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re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition
Posted on 4/14/17 at 9:38 am to TideSaint
Posted on 4/14/17 at 9:38 am to TideSaint
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Teair Tart-Spencer, DT, East Mississippi
Alabama won't let this class slip away without signing a top junior college player, especially on one of the lines. Tart-Spencer, now at East Mississippi Community College, is a four-star interior lineman ranked as the No. 2 prospect nationally in the JUCO ranks.
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Posted on 4/14/17 at 9:38 am to TideSaint
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Josh Jobe, DB, Miami
Jobe is a four-star cornerback who has been committed to Miami for nearly two years. He has almost flipped to Alabama during that time and just visited the Crimson Tide. Alabama makes its presence known in south Florida every year and will continue to try to flip Jobe since cornerback is a position of need.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 9:38 am to TideSaint
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Andres Fox, DE, Mobile, Ala.
Fox is picking up offers this spring at the rate of James Clemens standout and Alabama signee LaBryan Ray last spring. Fox is more of a "potential" player since Ray started for a Class 7A school since he was a freshman, but the talent is there regardless. Fox has a top three of Alabama, Auburn and LSU.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 9:46 am to TideSaint
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Myles Mason, DB, Pleasant Grove, Ala.
Mason, a four-star safety, recently said Alabama and Auburn were recruiting him the hardest. Florida State, LSU, Clemson and possibly Georgia will also be in the mix. Mason's name has to be up there and a commitment could come this summer after he performs at camps.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 9:46 am to TideSaint
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Jalen Cunningham, DT, Odenville, Ala.
The 6-foot-4, 360-pound Cunningham could be ready to commit soon .... is Alabama ready to take him? He earned an Alabama offer earlier this spring and says Alabama is his No. 1 school.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 9:46 am to TideSaint
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Malcolm Lamar, DE, Seffner, Fla.
A four-star recruit, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Lamar has visited Alabama this spring and come away with high marks.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 9:47 am to TideSaint
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Others to watch
The list shouldn't be limited to a top 15 with so many spots available. Top in-state prospects with Alabama offers (with varying levels of mutual interest) include four-star cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis of St. Paul's in Mobile, athlete Harold Joiner of Mountain Brook and receiver Seth Williams of Cottondale.
The list nationally spreads wider, going as far as California with four-star cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart and into Virginia (linebacker Teradja Mitchell), Maryland and more. More top prospects will rise up Alabama's board after spring evaluations and camp season.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 9:54 am to TideSaint
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In addition to the handful of other visitors Alabama is expected to host on Friday, three-star offensive tackle Jerome Carvin tells BamaOnLine he'll be on campus as well.
Alabama offered the Memphis (Tenn.) Cordova product in February, during a period Carvin earned a number of other big-time offers including Auburn, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
At 6-foot-4, 325 pounds, Carvin is rated the No. 43 offensive tackle and the No. 534 overall player in the country, per the industry-genearted 247Sports Composite.
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Posted on 4/14/17 at 10:16 am to TideSaint
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The NCAA’s Division I Council voted to approve a propsal that would allow an early college football National Signing Day rule Friday, setting up the Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) to give final approval in June.
The existing date of the first Wednesday in February will remain, but to it will be added a date right before Christmas, coinciding with the traditional junior college signing date. In 2016, that would have meant Dec. 14, but in 2017, will be Dec. 20. The new signing window would last for three days.
Why?
The NCAA says that by mid-December, most prospects are far enough along in the recruiting cycle that they have their minds made up about where they want to attend. They are tired of incessant texts and calls and want to have some certainty about their college destinations shortly after the fall semesters of their senior years.
The early signing period will provide clarity for prospects and schools.
Throughout the process, schools extend verbal offers to recruits, who in turn make verbal commitments. But neither are binding. Signing is.
When it comes time for the early National Signing Day, schools will be expected to extend binding letters of intent for their verbal commitments to sign, and those commitments will be expected to sign them.
If a school does not send a letter of intent to a prospect who believes he is verbally committed to the school, that will be a major red flag to the prospect, indicating that the school is not as committed to him as he believed. While that will be disappointing, the prospect will still have adequate time to visit other schools and find a better option by February’s Signing Day, or wait to see if the school feels differently come the traditional date.
“I think the general consensus is, there is a pool of guys that are legitimate, solid commitments,” Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said. "If you can sign them and that part would be done, it would be good. ... No one’s fighting the early signing in the discussions I’ve been a part of."
Conversely, if a prospect claims he is verbally committed but does not sign the letter of intent a school has sent him, the school will know that he is not truly committed and might be looking at other options. The school will likely do the same.
There will be some measure of embarrassment associated with these inevitabilities, so expect the overall number of verbal offers to decline slightly.
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Posted on 4/14/17 at 10:31 am to TideSaint
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Chris Smith says Alabama will definitely make the cut
Former Hapeville Charter defensive back (Atlanta) William Poole, who signed with Georgia in the Class of 2017, occupied one side of the Hornets secondary and Class of 2018 cornerback Chris Smith manned the other side of the secondary last season, making that duo one of the most talented pairs in the state of Georgia last year. It’s now Smith’s turn to have the recruiting spotlight turned on him.
