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re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition
Posted on 4/4/16 at 8:03 pm to Tide or Die87
Posted on 4/4/16 at 8:03 pm to Tide or Die87
He decommitted. We don't have problems getting running backs. I'd let him go elsewhere since he doesn't wanna be here
3
Posted on 4/4/16 at 11:09 pm to Sandkhan
You just mad cause he whipped that Columbus arse in the playoffs. 
Posted on 4/5/16 at 2:54 am to TideSaint
My new thing is frick decommits
Posted on 4/5/16 at 2:54 am to Sandkhan
I get tired of the "I'm definitely still considering them but I wanna look around". I'd tell them if the commit and back out that I'm done
Posted on 4/5/16 at 9:46 am to Sandkhan
One of the Washington mods CB'd Wyatt Davis to Washington. 
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:26 am to Sandkhan
Free Bleacher Report Content
quote:
Many results impact the College Football Playoff, but 10 regular-season games in 2016 are primed to matter the most.
While the first two years of the system have showed one shortcoming can be overcome, late-season losses tend to have a greater influence on the final polls. Losing any of the following games could be the unwanted dagger to championship aspirations for some teams.
The list is organized chronologically and focuses on matchups between early Odds Shark favorites for the national title.
Conference championship games are not included. However, most of the clashes will be a critical factor in determining which programs have an extra outing that weekend.
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:27 am to TideSaint
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Alabama vs Tennessee
Perhaps the Tennessee hype is annoying, irritating or even unbearable, but it's going to continue until the regular season.
And after Oct. 15, we'll know if the Volunteers should actually be taken seriously in the playoff chase.
Following games against Virginia Tech, Florida, Georgia and Texas A&M, Joshua Dobbs and Co. host defending-champion Alabama. A victory would put the Vols in the driver's seat.
Tennessee closes the campaign with South Carolina, Tennessee Tech, Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt, which isn't exactly a daunting stretch.
Plus, the Crimson Tide need to avoid what could be a second conference loss and cost themselves a chance to repeat.
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:27 am to TideSaint
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Alabama vs L5U
Similar to Clemson/FSU, the Nov. 5 showdown between Alabama and LSU is often the decisive factor for the league title.
Four times in the last five years, the winner proceeded to—and also won—the SEC championship.
Both programs are touted as favorites, and for good reason. While the Tide claimed the national crown last season, the Tigers return nearly every starter from the 2015 squad.
Alabama has triumphed over LSU in five straight meetings, and Nick Saban's dynasty could add another chapter this year. Or, a temporary break could be in store.
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:29 am to TideSaint
Free Bleacher Report Content
quote:
The majority of marquee 2017 defensive end recruits remain undecided about collegiate plans 10 months shy of national signing day. Only five of the top 20 players at this position in 247Sports' composite rankings have announced a commitment, headlined by 5-star Iowa pledge A.J. Epenesa.
Fellow 5-star recruits Joshua Kaindoh and Jarez Parks lead a loaded group of undecided athletes who could provide immediate pressure along a defensive front during the 2017 college football season. Here's a peek at several premier defensive ends still searching for their university and which programs could provide a potential landing spot.
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:30 am to TideSaint
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5-star Jarez Parks
High School: Sebastian River (Sebastian, Florida)
Size: 6'5", 255 lbs
Composite Ranking: No. 2 weak-side defensive end; No. 28 overall
Recruiting Rundown
Jarez Parks grew up a Florida Gators fan, according to Chad Simmons of Scout.com, and head coach Jim McElwain would love to land him in the Swamp. However, there is serious company in this pursuit with Florida State and Alabama among primary competition.
He's traveled to Tallahassee, Tuscaloosa and Gainesville since February, further surveying options across the Southeast. Parks added a pair of notable offers in late March, securing scholarship opportunities at LSU and USC.
This may have the makings of another Sunshine State showdown between rivals Florida and Florida State, but he's an excellent fit for Alabama's defensive attack and could flourish off the edge in a similar mold to past Saban-era stars. Parks, a state discus champion, compiled 68 tackles and seven sacks as a junior, according to Jon Santucci of TCPalm.com.
Best Fit: Alabama
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:31 am to TideSaint
Bleacher Report
I guess they don't know about his shoulder surgery.
