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re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:31 am to TideSaint
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:31 am to TideSaint
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Who’s made a big gain with Henry lately?
Henry had an interesting answer to the topic of which school has made the biggest surge among his favorites recently.
“Probably Virginia Tech,” he said. “This last visit I took up a couple of weeks ago really hit home. It was a good time for my family to see coach (Bud) Foster and coach (Justin) Fuente. I noticed what coach Fuente did there for that program especially coming in from a smaller school and doing what he did in his first year there. Him being from a lower program in Memphis and making them successful and then coming to a team with an elite defense like Virginia Tech and then making them successful with that offense as well is really promising.”
He said the Hokies are “winning but that they still need guys to rush the passer.”
“That’s what is good about them,” Henry said. “They are winning and they still need guys who can rush the passer. So I can only imagine what they could do in the big games when they had those elite guys that can rush the passer, too.”
This isn’t a Virginia Tech website. But it is easy to read into that and see that Henry’s thoughts on Virginia Tech reinforce what he wants to see out of Georgia.
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Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:32 am to TideSaint
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For at least a few minutes on the Sunday after Tennessee’s Orange and White spring game, it looked like the defense had added a serious playmaker in 3-star Tuscaloosa, Ala. linebacker Jacquez Jones.
The report that had Jones as the fifth player to join Tennessee’s Class of 2018 ultimately proved to be incorrect, but that doesn’t mean Tennessee won’t ultimately end up with the nation’s No. 42 outside linebacker.
“Tennessee is one of my top schools,” Jones told SEC Country this week. “I haven’t narrowed my list down yet but when I do, they will definitely be there.”
That visit was an important one for the Vols because, while it was his second visit in two months, it was the first that he was able to bring his parents with him.
“The visit went well,” Jones said. “My parents had a chance to go with me this time and my parents and I had a great time.”
It also gave Jones a chance to continue to develop a relationship with the coaching staff. Linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen is his primary recruiter, but Jones has also been in contact with head coach Butch Jones and defensive coordinator Bob Shoop frequently.
“My relationship with the coaches is great,” Jones said. “I talk to coach Thig, Jones and Shoop if not every day then every other day.”
Jones has amassed 11 offers including schools like LSU, Michigan and Mississippi State. While LSU looks to be Tennessee’s biggest competitor from that group of 11, it could be a team that hasn’t offered Jones that could be be the biggest threat.
Alabama, the team in Jones’ own back yard, has shown some interest in him and has even hosted him on a couple visits, but has yet to hand him an offer. That could be a huge factor in his recruitment, but not if the Crimson Tide don’t get involved in time.
Jones has indicated that he’d like to make his decision either “early summer or beginning of the season,” so the spring evaluation period could be important for any team that would like to get in the game on Jones.
Tennessee has yet to add a linebacker to its Class of 2018 and has just three player committed on defense — defensive tackle Brant Lawless and corners Shatar McClay and Jaylon Reed. That alone makes Jones one of the priority targets on the Vols’ board.
The next step for closing the deal on Jones is going to be summer visits. However, that step is still unclear as Jones still hasn’t decided which schools he would like to visit this summer.
LINK
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:33 am to TideSaint
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Four-star S Trey Dean, who was sporting a pair of South Carolina pants Sunday at The Opening regional in Charlotte, N.C., also visited Columbia for the SpursUp event.
“I just put them on,” he said of the pants. “I rep a lot of schools. I’m 100 percent open.”
But South Carolina is very much in the mix, along with Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, UCLA, Texas and Oregon.
Dean, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound prospect from Dutchtown High School in Hampton, Ga., wants to narrow his list in June before announcing a decision at the end of that month or at some point in July.
“The coaching staff, their relationship with me. … Playing style and coaching style, does it fit me? Academically, does it fit me? On and off the field, who is showing me the most interest,” Dean said, when asked about factors he’ll consider.
South Carolina has positioned itself well for the No. 24 safety in the Class of 2018.
“I like Will Muschamp. I like that he coaches [safeties] and he’s produced a lot of defensive backs in the NFL, and that’s where I want to be,” Dean said.
He added, “He’s a defensive-minded guy, so I know it’s a great scheme. The defensive all-around guy has a great scheme. His defenses, all-around, are great.”
Dean said many of the same things about defensive coordinator Travaris Robinson.
LINK
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:46 am to TideSaint
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It’s never too early to make predictions in the recruiting world and today we take a look at seven of the Southeast’s top prospects and try to predict where they will land.
