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re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition
Posted on 12/2/16 at 4:58 pm to TideSaint
Posted on 12/2/16 at 4:58 pm to TideSaint
quote:
What’s your take on Henry Ruggs?
(@rburn20)
I think Alabama still should be considered the favorite to land the 4-star wide receiver from Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery, Ala.
The only school he has an official visit locked in with right now is Alabama. He’ll be in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 20. His top five of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Penn State is still the same, but the Tide have been considered the favorites to land him ever since he picked up his offer.
I was told that Ruggs is now viewed by the staff as the No. 1 wide receiver on the remaining big board for Alabama. That says a lot about what Alabama thinks of Ruggs, who is still very new to football. He’s only been playing seriously now for two years, as he made the transition from basketball to football.
Ruggs was paid a visit by wide receivers coach Billy Napier on Thursday night.
2
Posted on 12/2/16 at 4:58 pm to TideSaint
quote:
What are you hearing right now on Trey Smith?
(@tommy_touch09)
The nation’s No. 5 offensive tackle is coming off an official visit to Ohio State, and there’s some buzz that the Buckeyes are confident with where they stand as of today. Tennessee will host him on an official visit this weekend. That’s a big visit because the Volunteers have been considered the prohibitive favorite for a few months now. His sister, Ashley, works in the football recruiting office at Tennessee. The two are very close.
As of today, though, sources have said Ohio State and Alabama are most confident heading into next week’s decision. As we’ve recently seen with 5-star linebacker Baron Browning, official visits shortly before your commitment can dramatically alter where your recruitment stands. Alabama was the favorite for Browning heading into last weekend’s official visit to Ohio State, then the Buckeyes became the team to beat coming out of the trip. Perhaps the same happens for Tennessee and Smith.
Nick Saban is expected to visit the 5-star prospect Monday night — a day before he’s announcing his commitment. That definitely could change things because he’s been an Alabama fan since kindergarten.
“We go down there and I’m like 5 or 6 years old and we go into the locker room because we had access so I got to talk to players and coaches,” Smith told SEC Country this summer. “It was the whole nine yards. From then on, I’ve been a huge fan.”
We’ll have a much clearer picture of where things stands with Smith after this weekend.
Posted on 12/2/16 at 4:58 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Do you still feel solid about Dylan Moses’ commitment?
(@CFBaudie)
Moses abruptly committed to Alabama during his official visit for the Kentucky game in early October. Since then, he’s taken a couple of trips to LSU, which has raised concern for some fans. That’s understandable because when he committed, he said he wasn’t going to take any trips to other schools not named Alabama.
But, I have a feeling this question has to do with this tweet Moses sent out Thursday morning:
Decisions, Decisions…The recruiting process is something serious..
— King ??oses (@Dylan1Moses_) December 1, 2016
I was told that tweet has nothing to do with Moses’ recruitment — he actually was talking about Browning’s decision, which wasn’t made yet at the time of Moses’ tweet. Moses remains locked in with Alabama, and it would be a surprise if he ended up in LSU’s class, even though he is from Baton Rouge.
Posted on 12/2/16 at 4:59 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Who could you see possibly being Alabama’s next commit?
(@Lil_Fletch22)
We’ve known for over two months now that Phidarian Mathis was likely making his commitment after his season ends. Mathis’ high school team is in the state playoffs and should advance to the finals on Dec. 10.
A commitment should come soon after that. Alabama, LSU and TCU remain the main teams in the mix.
As far as where Mathis stands with the Tide, he hasn’t named any school a leader, but Alabama is in good position to land him.
“Alabama is a great team, and I love them,” Mathis said. “Alabama has a great squad and a great coaching staff. They treated me like I was at home when I have visited.”
Posted on 12/2/16 at 5:00 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Tagovailoa has strong relationship with Sarkisian
As the days go by, it’s looking more and more likely that this will be Lane Kiffin’s final season as Alabama’s offensive coordinator. Now, usually, when a main assistant leaves a program it tends to have a negative impact on recruiting in the short term.
But if former Southern California coach Steve Sarkisian — now an analyst on Nick Saban’s staff — takes over for Kiffin and becomes offensive coordinator, Alabama 5-star quarterback commit Tua Tagovailoa would be elated. Prior to committing to Alabama, it looked like it was a foregone conclusion that Tagovailoa was going to play for the Trojans. One of the main reasons for that was because of his relationship with Sarkisian.
“Sarkisian was the only head coach — when he was at USC — that flew to Hawaii to watch Tua throw and on the spot said we want to offer you,” Galu Tagovailoa, Tua’s father, told SEC Country. “We went up to the camp they had at USC, and Sarkisian was just blown away by Tua. We’ve built a really good relationship with him.
