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re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:19 am to TideSaint
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:19 am to TideSaint
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Quick updates on other top targets
- Brevin White, a 4-star quarterback who visited Alabama this past weekend, had an in-home visit with Princeton and the Tide on Monday night. The feeling is that he’s the top quarterback target on the board for the Tide at this point. We could have a final answer on what White decides to do by Wednesday.
- Julius Irvin, a 4-star safety from California, is now expected to choose Washington on Wednesday, according to a source close to the Alabama program. Saban is expected to meet with Irvin and his family on Tuesday night. We’ll see if anything changes Tuesday night after Saban’s visit.
- Malik Langham, a 4-star defensive end, will visit Auburn this upcoming weekend, according to SEC Country’s Benjamin Wolk. It’s a notable visit for fans to keep track of because Auburn was Langham’s favorite school growing up. Langham told SEC Country on Sunday after visiting Florida that Alabama is still his leader. The Tide hold a sizeable lead for Langham and I think he’s going to have be blown away with the Tigers this weekend for anything to change.
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Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:21 am to Bama3714
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Hearing some crazy stuff regarding recruiting this morning. It sounds absurd, but we may be prepared to accept the commitments of both Sewell AND NPF. And the number may be 9 now. So I'm not really sure anybody TRULY knows what's going on. The guys that I listen to are VERY reliable with this stuff. But maybe the assistants themselves don't even know for sure from day to day. Saban reshuffles the board about every week, even this late in the process. Craziness. Who really knows.
Saban’s about to process current players who aren’t playing, every knows it, and it’s the right thing to do.
We’ll get everyone we want
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:21 am to TideSaint
5-star OT Nicholas Petit-Frere’s coach talks Florida visit, upcoming decision
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Nicholas Petit-Frere enjoys Florida
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The Florida Gators hosted six official visitors on campus last weekend, including 5-star offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere.
He is one of the top remaining targets for Florida coach Dan Mullen and offensive line coach John Hevesy, who serves as his primary recruiter and has made a strong impression on the in-state standout.
Petit-Frere attends Berkeley Prep in Tampa, Fla. His head coach, Dominick Ciao, has guided the Under Armour All-American through the recruiting process and will help him decide next week on National Signing Day, along with his mother.
The 6-foot-6, 272-pound lineman is not discussing his recruitment at this time, but Ciao spoke with SEC Country about Petit-Frere’s visit to Florida and his upcoming decision.
“He got back from Florida and told me he had a great time,” Ciao said. “He and his mom went up there and had a wonderful visit to Florida. They met some wonderful people and just had a first-class experience. Now he’s back home processing everything and that’s where we are right now.”
Petit-Frere will travel to Ohio State this weekend for his final official visit. He has previously taken trips to Notre Dame (Oct. 21), Michigan (Nov. 25) and Alabama (Jan. 19).
“There are things at these programs that he finds very intriguing and special,” Ciao said. “He’s looking to have a complete college experience, and every school has that. That’s the hard part of making this decision.
“He had a great time at Notre Dame. He had a great time at Michigan. He had a great time at Alabama. I mean, that’s really what he says. He’s got one more visit to go and he’s very excited about that.”
Heading into the final week, Ciao said Petit-Frere still has to figure out where he’s going and won’t decide on a school until he has taken everything into consideration from the recruiting process.
“He’s not sure what direction he’s leaning. He keeps it close to the vest,” Ciao said. “Very few guys I’ve coached made it through all five visits. He will do that. And when it’s time to decide, he’ll have all the information he needs. He’s about as thorough as they come.”
Petit-Frere is ranked the nation’s No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 7 overall recruit in the 247Sports Composite.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:22 am to saban n bear
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Saban’s about to process current players who aren’t playing, every knows it, and it’s the right thing to do.
We’ll get everyone we want
Our current players have zero bearing on how many we can take in this class. The 85 scholarship limit and the 25 signee scholarship limit aren't tied together.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:26 am to TideSaint
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Personally, I don't think we NEED Sewell with the loaded 2019 OL class next year. I'd rather take NPF and use the other spot for a DL or DB.