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15. Alabama LB Lyndell Wilson
Alabama doesn’t rebuild. The Crimson Tide reload, and despite multiple departures from a nasty front seven, 2016 will be no different. Nick Saban’s staff just rolls in talent to replace those who’ve moved on in assembly-line fashion.
Alabama lost senior linebackers Reggie Ragland, Denzel Devall and Dillon Lee but signed multiple talented freshmen to take their place. Montgomery, Alabama, linebacker Lyndell Wilson is ready to pick up the slack. He has excellent size at 6’2”, 220 pounds and chose Alabama over Auburn and Georgia, among a host of offers.
Wilson is an excellent tackler, with great pursuit and quickness skills, as well as an athletic frame with solid lateral movement. And he has opportunity at Alabama. The door is open for Wilson to play early. Expect him to kick it down and get on the field this fall.
I guess they don't know about his shoulder surgery.
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:32 am to TideSaint
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10. Alabama QB Blake Barnett
For the third time in as many years, Alabama is looking for a starting quarterback. One-year starters Blake Sims and Jake Coker were successful, leading the Crimson Tide to a College Football Playoff berth and a national title, respectively, but Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin now have the opportunity to mold a younger starter long term.
One of the most intriguing candidates is Blake Barnett. The redshirt freshman watched and learned last fall but is competing with sophomore Cooper Bateman and fellow redshirt freshman David Cornwell for the job this spring.
Graduating linebacker Reggie Ragland was very impressed with Barnett, per AL.com's Matt Zenitz.
"Once he learns everything and gets stronger and all that stuff and does the things he has to do, he's going to be a monster in college football," Ragland said.
Barnett has great size at 6’5”, 215 pounds and has a very good arm with excellent athleticism. He isn’t a finished product, but he’s polished and takes a year of experience facing the Alabama defense on the scout team into spring practice. If he wins the job, Saban will have his first extended quarterback solution since A.J. McCarron.
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:32 am to TideSaint
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9. Alabama LB Ben Davis
Alabama is coming off its fourth national championship under Nick Saban’s watch, but as always, the Crimson Tide will be a work in progress early on. When you produce as many NFL players as Alabama does, that’s only natural.
The Crimson Tide defense will have some holes, and one of the most important is at linebacker, where Reggie Ragland graduated and is a potential first-round pick. Alabama has a natural potential replacement for him in incoming linebacker Ben Davis.
Davis is an Alabama legacy; his father, Wayne, also played for the Tide. He grew up in Gordo, a few miles from Tuscaloosa, but seriously considered LSU, Auburn and Georgia before picking Alabama on national signing day.
Davis is an obvious candidate for early playing time. He has excellent movement and quickness and can play in space well. He’ll get the opportunity to begin carving out his own legacy almost immediately.
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:36 am to TideSaint
SEC Country
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HOUSTON — Malcolm Epps committed to Alabama just three days after receiving an offer in late February. His recruitment isn’t over just yet, though.
Epps, a 2018 four-star tight end from Dekaney High School (Houston), told SEC Country at Nike’s “The Opening” regional in Houston that he’s currently 70-75 percent committed to Alabama. He knows what it would take for him to back off his pledge to the Crimson Tide.
“If anyone shows my family a better time than what I experienced at Alabama,” Epps said. “If I feel like a school is showing my family more love than Alabama, then I would strongly consider that school.”
It’s going to take an incredible trip for that to happen. When Epps visited Tuscaloosa in February, he committed on the same day. The main reason for that was because of how Alabama’s staff treated his family.
He mentioned how the staff hugged his mother, Michelle, and showered her with love. Alabama also made sure Epps’ younger brother enjoyed himself, too.
“They took care of my family,” Epps said. “They showed my little brother a good time. When my family has fun, I’m going to have fun, too.”
The Crimson Tide’s chances of keeping Epps in their 2018 class are also good because of his relationship with his primary recruiter, defensive line coach Bo Davis.
“He actually worked with my mom a few years back, so he’s known me from a young age,” Epps said. “He’s kind of like a father to me.
“He makes you feel like you’re a son, and I like that. He really makes Alabama feel like a home away from home.”
