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

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Current sitting at 26

Minus Dean and Minus Byers = 24
Minus Brannon (Grey or Blue shirt) = 23

Add Ruggs, Ray, Smith, Parks = 27
Add one of Solomon/Kinlaw/Mathis = 28 (someone might need to grey or blue shirt, possibly Kedrick James or Mac Jones)

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For a prospect that probably never really wavered on his decision to attend Alabama, it certainly turned into a media circus down the stretch tracking the movements of Najee Harris, the nation’s No. 1 recruit per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite.

That’s because for whatever reason the Antioch (Calif.) High five-star running back just refused to confirm his travel plans to head straight to Tuscaloosa after playing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl this past Saturday. Neither his family nor his coach would confirm it as well.

The lack of confirmation in recruiting can create doubt and intrigue, and there was certainly a lot of that blowing around regarding Harris as some folks in Ann Arbor still thought they had a chance with the blue-chip recruit.

Regardless, the storyline was fun to watch develop. With the help of BamaOnLine’s Hank South and Wolverine247’s Steve Lorenz — both are partners of 247Sports — we’ve repurposed the entire Harris timeline.

2015:

April 8: A five-star recruit then regarded as the No. 16 overall player and No. 2 running back in the 247Sports Composite, Najee Harris commits to the Tide during Alabama’s A-Day Game.

April 19: Harris’ mother, Tiana Hicks, speaks to BamaOnLine about her son’s decision: "I didn't know he was going to commit this weekend, he surprised me. But I'm happy he made his decision, that's what he wanted to do. We want to say thank you for all the support from everybody. It's an awesome program. It's an awesome school, I'm 100 percent confident that they will take care of my son, not just on the field, but academically as well. I couldn't feel more comfortable leaving my son somewhere else."

2016:

Jan. 8: Harris attends the U.S. Army’s underclassmen combine in San Antonio and is iffy about his commitment status to Alabama in conversations with BamaOnLine.

Feb. 10: 247Sports ranks Harris as the No. 1 player in the class of 2017.

April 9: Harris unofficially visits Washington.

April 16: Harris visits Ohio State for its spring game.

June 12: Harris unofficially visits Auburn.

June 17: Harris attends Michigan satellite camp in Utah.

June 23: Michigan holds satellite camp at Antioch High School in California, with Harris getting to spend time with Jim Harbaugh, primary recruiter Jay Harbaugh and running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley.

August 6: Harris visits Michigan for their BBQ at the Big House.

August 7: A Michigan source informs Wolverine247 that the Wolverines “definitely lead” for Harris following the visit, but that it will be a “battle of epic proportions” to keep him from Alabama.

Oct. 7: Harris tells USA Today he’s not “100 percent set on Alabama.” Days later, Hicks tells BamaOnLine her son’s comments were taken out of context and that he was 100 percent set on his high school team, not Alabama.

Nov. 12: Harris officially visits UCLA.

Nov. 26: Harris officially visits Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl after missing his flight for an official visit for the Texas A&M game.

Dec. 7: Harris officially visits Cal, which insiders believe ran third in the recruitment. The Bears give Harris the party-bus treatment.

Dec. 10: Harris takes his final official visit to Michigan, with multiple verbal commitments informing Wolverine247 that the Wolverines lead for his services after the visit died down.

Dec. 24: Harris' Snapchat story allegedly shows him wearing a Michigan tee shirt on Christmas Eve.

2017:

Jan. 1: Harris misses his first scheduled flight to San Antonio and gets on an afternoon one that will put him in San Antonio after Army Bowl check-in (and media availability with 247Sports) ends.

Jan. 2: Monday morning, Harris weighs in (6-foot-2, 224 pounds) and visits with 247Sports and tells us he's undecided. Later in the day, Harris did confirm to BamaOnLine that he was still committed to the Crimson Tide — but that the undecided tag absolutely still applied.

Jan. 3: Multiple Michigan verbal commitments tell Wolverine247 that Michigan is Harris’ preferred destination but that they still expect him to sign with Alabama.

Jan. 3: Harris’s coach John Lucido tells 247Sports that Harris plans to fly to the school of his choice without telling anyone. (This ended up being one of the only 100 percent genuinely true statements of the week from the Harris camp).

Jan. 3: Harris declines to shoot the Alabama commit video promo for the NBC telecast of the Army Bowl.

