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

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The first practice for the Under Armour All-America Game is in the books. The contest features over 90 of the nation's top high school football prospects. The 247Sports team ranked the top 10 performers from Wednesday’s practice.

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LINK

So four of our commits made the Top 10 and we lead for another one.

Holy shite.

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LAKE BUNA VISTA, Fla. - Preparation for the Under Armour All-America Game began in earnest on Wednesday as both teams went through their first practice of the week. Below is a look at the 12 best performers from the day's action.

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Alabama DL commit Akial Byers confident he'll qualify academically

One big reason Alabama took a commitment from four-star Fayetteville, Ark., defensive lineman Akial Byers is because they felt the talented recruit would work hard to attain academic eligibility.

Byers was confident in that happening when he spoke Wednesday after Under Armour All-America Game practice in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Byers is one of several Alabama recruits playing in Sunday's game at noon on ESPN in Orlando.

"I'm there (almost academically qualified), I'm just taking the ACT," Byers said. "I'm pretty confident. I've got a tutor for the ACT, so I'm pretty confident."

Byers is waiting on December results, but he'll take the test as many times as he can. Alabama got a commitment from the state of Arkansas' top prospect in July.

"Me and my mom talked a lot about it and we finally made a decision because they were on top of everything, like my academics," Byers said. "It's a good school and there's no place like Alabama."

Byers will take his official visit to Alabama the weekend of Jan. 20. He said other schools are trying to get him in for a visit, but declined to name those and said no other visits are scheduled.

Arkansas won't be a factor.

"They did (recruit me hard) a little bit (early), but now they stopped," Byers said. "Now I hear that they're trying to again, but it's too late."

Byers is about 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, and he said Alabama coaches see him playing all over the defensive line because he'll bulk up to 300 pounds.

"They've leaned up on the defensive line with the spread offenses," said Benji Mahan, one of Byers' coaches at Fayetteville High School. "They would like to see him play the end spot in a 3-4 and if they want to bring in four defensive linemen and an outside linebacker comes in, he'd play a 3-technique (inside). He's already shown to be a fantastic 3-technique."

Byers camped at Alabama in June and also visited the school in July before announcing his commitment.

"First of all, he's got great natural hips and feet," Mahan said. "That's really what Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma and those guys all saw when they first turned the film on. (Alabama) can look at his natural ability and build on that with their coaching and style.

"The kid really grew up in between his sophomore and junior season and even got better as a football player during his senior season."

Byers is focused on earning his qualifying ACT score and making an early impact for the Crimson Tide.

"This is work," Byers said of the all-star game. "It's more work trying to prepare me for the next level because where I'm going, I need to put in extra work because when I get there, I'm trying to play."

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I hope he's right.

Buddy lied.......