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re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition
Posted on 5/11/17 at 6:38 pm to TideSaint
Posted on 5/11/17 at 6:38 pm to TideSaint
With all the guys already enrolled and making plays in the spring, its easy to forget just how many more kids from our 17 class are still yet to even to get to school. I have a feeling this class is going to produce a lot of big time contributors.
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Posted on 5/11/17 at 10:15 pm to Bamad
Tyler Shelvin may not qualify for LSU this fall.
He has to go to summer school to try to get eligible.
He has to go to summer school to try to get eligible.
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:42 am to TideSaint
quote:
By the time you finish reading this sentence, Josh Marsh will have likely made several tackles.
Marsh, Decatur's three-star 2018 linebacker, recorded 206 stops last season to lead the AHSAA. That eye-popping stat came on the heels of making 150 tackles as a sophomore.
Combine those numbers with a 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame and a 4.5 second time in the 40-yard dash, and it's easy to understand why a number of colleges are pursuing Marsh. Louisville, Troy, Memphis and Colorado State are among those who have offered
"The pace has picked up and it's going good," said Marsh, who added about 20 pounds during the offseason.
"They like the speed I bring at linebacker, the ability to guard receivers and the size that comes with it."
Texas visited earlier this week, and Alabama, Auburn and Mississippi State have stopped by. Marsh feels that a Power Five offer is on the horizon.
"It's coming," he said. "It's a matter of time and it depends on what camps I go to this summer."
Marsh has yet to decide which camps he'll attend as he has to work them around a planned missionary trip to Africa. He has previously visited both Memphis and Colorado State, and plans a return trip to CSU in the summer to see the Rams' new stadium, which is scheduled to open for the 2017 season.
Marsh's defensive exploits last season - the ninth-highest single-season tackle total in AHSAA history, 17.2 tackles per game, 14 stops for a loss, four forced fumbles and a Pick-6 - earned him a spot on the AL.com Super All-State team and the AL.com Huntsville Region Defensive Player of the Year award.
Marsh was only able to participate in four days of spring football due to his commitment to the track and field team, which advanced to the Class 6A state championship meet in Gulf Shores last week. Still, he made a smooth transition back to the gridiron and played in front of Troy, South Alabama and Memphis coaches during an intra-squad spring game Thursday.
"It was definitely a blast," Marsh said. "We looked good the four days I was out here. The offense was kicking our butt the first day of spring, but the defense got it together. We put in a new system and we learned that real good. We came out here today and the defense put it on the offense. I'm just excited for the season."
LINK
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:42 am to TideSaint
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:46 am to TideSaint
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The big day is coming for Central-Phenix City star receiver Justyn Ross.
His mother, Charay Franklin, returns to the United States from her U.S. National Guard deployment in Kuwait on Saturday. A week from Saturday, on May 20, she will be back in Phenix City.
Ross, a high four-star recruit and the state's top recruit, has put off most major recruiting decisions until her return.
He did however tweet out a top 11 recently of Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Florida State, LSU, Southern Cal, Miami, Mississippi State and Florida.
That doesn't seem like much, but it was a pretty big step. Central-Phenix City head coach Jamey DuBose hasn't talked much with Ross about specific schools, but more so on narrowing things down in segments.
"You decide where you want to go (visit) and what you think you want to do and try and narrow that list down because that list was a page long," DuBose said. "Narrow it down so mom can isolate in during June and July months. Get the list of 11 down a little smaller in August or September. Try to go to some games, you and your mom, see what the place is like, what coaches are like. Maybe by Signing Day or December or January, you'll have a decision or a top two."
Ross is friends with Markail Benton, who recently signed with Alabama and John Broussard, who just finished his first year at Auburn.
He's gotten to know plenty of top prospects through Twitter. Ohio State quarterback commit Emory Jones is recruiting him hard, and Ross wants to visit OSU this summer.
He had rave reviews after a visit to Clemson, a school already with commitments from the top two prospects nationally in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and defensive end Xavier Thomas.
"On most of my visits, I haven't really done that much," Ross said. "Their facility was one of the best ones I've ever seen."
I can honestly say that today was one of the best visits I've ever been on. [?] #ALLIN @atxlete @Trevorlawrencee
-- Justyn Ross . [?] [?] (@_Jross5) April 11, 2017
Ross also said he wants to visit Florida, LSU, Ole Miss and other places this summer. A Florida coach was at Central-Phenix City on Wednesday. The school is a hotbed for major college coaches this spring.
