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

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-- Alabama wants another safety in this class. Its No. 1 and No. 2 targets are Deangelo Gibbs and McKinney, respectively. Both are announcing on Sunday at the Under Armour Game. I believe the perception on 'Bama's end is not overly confident on which of the two they'll land, but that whiffing on both would be a surprise. Unsure if that's a product of the Tide rarely missing on a defensive target they fancy (much less two), or intuitively feeling pretty good about winning one of the two battles. Georgia is the other major contender in Gibbs' recruitment. Similar to McKinney, Gibbs is telling media in Orlando that his decision is made up. Keep in mind that Georgia feels cautiously optimistic about landing Gibbs. 

-- Alabama did garner momentum and close the gap on the Tigers for McKinney in recent weeks. There's been reports from our network and others that the recruitment has become a "toss-up," and while one can never (ever?) discount Alabama down the stretch, many close to the situation still feel like Clemson will be the choice. Neither staff has been notified, from what I know. If the Tigers are the pick, it'll be largely because of the consistency with which Clemson pursued him throughout the duration of his recruitment. 

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Leatherwood with a couple of nice reps against Beal.

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Phidarian Mathis throws Tyrese Robinson to the side. Easy win

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Deangelo Gibbs wearing a white offensive jersey today and leading the WR drills. Hezekiah Jones -- a TAMU commit -- drawing constant praise for his footwork in the drills.

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From Chad Simmons:
Dylan Moses and Markail Benton continue to work together in all drills. Both Bama commits.
A lot of teaching/coaching going on now on both fields.

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From Chad Simmons:
Another great grab by Bama commit jerry Jeudy in the end zone. On air, but great body control and extension.

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DL target says Oklahoma is one of the other schools still recruiting him

ORLANDO, Fla. — Akial Byers committed to Alabama in July. He hasn’t said a word about his commitment, where his recruitment stands or really anything to the media since then.

Because he’s at the Under Armour All-America Game, he was required to have a media session. This was the first time SEC Country spoke with Byers about his recruitment.

“I feel like a big priority to them. I communicate with them often,” Byers said of Alabama. “The only time I don’t really talk to them is when there’s an off week for them when they can’t talk to recruits. Coach (Nick) Saban will call me and we speak on the phone for around 20 minutes.”

The 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive line prospect said he committed to Alabama because of his love for the coaching staff and his mother also falling in love with the school. She was with him in Tuscaloosa when he made his commitment in July.

Although he’s from Fayetteville, Ark., the Razorbacks have not strongly recruited Byers. It’s believed to be because of academic reasons, according to a source. Byers needs to retake the ACT in January before being squared away with enrolling at a university.

Fayetteville High School is located less than a mile from the University of Arkansas, but he didn’t have an offer from the Razorbacks before he committed.

Byers said he has one now, but Arkansas isn’t the school to worry about stealing him away from Alabama.

“A lot of schools stopped trying to recruit me, but some still do like Oklahoma,” Byers said. “I’ve been hearing a few things from coaches at Arkansas. They tell me things, but they aren’t trying to recruit me or anything.”

Alabama actually has two prospects in the Class of 2017 who live in SEC foes’ towns — 4-star offensive tackle Jedrick Wills from Lexington, Ky., being the other. Byers said his school classmates have backed his decision, while others in the community haven’t been as supportive.

“Everybody at the high school loves it that I committed to Alabama,” Byers said. “When I go to other places, there are Arkansas fans that say, ‘You should have went to Arkansas.'”

Byers will take his official visit to Tuscaloosa on Jan. 22. It’s the only school he’s planning on visiting in January before making his commitment official on National Signing Day.

“I’m pretty solid on ‘Bama right now,” Byers said. “I don’t think I’m going to change my mind.”

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Cesar Ruiz wins two straight against Akail Byers. He has been impressive.

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Leatherwood pushes Robert Beal outside.

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Jack Anderson stonewalls Phidarian Mathis. The next time, though, Anderson lunged forward and lost

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