The 6-foot-6, 220-pounder said there are three schools that could potentially cause him to rethink his commitment to Alabama: Ohio State, Oregon and UCLA.
On Ohio State: “One of my favorite childhood schools. I have a lot of Ohio State gear. I think I have an Ohio State onesie if that tells you anything.”
On Oregon: “It was probably my favorite childhood school. I also love their uniforms.”
On UCLA: “The environment seems great. It’s also California, which is super nice. I also have family there, so that’s a big thing.”
Epps is rated as the nation’s No. 4 tight end in the Class of 2018 and is the No. 10 prospect in the state of Texas.
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:37 am to TideSaint
SEC Country
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Alabama was dealt another blow to its quarterback big board Sunday afternoon. One more main target chose a school not named Alabama.
Bailey Hockman, a four-star lefty from McEachern High School (Powder Springs, Ga.), committed to Florida State over Alabama and North Carolina. Hockman was one of two quarterbacks that Alabama was seriously considering to fill the void of Jake Fromm after he de-committed and chose Georgia last month.
The other quarterback Alabama is after is Hawaiian standout Tua Tagovailoa from St. Louis School in Honolulu, the same school Marcus Mariota shined at when he was a college prospect.
There’s a reason to be concerned about Tagovailoa, though, if you’re a Crimson Tide fan. He lives over 4,000 miles away from Bryant-Denny Stadium. It’s also not easy to just make a weekend trip from Honolulu to Tuscaloosa as it is for him to visit Southern Cal, a school that Tagovailoa has labeled his “dream school.” The Trojans also can be considered the Crimson Tide’s biggest competition at this time.
That means when he does visit, whether it be for an unofficial visit this summer or in an official capacity this fall, the time he spends on campus will be of the utmost importance because he doesn’t have the luxury of visiting whenever he wants.
Tagovailoa named Alabama in his top eight, and the nation’s No. 2 dual-threat quarterback is high on Alabama for a very important reason — Nick Saban’s religious beliefs. The school Tagovailoa chooses has to have a coach that is on the same level spiritually as him.
“Coach Saban has talked to us and his beliefs are God first before anything,” Tagovailoa told SEC Country. “Every school is going to have good academics. Every school is going to have good football. But when you have a coach like Saban, who believes in God and is a defending champion, that makes it even more special.”
It should be noted that during the same interview, Tagovailoa said Southern Cal was his leader, but it was clear Alabama had made a dent in his recruitment.
“You have to realize that (Hawaiian prospects) usually only get offers from West Coast schools, and you just come to expect that,” Tagovailoa said. “But with something like Alabama, knowing that I am so far out of their boundaries, it’s kind of crazy. When I got offered, it was something really big for me and our school.”
If Alabama misses out on Tagovailoa, there are other options for the Crimson Tide.
Lowell Narcisse, a four-star prospect from St. James (La.) High School, is the only other quarterback left in the Class of 2017 that remains uncommitted and holds an offer from Alabama. Narcisse, who originally was committed to Auburn before backing off his pledge, was high on the Crimson Tide before choosing the Tigers. But if Alabama wants to get back in the race for Narcisse, it has some work to do, as LSU and Auburn are believed the perceived favorites.
Several other 2017 quarterbacks have visited over the last month but likely will have to attend camp at Alabama in order to receive an offer.
Jack Walker, three-star, Madison, Miss. — Visited Alabama more than a year ago. His biggest offer is from Miami.
Taylor Powell, three-star, Fayetteville, Ark. — Visited Alabama March 11. He holds an SEC offer from Vanderbilt.
Jacob Free, three-star, Brantley, Ala. — Visited last week and holds an offer from Louisville.
Sixteen of the top 20 pro-style quarterbacks are already committed to schools and seven of the top 10 dual-threat QBs in 2017 have pledged to their school of choice. There are slim pickings for Alabama, but a quarterback could emerge over the next several months as we head into summer.
Getting a commitment from a quarterback in this class is important for depth chart purposes not necessarily in 2017, but in 2018. It’s rare that a quarterback in the SEC plays as a true freshman, so let’s look at what the depth chart could look like in 2018.
