re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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Loaded group of visitors heading to Tuscaloosa

Alabama will host numerous major targets in the 2018 class this weekend, and there’s no better time for these recruits to visit with the national championship parade being held this Saturday. This will be the biggest recruiting weekend for the Crimson Tide before National Signing Day.

Here’s a look at who the coaching staff is expecting in Tuscaloosa:

Alabama commits/signees

* indicates signee

Bobby Brown, 4-star defensive lineman, Lamar (Arlington, Texas)

Bobby Brown is the only recruit on this list who is taking an unofficial visit, meaning he and his family will pay their own way to Tuscaloosa. Brown committed to the Tide during the early signing period but chose not to sign.

Texas A&M, the school he was once committed to, is trying to persuade him to change his mind, but Brown seems all in with the Tide. Getting him back on campus with his mom, uncle, aunt, cousin and brothers should lock in his commitment.

Brown’s player host will be defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis.

Vernon Jackson, 4-star linebacker, Boling (Boling Texas)

Vernon Jackson is still flirting with other schools, such as Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. I expect the coaching staff will try to convince Jackson to shut down his recruitment this weekend. Jackson will visit with his mother.

Jackson’s player host will be linebacker Jamey Mosley.

Quay Walker, 4-star linebacker, Crisp County (Cordele, Ga.) — tentatively 

Quay Walker is definitely the likeliest Alabama commit to flip his commitment elsewhere. Walker visited Tennessee last weekend and is expected to visit Auburn and Georgia before making his final decision on Signing Day. He’s actually expected in Athens and Tuscaloosa on Saturday, so we’ll see which school he ends up visiting.

Either way, I don’t expect him to end up signing with the Tide. He was very close with Jeremy Pruitt and Derrick Ansley, who both left for other jobs. He just doesn’t have the relationships with anyone else on the staff.

Walker’s player host will be linebacker Mack Wilson.

*Xavier Williams, 4-star wide receiver, Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)

There’s no drama surrounding Williams’ recruitment. He signed with Alabama during the early signing period. He’ll enroll in the summer.

Williams’ player host will be wide receiver Jerry Jeudy.

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Alabama targets

Tyson Campbell, 5-star cornerback, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)

Tyson Campbell has been Alabama’s top cornerback target for several months now, but it just doesn’t seem likely that he’ll end up signing with the Tide when he makes his decision on Signing Day. Everything I’ve been told lately suggests that Campbell is strongly leaning toward Georgia. We’ll see if Alabama can make up ground this weekend. Campbell will visit with his mother and father.

Campbell’s player host will be cornerback Nigel Knott.

James Foster, 4-star quarterback, Sidney Lanier (Montgomery, Ala.)

James Foster is one of Alabama’s quarterback targets along with 3-star prospect Brock Purdy, who was offered by the Tide earlier this week. Purdy has a committable offer and will visit next weekend. The team is still evaluating Foster.

Foster’s player host will be wide receiver Henry Ruggs.

Julius Irvin, 4-star safety, Servite, (Anaheim, Calif.)

Julius Irvin was offered by Alabama on Wednesday. It is a committable offer, but what remains unclear is how he fits in with the team’s defensive back targets of Campbell, Patrick Surtain, 5-star cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart and 3-star cornerback Eddie Smith.

This will be Irvin’s first visit to Tuscaloosa. He’ll visit with his father, LeRoy, who was a standout player for the Los Angeles Rams in the ’80s.

Irvin’s player host will be running back Najee Harris.

Malik Langham, 3-star defensive end, Lee (Huntsville, Ala.) 

Malik Langham is the only player, in my opinion, who could potentially commit to Alabama this weekend. The Tide have been pushing for him for a little more than a month now. It’s hard to imagine choosing any school other than Alabama when he makes his decision.

Langham’s player host will be defensive lineman Quinnen Williams.

JJ Peterson, 4-star Tennessee linebacker commit, Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.)

JJ Peterson has been a longtime top target for Alabama, but he committed to Tennessee earlier this month because of Pruitt’s move to Knoxville. He was always going to commit to whichever school employed Pruitt. It just so happened to be that now he’s the coach for the Vols. It’s going to be a tough task for Alabama to end up flipping Peterson.

Peterson’s player host will be linebacker Ben Davis.

Nicholas Petit-Frere, 5-star offensive tackle, Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Fla.) 

Nicholas Petit-Frere has been Alabama’s top offensive tackle target for several months. A source close to the program told SEC Country last week that he believed Petit-Frere’s decision will come down to Alabama and Ohio State, which he’ll visit on Feb. 2. This weekend is going to be massive for the Tide’s chances of landing him.

Petit-Frere’s player host will be offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood.

Justyn Ross, 4-star wide receiver, Central (Phenix City, Ala.)

Justyn Ross is down to Alabama, Auburn and Clemson. The Tide have felt good about where they stand with Ross for several weeks now, but it’s unclear if Ansley’s move to the Oakland Raiders affects him in any way. Ansley was Ross’ primary recruiter and the two had a good relationship. I expect Ross to spend lots of time with Mike Locksley this weekend.

Ross’ player host will be quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Patrick Surtain Jr., 5-star cornerback, American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.)

Surtain’s recruitment has seemed like LSU’s to lose for more than a year now. That’s not the case anymore. Alabama is making this interesting. This recruitment is much closer than what it was a few months ago. He has told SEC Country that he believes he could see the field right away in Tuscaloosa with how thin the secondary is going to be next season. It should be an interesting weekend for the Tide with Surtain.

Surtain’s player host will be cornerback Trevon Diggs.

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