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

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Buckeye06

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Somebody post the god damn fricking banana

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First surprise of the week?

New Alabama commit Christopher Allen told SEC Country privately on Oct. 13 that the Crimson Tide were the favorites to land his commitment. At the time, Alabama being on top was mainly contingent on what LSU was going to do when it came to hiring a head coach.

So, the timing of Allen’s commitment is surely interesting as the Tigers made the hiring of Ed Orgeron official on Saturday — a coach he is familiar with and formed a relationship with. But LSU parted ways with special teams coach Bradley Dale Peveto on Sunday, just shortly before Allen announced his commitment. Peveto and Allen also had a standing relationship.

While that may have had an impact on LSU’s chances of landing the nation’s No. 7 outside linebacker, Allen told SEC Country last month that out of all the coaches he talked to in his recruitment, the coach he’s closest to is Alabama outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi.

“Every time I talk to him it’s legit,” Allen said in October. “He’s never talking down on other schools. I feel like he treats me like one of his kids. It makes me feel really good because if I go there, I know I’m going to have a coach that will really take care of me.”

The Under Armour All-American wasn’t expected to announce his commitment until National Signing Day, but he decided that it was time to end his recruitment after a trip to Tuscaloosa this past weekend for the Iron Bowl.

The 6-foot-4, 234-pound prospect becomes the second commitment in the Class of 2017 for Alabama to hail from Baton Rouge, La., with the other being 5-star linebacker Dylan Moses. Shortly after Allen’s commitment, Moses tweeted his excitement of the news:

From little league to Alabama... dreams come true @Allen_Greatness LOVE YOU BRUDDA!!! Well I know who my dorm mate is

Allen is being recruited as a JACK linebacker by Alabama. The staff feels like Allen is a future first-round pick and coaches have compared him to Tim Williams, another Baton Rouge native.

Alabama now has four linebackers committed in the Class of 2017. Moses and Allen plus 4-star prospects VanDarius Cowan and Markail Benton.

The timing of Allen’s commitment was surely surprising, but it’s one decision I have expected for quite some time, regardless of who LSU was going to hire as its coach.

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Speaking of Browning …

We reported last week that Alabama had become the favorite to land Browning when he announces his commitment on Tuesday. That remains the case as of today, but things have gotten a little foggier, of course, because of his official visit to Ohio State this past weekend.

A source close to the Ohio State program said Browning is torn on his decision but is still leaning toward Alabama. Shortly after his official visit to Alabama, where the Tide made up significant ground in his recruitment, another source told SEC Country that his parents still preferred Ohio State. Browning’s parents first and only visit to Tuscaloosa was for that official visit.

The Buckeyes had been near or at the top of Browning’s list for a much longer period of time than Alabama ever was. There was a point where it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Browning was going to end up in Columbus in 2017.

That began to change over time.

For several months, Texas emerged as the favorite to keep the Kennedale (Texas) High School prospect home. After the Longhorns’ disastrous season, which culminated with the program firing third-year coach Charlie Strong, Texas slowly became a non-factor, with one source saying Browning actually wanted to leave the state for college. That source went on to say that Browning was likely going to choose Alabama or Ohio State when he committed.

That’s where we are as of Monday, a day before Browning is expected to announce his commitment.

If Browning doesn’t delay his decision, I think Alabama is the clear favorite to gain his commitment. If he chooses to hold off, Ohio State is the clear beneficiary.

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A source close to the Ohio State program said Browning is torn on his decision but is still leaning toward Alabama. Shortly after his official visit to Alabama, where the Tide made up significant ground in his recruitment, another source told SEC Country that his parents still preferred Ohio State. Browning’s parents first and only visit to Tuscaloosa was for that official visit.

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