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

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Florida State made a big impression on Lee-Montgomery receiver Henry Ruggs III and his family last weekend.

Ruggs, ranked as high as five stars by 247Sports, took his official visit to Tallahassee, Fla., days before earning Class 7A Back of the Year honors.

"It was a good visit, very eye-opening," Ruggs said Wednesday. "I got a chance to hang out with the players and bond with them. If I do choose to go there, I'll have a relationship with them already."

Ruggs said he feels no pressure to stay in state and Florida State has recruited him and his family hard.

"One of the biggest things is that they keep in constant contact with me and my parents," Ruggs said. "On my official visit, they could have spent a lot of time around other recruits, but I can say that (head) coach (Jimbo) Fisher and (assistant) coach (Lawrence) Dawsey spent a lot of time around me and my family."

The 6-foot, 173-pound Ruggs accounted for 20 touchdowns on 102 touches for the Generals in nine games. Ruggs had 38 catches for 639 yards and nine touchdowns, 36 carries for 446 yards and seven scores, seven kickoff returns for 352 yards and a touchdown and, forced into quarterback duty late, went 11 of 23 for 186 yards and three touchdowns.

"They say, because of my frame, I can play slot, but I could gain a few pounds and be on the outside, so they probably want me at Z-receiver," Ruggs said.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban brought several assistants, including offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, to Montgomery on Monday to watch Ruggs play basketball. Later, Saban conducted his in-home visit with Ruggs.

"It was good," Ruggs said. "He came to the house. We had a typical conversation, kind of talked recruiting a bit. I had a chance to talk to Coach Sarkisian. We pretty much just had a friendly conversation."

It was Ruggs' first meeting with Sarkisian, who was promoted to offensive coordinator in December.

"He's a good guy and he has great plans for the future," Ruggs said. "I'm excited to see how those plans end up."

Ruggs said he's looking forward to seeing how everything is presented to his family when he makes his official visit to Alabama this weekend.

He may not be done taking officials. Ruggs said he may take a midweek official to Auburn next week, but it's not set in stone.

Penn State head coach James Franklin visited Ruggs Wednesday night, hours after Ruggs said he would likely take an official to State College the weekend of Jan. 27.

"It's just a different look," Ruggs said. "It's the Big Ten, so it's not football in the south. Coach Franklin is a really good guy, he and (receivers) Coach (Josh) Gattis. I went up for a camp and  got a chance to be under Coach Gattis and liked the way he coached."

He'll make his decision after his visits.

"Just going with my heart," Ruggs said. "Following my heart. Wherever I go, I've got to have that gut feeling."

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Devonta Smith’s surprise official has new team in the mix

Nowadays, it’s hard to take a “surprise” recruiting trip anywhere with the world of social media. But, somehow, 4-star wide receiver and major Alabama target Devonta Smith pulled it off this past weekend when the Louisiana native visited Florida State.

The Seminoles now are in a four-team race with the Crimson Tide, LSU and Miami. SEC Country’s Sam Spiegelman caught up with Smith at Amite (La.) High School on Wednesday to get the latest on how his official visit to FSU affects his recruitment, and it’s not bad news for Alabama.

“They’re in the top 4,” Smith said. He did say that the Seminoles remain behind Alabama, LSU and Miami, which all hold the top spots in his recruitment.

Devonta Smith will make his commitment on National Signing Day.

Alabama wide receivers coach Billy Napier was in Amite on Wednesday to meet with Smith and his coaches. Smith has previously said that out of all the coaches he talks to, he may not be closer to any coach than Napier.

As written multiple times on SEC Country, the relationships Smith has at Alabama trump those at the other three schools in the mix. Alabama’s assistant director of player personnel Sam Petitto got his coaching start at Amite High School and was an influential person in Smith’s life when he was growing up. Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt was one of Smith’s primary recruiters when he was at Georgia, where Smith was once committed. He’s also good friends with Alabama freshman defensive back Shyheim Carter.

Smith has been to Tuscaloosa countless times and will be back there this weekend on an official visit. He doesn’t need to see anything else for him to make a decision on whether Alabama is the school he’ll commit to on National Signing Day. This trip this weekend is mainly for his mother to get a feel for the school.

“This is really for my family to get the feeling of how it is,” Smith said.

