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

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ORLANDO, Fla. -- The 2017 Under Armour All-America Game is in the books. Through the three practices and the game, several of the more than 90 prospects participating impressed with their play. The 247Sports team singled out the top 10 performers throughout the week. 

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Najee Harris will decide between Alabama and Michigan this week, report says

Najee Harris has been committed to Alabama for nearly two years, but Michigan has made a hard push for the nation's No. 1 recruit. Harris, a five-star running back from Antioch, Calif., told Scout.com that he will finalize his decision this week while in San Antonio for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Harris will play in the game on Saturday at noon. NBC will televise. AL.com will be on hand in San Antonio from Tuesday through Thursday.

"I'm still committed to Alabama, but I will know for sure by Saturday where I'm going to go," Harris told Scout. "I'm not going to announce anything during the game or anything like that. I'll just know where for sure I'm going. I know I'm going from San Antonio to college."

Read the story for more on what Harris told Scout.com, especially on Alabama's new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. Harris will enroll at his school of choice next week. He rushed for 2,776 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior.

Some Alabama and Michigan commits shared their thoughts on Harris from the Under Armour All-America Game, but most didn't have a good feel.

Michigan center commit Cesar Ruiz: "Not really, I haven't talked to him since the Future 50 (last year), well I talked to him at The Opening but I wasn't committed to Michigan then. I'm just now finding out the whole Najee thing. I have no clue. If we do (flip him), it's got to be quick."

Michigan defensive back commit Jaylen Kelly-Powell: "I don't have any thoughts on that. That's really his choice. Me personally, I don't try to force a guy to go to a school where they're not comfortable. It's their decision for the next three or four years."

Michigan defensive end commit Kwity Paye: "I know that there's a couple of our guys trying to recruit him, but I'm not too sure yet (if we can), to be honest."

Alabama safety commit Daniel Wright: "I mean hopefully we can get him to come on. I'm going to get in his ear this whole week. I know he'd be a great commitment for this program. He's a great player. A great running back."

Alabama linebacker commit Markail Benton: "With coach (Lane) Kiffin leaving, I could see it happen a little bit, but not really. I think in the end he'll stick with Bama. I'm going to talk to him."

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4. OL Alex Leatherwood 

Alabama commit Alex Leatherwood was the top overall performing offensive linemen throughout the week. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound prospect uses his strength to bully defensive linemen in run blocking as well as pass protection. Once the Pensacola (Fla.) Washington star anchors his feet, there is no moving him. 

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Najee Harris Will Make Final Decision During Army Bowl Week


by Campus Insiders

Five-star running back Najee Harris will reportedly announce his final decision between Alabama and Michigan this week leading into the Army Bowl.

This is the week. This is what we’ve all been waiting for, folks.

Five-star recruit Najee Harris, the No. 1 running back and No. 1 overall player in the country, will make his final decision known by the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday, according to Scout. However, it could be announced at any time leading up to that.Harris, who’s been committed to Alabama since April of 2015, has been flirting with the idea of flipping his commitment from the Crimson Tide to Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines.

On the weekend of Dec. 10, right before the dead period set in, Harris spent his last official visit in Ann Arbor and reportedly had a great time.

Harris has also been sporting Michigan gear as of late, as he posted to his Snapchat account while wearing maize and blue during Christmas.

When Campus Insiders spoke with him, Harris refused to answer any questions about his current Alabama pledge or what it would take for the Wolverines to convince him to join their 2017 class.

So, even if Harris does plan on staying true to the Crimson Tide, he has at least been considering the idea of playing for Harbaugh.

Cal, USC and UCLA are also in the mix, but they’re on the outside looking in, as it’s believed Harris is down to Alabama and Michigan.

He’ll certainly have commits from both the Tide and Wolverines in his ear this week.

Michigan has five current commits playing in the U.S. Army Bowl, including 4-star quarterback Dylan McCaffrey, who is playing with Harris on the West Team.

Of course, Alabama quarterback commit Tua Tagovailoa is playing for the East Team with fellow Crimson Tide commit Kendall Randolph, a 4-star offensive tackle.

Two-star long snapper Thomas Fletcher is the only recruit on the West Team pledged to Alabama.

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Dylan Moses

The Team Armour perimeter players did a good job of funneling ball carriers back to the middle and into the waiting arms of Moses. The Alabama commit finished with a game-high 10 tackles, one tackle for a loss and one pass breakup. Moses cleaned up a lot of plays after the ball carrier was redirected towards him. He should be a tackling machine in Tuscaloosa.

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