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

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WACO, Texas — Kedrick James’ recruitment is over. He will be attending the University of Alabama this coming summer despite several college football programs hoping to change his mind.

James, a 3-star tight end from La Vega High School, told SEC Country during a Facebook Live video that Oklahoma State, TCU, Tulsa and SMU are hoping to flip his commitment away from Alabama. It’s not happening though.

“I’m fully committed. I’m not taking any visits. The only visit I’m going (on) is to Alabama,” James said. “When I verbally committed to Baylor, I wasn’t planning on de-committing. But seeing how the players were getting put on the news for the wrong things and getting in trouble, it may be reconsider (my commitment). I did not want to surround myself around that atmosphere for 4 years and have it take a toll on you.

“When I went down to Alabama, I saw all of the players have very good character. Everybody buys into the program.”

The 6-foot-5, 245-pound prospect said Arkansas finished second behind Alabama. His mother, Vene Baggett, said Alabama and Arkansas were the two schools that considered James’ Christian faith. Both programs told him and Baggett that if going to church is a big part of his life now, they’ll make sure he goes when he gets to college.

James said besides that fact, there were several other factors for why he ended up choosing the Crimson Tide.

“The reason I committed to Alabama — there’s a lot of them. Seeing the success that Nick Saban has had on the field winning national championships, I’ve dreamed about winning a national championship. Seeing his leadership and the role that he has on the team and how the team respects what he’s trying to do, everyone buys into the program.”

Make sure you watch the Facebook video below to get more from James and hear what he’s looking forward to when he sees Alabama play for the first time this weekend in Dallas.

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Commitment likely for Mayden if offered?

MESQUITE, Texas — Jalen Mayden, the nation’s No. 6 dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2018, was on the phone with a friend at midnight on Sept. 1 when the conversation got weird.

He had forgotten that Sept. 1 marked the first day college coaches could reach out to junior prospects via Twitter direct message. His phone did not stop buzzing from all of the messages he was receiving. There were so many in his inbox from coaches coast-to-coast that he could not recall all of the schools who reached out to him.

“Alabama, Auburn, Louisville, Mississippi State, Texas, there’s a handful of more schools,” Mayden said. “It’s a lot that I just can’t remember right now.”

The Crimson Tide are the most intriguing option out of the schools he was able to name. His brother Jared Mayden is a freshman cornerback at Alabama and a former teammate of Jalen at Sachse High School.

Jalen currently does not hold an Alabama offer, but make no mistake about it, if it comes from the staff, the Tide are likely the team to beat.

“I would like the chance to play with my brother,” Mayden said with a giant smile on his face.

Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin and wide receivers coach Billy Napier were the two coaches who reached out to Mayden shortly after midnight. They invited him to attend a game in Tuscaloosa, which will likely happen this fall. He already is planning on being there this Saturday for his brother’s first college game.

Alabama wants Mayden to continue to develop, which is the reason why an offer has not been extended just yet. Kiffin has told Mayden that he wants him to send his game film after Sachse High School’s sixth game of the season, which is on Oct. 7.

Keeping coy with his recruitment, Mayden said he doesn’t think a commitment would come immediately if Alabama did offer, but from his answer about wanting to play with his brother, it’s obvious Alabama would be hard to beat.

“I wouldn’t say commit on the spot because I would have to see what schools are best for me,” Mayden said, once again, with a smile. “I know Alabama will get you right for the NFL, if that’s where I decide to go.”

The 6-foot-2, 208-pound prospect is also considering Louisville, Miami, Texas, Mississippi State and Houston among others right now.

Alabama already lost out on two of its quarterback targets in the Class of 2018 as 4-star Jack West committed to Stanford and 4-star Cameron Rising chose Oklahoma. Allan Walters, who’s also a 2018 QB target, remains uncommitted at this time.

It’s possible that Mayden could be Alabama’s quarterback if his first 6 games are electric.

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Wade looking at 4 schools

Shaun Wade, a 5-star Ohio State cornerback commit, is going to be talked about a lot on SEC Country during the next several months, so get used to seeing his name.

In an interview with 247Sports, Wade said four schools likely are going to get visits from him in the near future.

“I’m going to Florida and then I’m going to Notre Dame September 17,”Wade told 247Sports. “I know Ohio State and Alabama [will get visits], but I got to set them dates.”

What’s interesting about that list is the fact that Michigan is not mentioned.Wade’s father told SEC Country that his son had finalized an official visit to Michigan for the Wisconsin game on Oct. 1. Perhaps Wade forgot? Or maybe the Ohio State staff axed that trip? He’s still saying Ohio State is where his focus is right now.

“Ohio State is still No. 1,” Wade told 247Sports. “It’s Ohio State, Alabama and Notre Dame and Florida.”

Expect his recruitment to come down to Alabama and Ohio State.

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