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

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Grayson High School (Ga.) standout DeAngelo Gibbs is one of the top players in the country and he'll announce his commitment on Sunday at the Under Armour All-America Game, which will be televised by ESPN at noon CT.

Earlier this month, the 6-foot-2, 204-pound Gibbs announced a top five of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn and Florida.

AL.com spoke with Gibbs after Thursday's Under Armour practice. Gibbs is still doing a good job of keeping things close to the vest. College media relations staffs will like him in that he won't say any bulletin board material at that level or give away anything.

He says he has a top five still, but it will be a surprise for most people if it's not Georgia or Alabama.

"Gradually, it grows (knowing where I'll commit)," Gibbs said Thursday. "I may have an idea, but I'm not 100 percent."

Gibbs is ranked as the No. 3 safety in the country and No. 40 overall recruit, but he says Alabama is recruiting him as an athlete. He played receiver and cornerback for Grayson when the Rams traveled to Hoover for a late-season game. 

He said he doesn't plan to let his future coach know before the announcement, which will come sometime during the game.

"They're going to find out like everybody else is," Gibbs said, with a slight grin.

Georgia holds 90 percent of the Crystal Ball predictions, with Tennessee garnering 10 percent. One source closer to Alabama feels that Gibbs likes the Crimson Tide, but isn't sure where he will choose.

"It's Alabama," Gibbs said. "You can't go wrong. That's the standard. That's how college football teams try to be, like Alabama."

He took his official visit to Alabama in October, and visited Georgia the last weekend of the contact period in early December. Gibbs will be an early enrollee and on a college campus next week.

"Great program," Gibbs said of Georgia. "I feel like Kirby Smart is trying to build something there and trying to build their program just like Alabama, trying to become the standard of the SEC."

Location won't matter, Gibbs said. He says his family will support him no matter if he goes to college 40 miles away (Georgia) or 240 miles away (Tuscaloosa).

"My family wants me to make the best decision I want to make," Gibbs said. "If I want to go far, they want me to go far. If I want to stay close, they'll want me to stay close."

Gibbs isn't the only safety committing Sunday. Xavier McKinney of Roswell, Ga., will also choose between Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State. The one-time Alabama commit is predicted to choose Clemson, but AL.com has not had a chance to speak with McKinney yet this week. AL.com will also speak with another Tide safety target in Todd Harris of Plaquemine, La., before leaving Orlando.

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It's time to make one thing clear about Alabama offensive line commit Jedrick Wills.

He's coming to play offensive tackle.

That's what he said after Thursday's Under Armour All-America Game practice. It goes in line with what his coach said not long after he committed to Alabama.

Despite Alabama having commitments from four elite tackles, Wills included, he doesn't have plans to slide inside to guard.

"I'm playing strictly tackle," Willis said when asked what position he'll play in Saturday's Noon CT game on ESPN. "I was at guard for first couple of hours at first practice, but now strictly tackle O-tackle.

"(I'll play) strictly O-tackle (at Alabama). I've talked to (assistant) Coach (Brent) Key about it since he started recruiting me. O-Tackle, it's what I've been playing my whole life."

Willis announced his commitment to Alabama last month on a Bleacher Report video. The 6-foot-5, 318-pound Willis, a Lexington, Ky., native, is ranked as the No. 44 prospect nationally. He joins top JUCO prospect Elliot Baker, five-star Alex Leatherwood and four-star Kendall Randolph as tackles coming to Alabama. Randolph has said there's a good chance he'll move to guard.

Alabama will have one tackle spot open with Cam Robinson likely heading to the NFL.

"I'm trying to come in as a freshman and start at tackle," Wills said. "I talked to Coach Key about that. He likes my chances and said if I come out and compete, the opportunity is there."

Wills is the second No. 1 prospect in Kentucky to choose Alabama in the last three years. Five-star running back Damien Harris signed with Alabama in 2015. Wills talks to Harris, but not really for recruiting advice.

"There was a little bit of pressure in the beginning (to stay in-state), but once you get into the recruiting process and start handling things, it calms down a little bit," Wills said. "If you enjoy it and go through it like a normal recruting process, it takes the pressure off your back. Mainly, I just went where was best for me."

And Alabama was best for him. Wills took his official visit to Alabama during the Iron Bowl weekend and won't take other visits.

"It wasn't one big factor that stood out," Wills said about Alabama. "It was everything all together. It was Alabama, the entire recruiting class, Coach Key, Coach (Nick) Saban, the campus, everything."

As for his official visit, Wills said, "It was great, my first game at Alabama. The atmosphere was wild. The fans were great, the game was great, so it was an all-around good experience."

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Amari Rogers shakes free of Todd Harris for a catch.

Jeff Thomas too quick for Jaylen Kelly-Powell.

Jeudy catches a TD on Chris Henderson.

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Jerry Jeudy tried a double move on Kary Vincent but Vincent did not bite. Stayed with him and got a PBU

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Jeff Thomas slant too quick for Isaiah Pryor.

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 Todd Harris stays all over Amari Rodgers. Gets a nice PBU

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Todd Harris with an INT and PBU during 1on1

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Jeff Thomas toe taps a TD. Looked like Isaiah Pryor might break it up, but just out of his reach.

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Agreed. Feel Florida is the only team that will make a considerable push.

He's a very quiet kid. Lot of his family love Alabama.

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