LSU is still viewed as the biggest competitor for Smith, but one source close to the program said the Tigers’ confidence in having him in their signing class is waning.

Tigers offensive coordinator Matt Canada and wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig have been all in on making Smith feel like a priority. Their message to Smith on why he should choose LSU is interesting.

“Come be different and come to LSU,” Smith said. “Be different. Don’t go places where they talk about throwing the ball. Here, it’s opening up. It’s opening up.”

I’m not sure if the LSU staff is taking a veiled shot at Alabama when talking about the Tide’s offense or not. But Alabama is surely a run-first offense and has been for quite some time.

Even with that being said, Alabama should be considered the favorite to land Smith when he makes his commitment. He was set to commit to the Tide back in August but ultimately delayed his decision due to the tragic flooding that swept through the state. Nothing has changed since then, and spending this weekend around all of the Alabama commits and coaches should reassure Smith of his likely college destination.

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Madison (Ala.) Bob Jones offensive tackle Kendall Randolph will no longer be visiting Florida the last weekend of January, he confirms to BamaOnLine.

"Nope," Randolph said when asked if he'll take anymore visits besides Alabama.

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With a mere two weeks left until National Signing Day (NSD) on Feb. 1, the Alabama staff will be hosting a bevy of blue chippers on official visits (OV) to see who will fill out the few precious openings in the Class of 2017. Among them will also be plenty of prospects for future classes on unofficial visits.

As is customary, Saban's staff usually visits recruits the week before their OV. If this does not occur, it is a pretty good indication of their status.

OVs arriving on Friday, Jan. 20:

Devonta Smith (Amite, LA) WR 6-1/160 - 247sports has given Smith a fifth star and declare him the second best wideout in the nation. Bama WR coach Billy Napier was in Amite last weekend to visit him. Pick: Alabama might have a slight edge over LSU.

Henry Ruggs (Montgomery, AL) WR 6-0/175 - Alabama pulled out the big guns with Nick Saban, Steve Sarkisian, and Derrick Ansley calling on Ruggs this week. They attended his basketball game before an in-home. Pick: Alabama if the numbers work out.

Phidarian Mathis (Monroe, LA) DT 6-4/287 - Karl Dunbar, Jeremy Pruitt, and Billy Napier were in Monroe to visit Mathis on Tuesday. It's down to Bama, LSU, and TCU. Pick: LSU.

Markail Benton (Phenix City, AL) OLB 6-1.5/237 - Committed to Bama. Benton had planned on visiting UGA last weekend but cancelled due to "surgery on both his knee and shoulder" (YIKES!) on Friday morning. Saban and Derrick Ansley looked in on him. Pick: Alabama... but something just doesn't feel right here.

Todd Harris (Plaquemine, LA) S 6-0/180 - No coach visit as of yet. Pick: LSU.

LaBryan Ray (Madison, AL) SDE 6-4/260 - Jeremy Pruitt, Tosh Lupoi, and Karl Dunbar visited last Friday. Pick: Alabama.

Mac Jones (Jacksonville, FL) PRO 6-2/180 - Committed to Bama. Steve Sarkisian and Brent Key visited Friday. Saban will have an in-home visit on Wednesday. Pick: Alabama.

Akial Byers (Fayetteville, AR) DT 6-4 275 - Committed to Bama. Someone from the Bama staff is expected to visit this week, probably Billy Napier and/or Karl Dunbar. Pick: Alabama but there is some speculation that grades could be an issue. 

James Robinson (Lakeland, FL) WR 6-3/196 - No coach visits. I get the feeling this guy is just a sight-seer. Pick: Florida.

NEW ADDITIONS TO JAN. 20 OV LIST:

Chris Allen, 4-star OLB who is already committed to the Tide, was supposed to OV last weekend but went to LSU instead. Nick Saban, Tosh Lupoi, and Jeremy Pruitt all paid him a visit in Baton Rouge on Tuesday. Pick: Alabama but LSU may still have a shot.

Kendall Randolph, Bob Jones HS (Madison, AL) OT 6-4/310 - committed to Alabama. Brent Key and Steve Sarkisian visited Randolph last Thursday and then Saban and Brent Key visited him again on Monday. Pick: Alabama.