Rivals' Free Content
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:46 am to TideSaint
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OG Jamaree Salyer
The latest: Numerous schools are still in the race for Salyer and he plans to take his recruiting down to wire, so this one could see a lot of twists and turns before all is said and done. Clemson is a true competitor here as are Ohio State and Stanford. Georgia, though, being the in-state school and the program that signed his close friend in 2017, former teammate Andrew Thomas, is still viewed as the favorite this far out. He is familiar with Athens (Salyer took a recent two-day visit there) and the Dawgs will be tough to beat.
Prediction: Georgia
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:47 am to TideSaint
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WR Justyn Ross
The latest: Clemson has produced numerous top wide receivers since Dabo Swinney took over the program. Jeff Scott has done an excellent job recruiting and developing wideouts for the Tigers, but Clemson has to beat not one, but two in-state programs for Ross. Auburn was viewed as the favorite for some time and they still may be, but Alabama has some confidence behind the scenes that they can land this five-star on Signing Day. All three schools have a legitimate chance with Ross, and Auburn is right there, but the Crimson Tide get the nod.
Prediction: Alabama
Some "insiders" have suggested Ross made a silent commitment to Saban on A-Day.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:48 am to TideSaint
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DE Greg Emerson
The latest: Emerson is one of the nation’s top defensive linemen and the attention he’s receiving from the nation’s top programs back up that distinction. He recently took several visits, with Tennessee, Georgia and Ole Miss among the programs that hosted him. However, he’s been seen most in Knoxville and seems to have already formed a bond with several Tennessee commits. The race will continue to intensify, but right now it looks like the in-state school is the one to beat.
Prediction: Tennessee
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:48 am to TideSaint
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WR Terrace Marshall
The latest: Marshall does a pretty good job of not tipping his hand when it comes to his recruitment and he hasn’t done much media when it comes to discussing his favorites. However, he did take a recent trip to Miami and it’s believed that TCU, Texas A&M and LSU are the other serious contenders to land his commitment. One of the biggest wildcards in Marshall’s recruitment could be the look of LSU’s offense in the fall. If the Tigers show an ability to involve the receivers and open things up in the passing game, look for Marshall to stay in state with the Tigers.
Prediction: LSU
This is the kid with the idiot high school coach who got fired.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:49 am to TideSaint
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OLB JJ Peterson
The latest: Peterson does not do much media at all, but the elite talent has hit the road this spring and has talked to more coaches in the past month than he likely has in the last six months, so his recruitment has taken off. It is likely going to come down to three schools — Alabama, Auburn and Georgia. His last visit was to Georgia for their spring game and they are the in-state school, but they may be sitting third on his list right now. Auburn impressed him a lot and Peterson's head coach is close to Auburn's new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, but Alabama looks to be in the best spot right now. Jeremy Pruitt has done an excellent job here and the Crimson Tide likens Peterson to Reuben Foster, a first-round pick in the NFL Draft just over a week ago. A decision could come this summer.
Prediction: Alabama
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:50 am to TideSaint
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OG Trey Hill
The latest: This is another tight battle and it could go a number of different ways. Hill still has not put out a formal list of favorites, and Auburn, Clemson, Florida State and Georgia all could be viewed as the leader. But Georgia, the school closest to home that signed one of his teammates (Jake Fromm) in 2017, may have the edge heading into the summer. The lead school could change here week to week, and Hill is truly considering over a dozen schools. It is likely to come down to those four, though, in the end. Auburn and Clemson may be ahead of Florida State at this time and Georgia, if it leads, is not ahead by much. Hill is laying the ground work for his decision now, but his decision won't be made for months.
Prediction: Georgia
If Georgia lands Salyer and Hill their interior offensive line is going to be fricking stacked.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:54 am to TideSaint
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1. Where the 2018 QB market stands
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With Florida quarterback Joe Milton off the board with his commitment to Michigan, there are very few four-star quarterbacks still on the market. Here’s a look at those remaining.
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Tanner McKee
Likely down to BYU, Texas and Texas A&M with a few others like Nebraska still out there. McKee will go on a two-year mission, so don’t bet against the Cougars here for obvious reasons.
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Adrian Martinez
The former Cal commitment has drawn some major offers in the last few months. Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Alabama and many others are in pursuit now and where he lands is a bit of a mystery. The Sooners have a great shot, but he could also re-commit to Cal. The Vols could have the inside track here with his relationship with Tyler Bray.