“If Sarkisian was still at USC, I think we would have committed to USC. That’s how good of a relationship we have with him.”
Sarkisian ultimately was dismissed from USC as he battled alcohol problems. Clay Helton took over for Sarkisian, but at the time of the latter’s firing, Tagovailoa slowly began to take a hard look at other schools because it was unclear to the Tagovailoas if Helton was going to be there long term.
But now that Sarkisian is at Alabama and is the favorite to replace Kiffin if he were to leave the program, the Tagovailoas would be overjoyed if that happened.
“We were with (Sarkisian), then we lost him and now we’re back with him. It’s funny how it works out,” Galu Tagovailoa said. “If things happen where Lane moves on and Sarkisian is the guy, then that would be great. But at the same time, whoever is the next offensive coordinator if Lane leaves, it wouldn’t matter. Saban has won championships with multiple different coordinators. He’ll bring the best out of them no matter what.”
In case you missed it, Tagovailoa’s father re-confirmed with SEC Country on Thursday that his son’s recruitment is over. Despite his recent offer from LSU, he will not visit the school and will enroll at Alabama in January.
Posted on 12/2/16 at 5:00 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Browning chooses Ohio State
On Thursday morning, we reported that Ohio State was considered the favorite to land 5-star linebacker Baron Browning. By nighttime, he was committed to the Buckeyes.
Heading into last Friday, Alabama was the favorite to land Browning. That shifted after the nation’s No. 2 outside linebacker took an official visit to Ohio State. Alabama was confident in landing Browning before the trip. Multiple sources told SEC Country that he had silently committed to Alabama last Wednesday and assured the staff that no matter what happened on the trip to Columbus, he was going to commit to Alabama.
Things change fast in recruiting. It became clear when he delayed his Tuesday commitment that Ohio State had become the favorite in his recruitment, and the Buckeyes capitalized on their momentum.
I know Alabama fans are going to be disappointed in not landing the uber-talented Browning, but before his official visit to the school in late October, it looked like there was around a 0 percent chance he was going to choose the Tide. Alabama made up significant ground in a little over a month. That’s a testament to Browning’s primary recruiter Tosh Lupoi’s recruiting prowess.
Alabama has four linebacker commitments in the Class of 2017 — 5-star prospect Dylan Moses and 4-star prospects Chris Allen, VanDarius Cowan and Markail Benton. The Tide also are in good shape with 4-star defensive end Jarez Parks, who is being recruited as an outside linebacker.
Posted on 12/2/16 at 5:02 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama 2017 class snapshot
Alabama has a good chance to have the nation’s No. 1 class for the seventh straight year. The Tide are in the running for several more 5-stars such as Baron Browning, Trey Smith, Isaiah Wilson, Shaun Wade and JaCoby Stevens. As it stands now, this actually might be Alabama’s best class in the Nick Saban era because it has commitments from a top-class running back, two future play-making quarterbacks, a bookend left tackle and more.
Where it ranks?
Alabama’s 2017 class is ranked No. 1 in the country. It passed Ohio State for the top spot once Jedrick Wills committed last week.
As is standard in the Nick Saban era, the majority of Alabama’s commitments are of the blue-chip variety, meaning they are either rated 4- or 5-star prospects. For context purposes, the Tide have 22 pledges, including five 5-star recruits (RB Najee Harris, OT Alex Leatherwood, LB Dylan Moses, QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Jerry Jeudy), 11 4-star prospects and six 3-star talents.
Who are Alabama’s top 2017 commitments?
5-star RB Najee Harris
5-star QB Tua Tagovailoa
5-star OT Alex Leatherwood
5-star WR Jerry Jeudy
5-star LB Dylan Moses
Who committed to Alabama this week?
Chris Allen, a 4-star linebacker from Southern University Lab High School (Baton Rouge, La.), committed to Alabama this past Sunday after taking a trip to the Iron Bowl. Five-star offensive tackle Trey Smith is announcing his commitment this coming Tuesday. Alabama has a chance to land his commitment.
Who de-committed from Alabama this week?
Alabama hasn’t had a de-commitment since late October when 4-star linebacker Gary Johnson backed off his commitment. He took a class in junior college that would not have been accepted by SEC schools. He could have chosen to retake the class and remained in Alabama’s class, but it would have delayed his enrollment into a four-year university. Jhavonte Dean, a 3-star junior college cornerback, is someone Alabama fans should keep an eye on as far as the next de-commitment.
Who are Alabama’s top uncommitted targets?
