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

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Alex Leatherwood took all five of his official visits to make sure Alabama was the school he wanted to attend. After finishing his final official visit to Florida over the weekend, he knows that answer.

Leatherwood, a 5-star offensive tackle from Booker T. Washington High School (Pensacola, Fla.), told SEC Country that he no longer sees himself at any other school than the one he’s been committed to since June of 2015.

“To be honest, I don’t,” Leatherwood said. “It’s been a long and very enjoyable process, but I’m comfortable with my commitment and I’m ready to start the process.”

The nation’s No. 2 offensive tackle has caused lots of worry for Alabama fans over the past several months because of his visits to other schools and his comments to reporters about the status of his commitment. He told SEC Country recently after one of his visits to Florida that he was “iffy” with his commitment to Alabama, but that’s no longer the case after spending two days in Gainesville.

In fact, he’s ready to sign his financial aid agreement with Alabama. It’s the only school he’s planning on signing one with.

“Yeah, I did feel iffy before, but now I feel vey confident with my commitment,” Leatherwood said. “I actually plan on signing my financial aid papers with Alabama soon. I just needed time to think over everything and evaluate things to the fullest.”

Those documents are non-binding. They protect the recruit by ensuring the school holds a scholarship for them, but the prospect is still free to choose any school. The benefit for the programs is that it allows for unlimited contact between the football staff and the recruit, even once the dead period went into effect at midnight on Sunday. He technically can sign as many financial aid agreements as he wants, but Leatherwood said he’s done with the process.

Florida’s staff pitched to Leatherwood the idea of early playing time and told him how he can be an anchor for the Gators’ success in the future. It’s the same message he’s heard from other schools trying to flip him from his commitment to Alabama, but, he admitted, it’s not the message he was looking to hear from other schools.

Alabama will likely have an opening on its offensive line next year at left tackle because Cam Robinson is projected to be a first-round draft pick and he’ll likely declare for the NFL draft after the season. So, just like other schools’ pitch to him, Alabama can tell Leatherwood the same message. The correct message he was looking to hear was how other schools could help develop him better than offensive line coach Mario Cristobal.

“I already know Alabama’s situation with their depth at tackle, so I know I can go there and play early, too,” Leatherwood said.

The Under Armour All-American has been instrumental at helping Alabama recruit behind-the-scenes. In fact, Leatherwood played a role in Alabama signing the nation’s No. 1 junior college tackle in Elliot Baker and top 10 offensive tackle Jedrick Wills. Recruits who help recruit other prospects at the same position he plays tend to rarely back off their commitment.

He was never going to deviate from his plans to attend the University of Alabama. His recruitment has been a classic case of a highly rated prospect enjoying each and every visit he could possibly take and now that process is over with.

The 6-foot-6, 330-pound prospect will enroll at Alabama this January.

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SEC recruiting classes will boast a slew of defensive difference-makers on National Signing Day.

Some of the nation’s top athletes are drawn to the SEC because of the league’s reputation for tough defense, and the 2017 recruiting cycle is no different. There are rangy safeties who can fly around and make plays on the ball. There are linebackers who repeatedly disrupt plays in the backfield.

So let’s take a look at some of the top commits in SEC recruiting classes for 2017. Here are the four most impressive statistical seasons among SEC senior commits in 2016:

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3. Alabama: LB Dylan Moses – IMG Academy (Fla.), 5-star, No. 1 OLB, No. 8 overall

42 solo tackles, 106 total, 2.0 sacks, 8.0 TFL, 5 PD

Moses committed to Alabama on Oct. 2 to give the Crimson Tide a stacked class at linebacker. He was a dependable tackler for IMG, totaling 106 on the season.

He was equally disruptive against the run as he was against the pass, as his stats indicate. He’ll be next in Alabama’s tradition of having athletic playmakers at linebacker.

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Will Kiffin leaving affect any of our recruits?

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Lane Kiffin won’t be at Alabama next season coaching up the Crimson Tide’s Class of 2017 commitments, as he has accepted the head coaching job at Florida Atlantic University.

The loss of Kiffin, one of college football’s most brilliant minds when it comes to offense, may hurt on the field — that still remains to be seen — but it should not affect Alabama when it comes to recruiting. In fact, Kiffin was arguably Alabama’s least important recruiter on the trail. No recruit committed to Alabama had a significant relationship with Kiffin for his departure to have any affect on recruiting.

Kiffin was the primary recruiter for several commitments such as Elliot Baker, Brian Robinson, Chadarius Townsend, Kendall Randolph, Kyriq McDonald and Hunter Brannon, but each of those guys are rock solid in their commitment. Baker, a junior college prospect, will sign with Alabama this Wednesday. Robinson is expected to sign his financial aid agreement in the near future. Townsend already has signed his financial aid papers. Randolph grew up an Alabama fan. McDonald is signing his financial aid agreement on Monday. Brannon is a lifelong Alabama fan who will attend the school even if he’s given a grayshirt.

SEC Country talked with several Alabama commitments to get their thoughts on Kiffin leaving the program:

Recruits react to Kiffin leaving Alabama

5-star offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood: “He was a great offensive coordinator and will definitely lead that program in the right direction. Best of luck to him.”

4-star athlete Chadarius Townsend: “I believed he played a great part in the Alabama program, and I wish he would’ve stayed, honestly. But it’s his decision.”

4-star tight end Major Tennison: “I wish him nothing but success.”

4-star offensive guard Kendall Randolph: “I wish him the best.”

4-star offensive tackle Elliot Baker: “That’s good for him.”

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