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And this makes some three-star uncommitted quarterbacks left on the market immediately 10x more attractive. Here are the three that intrigue me the most.
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Jarren Williams
The former Kentucky commitment has become the subject of an intense recruiting battle with Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee and others all jumping into the mix recently. The Wildcats are certainly not out of this and are hoping for a rare re-commitment after losing Mac Jones to Alabama last year.
This post was edited on 5/9/17 at 10:56 am
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:57 am to TideSaint
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2. SEC Snapshot
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Midway through the Spring evaluation period, it’s time to look at each Power Five conference and take a quick snapshot of recruiting like we do every year around this time. Today we look at the SEC.
Biggest get – Cade Mays, Tennessee – Only one of the nation’s five stars has committed to an SEC school so far if you can believe that and it’s Mays. The Vols need immediate offensive line help and he’ll be physically ready to compete right away.
Biggest surprise – Iverson Clement, Florida – It’s not a surprise that an elite running back would want to play for the Gators, but most of the top Jersey kids are heading towards the Big Ten these days. Center Daniel Dawkins to Vanderbilt is probably even more surprising, but he’s not as high profile.
Great start – LSU – We knew the Tigers would recruit well under Ed Orgeron, so this isn’t a stunner, especially with LSU having the best in-state advantage of any program in the country. But landing guys from Florida, Texas, Mississippi and Georgia shows they are branching out a bit from Les Miles approach.
Surprising start – Tennessee – Should we be surprised that Butch Jones is recruiting well? After last year’s recruiting class, especially in state, this type of rebound is impressive. They have already landed three of the top 10 players in state and have a five-star and three four-stars early.
Rough start –. Georgia – I could pick Ole Miss here, but they have an obvious reason for a sluggish start. I can’t for the life of me figure out why Georgia isn’t landing more in-state talent.
Recruiting battle to watch – LSU vs. Texas A&M. Last year it was Georgia and Alabama because of the Kirby Smart hire and his ties to Alabama, but this year I’m intrigued by the Tigers and Aggies because they both recruit Texas heavily and the Longhorns have a new coach that could muck the waters a bit.
Must keep – Who’s the one player in SEC country that a team in the conference leads for that they must not lose? Jamaree Salyer who has been linked with UGA for the longest time. If the Dawgs lose him to Clemson, Ohio State or whoever, it will hurt them badly and will be a big loss for the SEC.
Do or die – Ole Miss – The Rebels are in the box score at least with a couple of commitments, but with the NCAA sharpening the knife and the program coming off a bad season, Hugh Freeze needs to right the ship in many ways.
As bad as we think our start to this class is at least we aren't Georgia or Ole Miss.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:58 am to TideSaint
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3. Springing forward
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Spring football is in the books and many of the expected stars of college football for 2017 certainly lived up to the hype. But how about some guys who could break out next season based on their spring game performances? Here are 10 of them that intrigue me in no particular order.
- WR Juwan Johnson, Penn State – Chris Godwin is gone, Penn State has an exciting quarterback in Trace McSorley and teams will be crowding the line of scrimmage to stop Saquon Barkley.
- LB Shaq Smith, Clemson – The former five-star is big and freaky and will be a dominant force on the Clemson defense this season. Just watch.
- RB Cam Akers, Florida State – A true freshman making an impact isn’t rare these days and Akers certainly already looks the part as the ‘Noles replace Dalvin Cook.
- QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn – I’m trying not to buy into the hype as much as others perhaps because I bit, like a fool, on Jeremy Johnson, but it’s obvious Stidham is much more polished and could impact the SEC West as much as anyone.
- DE Terrell Hall, Alabama – Everyone talks about freshman Jerry Jeudy, but until the ‘Bama passing game shows improvement, I’ll stick to defense. Watch out for this freak.
- QB Brandon Wimbush, Notre Dame – I’ve followed Wimbush from his early days in high school where he threw rockets on every pass to the accurate and polished leader he is now becoming for the Irish.
- LB Devin Bush, Michigan – There are many holes to fill on offense and defense, but Bush signaled in the spring game that he could be the spark plug on defense next year.
- WR Johnnie Dixon, Ohio State – The Buckeyes need a go-to receiver for J.T. Barrett and a much better passing offense and Dixon had a spring game that makes you think he could be the answer.
