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re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition
Posted on 7/12/16 at 8:39 am to bamasgot13
Posted on 7/12/16 at 8:39 am to bamasgot13
We got another CB for Jeudy. I wish he would just commit already. 
1
Posted on 7/12/16 at 8:41 am to TideSaint
Him and Smith, although Smith could commit any day now
Posted on 7/12/16 at 8:42 am to Rizzy
Although Maurice Smith name was absent from the Media Guide, his name is supposedly gonna be added to the Hard Copy of it. Being that we haven't heard anything official, I wonder if he's gonna stay being that Fall Camp starts pretty soon.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 8:49 am to Rizzy
The delusion is strong with Shea Dixon this morning. He put an article out regarding L5U's uncommitted targets at the Opening and listed Leatherwood and Cowan as prospects to watch. 
Posted on 7/12/16 at 8:49 am to Rizzy
quote:
Although Maurice Smith name was absent from the Media Guide, his name is supposedly gonna be added to the Hard Copy of it. Being that we haven't heard anything official, I wonder if he's gonna stay being that Fall Camp starts pretty soon.
Great news IMO.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 8:51 am to TideSaint
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:00 am to Rizzy
quote:
BEAVERTON, Oregon — The Elite 11 process has concluded for 2017 quarterback prospects. Hundreds of passers attended 14 regional showcase events throughout the spring, setting the stage for 24 invites to Elite 11 finals in Juneb and half that volume this past week at The Opening.
As usual, we learned a lot about each athlete during this span as quarterbacks were challenged from just about every standpoint. Physical endurance, mental fortitude and leadership qualities are among elements tested by an Elite 11 staff featuring Super Bowl champion Trent Dilfer.
All 12 finalists who attended The Opening join a fraternity that features No. 1 overall NFL draft picks Jameis Winston, Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff and Andrew Luck. Here's a closer look at the latest class to join that collection, ranking the top five quarterbacks of 2017 based on a combination of Elite 11 efforts and total body of work in high school.
LINK
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:09 am to TideSaint
quote:
1. Tua Tagovailoa
School: St. Louis High School (Honolulu)
Size: 6'1", 215 lbs
College Status: Committed to Alabama
Elite 11 Performance
No blue-chip quarterback entered Elite 11 action with more questions swirling around their overall game than Tua Tagovailoa. In turn, no quarterback in this group stepped up to the plate and delivered answers in such emphatic fashion as this Crimson Tide commit.
Dilfer challenged him to focus on crafting pro-style fundamentals following a late May regional camp in Oakland. Just two weeks later, he arrived in Los Angeles ready and willing to prove his adaptability.
Though he leads a spread option attack at St. Louis, where Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota once starred, Tagovailoa isn't the product of a system. He's an evolving talent whose proven capable of embracing alternative ways to decimate defenses.
Along the way, he's become the most galvanizing figure we've seen emerge in Elite 11 action. Quarterback contemporaries enjoy his company and seven-on-seven teammates quickly rallied around him, leading to a scintillating Sunday stretch that saw him throw four touchdown tosses in the first half of the tournament title game.
This occurred one month after he registered the best pro day score in Los Angeles. Tagovailoa became the second Alabama pledge in three years to earn Elite 11 MVP honors, joining 2014 winner Blake Barnett.
Overall Analysis
Less than two months ago, many analysts wondered whether Tagovailoa was equipped to handle the trigger role in a pro-style offensive attack. Now midway through his final high school summer break, he's left little doubt.
We always understood defenses would need to respect his rushing prowess, as he is a threat to bolt by defenders off the edge and routinely evades pressure by rotating beyond the pocket. That's all still part of the threat Tagovailoa presents, but it's become clear he can shred opponents without bringing his fleet feet into the equation.
During Elite 11 finals and The Opening, he delivered more downfield dimes than anyone else on the turf. A blend of velocity and touch that others have struggled to master at this stage of their career now looks natural, and he's money on passes beyond 40 yards when called upon to sling it deep.