5-star offensive tackle Trey Smith
5-star offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson
5-star cornerback Shaun Wade
5-star safety JaCoby Stevens
4-star safety DeAngelo Gibbs
4-star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon
4-star defensive end LaBryan Ray
4-star wide receiver Henry Ruggs III
Breakdown by position
QB: 2 of 2
RB: 2 of 2
WR: 2 of 3 OR 4
TE: 2 of 2
OL: 5 of 5 OR 6
DL: 1 of 4
LB: 3 of 3 OR 4
JACK: 1 of 1 OR 2
CB: 2 of 2 OR 3
S: 0 of 1 OR 2
ATH: 1 of 1
K: 1 of 1
LS: 1 of 1
Geography of Alabama’s 2017 recruiting class
Florida (6): Leatherwood, Moses, Jeudy, Cowan, Jones, Fletcher
Alabama (6): Benton, Robinson, Randolph, Townsend, McDonald, Brannon
Texas (4): Shavers, Tennison, James, Dean
California (2): Harris, Baker
Louisiana (1): Allen
Hawaii (1): Tagovailoa
Kentucky (1): Wills
Arkansas (1): Byers
Arizona (1): Ruiz
Posted on 12/2/16 at 5:03 pm to TideSaint
quote:
NEW ORLEANS — Christopher Allen had circled Feb. 1 on his calendar to announce to his college commitment.
That plan was detailed during a visit to Alabama for the Iron Bowl last weekend when the 4-star priority linebacker ended his recruitment and committed to the Crimson Tide.
That left LSU, which is in great need of linebackers in its 2017 recruiting class, searching for answers.
LSU head coach Ed Orgeron and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda reached out to the elite Baton Rouge prospect soon after his decision, but it was little too late.
“I’ve just been thinking about this the past couple of months,” Allen told SEC Country after helping Southern Lab (La.) capture its second consecutive Louisiana Division IV state championship on Friday. I went down to Bama and really liked it, and I felt like it’s where I wanted to be and where the coaches could really develop me into a great player.”
“I went down to ‘Bama and really liked it, and I felt like it’s where I wanted to be and where the coaches could really develop me into a great player.”
To put a number on it, Allen said he’s “committed 100 percent” to the Tide.
Orgeron and Aranda’s biggest selling point to the 6-foot-4, 234-pounder was to come in and play early. After all, Kendell Beckwith is set to graduate and head to the NFL, leaving an open linebacker position for the Tigers to fill.
Early playing time is intriguing, Allen admitted, but is keen on being developed by Alabama’s coaching staff.
“Coach O and Coach Aranda talked about it and said mainly, I could come to LSU and possibly start,” Allen recalled. “Every player wants to start when he comes into a college. I’d rather play, but I think it would be better to go to a team like Alabama and get developed, and if I’m ready to play I’ll play. If not, I’m cool getting to know the system.”
Allen expects both Orgeron and Aranda to continue to court him. That’s very likely, with LSU clinging to only one linebacker in its current class in Patrick Queen.
Nonetheless, LSU’s efforts may be moot — at least at this stage in his recruitment.
“I think they might try,” Allen said of LSU’s recruiting efforts over the next two months, “but I’m not really worried about it. I’m committed to ‘Bama.”
LINK
Absolutely love this kid's attitude.
Posted on 12/2/16 at 5:07 pm to TideSaint
quote:
The battle for SEC football supremacy doesn’t just run from late August to early December. The recruiting trail never ends.
While pads crack inside Bryant-Denny, The Swamp and Death Valley, the next crop of talent is being primed across the country to play in what is largely considered the proving ground for the nation’s best football players.
With that in mind, each program has its best men to send around the country to meet with top recruits. Some recruiters flourish more than others with charisma, promises of playing time or a handful of championship rings.
At SEC Country, we’ve compiled a rankings system for the conference’s best recruiters for the Class of 2017 based upon current commitments and uncommitted targets using 247Sports.com’s composite scores of high school recruits.
Our formula multiplies the number of recruits credited to an assistant coach by the average of the recruits’ composite scores. Then that number is multiplied by the average scores of the recruiters top 5 uncommitted targets for which he’s the primary recruiter. If he doesn’t have five primary uncommitted targets remaining, we move to targets for whom he is the secondary recruiter. If there still aren’t five, we move to fill the remaining slots with zeroes.
For every 5-star recruit landed, that recruiter receives a 0.5-point bonus.