I tend to agree. But if we do, I sure hope Sewell can play OT. I'll be ticked off if we land YET ANOTHER guy who winds up at OG. We only have about 15 of those on the roster already.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:31 am to TideSaint
Breaking down the final recruiting rankings for Class of 2018 (Al.com)
I removed over half of the info from the article because it didn't pertain to us. There's a lot more stuff in there that may interest some of you.
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Interesting facts ahead of NSD
Most of the national recruiting sites have ranked the Class of 2018 for the final time before National Signing Day on Feb. 7.
There are some disparities in each – 247, Rivals and ESPN – as one might expect, but we will try to break down several of the things you need to know n the final week before NSD.
AL.com posted its revamped A-List several weeks ago and long with a list of the top available recruits (guys who didn’t sign in the early period before Christmas).
Here are the answers to some key questions about the rankings, largely based off the 247 composite rankings.
Who's No. 1 in the state?
It is still uncommitted Central-Phenix City wide receiver Justyn Ross (above). The Class 7A Back of the Year finalist is expected to choose between Auburn, Alabama and Clemson on National Signing Day. Two of the three recruiting sites have him at No. 1. The other site, 247, moved Alabama DB signee Jalyn Armour-Davis of St. Paul's to No. 1 on its list.
Who's in the top 5?
This is interesting because it shows how some sites vary in evaluation.
Here are the respective lists:
247: DB Jalyn Armour-Davis (St. Paul’s), DL Coynis Miller (Jackson-Olin), WR Justyn Ross (Central-Phenix City), RB Harold Joiner (Mountain Brook), OL Tank Jenkins (Park Crossing).
Rivals: Ross, RB Asa Martin (Austin), Miller, Davis, WR Seth Williams (Paul Bryant)
ESPN: Ross, QB Jack West (Saraland), Joiner, Williams, QB James Foster (Sidney Lanier)
Composite: Ross, Davis, Miller, Joiner, Williams
Moving up
A lot of seniors made significant jumps in the final recruiting rankings.
Malik Langham, SDE, Lee-Huntsville
Langham has been one of the most talked about recruits in the state in recent weeks. He moved up 14 spots to No. 11 overall. The 247 rankings have him up 18 spots to No. 6. Most experts believe he will sign with Alabama. Tennessee is also in the mix.
A look around the nation
Here is a look at where some players Auburn and Alabama are recruiting or have signed are ranked among the top 20 players in the nation. Only three players in the top 20 are uncommitted or unsigned.
4. Eyabi Anoma, WDE, St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound senior signed with Alabama in December.
6. Patrick Surtain Jr., CB, American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
The 6-foot-1.25, 199-pound defensive back appears to be down to LSU, Florida State and Alabama with the favorite being LSU.
7. Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Berkeley Prep (Tampa)
The 6-foot-6, 272-pound offensive lineman appears to be down to Florida and Alabama with the Gators having the edge at the moment.
12. Tyson Campbell, CB, American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
The 6-foot-2.5, 180-pound Campbell appears to be leaning toward Georgia. Miami and Alabama could also be in the mix.
Alabama, Auburn in the top 50
Alabama currently has two commits or signees among the top 50 players in the nation, according to the composite rankings. They are Eyabi Anoma at No. 4 and Quay Walker at No. 31.
Auburn has just one commit/signee in the top 50. He is Joey Gatewood, the QB/ATH from Bartram Trail in Jacksonville, Fla.
I removed over half of the info from the article because it didn't pertain to us. There's a lot more stuff in there that may interest some of you.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:31 am to Bama3714
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I'll be ticked off if we land YET ANOTHER guy who winds up at OG. We only have about 15 of those on the roster already.
We've already got one signed in Tommy Brown. However, he did look a lot better at the UA practices when he moved inside.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:31 am to Bama3714
I see 3 or 4 OL leaving during the off season.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:34 am to TideSaint
I know. I just mean on top of the guys we already have (Ekiyor, Brown, Brannen).
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:35 am to remaster916
Ten must-have prospects that teams can't afford to lose out on
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National Signing Day is about one week away and there are still plenty of recruiting battles going on. Here are 10 can’t-miss prospects for certain programs.
