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

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 Alabama's win over Georgia in the national title game, Nick Saban asked the Crimson Tide locker room, "Who should we give the game ball to?"

"Tua," some players yelled.

Then came a different recommendation.

"Man, give it to Leatherwood," a player yelled out, referring to Alabama then-freshman tackle Alex Leatherwood.

Other players then chimed in, too.

"Yeah, give it to Leatherwood," they said.

After not playing a meaningful snap all season, the former five-star recruit had to step in at left tackle early in the third quarter of the national title game for an injured Jonah Williams and played at such a high level that teammates were yelling that out about him in the post-game locker room.

And though Alabama returns four of its five offensive line starters, it's because of young players like Leatherwood and fellow rising sophomore Jedrick Wills that the Tide offensive line may look much different in 2018.

Some at Alabama believe Williams may end up at center with Leatherwood starting at left tackle and Wills, who was in the mix for the starting right tackle job last summer, potentially starting at right tackle over returning starter Matt Womack.

Others have different expectations.

Former Tide center Bradley Bozeman, the only offensive line starter Alabama is losing, said he believes left guard Ross Pierschbacher will end up at center, that Leatherwood could end up at left guard and that Williams will either remain at left tackle or "maybe" move back to the right tackle spot he played as a freshman in 2015.

"It's going to be interesting," Bozeman said. "All the guys can play different positions. They're good guys. They know how to compete and they're willing to compete wherever they need to move to for the betterment of the team."

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Purdy is small 

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The timing just stunk.

Poised for a big junior season at Perry High School, Brock Purdy came down with mono. Six weeks were gone just like that. So were 20 pounds. Strength was an issue even after returning from being sick.

All of this set the Gilbert, Ariz., passer back in the recruiting world. Despite throwing for 3,333 yards and 42 touchdowns in 10 games, the game tape wasn't blowing away college coaches.

A year later, Purdy has a scholarship from Alabama and he'll be in Tuscaloosa for an official visit this weekend. He'll be at UCF from Wednesday-Friday before heading north. Previous visits included Boise State and last weekend at Iowa State where students at the basketball chanted his name.

It's a long way from being left behind by the recruiting process because of an untimely bout with mono.

"A lot of coaches told us, we already have a commitment, but if something happens to our commitment, he's our next guy," said Preston Jones, Purdy's coach at Perry High School. "There are tons of coaches who told me that, starting in the spring. And they had to wait through the season to see how their commitments were going to handle their commitments and things like that.

"He's basically -- from what all the coaches are saying -- is the best quarterback who has not signed right now."

The composite ranking on 247Sports has Purdy a three-star recruit and the No. 46 pro-style quarterback. There are four unsigned quarterbacks ranked ahead of him include No. 3 pro-style passer Matt Corral of Long Beach Poly.

Alabama did not land a quarterback in the early signing period but still has a few offers out there. Four-star dual-threat quarterback James Foster of Lanier High in Montgomery visited last weekend.

[Related] A few things to know about Alabama's 2018 signing class

So, how did an under-recruited quarterback from Arizona become a target for Alabama?

Jones said a quarterback coach sent film of Purdy to a friend on the Crimson Tide staff.

"As soon as they watched his film," Jones said, "they said 'Wow, who is this kid?'"

New Alabama special teams coordinator Jeff Banks has visited him in Arizona while linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi has also been in touch.

Purdy threw for 4,410 yards and 57 touchdowns as a senior. He also ran for 1,016 yards and 10 more scores. His high school coach said he's more of a dual-threat player than people think.

"His accuracy and vision are something I've never seen in all of my years," Jones said. "He has it all. He has it all."

At 6-foot-1, 204 pounds, height is one of the concerns for recruiters.

"I feel like every coach who comes in here," Jones said, "they're like 'God, coach. He's put together. He's a lot bigger than we thought. Once they see him in person because on film, he didn't look (it) because he lost all that weight and he's only 6-1."

As for the recruiting process, Jones said his quarterback hasn't had a bad experience.

Among the schools on his list, Alabama certainly stands out.

"I think he's intrigued because of the name and the uniform," Jones said. "How do you not look at college football and hear the name Alabama and not get excited? They're a proven winner and they're going to be competing for a national championship probably every year. Obviously, that's very intriguing to him. He wants to play on a big stage and I don't know if it gets any bigger than Alabama."

[Related] What's next for Alabama's quarterback recruiting?

The Tide have three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster with rising sophomore Tua Tagovailoa and junior-to-be Jalen Hurts competing for the starting job. Mac Jones will also be a redshirt freshman in 2018.

The makeup of Alabama's quarterback room doesn't necessarily help with Purdy's outlook.

"I think he wants to be able to play early," Jones said. "I think he wants to be able to throw the ball often and he likes to be the guy that makes decisions. If you're going to sit there and hand it off 75 percent of the time, he's probably not going to enjoy that as much."

His high school coaches have reminded him that college coaches will often tailor offenses around the strengths of the quarterback.

"He wants to play at the highest level possible but he's also a smart kid," Jones said. "He wants to have the right fit coaching-wise, with the offense and the right system. He's such a mature kid, he's not going to let that be the decision maker. He'll be in awe of the (Alabama) stadium and the campus and everything that probably goes on in that trip, but at the end of the day, he's going to make the best decision for him and what's best for his future."

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John Garcia, Jr. says we have 8, maybe 9 spots left. He predicts:

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