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

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The annual Under Armour All-America Game has been a showcase for future SEC stars.

The event, scheduled on Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla., has featured past SEC greats including Leonard Fournette, Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett. They played in the high school all-star game before shining on Saturdays.

And the current crop of prospects looks to be no different. Using ESPN’s recruiting rankings, the top eight ranked players in the game are either committed to or will attend an SEC school.

The game features 27 athletes who already are committed to SEC programs, the most of any conference. That number figures to grow. DeAngelo Gibbs, a 5-star athlete per ESPN who most likely will play safety at the next level, is set to commit at the event.

Alabama has the most commits at the game, with eight. LSU is just behind, with six. Here is a guide of names to watch at the Under Armour All-America Game.

Trey Smith, 5-star offensive tackle: Smith is ESPN’s No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2017 and is committed to Tennessee. Smith is the No. 1-rated offensive tackle in the country and one of three 5-star tackles at the event.

Isaiah Wilson, 5-star offensive tackle: Wilson recently announced he would attend Georgia, much to the delight of Bulldogs fans. The 6-foot-7 mountain of a prospect will get to square off against some familiar competition.

Robert Beal, 5-star defensive end: Beal is ESPN’s top-rated defensive end in the 2017 class and will join Wilson at Georgia. Given that he’ll square off against Smith, Wilson and 5-star Alabama commit Alex Leatherwood, Beal will get to show how talented he can be.

DeAngelo Gibbs, 5-star athlete: As mentioned above, Gibbs is the top uncommitted prospect at the game. He will announce his commitment during the game and enroll in school early. Georgia and Alabama are the favorites to land the talented Georgia playmaker, with Auburn lurking in third.

Dylan Moses, 5-star athlete: Remember when ESPN put Moses on the cover of ESPN the Magazine as an eighth-grader? Well, he’s lived up to the hype. He’ll most likely end up playing linebacker at Alabama, which was one of the few schools to offer him as an eighth-grade phenom.

Kellen Mond, 4-star quarterback: Mond is the top-rated quarterback in the game. He soon will begin his career at Texas A&M.

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First tier

1A) Aubrey Solomon, 5-star DT (Leesburg, Ga.) — Solomon is the nation’s No. 2 defensive tackle in the Class of 2017, but you can definitely make the case that he could be No. 1. Each time I’ve seen Solomon play, he’s been in the backfield. He’s been Alabama’s top defensive tackle target for pretty much the entire year. With the Tide needing several elite defensive linemen in this class, you better believe Alabama is doing everything it can to get Solomon on board. I’ve been told that Alabama is slightly ahead of Georgia at this time, but Solomon may be the leader in the 2017 class as far as being all over the place when it comes to his recruitment.

1B) LaBryan Ray, 4-star DE (Madison, Ala.) — It’s hard to say Solomon is more important than Ray and vice versa, that’s why I have them listed as 1A and 1B. Ray has been Alabama’s top priority in-state since he received his offer earlier this year. Again, Alabama’s depth on the defensive line isn’t deep in 2017. Signing Ray would help that. I believe Solomon and Ray could make their way into the rotation next season if they committed.

3) Henry Ruggs III, 4-star WR (Montgomery, Ala.) — Out of all the players I’ve seen compete this year, there may not be a more explosive prospect than Henry Ruggs III. Based on he eye-test alone, there wasn’t a faster player I’ve seen in pads. Alabama only has two wide receivers committed in the class, but the Tide would love to add Ruggs. He has can’t-miss potential written all over him.

4) DeAngelo Gibbs, 4-star S (Loganville, Ga.) — A source close to Alabama recently told SEC Country that it’s very possible the team doesn’t sign any true cover cornerbacks in this class — instead focusing on safeties who could play multiple positions. Gibbs fits that mold with his size. He’ll make his commitment known on Jan. 1. I like where Alabama stands with him right now, but it’s a close race with Georgia.

5) Jarez Parks, 4-star LB (Sebastian, Fla.) — Parks has looked like a near lock for Alabama’s class since July. Nothing has changed on that front. He rarely speaks with the media — and it’s unclear when he’ll announce a decision — but I expect him to be a part of the Crimson Tide. Alabama is recruiting him at JACK, which is a hybrid of defensive end and outside linebacker. Christopher Allen, who is committed, also plays JACK. Getting Parks and Allen in the same class would be a massive haul.

6) DeVonta Smith, 4-star WR (Amite, La.) — One of the smoothest route runners in the Class of 2017, Smith has been a priority for Alabama since January after he de-committed from Georgia. It looked like he was going to announce a commitment to Alabama this August, but he ultimately delayed a decision until National Signing Day. Because numbers are so tight and depending on how things shape out, there’s a possibility that there just isn’t space for four wide receivers — that’s dependent on Ruggs committing, which I think he will. But, I just can’t see how you pass on someone with Smith’s talent. I have a feeling Alabama will find the room to add him if he wants in. LSU is hot on Alabama’s tail, though.

