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

It appears the 02/04 247/Sports Keith Niebuhr (AU) article is the source for this al.com article:

Auburn trying to beat out Alabama, UF for 4-star DL Malik Langham

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Auburn arrived late to the party for four-star in-state defensive lineman Malik Langham, but the Tigers are hoping to stick around until the end.

The Lee-Huntsville product wasn't offered by Auburn until two weeks ago, but the Tigers have made a late push for the state's 11th-best player and earned an official visit from him during the final weekend before National Signing Day, wresting him away from a previously planned visit to Tennessee.

"It means a lot for me to come and visit here," Langham said before leaving the Plains on Sunday. "I'm still looking at them."

While Auburn has tried to get in late on the ASWA Class 5A Lineman of the Year, the Tigers will have to knock off rival Alabama, considered to be a big favorite for Langham's signature on National Signing Day. The Tide also got in on Langham's recruitment relatively late, only offering him in December, but the defending national champions have made a big impression on him in the time since.

Langham visited Tuscaloosa two weeks ago -- the same weekend Auburn offered him a scholarship -- and has spoken glowingly of the program since.

"You know what stands out about Alabama," Langham said. "They're a championship team, you know, day in and day out. The coaches, me and coach (Karl) Dunbar and coach (Tosh) Lupoi have a great relationship so them just being -- it's close to home, is an in-state school and it's the focal point of college football."

It has been a whirlwind couple of months for Langham, whose recruitment really took off in December after receiving offers from Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Oregon, Miami and then Auburn. In recent weeks he has taken official visits to Auburn, Florida, Alabama and Notre Dame.

His decision will come down to Auburn, Alabama and Florida, and he plans to announce that choice on Wednesday during a 2:30 p.m. ceremony at Lee.

While Alabama's national profile stands out to Langham, what is it about his two other finalists that has them in the hunt for his letter of intent?

With Florida, he noted, it's the relationship he has established with coach Dan Mullen and assistants Billy Gonzales and Sal Sunseri, the Gators' defensive line coach.

"It's Florida," Langham said. "You can't go wrong in the Sunshine State."

As for Auburn? The Tigers left a good impression on the 6-foot-6, 269-pounder during his official visit.

"Everything that I wanted to see -- a home, the atmosphere, talking to the players and coaches and seeing how they interact with each other," Langham said of his visit.

Although his decision won't be made public until National Signing Day, Langham said he will inform the schools' coaching staffs "as soon as possible" once he comes to his decision.

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If by the off chance Bama does sign PS2, I saw on the LSU board that Beal would then have a spot in the LSU class.

Don't know if Beal would go to LSU or not in that scenario.

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I think Beal gets the spot held for Goodrich. I also have a lot of confidence lsu gets PS2. My last 3 for lsu prediction is TE Beal CB PS2 and Wr Jamar Chase.

The fourth is committed cb/s Kelvin Joseph

I also expect adarius Washington to flip any day now to tcu it's been known for months he won't be in this class

Saban says he'd like to add 5-6 DB's in this class. Smith will make 4, but since we're passing on ITS, Saban appears to be putting all of his eggs in PS2 basket. He'll either be a genius, or wind up with egg all over his face. Hopefully it's the former, although I think it will be the latter.

Goodrich was a take for Lsu but he is trending to Clemson . That’s why they are back on Beal and possibly Foster

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Read this morning that we’re in it more for Olaijah Griffin than most people realize. 5* corner from Mission Viejo that’s a heavy USC lean

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How "in it" can we really be if he's a "heavy USC lean", though? Either we aren't in it as much as whatever you read indicates, or he isn't as heavy of a lean is it indicates. Can't be both.

Not directed at you, but directed at the whole hedging that a lot of the sites do this time of year.

I agree cause with Jackson, walker, and brown possibly flipping , there is room for ALL of them !!

ITS might end up at UT after his visit. The family seemed to be sold on Pruitt and Knoxville.

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Hopefully, Saban learned from the Tony Conner/Vonn Bell situation from a few years ago.

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how did that work out badly for Bama? Remind me. Those players were in the 2013 recruiting class. That year we saw Bama sign players like:

Henry, Allen, OJ Howard, Tim Williams, Alvin Kamara (!), Reuben Foster, Averett, Ardarius Stewart, A'Shawn Robinson, and an under the radar guy ranked 350th in the country named Eddie Jackson.

I'd say Eddie had at least as good of a college career as either of those guys you hoped Saban "learned from".

Bama missed on Conner and Bell signed with Ohio St.

Bell went on to have a key INT for Ohio St in Bama's Sugar Bowl loss to Ohio St.

Bell went on to be a 2nd round pick in the NFL Draft.