 jersey to emulate standout Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III during practice for the SEC Championship Game.
After a year of practice behind several standout defensive backs, Sheffield will soon turn his attention to track season in Tuscaloosa. He was an All-American hurdler during his high school days in the Lone Star State.
Damn. I forgot about Sheffield.
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:25 am to TideSaint
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Deionte Thompson was the No. 2 safety prospect in the entire country this past recruiting cycle, but the athletic Texan found a different home this season at Alabama.
Thompson started working with Alabama's wide receivers during spring practice as an experiment from the coaching staff. It appeared to work, as Thompson was listed as a third-string wideout on Alabama's first depth chart of the season. Thompson practiced as the opposition's No. 1 receiver for the Alabama scout team in the fall.
"He was a little bit surprised because had two interceptions in one day in a live scrimmage, and then the next day they brought him in and moved him to receiver," Thompson's high school coach, Cornel Thompson, told Matt Zenitz of AL.com in the summer. "But he's an athlete. He's a team player. He's going to do what they ask him to do ... and he's a kid that wants to play."
Thompson will definitely be a name to watch in the coming seasons for the Crimson Tide, perhaps even in a two-way capacity. His size and athleticism make him an ideal candidate for quick playing time, and he's already shown the ability to adapt on the fly.
So three out of the eleven are Alabama players.
ETA: Two of the others mentioned were at one point committed to Alabama, Leo Lewis and Ricky Town.
This post was edited on 12/10/15 at 12:27 am
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:27 am to TideSaint
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Say what you will about the number of bowl games and the message that's sent by allowing teams with losing records into the mix. Simply put, it provides us with one last burst of college football before the long offseason that follows.
There's not much at stake from a grand scale in most of the remaining contests, outside of the ones associated with the playoffs, but that doesn't take away from the value each game can have to the teams involved. The ability to get in a few more practices ahead of next season could prove to be the difference between a team building off 2015 toward bigger and better things and having a letdown season.
It also creates an opportunity for some new stars to emerge—players who might have been big for their teams all season but hadn't had the proper stage to show this on or those who are finally getting a shot to prove their mettle.
Boise State receiver Thomas Sperbeck had seven catches in the three games leading up to the 2014 Fiesta Bowl. Then, against Arizona, he went off for 12 receptions and 199 yards. Bleacher Report's Brian Leigh wrote that Sperbeck was “the exact type of out-of-nowhere player this program turns into stars,” and in 2015, the junior has exploded with 82 catches for 1,334 yards and eight touchdowns.
Who will make a name for themselves this bowl season? We've predicted a breakout star for all 40 bowls (not including the College Football Championship Game), so check them out and then give us your thoughts in the comments section.
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:29 am to TideSaint
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Cotton Bowl: Alabama vs. Michigan State
Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Those who have watched Alabama closely this season know how valuable Calvin Ridley has been, a true freshman who essentially took over for Amari Cooper as the Crimson Tide's top receiving target. But despite having team highs in receptions (75) and yards (893), he has yet to have one of those huge games that stands out from the pack.
Enter Michigan State, which is 109th in FBS in long pass plays allowed. The only time Iowa was able to do anything against the Spartans defense in Saturday's Big Ten title game was when it threw deep, such as the 85-yard touchdown pass that Tevaun Smith caught in the fourth quarter.
Ridley has three 100-yard games, including 102 on eight catches in the SEC championship. His best game was a nine-reception, 140-yard effort against Arkansas on Oct. 10.
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:30 am to TideSaint
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If there’s one common theme between the trio of finalists for the 2015 Heisman Trophy, it’s the fact that they had college coaches from across the country salivating over them when they were prep recruits.
Alabama running back Derrick Henry, Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson were all Top-100 recruits with offers from more than 15 schools.
Henry was the nation’s No. 12 overall prospect in the 2013 class, while Watson [No. 41 overall] and McCaffrey [No. 91 overall] were two of the top skill talents in the 2014 class.
One of the lucky trio will join one of the most exclusive fraternities in sports, but what were they all like as high school recruits?
Let’s take a look at the paths that each of the 2015 Heisman Trophy finalists took to arrive on the national stage.
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:30 am to TideSaint
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Derrick Henry
While McCaffrey is now known for his versatility and ability to affect the game in a myriad of ways, Henry was actually rated as the nation’s top athlete in the 2013 class.
With that type of size and athleticism, Henry was recruited by some programs at a number of positions—including linebacker or defensive end.
However, the 6’3”, 240-pounder out of Yulee [Florida] High School finished his prep career as the nation’s most prolific rusher ever at the high school level—totaling 12,124 yards and 153 touchdowns on the ground, as detailed by Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.
