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

I really can't think of the last time a majority of the Bama fanbase was this on edge.

This is going to be a long weekend for some people.

I don't know man. I forgot about that. I think he wants so bad to not be the center of attention but it is just blowing up on him or he could be trolling.

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He also said he was undecided, so...

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Iirc, that notion was mainly speculation by reporters, drawing their own conclusions from his minimal remarks, at times just about literally puting their words out there as though they were Najee's. I don't recall reading any quotes from Najee where he clearly stated he was undecided. He did say he wouldn't make any announcement and simply go to his chosen school. And he has remained committed to Bama.

Yep. It's their m.o. Click bait.

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Several highly-rated Alabama commits, including five-star recruits Tua Tagovailoa and Najee Harris, are playing in Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas at noon on NBC.

But the two with the clearest paths to starting roles are two of the lesser-known recruits. Snapper Thomas Fletcher and kicker Brandon Ruiz will suit up for the West team in Saturday's game.

Both players are among the tops at their position in the 247Sports composite recruiting rankings. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Fletcher is the No. 2 long snapper. He'll enroll at Alabama next week after playing his senior season at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. At 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, Ruiz, from Gilbert, Ariz., is a three-star kicker ranked No. 2 overall. He will enroll at Alabama this summer.

Different rankings have each player at No. 1 or No. 2., so it's clear Alabama's getting the best of the best at each position, and both will be on scholarship.

Alabama is losing scholarship seniors at both positions, meaning the two have a chance to become four-year starters.

The two have developed a bond this week in San Antonio.

"It's been fantastic," Fletcher said. "We haven't had a ton of contact together outside of camps and things we've done in the circuit. We're roommates here and we're working together every day. We've become, not just well-rounded on the field getting to know what each other's tendencies are, but we're becoming pretty good friends."

Practices this week have provided a good opportunity to get timing down for kicks. Ohio State quarterback commit Tate Martell is the West holder. Fletcher knows that when the holder flashes his hand, he has a half-second to snap it as Ruiz is already starting his routine.

"If I'm a second late snapping it, it's a huge deal," Fletcher said. "We've had 1.5 (seconds), 1.3 get-off times. It's going pretty well."

Like Fletcher, Ruiz earned his offer after a performance at an Alabama kicking camp.

Ruiz said he "just invited myself" and wasn't sure how much Alabama coaches knew about him prior to the event.

He said the battle for the offer was between him and one other kicker. Ruiz noted that his consistency, constantly making field goals between 40 and 45 yards, helped him get the foot in the door in front of Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who later watched the finalists.

"It was really cool," Ruiz said. "It was my first time being in front of Coach Saban, it was a breathtaking experience."

Even if he's never kicked in front of 100,000 fans, Ruiz has overcome one pressure cooker in kicking for Saban.

A few days later, he was informed that he needed to call Saban. The scholarship was offered, and he committed on the spot.

"It was a long process," Ruiz said. "You call a certain number and they transfer you because he was at a golf course for a charity event. He just said to make sure I was 100 percent with my decision."

Ruiz cited Alabama's history and current success as reasons he wanted to jump on the ship. He took his official visit to Alabama earlier in December and though Arizona State and Iowa State have also offered and pushed for his commitment, Ruiz remains solid to Alabama.

He also has high goals early on.

"I want to start, definitely as a freshman," Ruiz said. "I want to win the Lou Groza Award (nation's top kicker) freshman year. That would be a pretty cool thing to do."

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He's committed to Bama, he doesn't have to say anything. That's where he's going. These reporters are just milking this to the fullest extent possible.

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This plus they are taking advantage of, and/or angry at him, since he wont do their interviews and participate in the process that makes them a living.

Think a few pages ago you said something along the lines of Bama commits weren't killing it in the Army practices. How many guys does Bama have there?

I also think on some of these things they can't repeat the same thing day after day. For example, OSU has 9 guys there, with potentially 2 more committing tomorrow. They aren't, for the sake of their website, going to keep trumpeting that OSU guys had a good day (since some of them are always going to have a good day just due to sheer number).

Tua has seemingly been pretty good, and Harris is always good. How many more are there?

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The team just landed in Tampa.

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Driving down now and should be there in two hours. My prospective new employer is paying for my room at the Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel so all I need is to find a single ticket for the game on Monday. Anyone know what hotel the team is staying at?

The Hilton downtown Tampa I believe