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

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Phidarian Mathis

The prospect better known as “Phil” narrowed his choices down to LSU and Alabama about a month ago and has kept a low profile while taking official visits to both schools over the past two weekends. He’s scheduled to take a visit to TCU this weekend, but the Horned Frogs have a ton of ground to make up if they hope to change his mind. In the end, expect Mathis to stay close to home.

Prediction: LSU

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CONFERENCE CHAMP: ALABAMA

Well, this probably won’t be all that close.

Alabama’s current run on the field and on the recruiting trail are correlated. Its SEC dominance shows no sign of relenting anytime soon and neither does the momentum it has built on the recruiting front. As things stand now, the Tide have seven five-stars in the fold. The 13 four-star commitments the program currently holds adds depth to class that was assembled thanks to the program’s on-field reputation.

Georgia appears headed for a top-five class and should be the SEC runner-up unless LSU nips it at the wire.

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Jarez Parks’ plan

Wednesday is an important day in 4-star JACK linebacker Park’s recruitment. That’s the day he and his mother, Ebony, will sit down and hopefully cut his list of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and North Carolina to just two schools. His mother wants him to choose between just two schools when he makes his college choice.

The following Wednesday is National Signing Day when Parks will make his college decision known. Alabama is considered the favorite right now, but Parks’ mother doesn’t know which way her son is leaning. She says she wants to be surprised when he tells her this Wednesday.

“We’ll be discussing everything on Wednesday, so we have everything in place for next week,” Ebony Parks told SEC Country. “I don’t want to bombard him with this. I just want the day to run smooth for him because it’s a big decision he’s about to make.”

Parks’ mother has tried to limit the amount of recruiting attention her son gets. That’s why he rarely does phone interviews, and if reporters or coaches try to get in touch with him after 9 p.m., his phone will go directly to voicemail because she turns it off at that point.

The Sebastian (Fla.) High School product’s mother, though, reports great communication between her and the Alabama staff. She mentioned how she frequently talks to outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi and offensive line coach Brent Key.

Those two coaches have answered every question she’s had about Alabama and have made her 100 percent comfortable with the school if it’s the college Parks chooses.

“As of right now, I don’t need to know anything else, but questions come up every single day,” Ebony Parks said with a laugh. “Things are just constantly running through my head. Alabama is just so great at getting back to me if I did have a question and if they don’t get back to me immediately, they will and have everything I need to know ready for me.”

Ebony Parks said before they went on the official visit to Tuscaloosa in mid-November, she emailed the staff a list of questions regarding academics and football. Every single one of them was answered.

Academics are what’s most important to her and Jarez. Jarez wants to attend medical school one day and be a physician. His mother is impressed with Alabama’s pre-med program. It’s one of the main reasons why the Tide are considered a favorite.

“I can’t even say that it’s a school that he’s just strongly considering, that is one of the top schools,” Ebony Parks said. “The Alabama staff is just really, really great. I can’t say anything bad about the school, to be honest.”

Parks was expected to take an official visit to Florida this weekend, but she said she “seriously doubts” they’ll end up making it to Gainesville because of their hectic schedule before signing day. For those keeping track at home, Alabama and Florida State, the Tide’s biggest competitor, would be the only schools he has taken official visits to if he doesn’t make it to Florida.

If Parks ends up cutting his list to two schools on Wednesday, expect Alabama and Florida State to be the finalists. But, his mother doesn’t know what he’ll do.

“Jarez really doesn’t say much about his top schools,” Ebony Parks said. “I told him that I don’t want him saying much because I don’t want him to feel like he has to give an answer. We don’t talk much about if he likes this school better than the next. So, as far as him saying he likes Alabama more than the next school, no, we haven’t discussed that. That’s what Wednesday is for.”

If the Army All-American does sign with Alabama next Wednesday, she wanted fans to know what kind of person her son is.

“Jarez is a very outgoing, humble, kind-hearted, intelligent young man,” she said. “He’s just a very well-rounded person. I am so blessed to be his mother.”

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The latest on the hunt for a kicker

Joseph Bulovas, the nation’s No. 8 kicker from Mandeville (La.) High School, de-committed from Georgia Tech on Monday. SEC Country has confirmed that Alabama is trying to bring in the Army All-American for a visit this weekend, but as of now, no trip is scheduled.

Bulovas has a scholarship offer from Mississippi State, and the Bulldogs are now considered the favorites. I can’t see Alabama offering a scholarship to a kicker at this point because space is so limited, and the Tide already have to tell highly rated position players no because of the lack of spots in the class.

That’s why I think the more likely scenario is Alabama offering in-state kicker Jake Lane from Park Crossing High School (Montgomery, Ala.) a preferred walk-on spot. Lane will visit Alabama this weekend.

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Kendall Randolph, four-star offensive tackle from Bob Jones High School in Madison, AL, returned to Tuscaloosa this weekend for an official visit.

"The visit was great," Randolph said. "It was really great being around all coaches and players again. It's great to keep building on that bond I have with those guys. I had a lot of fun. It was a really good weekend.

"My host was Scott Lashley. We had a great time. I knew him before I went down there. I knew him before I even committed. We have a good relationship. He was just telling me to work hard and stay focused. He said to keep an open mind set. Don't let anything distract you."

The best part of the visit?

"The best part of the visit was going over to Coach Saban's house today for breakfast," he said. "We didn't talk too much about college football. We talked about who we think is going to win the NFC and AFC championships. That was cool just to have a normal conversation."

Randolph spent time with other top prospects who were also on campus.

"I spent a lot of time with LaBryan Ray," he said. "I talked to him a good bit. We really want him as a part of this class. We will see what happens."

Randolph discussed the conversations with his future coaching staff.

"I spent the most time with Coach Key and Coach Sark (Steve Sarkisian)," he said. "Coach Key and I had a good conversation. He is excited about me coming in. I am trying to get to know Coach Sark more. We talked about how he likes to do things. I also talked to Coach Cochran. I talked to him about work-outs and stuff he likes."

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"locked out of LA professionally",

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"he is a follower and not a leader"

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Either way, I would rather give 1 of our few remaining scholarships to a 4 star playmaker than a kicker. Take the walk on.

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