Tagovailoa surged up the Elite 11 board in historic fashion during this past month, as Bleacher Report's Sanjay Kirpalani documented, and as the dust settles we're inclined to elevate him to the top of our list too. Admittedly, this didn't seem likely at all just shy of summer, but recruiting cycles are a learning process, and it's easy to appreciate what Tagovailoa has proved.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:11 am to TideSaint
quote:
BEAVERTON, Ore. – A room full of the nation’s top high school football players exploded with happiness when Tua Tagovailoa was named the Elite 11 MVP, which is one of the most prestigious awards a prep quarterback can receive.
In the last few rows of the theater inside the Tiger Woods Center at Nike’s world headquarters at the conclusion of The Opening was around 20 members of Tagovailoa’s family sporting red T-shirts screen-printed with “Tuaman” on the front. The majority of his family made the trip to Oregon from Hawaii.
His family got to see Tagovailoa carve up Team FlyRush’s defense, which features five-star cornerbacks DeAngelo Gibbs and AJ Terrell along with one of the nation’s top athletes in Jamyest Williams in the championship game of the 7-on-7 tournament. Tagovailoa threw four touchdowns and had zero turnovers while leading Team VaporSpeed to a 38-14 win.
How did Tagovailoa manage to have a masterful performance at The Opening? It was because of who was watching on the sidelines.
“They made the week easier,” Tagovailoa told SEC Country. “It made me feel so comfortable knowing that you have the support of family near and far to come down here to watch me participate in an event like this.”
What’s even more remarkable of Tagovailoa’s journey from Honolulu to being crowned the Elite 11 MVP and 7-on-7 MVP is the fact that he still found time to take in part in what matters more to him than collecting trophies, and that’s practicing his faith.
Tagovailoa said what matters to him more was the opportunity he had to interact with various players from around the country and help influence them to make the right choices when they travel back home.
“My favorite part of the week was having bible studies with some of the guys at the hotel because all of these things that I’m getting is a little bit of an ounce of what God is blessing me with,” Tagovailoa said.
Hundreds of quarterbacks participated in The Opening’s regional camps around the country and the left-handed gunslinger from Honolulu’s Saint Louis School was the last man standing.
Tagovailoa is often compared to former Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota. Mariota attended Saint Louis School, too, and has a similar playing style to Tagovailoa’s dual-threat skills. But one comparison between the two that can’t be made is the Alabama quarterback commit is an Elite 11 MVP, which is something Mariota did not win when he was in high school.
“Getting through this long process and winning MVP is just something so amazing,” Tagovailoa said. “Out of all these quarterbacks that go through this process, only one can win. All glory goes to God.
It’s just a blessing, man. It’s a blessing.”
LINK
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:12 am to TideSaint
quote:
BEAVERTON, Ore. — The Opening, the premier camp for the nation’s top high school football players held at Nike’s world headquarters, has come and gone, and several of Alabama’s top commits and targets shined.
Alabama quarterback commit Tua Tagovailoa went home with the event’s top honors, winning the Elite 11 MVP, which is given to the event’s top quarterback, the 7-on-7 MVP and left Oregon a champion in the 7-on-7 tournament.
Offensive line commit Alex Leatherwood was named one of the top six offensive linemen along with 4-star center target Cesar Ruiz, while 5-star defensive tackle target Marvin Wilson was named the camp’s defensive line MVP. Wide receiver target Jerry Jeudy was named to the 7-on-7 All-Tournament team.
Alabama’s six commits who could participate in the 7-on-7 tournament (Leatherwood did not participate because there are no offensive linemen in 7-on-7 play) were on the winning team. The chemistry they created at the event should carry on when they become official Crimson Tide players.
Here are some testing numbers for Alabama’s commits and top targets:
LINK
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:12 am to TideSaint
quote:
Commits
Tua Tagovailoa, 4-star QB, Honolulu
Measurements: 6-foot-1, 212 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.9
Pro shuttle: 4.3
Vertical jump: 32 inches
Overall rating: 95.13
Observations: Wow is the first word that comes to mind after watching Tagovailoa’s performance this past weekend. Not only does he have some serious zip on the ball, but he’s very precise with his passes. There were several throws that he fit perfectly in tight windows. In the tournament, Tagovailoa threw 11 touchdowns to three interceptions. The future at quarterback for Alabama looks bright.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:13 am to TideSaint
quote:
Najee Harris, 5-star RB, Antioch, Calif.