David Cornwell: redshirt senior (pending NFL draft decision)
Blake Barnett: senior (pending NFL draft decision)
Jalen Hurts: junior
2017 commit: sophomore or redshirt freshman
2018 commit(s): true freshman
Recruiting is all about building for the future of the program, and that’s why landing a top-flight quarterback in this year’s class is so important for Alabama and why Tagovailoa, the Tide’s top QB target, is going to be treated like a king by Saban and his staff when he makes it to the mainland.
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:38 am to TideSaint
SEC Country
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HOUSTON — Alabama’s depth chart on the defensive line isn’t deep by any means, and that’s something five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson has noticed, too.
Wilson, the nation’s No. 4 prospect from Episcopal High School (Bellaire, Texas), told SEC Country at Nike’s “The Opening” regional in Houston that the biggest reason drawing him toward the Crimson Tide is the ability to play early.
“That draws me to them so much,” Wilson said. “If the depth chart is thin, that just means I can go in and play early. That’s important to me.”
The 6-foot-4, 316-pounder has already told SEC Country’s Jeff Sentell that Alabama and LSU will be finalists when that time comes for Wilson to release his official top schools. On Sunday, he told SEC Country that Florida State, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M are working their way in the mix for him. It’s clear though that Alabama and LSU hold an edge right now.
“Those schools still stick out the most to me,” Wilson said of the Crimson Tide and the Tigers.
One reason for that is because of his relationships with Alabama defensive line coach Bo Davis and LSU defensive line coach Ed Orgeron. Out of all the coaches he keeps in touch with, he’s closest with both Davis and Orgeron.
“I talk to those two guys almost every single week,” Wilson said. “They keep it real with me and are getting to know me on a personal level.”
The U.S Army All-American said Davis’ message is simple but effective: “We need you here and we need you to play early.”
Wilson is listening.
Wilson also knows how well Alabama has developed defensive linemen over the years. Just in this draft class alone, A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed are projected to be first-round picks in this month’s draft.
“They put out pros. That’s the biggest thing for me,” Wilson said. “They get guys to the next level.”
Wilson is expected to make a return trip to Tuscaloosa this summer and make his commitment on National Signing Day.
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:39 am to TideSaint
SEC Country
quote:
Alabama’s special teams added another leg this past week, as walk-on punter Preston Knight reportedly will join the Crimson Tide’s Class of 2016.
AL.com‘s John Talty writes that Knight committed to Alabama after a recent visit.
The 6-foot-5 specialist is an in-state athlete from Prattville (Ala.) High, and he averaged somewhere between 36.3 and 40 yards per punt during his senior season, according to MaxPreps.com and OneOnOneKickingCamps.com.
He joins a punting unit that features All-American JK Scott, a rising junior, and rising sophomore Brannon Satterfield.
Alabama also recently added Ole Miss transfer Andy Pappanastos to its placekicking group. He has two years of eligibility remaining and will push Adam Griffith for playing time this fall.
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:40 am to TideSaint
SEC Country
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HOUSTON — An interview with the nation’s No. 8 safety on Sunday took a quick turn in favor of Alabama.
The Crimson Tide did not sign any true safeties in the Class of 2016, a fact that Derrick Tucker, a four-star prospect from Manvel (Texas) High School, did not know.
“I did not know that at all,” Tucker told SEC Country at Nike’s The Opening regional camp in Houston. “That just put them up there a bit more now. It changes a lot for Alabama. They’re pushing their way to the top now.”
The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder said he plans on redshirting his first year at whichever school he attends because he ideally wants to get familiar with the program for a year and get bigger and stronger.
But once he found out that there was a possibility of seeing the field early at Alabama, his tune quickly changed on his plans of sitting out a year.
“Hey, if I need to play right away, I have no problem doing that either,” Tucker laughed.
The No. 15 prospect in the state of Texas says he communicates with Alabama defensive line coach Bo Davis, his primary recruiter, on a daily basis. Tucker said Davis is treating him like he’s a big priority for the Crimson Tide.
“Every morning he’s texting me to see how I’m doing,” Tucker said. “I would say we have a strong relationship.”
Tucker plans on visiting Alabama again this summer, and the Crimson Tide are one of the programs he listed as having high interest in, along with Texas, Houston and TCU.
When asked to say why he was interested in Alabama, another smile came across Tucker’s face.