While Smith does hold an offer from the Bulldogs and admits that it would be nice to link up with his former teammate in Athens, it won’t be a slam dunk for Georgia to get his commitment, which he says can happen from anytime this summer to National Signing Day.
“I’m making my decision for me,” Smith told SEC Country at the Atlanta Opening regional. “A lot of people around me tell me that this is the most selfish decision I have to make. I can’t think about anyone else when I make this decision. This is my life.”
That’s the good news for Alabama if it decides to strongly pursue Smith moving forward. Crimson Tide defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley communicates with Smith at least twice a week, he said. His relationship with Ansley goes back to 2015 when the coach was at Kentucky. Smith’s first college offer was from the Wildcats.
“I have a really good relationship with Coach Ansley,” Smith said. “He was one of the first people to believe in me when he was at Kentucky. That relationship has now carried over to Alabama. Things are going very well between me and Alabama.
“He’s very straight to the point. He has let me know that he likes me a lot. He’s always liked me; like I said, he wanted me at Kentucky. I believe him when he says he wants me. He has a really good résumé. I can see myself playing for him.”
Smith is planning on releasing a top 10 or 12 later this month or in May. Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon, South Carolina and Southern California will make the cut. What about Alabama?
“Alabama will definitely make the cut,” Smith said. “It’s Alabama. It’s a great program. They’re very straight to the point and know what they want. They’re not a very flashy program and that’s not a bad thing. They just produce great players every single year and send them to the NFL.”
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect was in Tuscaloosa last Saturday for a visit. Expect him back in camp this summer where Alabama will be able to further evaluate the nation’ s No. 43 cornerback.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 10:32 am to TideSaint
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Jack West visiting Alabama once again
Jack West committed to Stanford over Alabama last July despite growing up dreaming about playing for the Crimson Tide.
West, the nation’s No. 6 pro-style quarterback from Saraland (Ala.) High School, chose Stanford over Alabama mainly for life-after-football reasons. West is interested in politics and has thought of being a senator, or even president, one day. Stanford is one of the best universities in the world and he thought it was a better academic fit for him.
“I’m definitely not going to be the smartest guy in the room,” said West, who has a 4.5 GPA, last month. “I’m going there to study and be a football player, but there’s going to be neurosurgeons, future politicians and people who may cure cancer. I’m just a ballplayer from Alabama.”
That ballplayer from Alabama will be in Tuscaloosa on Friday, he told SEC Country. When West committed to Stanford, it was somewhat of a surprise mainly because he did it out of nowhere. It wasn’t too surprising to learn why he did it. SEC Country profiled West and his desires to perhaps be a United States president one day.
This visit is definitely interesting. West told SEC Country last month that he was locked in with the Cardinal and nothing was going to change his mind about his commitment.
“One of the greatest things is that they understand that I am committed to Stanford,” West said. “That’s where I’m going to go to school. There hasn’t been too much communication with (Alabama). It’s just been us catching up. That’s why I respect Alabama so much. They care about the players and the kids.”
If there was one school that could change West’s mind, it’s the school he grew up supporting. Before that happens, though, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll will need to evaluate him in person because he’s never seen West throw.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 10:33 am to TideSaint
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Other notable visitors on Friday
Several top recruits are expected in Tuscaloosa on Friday. Here are the most notable visitors:
-Alabama 4-star running back commit Dameon Pierce, who will make his first known visit to Tuscaloosa since committing last summer.
-4-star wide receiver Jacob Copeland (Pensacola, Fla.) — named the Tide in his top 5 earlier this week.
-Tennessee 4-star athlete commit Alontae Taylor (Manchester, Tenn.) — on offer watch.
-In-state 3-star defensive lineman Malik Langham (Huntsville, Ala.) — doesn’t hold an offer from Alabama.
-3-star offensive tackle Jerome Carvin (Cordova, Tenn.) — holds an offer from Alabama.
-2019 4-star offensive lineman Clay Webb (Oxford, Ala.) — in-state battle between Alabama and Auburn.
-2020 quarterback Drew Pyne (New Canaan, Conn.) — already holds an Alabama offer and will be one of the top quarterbacks in that class.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 10:38 am to TideSaint
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Top 2019 DE/OLB jumps Auburn over FSU
AUBURN, Ala. — King Mwikuta, one of the hottest 2019 prospects up for grabs, made a bold statement following his A-Day visit.
“I ain’t going to miss no home games. That’s a promise,” Mwikuta said. “I can’t miss an Auburn game, unless a hurricane comes through, I’m going to be there.”
Mwikuta is a 6-foot-4, 225-pound outside linebacker from Troup County High and Lagrange, Ga. He visited Auburn about 8 times during his recruitment. He knows the Plains well. He wants to know it a bit more, which is why he plans to make his way back to campus “whenever they want me to,” he said.
His appearance for A-Day was his second visit that week. Mwikuta — pronounced mickoota — attended a Tigers practice earlier in the week and was asking plenty of questions to staff and personnel as he focused in primarily on the defensive line group.
Mwikuta is the No. 5 outside linebacker in the 247Sports composite rankings, but Tigers coaches wants him in the Buck defensive line position.
