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

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. - A major chunk of talent at this week's Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game is SEC bound. The prospects have visited campuses, talked to coaches and heard every pitch in the league. Rivals.com asked more than 20 players that are committed to or considering SEC schools a series of questions about the conference's member schools. A selection of responses is listed below. Committed prospects were asked not to choose their own program.

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BEST UNIFORMS

Most common answer: Florida
Second place: LSU

"I have to go with Mississippi State's Egg Bowl jerseys, the white with the yellow."
-- Rivals100 cornerback Nigel Knott

"Florida's orange and the blue. I think Florida has the most swag."
-- Five-star linebacker Ben Davis

"Tennessee got some gray uniforms that are the best for sure."
-- Rivals100 defensive end Jeffery Simmons

"I have to go with Georgia. They have the best colors. I like the blacks, though."
-- Florida commit Quincy Lenton

"I like Florida's. I like when they go to the all-blue ones."
-- Mississippi State commit Nero Nelson

"I'd have to say LSU - the all white. The White helmets really stuck out to me."
-- Rivals100 wide receiver DeKaylin Metcalf

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FUNNIEST COACH

Most common answer: Alabama assistant Billy Napier
Second place: Florida head coach Jim McElwain

"Coach Napier is just like one of the boys. He's not up tight. That dude is funny and laid back."
-- Jeffery Simmons

"Funniest guy is the strength and conditioning coach from Alabama. He has a real funny voice and he, like, yells at you the first time he meets you. It's fun."
-- DeKaylin Metcalf

"Coach [Geoff] Collins. He's so laid back and chill. He's just fun. His recruiting style is fun and I like it."
-- Quincy Lenton

"[Mississippi State assistant] Coach [Deshea] Townsend. He's a great personality and a funny coach, but he's also a working man."
-- Deshea Townsend

"Coach McElwain from Florida. He tells me a joke every time I talk to him, and they're actually funny."
-- Ben Davis

"Coach Warner from Ole Miss is one of those energetic ones. That guy likes to have fun. I like Coach Warner."
-- Jeffery Simmons

"Butch Jones at Tennessee, man. He's real chill and really with the players. He makes me laugh."
-- Nigel Knott

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PARENTS' FAVORITE COACH

Most common answer: Gus Malzahn
Second place: Nick Saban

"Probably Coach [Nick] Saban or [Gus] Malzahn because they're both serious. Coach Malzahn is a Christian guy and Coach Saban is just about his business. My parents like them both"
-- Ben Davis

"They like Coach Napier at Alabama. They like the way he coaches and how many guys he out in the NFL. He breaks down everything. If your big toe isn't leaning in one degree, he catches it."
-- DeKaylin Metcalf

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Jones said he fit in well with the players at Tennessee, but he still hasn't been offered by Alabama or Auburn.

Could that change? Alabama is certainly evaluating Jones.

"I know Coach (Billy) Napier had texted me asking if I would be at home Sunday," Jones said on Wednesday. "I don't know what that means. I guess we'll find out."

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Top offensive lineman – This may be the easiest pick of all with Deonte Brown really putting together an impressive week of practice. The Decatur (Ala.) Austin offensive lineman has some bad weight but that makes his movement skills all the more impressive. At the collision point, Brown is explosive and physical as well. He looks like a candidate to be a multi-year starter in Tuscaloosa.

Top defensive lineman – If Brown is the easiest choice, this one is the toughest. There were some absolute beasts on both teams at defensive line this week and while we saw better single-play or single-practice performances from guys like Raekwon Davis, Benito Jones, Quinnen Williams, Jeffery Simmons and even Kobe Jones, Auburn commit Marlon Davidson had the best showing across the board. He was good as a pass-rusher, he was very physical in the run-game and he was energetic and active both days of practice without taking many plays off.

Top linebacker – Ben Davis was another easy pick because of his unique size, his fluidity and movement skills at that size and his ability to read and fit the run game effectively. Davis noted that Georgia is currently his favorite program but Alabama continues to lead the Crystal Ball for the 247Sports Composite five-star.

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Most upside – Alabama commit Raekwon Davis didn't have quite as dominating a day on Wednesday as he had on Tuesday but there's still no denying that he's a freak of nature. At 6-7, 320 pounds if Davis plays motivated, with a good pad leverage on an every-snap basis, he has a chance to be as good as anyone in the country, regardless of position. Mississippi State is fighting to get Davis flipped.

Most college ready – I was watching Wednesday's practice along with three current Southern Miss players, two of whom were AL-Miss All-Star alumni. Without knowing much about A.J. Brown, they were struck by how much he looked like a college receiver in his route-running already. Brown looks like a college receiver in terms of size and strength as well. He probably would have earned Top WR honors for this event if not for some uncharacteristic drops but he remains a special prospect. Alabama and Mississippi State may be the biggest threats to land Brown.

Best trash talker – Vanderbilt is getting a good player in Meridian (Miss.) High School safety Zaire Jones. They may be getting a better trash talker. Jones was talking before after and sometimes during plays but he was able to back it up as well. Whether it was interceptions, pass breakups or tackles in support, Jones was active all week.

Boom or Bust – Mississippi State commit Drelan Porter is an intriguing prospect. He stands about 6-4. He can play defensive end or linebacker. He's got great range and can chase down plays as well as anyone on either team. He also made a lot of small mental mistakes like losing contain or overpursuit. They were aggressive mistakes that a coach can live with and Porter could turn out to be a steal for the Bulldogs.

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One of the top cornerbacks in the country is enticed by the idea of Alabama coach Nick Saban coaching his position.

Nigel Knott, a four-star recruit from Germantown High School in Madison, Miss., has made several trips to Alabama over the last few months and said that the Crimson Tide will get one of his four remaining official visits.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Knott is rated as the No. 46 overall prospect, the No. 5 cornerback nationally and No. 2 prospect in Mississippi by the 247Sports composite.

"Pretty much the school's been dominating and Coach Saban would be my position coach," Knott said. "It's not that far from home as well and my family would like me to stay around the area. I also like the players and the team and the game day atmosphere."

Knott said Alabama liked his coverage skills, speed, athleticism, knowledge of the game and "just being a playmaker."

Knott is playing in Saturday's Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of Southern Miss. The game will kick off at noon. He said before a practice that he shut down his recruitment during the season, but "I'm starting to open it up now and try and get down to the schools I want to take officials to."

He took one official visit to Oregon this fall.

"It was great, pretty much just being in a new environment," Knott said. "The weather was nice, team, stuff like that, jerseys of course, and the facilities and people as well."

— Rob Cassidy (@Cassidy_Rob) December 9, 2015
Knott said he didn't know the date he'd visit Alabama, but is also looking at the in-state schools, USC and schools in Florida and Texas, he said.

He doesn't feel pressure, though, to stay in the state of Mississippi.

"Not from family and coaches or anything like that," Knott said. "Maybe just from fans."

Knott said his decision would come after his official visits.

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