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

Justyn Ross is looking at Clemson because of their record of putting WR's in the NFL. They have had pass heavy offenses so I get it. But now with Tua things will be different and can only help with his recruitment

Tua definetly helps with WR targets. Obviously those guys want to play for a guy who can sling it for 300 and 3 scores every week rather than a guy who throws for 120 against any decent defense and scrambles even when they’re open. Love Hurts but Tua is the future and hopefully that will swing guys like Ross and Waddle our way.

Where would yall rank Ross and Waddle with our freshmen WRs from last year?

I'd move Waddle to the top of the list, honestly. He's the best slot WR to come into college in several years, IMO.

Yeah it's hard to expect more than what we got from the three that played last year. Ruggs exceeded my expectations, I thought he'd just be a Special Teamer last year. Juedy didn't show out as much as I thought he would have, but he flashed the talent we all thought he had. Smitty left us all with a moment we'll never forget. I think his potential is anywhere from Kenny Bell to Dede Westbrook, but he's clearly gonna be a contributor. It will be interesting to see what he does when he gets some real biceps and triceps.

Tyrell Shavers has intriguing measurables but he'll just be Raheem Falkins until we see him do something in a game.

I dont know much about Waddle or Ross. A friend of mine coaches at Ross' school but I haven't talked to him lately. Early in the year he gave me the standard "he's the truth" line but he didn't know where he'd go to college. I don't know anything about Waddle beyond his recruiting profile.

I haven't seen a WR in quite some time that really developed or was a late bloomer. Seems like you kinda just know early on about these guys. They get marginally better, but, unless I'm forgetting someone, the talent is usually obvious from the time they get on campus.


(I'm sure our Auburn brethren would point to Will Hastings but I don't believe the hype on that kid. No way he's as fast as they claim.)

FWIW, I'm hearing that the staff really really loves Eddie Smith. Think he's ahead of ITS, Julius Irvin, and Griffin in the pecking order right now.

I'm going to venture a guess that our class ends with...

DL-Brown
DL-Langham
OT-Petit-Frere
WR-Ross
WR-Waddle
DB-Surtain
DB-Eddie Smith
DB-ITS

Tough call on that 8th and final spot between a QB and a 6th DB in the class. And if it's a DB, it's a tough call between ITS and Irvin. I think Smith has a spot, though, unless Campbell wants to come.

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Justyn Ross is looking at Clemson because of their record of putting WR's in the NFL. They have had pass heavy offenses so I get it. But now with Tua things will be different and can only help with his recruitment

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That did not stop the freshman trio from signing with us last year.

Some kids in the end just do not want to stay home and want get out of state. Ross just may be that kid this year. Nothing more.

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I'm tempted to flip Riggs to 1 because I was a huge fan of his highlights.

Otherwise I agree with that...

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I was just going to put that three on the same tier but that's a terrible "ranking." It will be interesting to see what happens with these three - all appear to be first round talents. None played a ton this year and all flashed at different times. Without going back and looking at numbers I believe Ruggs probably had the most production (at least I know he led in TDs). JJ flashed early and often. Smith left us with two impressive game wining TD receptions in the last 5 games. Looking at that last play, when Tau lets it go it looks like it's overthrown and Smith has a burst that's so effortlessly impressive.

Priority DB target, down to 3 SEC schools, previews first-ever Alabama visit

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Eddie Smith previews Alabama visit 

Eddie Smith will make his first-ever trip to Tuscaloosa this weekend. Alabama will have 48 hours to impress Smith before he sits down with his family on Monday prior to making his decision next week. Smith will not publicly announce his commitment until National Signing Day on Feb. 7.

Smith, a 3-star cornerback from Salmen High School (Slidell, La.) who has turned into a priority for the Crimson Tide this month, is down to Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi State. One of those schools will receive the 6-foot-1, 179-pound prospect.

“After I leave Alabama this weekend, I’m going to chill for like two days,” Smith told SEC Country. “On Monday, I’m going to sit down and talk to my family about my decision. I’ll have been to Alabama, Mississippi State and Tennessee. I’m going to weigh my options and see which school is best for me.”

Smith took an official visit to Tennessee on Jan. 12 and quickly declared the Volunteers his top team. That has now changed. Smith said he doesn’t have a top school at the moment.

Alabama and Tennessee are considered the front-runners to land his signature. Coach Nick Saban was at Smith’s home on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET. Jeremy Pruitt showed up at 8 p.m. ET.

Fans always wonder how former Tide assistant coaches act in their new gig after leaving Tuscaloosa. Smith said Pruitt had nothing but good things to say about his former employer.

“He didn’t say anything negative about Alabama. That’s what I like,” Smith said. “I don’t like a coach to come here and say negative things about any other program. He said that Alabama is a great program and it’s always going to be a great program, but he knows that he’s going to make Tennessee a better program. He wants me to be a part of Tennessee. He was just showing me the defensive schemes [on Tuesday], and I think they’re going to be good.”

Saban pulled the trump card, though, during his in-home visit. He reminded the Louisiana prospect all about the experience he has.

“He told me that he’s been coaching for 43 years,” Smith said of Saban. “He has evaluated a lot of film. He told me that after watching my film, he thinks I have all of the tools to be a great player. He thinks he can develop me into a great one.”

Alabama and Tennessee are in different places right now. Smith said it’s difficult to compare the programs because of that.

“I really have a lot of faith in Pruitt,” Smith said. “He’s a great coach and a great recruiter. He’s going to attract a lot of great players. I think if you go to Alabama, you’re going to instantly win games and win championships. If you go somewhere like Tennessee, it’s taking a risk. But I don’t think it’s going to be a risk with Pruitt because of all the athletes he’s going to attract. I think he’s going to change the program around. It’s probably not going to happen this year, but it will happen eventually.”

Alabama desperately needs more defensive backs. The Tide signed three during the early signing period in 4-star prospects Jalyn Armour-Davis, Josh Jobe and Saivion Smith. The team is strongly recruiting 5-star corners Tyson Campbell, Olaijah Griffin, Isaac Taylor-Stuart and Patrick Surtain Jr. Julius Irvin, a 4-star safety, also is a big target.

Smith is well aware of the opportunity he has at Alabama if he did decide on the Tide. He also feels like he has a good chance to see the field at both Tennessee and Mississippi State.

“It’s big time,” Smith said of Alabama’s lack of secondary depth and how that affects him. “Alabama usually has a lot of DBs. Saban was telling me on [Tuesday] that Alabama has never been like this where they have to replace all of their starters and backups. Whichever DB comes in and works, he’s going to put them on the field. The opportunity is there. You just have to grab it.

“Tennessee is really weak at the cornerback spot right now, and, shoot, Alabama is, too. Both schools are looking for guys to come in and play immediately. Mississippi State has cornerbacks already, but the thing with Mississippi State is that they rotate cornerbacks a lot. I have the opportunity to play right away at all three schools.”

The former TCU commit said he’s hoping to see a family environment at Alabama this weekend. That’s going to be the biggest factor, he said, for why he’ll choose the school he ultimately does.

But Alabama has already made a big impression on Smith.

“It’s crazy,” Smith said. “I’m just looking at Saban like, ‘Wow. The greatest coach ever is sitting in my living room.’ It’s an inspiration. It’s a dream come true. It’s crazy. The best part was just learning what kind of person he is. He’s really funny and a great person to be around.”

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Boise State took a commitment from a QB. So that may be one less option for Brock Purdy. Although there were two CBs to Iowa State for him this morning.