Here is the breakdown:
(Number of recruits x average rating)(average rating of five top remaining targets) + (5-star bonus if applicable) = recruiter score
Based upon our formula, these are the 10 best recruiters in the SEC:
1. Tommy Thigpen, Tennessee linebackers coach
Recruiter score: 7.28
Thigpen’s place atop the rankings proves the famous theory “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” His committed recruits have the lowest average score, but he has the most with nine. In-state 4-star safety Maleik Gray is Thigpen’s biggest prize of the class, but Tennessee still is in the running for defensive end LaBryan Ray, who is taking his official visit to Knoxville in mid-January.
2. Lane Kiffin, Alabama offensive coordinator
Recruiter score: 6.94
Kiffin isn’t just shaping Jalen Hurts into one the country’s best quarterbacks, he’s putting together an impressive recruiting class. Wideout Tyrell Shavers is his biggest primary get, while Kiffin was the secondary recruiter on 5-star dual-threat quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, along with an Alabama assistant further down this list.
3. Billy Napier, Alabama wide receivers coach
Recruiter score: 6.74
Napier is no stranger to snagging marquee recruits with two on the current Tide roster in Calvin Ridley and Cam Robinson. His top primary get in this class is Tyrell Shavers, whom Kiffin had a secondary role in this recruitment. Napier also played a hand in the commitment of 5-star receiver Jerry Jeudy.
4. Clarence McKinney, Texas A&M running backs coach
Recruiter score: 6.51
McKinney made his way up this list by sheer quantity. Among his eight commitments, Manvel, Texas, safety Derrick Tucker is his highest-rated prize. But McKinney’s continuing role in the courting of 5-star recruits Marvin Wilson, the top-rated defensive tackle in the nation, and Walker Little, the fourth-rated offensive tackle, boost his score.
5. Tosh Lupoi, Alabama outside linebackers coach
Recruiter score: 6.18
Lupoi, though marred in the middle of these rankings, has arguably the two biggest prizes in the conference with 5-star studs running back Najee Harris and linebacker Dylan Moses. Though he has just five commits to this point, Lupoi is far from finished as he’s the primary recruiter for five uncommitted 5-star recruits.
6. Mario Cristobal, Alabama offensive line coach
Recruiter score: 5.58
Cristobal brought Calvin Ridley to Tuscaloosa in 2015, and he may have nabbed another difference maker this go-round with Jeudy, an elusive 5-star wide receiver from Pompano Beach. He also landed 5-star offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood out of Florida.
7. Glenn Schumann, Georgia inside linebackers coach
Recruiter score: 4.92
Schumann has just five commits, but they’re five good ones. Five-star safety Richard LeConte III highlights Schumann’s bounty for the 2017 class, while pro-style quarterback Jake Fromm looks to be a perfect fit behind Jacob Eason.
8. Tim Horton, Auburn running backs coach
Recruiter score: 4.28
Horton has five commits thus far, but only three are 4-star finds. Austin Troxell, the fourth-rated offensive tackle in the state of Alabama, is Horton’s top commit of the class. Five-star running back Cam Akers is still on Horton’s list of targets and would be a giant signing if he can convince the back there’s space for him in a backfield that features Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson.
9. Kevin Sherrer, Georgia outside linebackers coach
Recruiter score: 3.81
Sherrer has just four commits, but 4-star outside linebacker Robert Beal is the highest-rated recruit he’s played a primary role in landing since coming to Georgia. He also was the secondary recruiter for 5-star safety Richard LeCounte III.
10. Dell McGee, Georgia running backs coach
Recruiter score: 3.64
McGee has done a nice job with seven recruits, but he’s essentially done with just two primary and two secondary uncommitted targets left. However, he should be set at his position next season despite presumably losing Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, as he landed 4-star backs D’Andre Swift and Toneil Carter.
LINK
Posted on 12/2/16 at 5:08 pm to TideSaint
quote:
SEC recruiting can be organized into pretty clear niches. Certain teams go after a certain kinds of athletes in a certain region.
But every program has a commitment or two that just seems out of place. A player surprises people by going out of state. Maybe he unexpectedly choses a smaller brand school over a traditional power. It happens more often than people think.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at each SEC school’s most unlikely fit among its current commits for the 2017 recruiting class:
LINK
Posted on 12/2/16 at 5:08 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama: OLB Christopher Allen
Alabama recruits incredibly well all over the South, even in states other programs tend to dominate. But beating out LSU for the No. 4 prospect in the state of Louisiana is incredibly hard. And the fact that Christopher Allen lives in LSU’s backyard in Baton Rouge makes this an even more unlikely, and therefore more impressive, accomplishment for the Crimson Tide class.