7) Javon Kinlaw, 4-star DT (Goose Creek, S.C.) — Alabama was quickly viewed as the favorite for the junior college defensive lineman after he de-committed from South Carolina. But will there be room for him if Solomon and Ray commit to Alabama? That would be four defensive linemen in Solomon, Ray, JUCO signee Isaiah Buggs and 4-star defensive tackle Akial Byers. Byers has some academic work to complete before getting to Alabama, so it’s possible he could become an academic casualty.

8) Phidarian Mathis, 4-star DT (Neville, La.) — Even after Alabama’s addition of Buggs, Mathis remains a possible addition for the Tide. It’s a two-team race for his commitment with LSU being the other team in the mix. The only reason why Kinlaw is ahead of Mathis on this list is because I think the former has a better chance of playing immediately than the latter.

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what is the weather like in your neck of the woods "yank"

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Hazel Green 2018 cornerback Alondras Strong tweeted yesterday that is transferring to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior season.

Strong wrote that he plans to graduate next December. The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder has offers from Duke, FIU and Alabama A&M.

Strong recorded 26 tackles and four interceptions in 10 games this past season. He also caught 21 passes for 202 yards and four touchdowns.

Hazel Green finished 6-4. IMG went 11-0 and had a top-three national ranking in multiple polls.

Srong is the latest north Alabama player to make a move to Bradenton-based IMG. Senior linebacker Will Ignont returned to Buckhorn before ever playing a game for IMG, while Austin 2018 running back Asa Martin recently announced that he will return to Decatur after one season in Florida.

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If Najee Harris isn’t Alabama bound, can the Tide get Cam Akers?

(From @JohnnyOnACell)

The 5-star running back from Clinton (Miss.) High School announced on Tuesday night that he’ll no longer announce a commitment at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 7. Instead, he’ll make his commitment known Dec. 27 on www.nfhsnetwork.com at 8 p.m. ET. Alabama, along with LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida State, are his finalists.

The only way I can see Akers in Alabama’s class is if Harris flipped before next Wednesday, which isn’t likely happening. Even then, with him announcing a commitment next week, it would still be highly unlikely that he chooses Alabama. He didn’t visit Tuscaloosa all fall and hasn’t since he de-committed from Alabama in March, to my knowledge.

Alabama continued recruiting Akers after his de-commitment. He even told SEC Country last summer that he believed the Crimson Tide were recruiting him even harder than what they were when he was committed; however, the staff couldn’t turn that into a visit before his commitment. He was supposed to take an official visit to Tuscaloosa for the Texas A&M game, but he never made it.

With the lack of communication between the two parties and not visiting in months, Akers to Alabama isn’t happening.

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What’s your confidence level in Alabama landing DeAngelo Gibbs at the Under Armour game?

(Fron @rickythegreat8)

For the sake of this question, we’ll go with three confidence levels: 70-100 percent is in the high confidence range, 40-69 percent is in the medium confidence range and low is under 39 percent.

With just nine days to go until we find out where Gibbs is going to school, I am in the medium confidence range when it comes to Alabama’s chances with the nation’s No. 3 safety. As we’ve said over the past month or so, Gibbs’ recruitment should be viewed as a battle between two schools — Alabama and Georgia. The Bulldogs have been near or at the top of Gibbs’ list for a much longer time than Alabama has, but the Crimson Tide have gained a ton of momentum since his official visit for the Texas A&M game in October.

We caught up with Gibbs’ father, Deon, to see where Alabama and Georgia stand, and here’s what he had to say:

“If you play football, the real question is what is there not to like at Alabama?” Deon Gibbs rhetorically asked. “If that makes any sense to you. If you are a football player and you are of a certain caliber, then Alabama is going to have to be a school you are going to take a look at. The question is if it is a good fit for you.”

I will be in Orlando next week for the Under Armour All-America Game. Gibbs will be there, too, so I hope to get a much clearer picture of where things stand.

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Out of the current commitments, who do you think will make the biggest impact?

(From @insider_alabama)

This is a very tough question to answer because you never know how recruits are going to develop once they get to college.

While they may not get all of the headlines with sexy plays and stats, having an elite left tackle is so critical to any team’s success. Alabama has that in 5-star prospect Alex Leatherwood. Just like what Jonah Williams did this season by starting as a freshman on the Tide’s offensive line, I can see Leatherwood doing the same in 2017.

Out of all the offensive linemen I saw compete this year, he was one of two — along with 5-star offensive tackle Foster Sarell — who impressed me the most. Leatherwood has quick feet for a 330-pound human and he packs a powerful punch.

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