Jan. 4: Tagovailoa tells BamaOnLine, not once, but twice, in different conversations he expected to travel to Alabama on the same flight with Harris.

Jan. 4: Michigan sources remain steadfast, informing Wolverine247 that they expect Harris to “eventually enroll in Ann Arbor.”

Jan. 5: 247Sports Director of Scouting Barton Simmons reports that Harris was scheduled to fly back home to Oakland following the Army Bowl.

Jan. 5: A teammate of Harris’s on the West texts 247Sports to say Harris-to-Alabama is done.

Jan. 5: 247Sports reports that Harris requested a flight change from California to Alabama following the Army Bowl.

Jan. 7: Right after the Army Bowl ends, Harris tells South, “I don’t know where I’m going. I’m not even thinking about it. I’ve got to talk about it some more, talk to the coaches some more.” Hicks adds she wants her son to fly home to California and talk about things more before making a final decision. She did say that if he comes to a decision earlier than that, then he may still travel to his next school without going home. Hicks said she would be moving to wherever Harris decides he wants to go. Like Harris, Hicks said she does not know where her son will be attending college. Tagovailoa says he is no longer sure if Harris would be on his flight to Alabama.

Jan. 8: Harris and Michigan are still in communication as he heads to the airport and boards his flight, with Harris telling Michigan he’s still unsure of what he wants to do.

Jan. 8: Harris’ flight — United Airlines 4021, from Houston — touches down at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport at 12:10 p.m.

Jan. 8: As he deboards, Harris informs Michigan that he’s going to stick with Alabama.

Jan. 8: Harris hides out as Tua Tagovailoa greets Alabama fans and a media crowd for a while, then makes his appearance at baggage claim. 247Sports’ breaking news story goes live at 1:18 p.m. The saga is over.

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Meanwhile, blueshirts represent the newest loophole for FBS programs to accumulate depth while not affecting their annual numbers. Like grayshirt recruits, blueshirts are counted toward the next season’s scholarship total.

There is one distinct difference, however. Unlike grayshirts, a blueshirt is able to enroll and participate in team events in the fall. This allows programs to get the best of both worlds: FBS schools can delay a scholarship for the following year, allowing them to over-sign beyond the 25-scholarship limit, and get the use of a prospect immediately rather than waiting until the following spring.

The use of a blueshirt was first popularized by New Mexico State, which would support its numbers by enrolling prospects right after the beginning of the fall semester and then place them on scholarship. Tennessee has also embraced the use of blueshirts under coach Butch Jones.

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Jan. 8: Harris and Michigan are still in communication as he heads to the airport and boards his flight, with Harris telling Michigan he’s still unsure of what he wants to do.

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ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

From an elite offensive tackle to another Florida receiver ready to star in Tuscaloosa, Alabama just reloads under Nick Saban.

Alex Leatherwood

Potentially replacing: Cameron Robinson

Farrell’s take: Robinson walked in and took the left tackle spot immediately at Alabama and it’s unlikely Leatherwood will do the same thing. If Jonah Williams flips to left tackle, then it’ wouldn't be out of the question to see Leatherwood work at right tackle or guard. Physically he’s ready, and his technique is more advanced than Robinson’s at the same stage.

Najee Harris

Potentially replacing: Bo Scarbrough

Farrell’s take: Harris isn’t the same kind of runner Scarbrough is, nor is he as strong and thick as Scarbrough was at the same stage, but he is a tall, big running back and Alabama has had success with prospects like that in recent years. The assumption is Scarbrough will be back in 2017, along with talented backs such as Damien Harris, Joshua Jacobs and B.J. Emmons but Harris will be the most talented of the group the second he arrives on campus.

Jerry Jeudy

Potentially replacing: Calvin Ridley

Farrell’s take: Ridley has one more year at Alabama before he heads off to the NFL. He has been an excellent replacement for Amari Cooper, another top Florida receiver that had success in Tuscaloosa. Jeudy looks like he will continue that tradition. He is in the same mold as Ridley, a dynamic receiver who is not just a deep threat but also a very good route runner and tough after the catch.

Dylan Moses

Potentially replacing: Reuben Foster

Farrell’s take: Foster is off the NFL and the Crimson Tide has depth at linebacker, but Moses is physically ready to make an early impact. He has the size and range to play inside if needed. Foster had to wait his turn for his breakout year and Moses might have to do the same, but the 2017 five-star has the talent to keep that recent inside linebacker tradition alive or help on the outside.

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