Posted on 12/2/16 at 5:09 pm to TideSaint
quote:
The Latest: After officially visiting Alabama over the weekend, Rivals100 LSU safety commit Jacoby Stevens had plenty of good things to say about the Tide. But while the visit maybe have given him something to think about, an in-home visit from LSU director of player personnel Austin Thomas helped reassure Stevens that he made the right choice. Rivals.com caught up with Stevens to talk about the visit and how things are going with the Tigers since Ed Oregron was introduced as the Tigers head coach.
In His Words: "Austin came and did an in-home this week. Coach O, Coach Raymond and Coach Aranda are all coming next week. After talking to Austin, I know he's going to be staying and that's important to me. Coach Raymond is staying, Coach Aranada is staying, it looks good for LSU. I don't think I can see myself going anywhere else."
On how his Alabama visit my impact his recruitment: "It’s making look at what LSU’s doing. I’m going to kind of make my move off what of Coach O is going to do with his staff. I just know that I have a good backup plan with Alabama."
On his first conversation with Ed Orgeron after he was introduced as head coach: "I talked to Coach O right after I found out he had the job. I got some alone time on the visit to talk to Coach O because he wanted to be one of the first ones he talked to. I was talking to Coach O and I was like, 'I’m on my official visit.' I was excited for him because he got his job but I didn’t want to tell him I had to get off the phone."
On his relationship with Orgeron: "When he took Les Miles place I got to know him very well. When I went up for the Alabama game he talked to me and my parents. He was already acting like he already had the job. I got to know him and his wife. We just got to talk about his past, where he’s from, stuff like that. We’ve created a great relationship. He texts me every week. Telling me to keep up the good work, stuff like that."
Rivals Reaction: Stevens spoke very highly of Nick Saban and Alabama after his official visit, but it's clear he wants to stay locked in with the Tigers. The only think that might change his mind is if Thomas or defensive backs coach Corey Raymond leave the school, both of which seem very unlikely at this point.
LINK
He gone.
Posted on 12/2/16 at 6:11 pm to TideSaint
Exclusive: Four Star DT Aubrey Solomon Getting Closer to a Decision.(Not sure if this been posted).
https://www.dawgsportsradio.com/episode/17178/sec-recruiting-buzz-w-keith-and-kipp-exclusive-four-star-dt-aubrey-solomon-getting-closer-to-a-decision/
Mich, Clemson, Bama, UGA battle ?
https://www.dawgsportsradio.com/episode/17178/sec-recruiting-buzz-w-keith-and-kipp-exclusive-four-star-dt-aubrey-solomon-getting-closer-to-a-decision/
Mich, Clemson, Bama, UGA battle ?
This post was edited on 12/2/16 at 6:19 pm
Posted on 12/2/16 at 6:23 pm to AjA77
Leatherwood is taking an OV to Georgia this weekend.
Posted on 12/2/16 at 6:30 pm to AjA77
Most likely UGA.
Wish we could pull him
Wish we could pull him
Posted on 12/2/16 at 6:46 pm to YStar
I believe wherever Kiffin winds up, you'll see Blake Barnett follow him, I think the two were pretty close, hopefully Houston.
Posted on 12/2/16 at 7:51 pm to TideSaint
What happened to Jeudy's little sister?
Was she sick?
Just terrible.
Was she sick?
Just terrible.
Posted on 12/2/16 at 8:13 pm to TideSaint
So now LSixU fans are saying "unconfirmed" sources are reporting Tua's father is trying to set up an OV to them.
Posted on 12/2/16 at 8:20 pm to TideSaint
And for our lurking LSixU fans let me explain to you why Tua would come here even though Hurts is a true freshman.
First off, Saban plays the best players. If Tua comes in and plays lights out he will have an opportunity to win the starting job. It may not seem feasible, but neither did Hurts winning the job last Spring.
Secondly, assuming Hurts maintains the starting job for the remainder of his career he'll probably only be here for two more years. Therefore, Tua will be given the reigns as a redshirt sophomore. Not too bad if you ask me.
Lastly, Hurts is a running quarterback. Who's to say he's going to stay healthy after taking all those hits over the next two years?
Why don't you worry about holding on to your two QB commits instead of questioning ours?
First off, Saban plays the best players. If Tua comes in and plays lights out he will have an opportunity to win the starting job. It may not seem feasible, but neither did Hurts winning the job last Spring.
Secondly, assuming Hurts maintains the starting job for the remainder of his career he'll probably only be here for two more years. Therefore, Tua will be given the reigns as a redshirt sophomore. Not too bad if you ask me.
Lastly, Hurts is a running quarterback. Who's to say he's going to stay healthy after taking all those hits over the next two years?
Why don't you worry about holding on to your two QB commits instead of questioning ours?
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