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Patrick Surtain
The team: LSU
Coach Ed Orgeron and his staff landed their first five-star commitment during the early signing period when receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. picked the Tigers. Landing Surtain, the nation’s best cornerback, could be hugely important to the recruiting class and to keep up appearances that LSU is still DBU. It’s also important to keep Surtain away from Alabama, which has surged as major competition especially in recent months. LSU has long been considered the front-runner for the five-star cornerback and he has the ability to step on the field from Day 1 and be a major contributor. If the Crimson Tide can come in and take him away, it would be a big miss for Orgeron and his staff.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:35 am to TideSaint
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Nicholas Petit-Frere
The team: Florida
Florida has long been considered the front-runner for Petit-Frere and he’s proven to be the top-rated offensive tackle in the 2018 class, but the Gators are getting pressed especially by Alabama now. Coach Dan Mullen and his staff have done everything possible to wrap up the Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep prospect and with a revamped offense the five-star offensive tackle should have an excellent chance to earn early playing time. But the Crimson Tide are coming on strong and Alabama does not usually miss out on a lot of top targets.
This post was edited on 1/30/18 at 9:37 am
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:35 am to TideSaint
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Justyn Ross
The team: Clemson
Clemson receivers Deon Cain and Ray-Ray McCloud have declared early for the NFL Draft, which means the Tigers will be without two of their top three receivers next year. That means Ross, a five-star receiver who has Clemson, Alabama and Auburn in his top three, could step in right away and be an immediate asset in the Tigers’ offense. There is no question the quarterback position will be loaded for coach Dabo Swinney’s club and now Ross could fill a major void. That’s if the Phenix City (Ala.) Central standout ends up at Clemson. The Crimson Tide hosted Ross recently and he had a phenomenal time plus Alabama rarely misses on the top in-state prospect. Auburn would be a surprise but cannot be counted out yet.
This post was edited on 1/30/18 at 9:38 am
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:35 am to TideSaint
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Olaijah Griffin
The team: USC
SEC and ACC powerhouses are coming strong after the five-star cornerback as Griffin visited Alabama this weekend, Tennessee is pushing and then Florida State and Clemson are trying to stay involved as well. But Griffin recently took his official visit to USC and had an excellent time on campus and spending time with the coaching staff. Griffin has the ability to step in almost immediately with the Trojans and fight for playing time. According to sources, some people close to Griffin are hoping he stays close to home. The five-star is seriously contemplating going away, but the Trojans are definitely pushing to land him.
This post was edited on 1/30/18 at 9:38 am
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:36 am to TideSaint
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Tyson Campbell
The team: Miami
Miami has not had a five-star defensive back signee since Tracy Howard in its 2012 class so Campbell would be huge for the Hurricanes. Georgia is considered to have the edge at this moment, but the Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage standout who shined at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl is taking his final official trip down the road to Coral Gables. Miami will have the last chance before Signing Day to land Campbell and that final trip is always compelling. If the Hurricanes want to stay near the top of the ACC, getting a five-star like Campbell to stay home is crucial.
This post was edited on 1/30/18 at 9:39 am
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:36 am to TideSaint
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Jaylen Waddle
The team: Texas A&M
Alabama, Florida State, Oregon, TCU and Texas are all working hard to land the five-star receiver, who dominated at the Army Bowl and has emerged as one of the state’s best players, but Texas A&M has made the Houston Episcopal standout a top priority - and the Aggies seem to be in the lead. Assistant coach Tim Brewster is working hard on Waddle and rightfully so because he has the ability to make an immediate impact in College Station. Coach Jimbo Fisher just landed a pledge from 2019 four-star DB Brian Williams, one of the best players in the state for his class. Landing Waddle as well would send an even bigger message.
Rivals really, really hates us.
This post was edited on 1/30/18 at 9:40 am
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:36 am to TideSaint
I disagree. I find road grading guards with feet quick enough to slide off of blocks to get to LB on combination blocks a premium if you're going to be a great running team. I think that's why Alabama takes a lot of highly rated high school tackles and know they're going to move inside. Very few high school guards I've seen in high school have good feet. Most are strong or large guys but few have the quickness to slide off a double team and get to a LB. it's one of the most difficult blocks in football to teach. I've tried to get kids I coach on the OL that scheme and most can't do it.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:42 am to labamafan
Making The Case: Justyn Ross
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With National Signing Day right around the corner, several of the nation’s top prospects are nearing final decisions in advance of officially signing their letters-of-intent next Wednesday.