Measurements: 6-foot-3, 220 pounds
**Did not test due to PCL injury**
Observations: Running back isn’t the position that gets a lot of changes to shine during 7-on-7 play, but when Harris did get the ball in his hands, you could see why he is the nation’s top player. For someone his size, he should not be as shifty and quick as he is. Pass-catching is not Harris’ strength. He dropped several passes that could have been caught, but he’s still pretty reliable catching the ball out of the backfield.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:13 am to TideSaint
quote:
Alex Leatherwood, 5-star OT, Pensacola, Fla.
Measurements: 6-foot-6, 315 pounds
**Testing info not available**
Observations: Leatherwood showed why he’s one of the nation’s top offensive linemen. There were several times in 1-on-1 drills where the defensive lineman he was going up against got nowhere near the cone they were supposed to hit during the drill. Leatherwood is not a 5-star prospect on every recruiting website, but I think that’s going to change after his performance at The Opening.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:14 am to TideSaint
quote:
VanDarius Cowan, 4-star LB, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Measurements: 6-foot-4, 226 pounds
40-yard dash time: 4.65
20-yard shuttle: 4.33
Vertical jump: 31 inches
Overall rating: 102.87
Observations: What impresses me most about Cowan is his vocal leadership. He’s a guy that I’d want to play next to because he’s going to fire me up. It’s clear that when Cowan gets to Alabama, he’s going to be one of the team’s best leaders on defense. As far as his play, Cowan shined in pass coverage, consistently running step-for-step with some of the nation’s top athletes.
I like his speed.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:14 am to TideSaint
quote:
Markail Benton, 4-star LB, Phenix City, Ala.
Measurements: 6-foot-2, 237 pounds
**Testing info not available**
Observations: Like Cowan, Benton had several pass breakups in the tournament. He’s much quieter than Cowan on the field, but Benton was hyped up during play, which was good to see.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:14 am to TideSaint
quote:
Tyrell Shavers, 4-star WR, Lewisville, Texas
Measurements: 6-foot-6, 196 pounds
40-yard dash time: 4.55
20-yard shuttle: 4.2
Vertical jump: 37.7 inches
Rating: 126.09
Observations: Shavers looked the part in the testing portion of The Opening, but he had somewhat of a quiet weekend during the 7-on-7 tournament. Shavers is still a very raw prospect, and it’s going to take some time for him to reach his potential, but the measurables are all there.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:15 am to TideSaint
quote:
Xavier McKinney, 4-star safety, Roswell, Ga.
Measurements: 6-foot-1, 192 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.59
20-yard shuttle: 4.21
Vertical jump: 36.7 inches
Overall rating: 106.8
Observations: McKinney did not show much on the field during the tournament because Team VaporSpeed’s linebackers and corners were really the anchors of the team’s defense.
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:15 am to TideSaint
quote:
Targets
Marvin Wilson, 5-star DT, Bellaire, Texas
Measurements: 6-foot-4, 332 pounds
40-yard dash: 5.2
20-yard shuttle: 4.56
Vertical jump: 25.1 inches
Overall rating: 106.47
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:15 am to TideSaint
quote:
Jerry Jeudy, 4-star WR, Pompano Beach, Fla.
Measurements: 6-foot-1, 177 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.55
20-yard shuttle: 4.2
Vertical jump: 37.4 inches
Overall rating: 104.88
Posted on 7/12/16 at 9:16 am to TideSaint
quote:
LaBryan Ray, 4-star DE, Madison, Ala.
Measurements: 6-foot-4, 260 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.93
20-yard shuttle: 4.47
Vertical jump: 30.1
Overall rating: 91.05
Page 234 of 864
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