Kedrick James (Waco, TX) TE 6-4.5/245 - committed to Alabama. Billy Napier visited him on Saturday. James is more of a blocking tight end. I am a little confused why they think they need him. Pick: Alabama.

NOT VISITING

Nico Collins (Pinson, Ala.) will not be among OVs this weekend. The 4-star wide receiver made a surprise unofficial visit to LSU last weekend. It is looking more and more like Collins will not be a part of the Crimson Tide. Pick: UGA

Javon Kinlaw (Jones County J.C.) SDE 6-6/305 - The fact that this former longtime South Carolina commit is not OVing Alabama this weekend is probably a good indication that Alabama has another strongside DE locked up. Oh, by the way. LaBryan Ray is a strongside DE! Pick: S Carolina.

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The inaugural Polynesian Bowl is set for Saturday inside Aloha Stadium, as some of the best high school football prospects in America are already in Hawaii preparing for the game.

The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame established the Polynesian Bowl to showcase the world’s elite high school all-star players of Polynesian heritage and other ancestries.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is the captain of Team Mariota coached by June Jones while Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley is the captain of Team Stanley coached by Dick Tomey.

The game will kickoff at 11 p.m. (EST) and can be viewed on ESPN3. Players of Hawaiian, Samoan, Fijian and Tongan ancestry are certainly highlighted but not every invite to the game is of Polynesian heritage.

There will be several blue-chippers on the field.

A pair of 247Sports five-stars headline the roster in Alabama quarterback signee Tua Tagovailoa and Iowa defensive line commit A.J. Epenesa. There is plenty of star power after those guys including the nation’s No. 2 tight end Josh Falo, Michigan quarterback commit Dylan McCaffrey, Wolverines offensive tackle pledge Chuck Filiaga, Top247 defensive end Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and Top247 safeties Isaiah Pola-Mao and Chaz Ah You.

Six are slated to announce their college decision.

First up will be Top247 defensive end Langi Tuifua. BYU is the heavy 247Sports Crystal Ball favorite for the nation’s No. 12 weak-side defensive end out of South Jordan (Utah) Bingham.

Announcing in the second quarter will be defensive tackle Brandon Pili and linebacker Levani Damuni. USC has emerged as the 247Sports Crystal Ball favorie late for Pili as they battle Oregon State among others, while BYU, Virginia and Stanford are among the top contenders for Damuni.

Third quarterback announcements will come from defensive tackle Austin Faoliu and linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia. Oklahoma looks to be in great position for Faoliu while it’s Oregon that is the 247Sports Crystal Ball favorite for Slade-Matautia.

The final announcement of the night comes from safety Charles Watson, who has a final two in Oregon State and BYU.

Several will take the field already knowing their college plans.

McCaffrey and Filiaga will take the field with future Wolverines teammates in Top247 linebacker Josh Ross, defensive lineman Phillip Paea and running back Kurt Taylor.

Naturally there is a huge Pac 12 presence.

Washington commits slated to play include Top247 offensive tackle Henry Bainivalu, Top247 tight end Hunter Bryant, four-star safety Brandon McKinney, Top247 cornerback Keith Taylor and Top247 receiver Terrell Bynum.

Representing Oregon’s class will be linebacker Sampson Niu and defensive tackle Popo Aumavae. USC has a couple commits playing in center Brett Neilon, linebacker Juliano Falaniko. Four-star running back Sione Heimuli-Lund (Stanford commit), quarterback Ryan Kelley (Arizona State), quarterback Connor Neville (Washington State), defensive end Lorenzo Fauatea (Oregon State), defensive tackle Austin Faoliu (Arizona commit), safety Rhedi Short (Arizona commit), offensive lineman Michael Saffell (Cal commit) and receiver Maurice Bell (Colorado) are Pac 12 bound as well.

BYU has a pair of commits in offensive lineman Paula Finau and tight end Isaac Rex and Hawaii will be represented by verbal in-state commit Kesi Ah-Hoy.

Georgia receiver commit Mark Webb, athlete Connor Wedington and receiver Nico Collins are a few more high-profile athletes in Hawaii this weekend along with Ole Miss quarterback commit Alex Faniel, defensive tackle Noah Elliss, Georgia Tech offensive line commit Michael Minihan and Virginia offensive line commit Chris Glaser being a few more names to follow.

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Damnit.

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What the frick is this shite?

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