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

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Note on 4-star WR target

Jeff Thomas, Class ’17, is one of the wide receiver targets Alabama fans should have an eye on. He’s a recruit who could potentially join the class this fall if he improves his academics and if the numbers don’t look as tight (which I don’t think will happen) as they look now with 21 commitments.

Now there is this to consider when it comes to Thomas’ recruitment: his teammate, and quarterback at East Saint Louis (Ill.) High School, Reyondous Estes committed to Missouri on Wednesday. Estes said his top target that he wants to join him in Missouri is Thomas.

However, Thomas, who told SEC Country at The Opening that Alabama leads for him, maintains the Crimson Tide are still on top.

With Alabama likely getting a commitment from 4-star wide receiver Devonta Smith on Monday and 4-star Henry Ruggs III down the road, spots at wide receiver are likely non-existent. The Tide also have commitments from 4-stars Tyrell Shavers and Jerry Jeudy. The plan has been for Alabama to sign four wide receivers. Again, if spots open up due to de-commitments, then it’s possible another receiver could be taken. But now, four wide receivers remains the plan.

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4-star running back Brian Robinson: “I really haven’t paid much attention to it.”

3-star offensive lineman Hunter Brannon: “No comment.”

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Alabama hopes to be one commitment richer on Monday in its 2017 class when four-star receiver Devonta Smith is set to make his decision.

The one-time Georgia commit plans to announce between Alabama, LSU and Miami on Monday (8/15) evening at 6:30 p.m. during a ceremony at Amite (La.) High School, his head coach tells BamaOnLine.

Smith is trending to the Crimson Tide at 100 percent on the 247Sports Crystal Ball, and is one of Nick Saban and staff's top priorities in the cycle.

At 6-foot-1, 160 pounds, Smith is rated the No. 10 receiver and the No. 65 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

UA already holds commitments in a pair of big-time wideouts in Jerry Jeudy and Tyrell Shavers.

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Take Two is back this week tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.

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WILL HARRIS FLIP?

Storyline: Najee Harris is a five-star running back, the second-best prospect in the class and he has the potential to be special – Heisman-special – once he gets to college.

The Antioch, Calif., star has been committed to Alabama for a long time but recently stoked some interest on the recruiting trail after visiting Michigan again. In the college football world of Jim Harbaugh, there is tremendous excitement that Harris might flip to the Wolverines.

But is that realistic? According to one source, it’s unlikely. Others might have different opinions and Michigan – among other programs – aren’t going to stop recruiting Harris because he’s that good.

Will the five-star stick with the Crimson Tide? Flip to Michigan? Or possibly decide to stay closer to home somewhere in the Pac-12?

First take: “Michigan rolled out the red carpet for their BBQ at The Big House and even though it wasn’t all for Harris, it made an impact. Harris’ mother came with him to Ann Arbor and that’s a big deal because she doesn’t travel much. Tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh bonded with Harris and, overall, the visit couldn’t have gone any better for that nation’s top back.

“That being said, he won’t end up at Michigan. Alabama has had his attention for too long and even though Harris is legitimately looking at U-M, it’s not going to change how much he likes the Tide. The bigger threat might end up being from a West Coast program. Antioch is a long way from Tuscaloosa and while Harris seems to have the right mentality to handle going to school far from his mother, it’s easier said than done. Harris could definitely give USC or UCLA a look, or perhaps even Cal, which is just over 30 miles from his home in Antioch.

“At the end of the day, I think Harris sticks with Bama and becomes another name in the long line of stud running backs to play for Nick Saban.” – Brandon Brown, TheWolverine.com

Second take: “He could flip, but I don’t think Michigan is the place he’s going to flip to. It’s a tremendous opportunity up there and Harbaugh is a great coach and does a tremendous job recruiting out West. Harris could stay closer to home. It really depends what some of the big programs out there do during this season - if USC or UCLA have a really surprising year or if Cal has a big year with its running back tradition. Alabama is the perfect fit for him. The assumption is he’s the best running back we’ve seen since Leonard Fournette and he’d be an absolute superstar Heisman-candidate at Alabama if all things went well. But it’s pretty far away. There is a possibility of him flipping but if he does flip, it would be local.” - Farrell

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