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

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Will Alabama land either DeAngelo Gibbs or Xavier McKinney?

ORLANDO, Fla. — Two of Alabama’s biggest priorities in the Class of 2017, 4-star safety prospects DeAngelo Gibbs and Xavier McKinney, will make their college commitments during the Under Armour All-America Game at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.

While Alabama is unlikely to get both Gibbs and McKinney on board, it is possible that the Crimson Tide get one of the nation’s top safeties. From talking to Alabama commits and sources close to the team, the Tide have a better chance with Gibbs than McKinney.

Two sources have told SEC Country that the chances with Gibbs are at 50-50, with the other half going toward Georgia’s way. While Alabama has gained momentum with McKinney, a former Tide commit, as of late, but it’s still believed that he will commit to Clemson. That’s what I think will happen, too.

Gibbs told SEC Country on Wednesday that there are a multitude of reasons why he would choose Alabama. From talking with Gibbs over the past year, I can say that he certainly has the “Alabama mindset” needed to succeed at a program like Nick Saban’s. Gibbs is strictly about business. While some recruits choose schools to play with friends or teammates, Gibbs said none of that matters in his recruitment.

That’s a positive for Alabama, too, because he’s very close with the majority of Georgia’s commits more so than Alabama’s. The nation’s No. 3 safety is very close with Alabama 5-star linebacker commit Dylan Moses, but he’s also very close with 5-star Georgia safety commit Richard LeCounte.

Gibbs’ decision is going to come down to 75 percent of what he wants to do and 25 percent of what his parents desire.

“There have been some conversations and some back and forths,” Gibbs said. “Their input definitely affects where I go. They’ve had some conversations about the pros and the cons of this school and that school. They agree on some schools and don’t on some schools. At the end of the day, I have to listen to their opinions.”

I’m very close to predicting Gibbs to Alabama.

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