- WR Dez Fitzpatrick, Louisville – The former four-star will be playing with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and could be his main target.
- CB Byron Murphy, Washington – Two first-round caliber corners are gone and the Huskies shouldn’t miss a beat, at least on Murphy’s side of the field.
I'd say Christian Miller had a bigger impact in the Spring Game than Hall, but we have both of them so who am I to complain?
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:59 am to TideSaint
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For recruiting fans, National Signing Day in early February is the biggest day of the year, Christmas for college football fans.
Let’s do it twice a year now.
On Monday, the Collegiate Commissioners Association, which is a committee of league commissioners, approved an early signing period for football that allows prospects to sign with Division I programs from Dec. 20-22.
2018 recruits will be the first class of prospects to experience the December signing period, though they can still wait until the traditional signing day in February.
Here are some pros and cons to consider.
LINK
Posted on 5/9/17 at 10:59 am to TideSaint
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Pros
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Kids can have less pressure: Recruits who are certain of their future destinations will have all the pressure taken off of them by signing early. The phone calls from coaches will stop late in the process. Having to act friendly when coaches get in contact will be no more. Coaches won’t be showing up to schools of completely committed players trying to sway them since they’ll already be signed. It will just clear up a lot of those loose ends.
There is much more clarification: If a prospect gets a letter that he can sign in the early period, then that recruit knows he’s wanted. If he does not receive one, that sends a message as well. One complication in this scenario is that if a player decides to wait and not sign in the early period then coaches could move on to others and get their players locked up. According to Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell, “the whole Jarez Parks thing wouldn’t fly.” Surprises on signing day – either during the early period or in February – would be limited.
It helps the middling Power Five schools: The days of lower-level Power Five coaches recruiting their tails off and trying to lock up kids early only to have them pilfered late in the process – sometimes right up to signing day – would be more limited. Prospects who want to sign with those programs early would be locked in, which would reward coaches who put in the work in the beginning stages. “The big dogs come in late and just steal them,” Farrell said.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 11:00 am to TideSaint
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Cons
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There will be pressure on kids to sign: An early signing period will inevitably move up the recruiting process even further and consequentially put even more pressure on undecided prospects. Some will not have the opportunity to take their official visits because of their football schedule. Others want to wait until January to take trips when things slow down, but that will no longer be possible for prospects who want to sign early.
Coaches get fired, especially assistant coaches: There are so many changes to coaching staffs – firings, hirings or especially assistants moving to other positions – that recruits could be left out to dry. A prospect who had developed an incredible bond with an assistant coach throughout the recruiting process could be ripped away from that coach if he moves on to another school with no way of getting out of a letter of intent. It could prolong some decisions, but it could force some recruits to make an early decision and just hope the assistant coach that recruited them doesn’t leave.
It will push up early offers: “It’s going to speed the process up even more by a few months,” Farrell said. There is less time on the calendar and things will inevitably be pushed up even more – say hello to more offers to middle school students and unproven recruits just to get in the game with those players – and that is definitely a concern to an early signing period. Coaches will not wait to avoid being “late,” which means things will get sped up even more.
Posted on 5/9/17 at 11:00 am to TideSaint
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The Verdict
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“It’s a good thing,” Farrell said. “It’s good for college football recruiting because it evens the playing field a little bit. If I’m a recruit, though, I don’t really like this all that much.
“It’s intended to give kids who have been committed for so long and know where they want to go, it relieves the pressure. That’s probably 60 to 70 percent of the kids. The focus is on the 25-30 percent of the kids down the stretch who are committed and want to take other visits and do all that stuff. For the kid who’s committed to Notre Dame or Michigan and Florida State and just wants to get this over with and has no interest in other schools, this is good for him. For the guys who want to play both sides of it – who are committed but want to play it out and wait until signing day and do the whole hat thing – for them, it’s going to be a lot more pressure.”
Posted on 5/9/17 at 11:36 am to TideSaint
Posted on 5/9/17 at 11:36 am to TideSaint
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OG Marcus "Tank" Jenkins
Marcus Jenkins, who won positional MVP honors, is well-known as "Tank" in the college football recruiting world and he showed why on Sunday (video above). The Montgomery (Ala.) Park Crossing talent was the most powerful offensive lineman in attendance based on how many defenders ended up on the ground at his hands. Jenkins plays with a good base and showed improved footwork after slimming down since the 2016 season ended. He will release his top schools at some point this summer, with most of the SEC and ACC vying for his services.
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