re: Class of 2016 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Waiting On Demetris Robertson Edition

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* Alabama commit Quinnen Williams, a defensive tackle from Wenonah, is 100 percent with the Crimson Tide and won't be taking other visits, he said. His Alabama visit is Jan. 15.

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Avalon All-Met Trevon Diggs always knew about the uncertainties that come along with the college football coaching carousel, but it only began to directly affect his life over the past week or so. A month ago he committed to Alabama. Now, though, with new Maryland Coach D.J. Durkin building a coaching staff full of assistants with local ties, he can’t help but re-consider his options.

“It’s hectic,” Diggs said Tuesday in an interview. “You build relationships with coaches and they end up going somewhere else. What are you going to do? Are you going to follow them, or stay where you committed to? It’s a hard decision.”

This is the exact scenario Diggs faces at the moment. Though he pledged to play for the Crimson Tide, one of the main reasons behind his choice was the presence of former Friendship Collegiate football Coach Aazar Abdul-Rahim, who had been serving as the assistant director of player personnel for Alabama Coach Nick Saban.

This week, however, Abdul-Rahim informed Diggs he had taken a job as the defensive backs coach at Maryland under Durkin. Suddenly, Diggs began to wonder what his next move should be. After all, the Terrapins would be a safe landing spot. Most assumed the four-star recruit would commit to Maryland in the first place after his brother, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver and 2011 All-Met Defensive Player of the Year Stefon Diggs, starred in College Park for three years after a prolific high school career at Good Counsel.

For Trevon Diggs, it’s a curveball to a long recruiting process he thought was over.

“I’m trying to deal with it day-by-day, but anything could happen,” said Diggs, who finished 1,269 receiving yards this fall. “I do have a close relationship with [Abdul-Rahim]. I am committed to Alabama, but I am talking to Aazar about some things.”

Diggs’s close friend, Maryland quarterback commit Dwayne Haskins Jr., must maneuver through a similar scenario. Haskins declined to discuss his recruitment during an interview Tuesday, but he and Diggs talk every day. Diggs believes Haskins, who starred at Bullis, will “still stay at Maryland,” despite suitors like LSU, Florida and Ohio State re-entering the picture since former Coach Randy Edsall’s firing.

The news that former interim Coach Mike Locksley was out recruiting with Durkin this week could help keep Haskins in the fold. DeMatha wide receiver D.J. Turner tweeted a picture from a home visit with both coaches Tuesday and an H.D. Woodson assistant said Locksley had planned a meeting at the school to convince Terrapins commit Parnell Motley (H.D. Woodson) not to take an official visit to Oklahoma this weekend.

But Diggs isn’t exactly sure what he will do at the moment. There’s a part of him that wants to stay loyal to his initial commitment. And yet, he sees coaches like Abdul-Rahim moving around to the best possible situation for their career.

He has a greater appreciation of all this now, which is why these next two months before February’s National Signing Day are sure to provide intrigue.

“I understand why [Abdul-Rahim left Alabama]. It’s a good fit. He’s home now,” Diggs said. “I feel like it’s going to attract a lot of talent here and I feel like a lot of people are going to end up going to Maryland.”

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Here is a look at some of the other movers in the recruiting industry-generated 247Sports Composite (up and down) following the latest updates:

UP
DE Justin Madubuike (Texas A&M) – 69 to 45
WR A.J. Brown – 76 to 59
OG John Raridon (Nebraska) – 78 to 60
QB Brandon Peters (Michigan) – 80 to 62
WR Austin Mack (Ohio State) – 91 to 78
WR Tren'Davian Dickson (Baylor) – 126 to 79
RB Devwah Whaley – 132 to 120
LB Carter Coughlin (Minnesota) – 146 to 122
RB Antonio Williams (Ohio State) – 217 to 164
OG John Simpson – 193 to 179
QB Patrick O’Brien (Nebraska) – 212 to 190
ATH Khalil Tate (Arizona) – 324 to 252
WR Desmond Fitzpatrick – 273 to 255
RB Sean McGrew (Washington) – 302 to 260
QB Max Gilliam (Cal) – 438 to 351
CB Jordan Griffin (Kentucky) – 475 to 355
TE Thaddeus Moss – 494 to 378
WR Randrecous Davis (Georgia) – 431 to 398
WR Ruben Flowers (Pitt) – 432 to 412
OG Denzel Okafor (Texas) – 807 (No. 37 OG) to 436 (No. 18 OG)

DOWN
DT Julian Rochester (Georgia) – 49 to 57
DE Shane Simmons (Penn State) – 58 to 64
S Nigel Warrior – 57 to 70
DT Boss Tagaloa – 83 to 96
WR Trevon Sidney (USC) – 79 to 99
DE Chauncey Manac (Georgia) – 92 to 102
WR Josh Imatorbhebhe (USC) – 102 to 126
DT Garrett Rand (Wisconsin) – 133 to 143
LB Krys Barnes (UCLA) – 145 to 150
DT Chris Daniels – 161 to 171
OG Richard Merritt – 157 to 185
CB Joejuan Williams – 170 to 191
OT Frank Martin (USC) – 185 to 196
CB Travon Fuller (Texas A&M) – 187 to 210
WR Darnell Salomon (USF) – 182 to 221
ATH Chase Lucas (Arizona State) – 197 to 225
DT Tyler Clark (Georgia) – 222 to 253
TE Jamal Pettigrew (LSU) – 214 to 254
S C.J. Pollard (USC) – 279 to 300
DE Emmit Gooden – 292 to 307
CB Khalil Ladler (Virginia Tech) – 300 to 336

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BRADENTON, FL.--- Saivion Smith, a longtime LSU pledge that checks in as the No. 1 cornerback and No. 11 player overall on Scout, is eyeing a trip to Tuscaloosa prior to wrapping up the recruiting process and early enrolling in mid-January.

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Tide head coach Nick Saban and his staff has proved their ability to flip high-profile prospects over the years.

Alabama has a need at receiver, and it's using the success of current Tide receiver Calvin Ridley—who led the Tide in receiving this year with 75 receptions for 893 yards and five touchdowns as a true freshman—in its pitch to the nation's No. 2 wideout in the 2016 cycle.

"[Lupoi] was just saying I could be the next one and to look what [Calvin] Ridley had done," Vaughns told South. "He said that I can come in and start right away and that I would fit well in Coach [Lane] Kiffin's offense."

The 6'3", 175-pounder—who hauled in 83 receptions for 1,578 yards receiving as a junior—has the potential to make an early impact at the next level.

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While Vaughns is clearly intrigued by the opportunity of playing at Alabama, it would still be a big upset if he lands anywhere other than USC on signing day.

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Rodney Orr ?@TiderInsider 5h5 hours ago

Perine still a possibility for Bama

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