From what he saw in 2 days on campus in the past week, Mwikuta thinks something special is brewing.
“Like I say all the time, Auburn on top. They’re going to have a good season,” Mwikuta said. “They’re going to be on top. They look good.”
He had a huge smile on his face as he spewed compliments after the spring game, but he also put it all into context.
Mwikuta publicly named Alabama as his leader a few weeks ago, and that hasn’t changed. Georgia’s in-state pull has the Bulldogs hotly contesting for his favorite. Auburn leapfrogged Florida State after the 2-visit week to the Plains.
“Auburn, they’re in my top 3 right now. They moved up ahead of Florida State,” he said. “With Alabama and Georgia, I’ve been up there so many times that I’ve basically fell in love. I’m just waiting for Auburn to show me a little bit more and get some more dogs in this year’s recruiting class.”
How competitive is the race to be Mwikuta’s favorite?
“It’s close. They (Auburn) seem to amaze me every time I come here. Something new always amazes me,” Mwikuta said.
There is plenty of time of the Tigers to make a move up Mwikuta’s leaderboard.
As a 2019 prospect, he isn’t in a major hurry, but he’s also has the talent to be a cornerstone for teams to build their recruiting classes. Mwikuta expects to make h is decision by this time next year, which will give him ample opportunity to recruit players to the program he chooses.
If that program ends up being Auburn, it will be for his close relationship with multiple coaching staff members.
“I like coaches, Coach Malzahn. The culture around here is good. Everybody loves you. You feel like you’re at home,” Mwikuta said. “T-Will. Coach Garner. Coach Malzahn. … They’re cool. They’re laid back. They’re father figures. They look like they could take on a big role in my life. I would just have a real father around my life. I could see them as real role models around my life.”
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Posted on 4/14/17 at 11:08 am to TideSaint
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Xavier Peters has seen his offer list expand greatly since the first of the year, and the four-star from Lakota (OH) West is ranked as the nation's number-six inside linebacker.
Peters already holds an ultra impressive offer list that includes most of the top powers in America. One of his most recent offers came from Alabama.
"The offer from Alabama was a wakeup call that made thank God that my dreams are all coming true," Peters exclaimed. "That shows that I have potential to make it to the NFL one day, as long as I'm willing to work and compete for it."
"I heard about the offer from my head coach, Larry Cox, and he put me on the phone with the Alabama coaches," he added. "All my offers mean a lot, but I have to be honest, getting one from Alabama is almost too good to be true. I'm visiting there this week, along with going to see Tennessee and Kentucky."
One of the schools that has not offered Peters to date is in-state power Ohio State, but he has had contact with the Buckeye staff.
"They just keep telling me to keep up the hard work and come to their camp this summer," he noted. "They said they want to see my ACT score before they offer. I got a 3.0 GPA this last grading period, and Coach (Urban) Meyer was excited about that."
"The Ohio State offer is one I'd love to have," Peters admitted. "That's another big time program, and that would be a dream come true for me."
With offers still coming in, and Peters still wanting to take several visits in an attempt to learn more about these schools, he will not be rushing this decision.
"I want to take all five of my visits, because I want to get out and experience all these schools, not just listen to the hype," he explained. "I'm just going with the flow, so I'm in no hurry to decide."
"I'm probably going to go to the school that shows me the most love, and the one who wants me the most," Peters said. "I want to see who wants to get to know me, and get to know my parents. The bonds I can build will mean everything."
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Posted on 4/14/17 at 11:16 am to TideSaint
Bill kruelic Ohio state mod, crystald m. Wray to them. And x. Peters is a stud linebacker. He should be rated way high.
Posted on 4/14/17 at 2:12 pm to bloodtide 39
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Alabama handed out an offer to the No. 1 safety in the 2019 class, Brian Williams, he reported on Friday.
The Dallas (Texas) Bishop Dunne product holds over 15 other offers, including Arkansas, Auburn and Baylor.
It's Arkansas Williams has a tie to as his older brother, Rawleigh, plays running back for the Razorbacks.
At 6-foot, 185 pounds, Williams is rated the No. 1 safety and the No. 10 overall player in the country, per 247Sports.
Brian Williams Highlights
Posted on 4/14/17 at 2:23 pm to TideSaint
Posted on 4/14/17 at 2:48 pm to TideSaint
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We are finally one step closer to an early signing period in college football. The NCAA’s Division I Council voted to allow an early signing period on Friday, a subject I’ve been asked about and written about for nearly 20 years. Now if the Collegiate Commissioners Association agrees in June, we will officially have something that has been needed for a long time. Here are a few quick takeaways on what this means.
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Posted on 4/14/17 at 2:48 pm to TideSaint
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1) The early signing period would be in mid- to late December and, while I’ve always felt August would be a better option, it’s a good start. It would be a 72-hour period that will coincide with the mid-year junior college transfer signing period. For 2017, the dates will be Dec. 20-22. There will still be the normal Signing Day the first Wednesday of February, but now things can be spread out a bit and players who don’t want to deal with the hassle of January coaching calls can relieve a little stress and end the process about six weeks earlier.
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