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

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Alabama linebacker commit VanDarius Cowan has been kicked off his high school team for poor behavior, according to the Palm Beach Post. BamaOnLine can confirm the report.


"It is believed Cowan’s dismissal stems from behavior during the Gators’ 12-10 loss to Wellington on Thursday. Coach Rob Freeman removed the linebacker from the pivotal game in the first quarter following two penalties that put the Wolverines deep in Gators territory. After Cowan was taken out of the game, he ate on the sidelines, was seen talking to fans through the fence behind the bench and paid little attention to the game. The loss cost the Gators a shot at the District 9-8A title."
The four-star 'backer from Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) will no longer participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl as a result.

Cowan flipped to Alabama from Florida State last April, and was in Tuscaloosa on his official visit over the weekend for the Texas A&M game.

The 6-foot-4, 226-pounder is rated the No. 4 outside linebacker and the No. 70 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

The Top100 'backer is a firm commitment to the Crimson Tide, but plans to continue taking official visits, with the next trip scheduled for Nov. 5 for the Alabama-LSU game.

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VanDarius Cowan, despite being kicked off his high school team, won’t face any repercussions from the University of Alabama regarding his commitment.

Cowan was kicked off Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) High School’s football team on Monday after supposedly exhibiting poor behavior in his team’s game this past Thursday. The 4-star Alabama linebacker commit was removed from the game for two costly penalties, and he didn’t respond well to that. He reportedly ate on the sidelines, talked to fans and didn’t pay attention to the game after being removed.

The nation’s No. 4 outside linebacker tweeted that the Alabama staff is sticking by him and his scholarship to the school remains intact. A source close to the team confirmed that information.

Due to his removal from Palm Beach Gardens High School, Cowan will not be allowed to play in the U.S. Army All-American game this January.

The 6-foot-4, 226-pound prospect was in Tuscaloosa this past weekend for his official visit along with his mother, Wendy. He is one of the Crimson Tide’s strongest commitments despite his desire to take official visits elsewhere. He was spotted by SEC Country this past Saturday recruiting several prospects for the Tide.

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Alabama, unsurprisingly, added a commitment from 3-star tight end Major Tennison late Sunday night after his official visit to Tuscaloosa. He was on commitment watch since July, and after visiting Alabama once again, Tennison decided to end his recruitment.

The Tide have another commitment at tight end in the Class of 2017 in 3-star prospect Kedrick James, who, like Tennison, is from Texas. The two prospects are actually good friends, and James was excited to see Tennison join him in the Class of 2017.

“I’m glad he committed,” James told SEC Country. “We will have good competition for that tight end spot and we are great friends. We’re friends, and now we will be teammates. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

Before James committed to Alabama in July, he was notified that the Tide likely were going to add two recruits at tight end, so this news did not come as a surprise to him.

James told SEC Country that he’ll take his official visit to Tuscaloosa in January. He has no plans on visiting other schools, despite several teams still trying to flip him. Here’s what he said on that issue back in September.

“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 made me reconsider (my commitment). I did not want to surround myself around that atmosphere for four 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.”

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Commitment watch turns into commitment gained

Major Tennison decided to end his recruitment Sunday night. He told SEC Country last week his final three schools were Alabama, Michigan and Georgia. (ETSN.FM)

Ever since Major Tennison visited Tuscaloosa in July, he was on commitment watch, and we told you last week that it was likely he was going to choose the Tide this weekend. He didn’t visit any other school this fall other than Alabama this past weekend, and it’s the only school he’s going to see.

Tennison, a 3-star tight end from Bullard (Texas) High School, ended his recruitment late Sunday night after taking an official visit to Tuscaloosa this past weekend. Tennison now is the second tight end commitment in the Class of 2017, as he joins 3-star prospect and fellow Texan Kedrick James.

With the addition of the 6-foot-6, 230-pound prospect, Alabama now has two of the top 12 tight ends in this year’s recruiting class.

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