As Wiltfong noted, Henry made an early pledge to Georgia before reopening his process just before his senior season. Only two other schools had a legit chance with Henry—Alabama and Florida.
Henry’s prep head coach, Bobby Ramsey, told Wiltfong that he notified the Gators staff that his star pupil was open to the idea of staying in-state and playing his college football in the Swamp.
However, then-head coach Will Muschamp and his staff had already taken a pledge from current starting running back Kelvin Taylor and were clearly indifferent on Henry’s ability to play offense at the college level.
That wasn’t the case with Tide head coach Nick Saban and his staff.
“[Alabama’s] recruiting style had a different appeal to a kid like Derrick, they’re not going to come in and chest bump you and promise you things,” Ramsey told Wiltfong. “Derrick is a low-key kid, he’s not looking for the nightlife experience, he’s not looking to be pampered, and I think everything they did with their program and how well running backs do there, the only school that could’ve beat them was maybe Florida.”
Henry rushed for 189 yards and a touchdown in last weekend’s win over the Gators in the SEC title game in a performance that helped clinch a trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony.
After his decorated prep career, Henry is poised to etch his place in history on the college level if he takes home the coveted stiff-arm statue.
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:42 am to TideSaint
Free Al.com Content
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Ben Davis made waves when he listed his current No. 1 school and it wasn't Alabama.
The Gordo five-star linebacker had Georgia as his No. 1, with Alabama at No. 2. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Davis' father Wayne is Alabama's career tackles leader.
Davis has made plenty of positive impressions in practice for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic, which will be played on Saturday at noon at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss.
"It's a lot of mixed emotions," Davis said of people's reactions. "But that's my top five and when it comes to Signing day, we'll see which one I like the best."
The Alabama and Mississippi squads both finished their second days of practice today in Hattiesburg, Miss., gearing up for Saturday's noon kickoff at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of Southern Miss.
Davis went on his official visit to Georgia when Mark Richt was still the head coach, but Richt was fired after the regular season and Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart was pegged as his replacement.
Davis has a close relationship with Smart.
"When I went on my official, I had a really good time," Davis said. "Of course Kirby going there really added to it. Georgia and Alabama have been at the top of my list for a long time. They're really battling among my top five for where I want to go to. They're really close to each other, Alabama and Georgia."
How close?
"It's not real wide," Davis said. "Alabama's a really close No. 2."
But Davis has not yet talked to Smart since he took the job. He has spoken with assistant Kevin Sherrer, but he's not sure if Sherrer will be retained on Smart's staff. An Alabama assistant visited Davis last week.
Davis has already taken an official visit to LSU, and his officials for the last three weeks in January will go Notre Dame, Auburn and Alabama, in order.
His father Wayne has made it no secret to recruiters that he wants Ben to attend Alabama.
"Wherever I choose to go, he's going to be behind me 100 percent," Davis said. "His alma mater, he and my mom both went to Alabama, so of course they want me to choose Alabama, but they're going to let me do my thing."
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:43 am to TideSaint
Deonte Brown is the guy in the black helmet. He's uh kinda fat.
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:44 am to TideSaint
Ben Davis:
He's big.
He's big.
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:45 am to TideSaint
Mack Wilson, some white dude and Ben Davis:
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:46 am to TideSaint
La'Mical Perine:
This post was edited on 12/10/15 at 12:47 am
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:47 am to TideSaint
Velus Jones:
This post was edited on 12/10/15 at 12:48 am
Posted on 12/10/15 at 12:47 am to TideSaint
TJ Simmons:
This post was edited on 12/10/15 at 12:48 am
Posted on 12/10/15 at 1:17 am to TideSaint
Mack Wilson and Ben Davis doing...something?
This post was edited on 12/10/15 at 1:18 am
Posted on 12/10/15 at 1:18 am to TideSaint
Davis and the white dude hugging it out:
Posted on 12/10/15 at 1:18 am to TideSaint
Quinnen Williams is #66:
This post was edited on 12/10/15 at 1:19 am
Posted on 12/10/15 at 1:19 am to TideSaint
Deonte Brown "Warmacking":
Posted on 12/10/15 at 1:22 am to TideSaint
Free Al.com Content
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The Alabama and Mississippi squads both finished their second days of practice today in Hattiesburg, Miss., gearing up for Saturday's noon kickoff at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of Southern Miss.
Observations today are limited to Alabama. I did go to the Mississippi practice to interview cornerback Nigel Knott, who is still high on Alabama. That update will come in the future.
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* Ben Davis was wearing Alabama gloves and Lyndell Wilson Georgia gloves. I spoke with Davis after and he hasn't talked to Kirby Smart yet since he was hired at Georgia, and Alabama's a very, very close second in his top five. Update will come in near future.
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