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

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1. The Crimson Tide’s top QB is from Hawaii

Alabama didn’t mine the SEC footprint or even the contiguous United States for its top quarterback recruit. The Crimson Tide landed Tua Tagovailoa from Saint Louis School in Honolulu, the same program that produced 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. Tagovailoa issued a verbal commitment to Alabama last May, and he’s honored his pledge despite overtures from programs closer to home, including Oregon after it hired Willie Taggart from South Florida in December. Tagovailoa is rated the nation’s No. 4 quarterback, and he broke former Hawaii standout Timmy Chang’s career high school passing record of 8,001 yards while also adding 1,727 rushing yards, according to Hawaii Prep World. Neither Tagovailoa nor fellow 2017 four-star quarterback commit Mac Jones seem likely to compete for playing time right away at Alabama after Jalen Hurts’ standout true freshman season, but both should be in the running to succeed Hurts as the starter after he leaves Tuscaloosa.

2. The Crimson Tide’s top commit is ending his recruitment in an interesting way

Eleventh-hour decisions are standard fare in recruiting, but that sort of late drama typically takes place on National Signing Day. Najee Harris, however, has ensured his choice to enroll early at a school this month is anything but ordinary. Harris has been committed to Alabama since April 2015, but that hasn’t stopped other programs from pursuing him. While the Antioch (Calif.) High standout has stuck with the Crimson Tide and probably will sign with them, that possibility seemed uncertain as recently as a few days ago. Harris reportedly said this week that he will not publicly announce his final decision, opting instead to simply show up at his school of choice, which is expected to be either Alabama or Michigan. After participating in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday, Harris reportedly was set to fly home before appearing in Ann Arbor or Tuscaloosa. But a report yesterday said Harris has asked to change his flight from California to Birmingham, Ala. Alabama fans obviously wish Harris would have been more forthcoming about his intentions, but they’ll be thrilled once he makes his choice official. Harris, a 6’ 3’’, 225-pound running back, rates as the nation’s top overall prospect.

3. The Crimson Tide are loading up on the offensive line

Alabama’s offensive line will face its stiffest challenge of the season in trying to stuff Clemson’s loaded front seven on Monday night. The star of that position unit, left tackle Cameron Robinson, is expected to enter the NFL draft this spring, but the Crimson Tide are set to bring in an impressive crop of reinforcements for the position unit Robinson would leave behind. Alex Leatherwood, a five-star tackle out of Booker T. Washington (Fla.) High; Kendall Randolph, a four-star tackle out of Bob Jones (Ala.) High; Jedrick Wills, a four-star tackle out of Lafayette (Ky.) High; Elliot Baker, a four-star tackle out of City College of San Francisco; and Hunter Brannon, a three-star guard out of Cullman (Ala.) High will join the Crimson Tide in 2017. Alabama may have missed out on two highly coveted targets at tackle, five-star Tennesseecommit Trey Smith and four-star Georgia commit Isaiah Wilson, but this group has the potential to be one of the best offensive line classes of Saban’s tenure.

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Savage ?? ?? ?@vandarius98 4h4 hours ago
I'm not leaving bama

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