“They put so many players in the league,” Tucker said. “They say if you go to Alabama, it’s a guarantee that you’ll make it to the league. That has a lot to do with my decision when it comes time to making it.”
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:41 am to TideSaint
SEC Country
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HOUSTON — Dylan Moses, a former LSU commit, tweeted during his visit to Alabama last week that the trip got him “wanting to commit again” and the visit “reassured why (Alabama) is my No. 1 school.”
Five days after those tweets, Alabama was no longer his No. 1 school. Texas leapfrogged Alabama mainly because of a conversation he had with Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong.
“It was the best conversation I’ve had with any coach,” Moses told SEC Country at Nike’s “The Opening” regional camp in Houston. “It was a better conversation than what I had with Alabama and LSU. The Texas conversation just really grasped my attention and raised my ears.”
The conversation with Strong wasn’t the only reason why the Longhorns moved to the top spot for the five-star linebacker from IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.). The depth chart may have been a bigger reason.
Alabama signed two five-star linebackers in the class of 2016 in Ben Davis, the nation’s No. 1 inside linebacker; and Mack Wilson, the nation’s No. 2 outside linebacker.
“I like Alabama – I’m not going to lie – but at the same time, their need for linebackers and Texas’ need for linebackers are two completely different things,” Moses said.
There is a way for Alabama to regain the top spot for Moses, though. He said his eyes will be peeled on how each team performs this season, which could be good news for the Crimson Tide considering they just won a national championship. But even if Alabama repeats as champs, Moses is going to be focusing on other aspects of the team throughout the year.
“I’m not looking just at whether a team wins a national championship, I am looking at how the position group performs and how the coaches coach this season,” Moses said.
The recruiting pitches from both programs are similar, but there is one big difference that really intrigued Moses toward Texas.
“When I went to Alabama, they were telling me all about the national championships,” Moses said. “They reminded me that all of Nick Saban’s classes have won national championships at Alabama. I like the sound of that. But when I went to Texas, Charlie Strong was telling me how I would fit into the defensive scheme and the impact I would have in the entire state of Texas. I liked that a lot.”
The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder said he’ll visit Alabama again sometime this summer and will likely take an official visit to Tuscaloosa this fall.
He’ll make his commitment at some point in December on SportsCenter before enrolling early at his school of choice.
Moses is rated as the nation’s No. 2 overall recruit and the No. 1 outside linebacker.
Posted on 4/5/16 at 11:41 am to TideSaint
SEC Country
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Two weeks ago, it appeared that an in-state race was brewing between Auburn and Alabama for Tadarian Moultry.
But following an unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa on Friday, Moultry, a four-star linebacker from Birmingham, Ala., said he is no longer considering the Crimson Tide.
“I don’t have that bond with my assistant coach, so, there is no need to keep playing with a school’s head,” said Moultry. “I don’t have a bond with the (assistant) coach, so there’s no need for me to be talking to the school.”
Alabama was the latest stop in a string of recent unofficial visits for Moultry, who visited Auburn and Georgia earlier in the week.
“I never hear from them,” Moultry said of his relationship with Alabama. “I want to have that bond with the assistant coach. (Offensive line coach Mario) Cristobal is my recruiter, but he’s not going to be coaching me if I decide to go there.”
With Alabama removed from the picture, Moultry confirmed Auburn is now his front-runner. He’s unofficially visited The Plains on several occasions since January, and his relationship with first-year linebackers coach Travis Williams has aided in the Tigers’ pursuit of the in-state prospect.
Ole Miss and Georgia — two schools that have risen as of late — trail closely behind.
“They’re in a good position,” Moultry said of the Tigers. “I just want to get to Ole Miss to talk to assistant coach (Derrick) Nix and then get to Georgia.”
Moultry was originally slated to announce his commitment in August with linebacker K.J. Britt, who also holds offers from Auburn, Ole Miss and Georgia, respectively. But he’s decided to announce his decision sometime this spring. Moultry is planning to visit Ole Miss and Georgia prior to making his decision.
At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, Moultry is rated the No. 9 inside linebacker in the country and the No. 13 prospect in Alabama.
This post was edited on 4/5/16 at 11:43 am
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