Today, experts from the Rivals.com network examine where five-star Phenix City (Ala.) Central wide receiver Justyn Ross will end up playing his college football. The candidates are Auburn, Alabama and Clemson.
The Situation: Ross has been one of the nation’s most highly sought-after players at any position but has been locked in on his final trio since the summer. Early on it looked like a battle between Auburn and Clemson, and at times both of the Tigers felt confident about their chances. But Alabama has made a recent push and seems to be picking up steam, even after Ross officially visited Auburn over the weekend. With official visits to all three schools in the books, Ross could make a decision any day. So where will he end up? We asked our team experts to state the case for their respective programs and let National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell issue a verdict.
ALABAMA
“Alabama has recruited Ross for more than two years. It has been a very close battle between the Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers the last few months. He took an official visit to Alabama two weekends ago. He has a very close relationship with the Crimson Tide coaching staff. It seems like Alabama is slightly ahead of the Tigers heading into his decision next week.” – Andrew Bone, BamaInsider.com
AUBURN
“Ross took an official visit to Auburn and has the Tigers in his final three, but that's probably as close to the top as they will get. Ross might stay in the state to attend college, but it won't be at Auburn.” – Jeffrey Lee, AuburnSports.com
CLEMSON
“Clemson has been a leading contender for many months because of reasons that haven’t changed. Its NFL receiver pedigree resonates, and five-star quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s arrival offers strong promise to feed their pass-catching prowess. Co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott and area recruiter Todd Bates have longstanding relationships here and are among the best recruiters on Clemson’s staff, while Dabo Swinney still has his in-home visit this week to make their case why the Tigers would be the superior fit once the perception of validation in playing for the Tide is removed. It’s predictably tough to beat Alabama for an in-state five-star it wants, and it would be foolhardy to ignore the momentum the Tide feel they have with Ross going down the stretch. But it would also probably be premature to discount Clemson’s chances in light of those circumstances.” – Paul Strelow, TigerIllustrated.com
THE VERDICT
“After months and months of thinking this would be Clemson I’m going to go with Alabama here. They have the momentum it seems after a great official visit and in-home, he has certain members of his family who would really like to see him stay home and this one is trending towards the Tide. Clemson would still not surprise me and it seems Auburn is on the outside looking in.” – Farrell
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:46 am to TideSaint
Rival Views: Who is best pure pass rusher in 2018 class?
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Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney don’t always see eye to eye. In this edition of Rival Views, the two debate who is the best pure pass rusher in the 2018 class.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:47 am to TideSaint
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FARRELL'S VIEW
There are numerous elite pass rushers in this class and the term “pure” can mean many things. To some it means speed rushers such as Eyabi Anoma, Adam Anderson and Brenton Cox and to others it can mean guys who work well off of contact and can be as strong inside as they are outside such as Xavier Thomas, Micah Parsons and KJ Henry.
For me, I’ll take Thomas despite the fact that he has the least natural length of all of the players above. Why? Because there is no defensive end that is better off of contact than Thomas and that will allow him to be a dominant pass rusher from day one at the college level. That attribute will also be key for his NFL success down the line. It’s tempting to pick one of the speed rushers, especially Anoma or Anderson, but give me the guy who can rock tackles off balance, still beat them around the edge or cross over and put them off balance with an inside move. Thomas is the guy for me.
Posted on 1/30/18 at 9:48 am to TideSaint
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GORNEY'S VIEW
This is a close one because I really like Xavier Thomas, K.J. Henry and some other elite defensive ends in this class, but all I hear about Eyobi Anoma is that he's still really raw. There is absolutely no doubt Anoma is a physical freak at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, and I'm pretty confident the Alabama strength and conditioning program will get Anoma's weight up to 260 or 270 easily.
If he can handle that weight and keep his insane athleticism, then we're looking at a future No. 1 pick. Just think about all the excellent defensive linemen that coach Nick Saban and staff have developed over the years. Anoma definitely has the physical tools to be one of the next special defensive ends to come out of Tuscaloosa because he has everything needed. He has perfect measurements, he has incredible athleticism, he has the frame to add good weight and his talent is off the charts. A few years from now, Anoma could be in the discussion for the No. 1 NFL Draft pick much like Myles Garrett was recently.
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