re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition

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We used to get 3 pages of posts on slow days. Now we get two posts.

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At The Opening Regional in Columbus over the weekend, four-star safety Maleik Gray out of Lavergne (Tenn.) High School announced a top three in order. That list was: 1. Florida State 2. Tennessee 3. Alabama.

The Seminoles have been the perceived leader throughout much of Gray's recruitment. The 247Sports Crystal Ball illustrates that perception with 73 percent of predictors calling Gray to Tallahassee. One reason for that lead is the success that Jalen Ramsey had at Florida State and his recent NFL Draft selection. Gray trained with Ramsey and hopes to have a similar future in college.

"I mean, he's a prime example of what I want to be, drafted," Gray said.

Like Ramsey, Gray could play safety, nickel or even cornerback if needed.

"I camped at corner when I went down there last summer," he said. "They loved me a corner."

Gray plans on getting back down to Florida State this summer too and the trip will likely be one of the first summer trips that he makes.

More recently, Gray took a trip to Alabama, and that trip is a big reason why the Tide are surging among his favorites.

"They decided to come at me more aggressively so if they decided to show me love, I've got to show them love back but at the same time they send a lot of guys to the league, DBs, and I want to go to the league too," he said. "I got to sit down and talk to Nick Saban. He's a great man. You can see why they're winning games and national championships. The way the program is set up there's like no way you can fail. That's at any program but at Alabama it's just the structure and then you've got the Albert Einstein of football (Saban) at the program."

Gray and his mother were very impressed by the time they spent talking with Saban in Tuscaloosa and his message that the 6-2, 190-pound Gray could be a first year contributor really resonated.

"When I was talking to Coach Saban about the Alabama scheme, he was saying that it's not easy to learn but he told me one thing that really shocked me was that he told me I could be a true freshman for them. I kind of zoned out because this is Nick Saban telling me that I can be a true freshman and the university of Alabama. I didn't know how to take it."

In addition to the Tide and the Seminoles, Gray's home-state team of Tennessee has also been heading in the right direction with his recruitment. One reason for that is the addition of Bob Shoop at defensive coordinator.

"UT is still in the picture," he said. "I love coach Shoop. He's a great coach he seems like he knows what he's talking about. He sat me down at their junior day and we talked about how I can be successful as a player and how they can build a defense around me. That was music to my ears."

Gray has no set timetable for making a decision. He wants to visit Florida State and Alabama this summer but he'd also like to get out to Los Angeles to see USC once again and take in UCLA. Gray is ranked as the No. 55 player in the country according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

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Hamsah Nasirildeen

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First a Mexican now a Iraqi....

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If Peyton Wilson is anything like Ross he will be a fine college player.

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Alabama has extended an offer to 2017 four-star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb from Richmond (Texas) Foster, according to his Twitter account.

Lamb decommitted from Oklahoma at the end of last month.

Other schools in the mix include Auburn, Baylor and Texas A&M. 

Standing at 6-foot-3, 172 pounds, Lamb is rated the No. 37 receiver and the No. 276 overall player in the 2017 class, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

He currently holds no 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions.

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