As for his top 11, he said, "I just felt like those are the best receiver schools for me, the best ones with winning, producing receivers and throwing the ball around."
Ross' maturity has stood out for DuBose through the process. Before Red Devil players become prospects, they are schooled on how to handle the media, what questions they should ask of coaches and things to say on college visits.
"Other guys who have been in the program that's been through this, they all stay pretty tight-knit and pretty close," DuBose said. "They discuss things and talk about what they've been through.
"Justyn is going to do his own thing, that's one thing I will say about him."
Committing before Signing Day is not out of the question.
I'm doing this for my people ... stay tuned [?] pic.twitter.com/RhKEAeuxV2
-- Justyn Ross . [?] [?] (@_Jross5) May 12, 2017
LINK
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:46 am to TideSaint
Continued:
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The talent
AL.com took a trip to Phenix City in the fall of 2015 for Broussard's Under Armour All-America jersey presentation.
Ross was then a sophomore, but had already picked up offers from Alabama, Auburn and Michigan.
"Justyn Ross is a hot prospect because Justyn Ross is a player," DuBose said at the time. "I don't know how to sum that up any better. Justyn Ross is probably one of the best football players I've had a chance to be around."
DuBose also said that Ross was a future NFL player, but we didn't print that at the time. After all, the kid was just 15 years old.
But now? Why not. DuBose speaks with the same confidence about Ross as he has gotten older and developed. Ross carries the same humbleness as he did when he was a sophomore, received a major offer and asked DuBose if he thought he was really good enough to play at the next level.
"What I tell people now, college recruiters now, I've been in this game now 24 years," DuBose said. "I've seen good ones. A lot of people want to compare him and the first one you throw out there is Julio Jones. He's comparable. He may be better at some places at that time in his career and he may not be. He's comparable to him."
The 6-foot-5 Jones starred at Foley, was a top 3 national prospect, dominated at Alabama from 2008-10 and is now one of the NFL's best receivers for the Atlanta Falcons.
"I told a recruiter the other day and they all seem to agree, Ross is going to be a three-year guy at some program and probably be a first round draft choice," DuBose said. "He's just a special guy that does special things and understands the game and gets better every day.
Ross, who will play in the Under Armour All-America game, is now ranked as the country's No. 27 prospect. He rebounded from a torn ACL as a sophomore to catch 38 passes for 663 yards in 2016 while often being double-teamed. He scored eight touchdowns last season.
"At times, I don't know if Justyn realizes how good he is," DuBose said. "He's still a humble guy who knows how hard he has to work every day."
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:48 am to TideSaint
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For a man with plenty of success on the field and multiple state championships in Alabama and Georgia, Rush Propst hasn't coached many truly elite recruits.
He's had a plethora of college players at all levels, but maybe not one as highly-regarded as JJ Peterson in almost 15 years. He flashes back to Chad Jackson, a star receiver at Hoover who signed with Florida in 2003, who had the same national profile.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Peterson is a high four-star recruit at Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Ga., and he's ranked as the No. 1 outside linebacker and No. 35 overall prospect.
And Alabama and Auburn are among the schools with a great chance to land him, along with Georgia.
Peterson is being recruited by coaches at the schools who have coached for Propst at Hoover - Jeremy Pruitt of Alabama, Chip Lindsey at Auburn and Georgia's Kevin Sherrer.
"He likes Alabama," Propst said. "I think he likes Jeremy Pruitt. He likes the setup there obviously, how could you not if you've got any sense? Their setup's as good of, if not better than anybody in the country.
"I do think Auburn's in it, and I do think Georgia's in it. He likes the position coach at Auburn (Travis Williams). That's about all I can get out of that. He knows Chip, but not very well yet. He relates Pruitt and Sherrer to me. He knows Coach Sherrer has worked for me. He lives in a Georgia town that's heavily populated with Georgia fans."
Propst believes that Kirby Smart was the right hire for Georgia after the 2015 season and believes that "JJ could get caught up in that wave, because it's a big wave."
But Propst also credits Peterson's intuition and ability to read people. Propst has an active role in his recruitment, but isn't telling him where to go.
"I'm not favoring any one of them," Propst said. "I give all three of them equal props. They recruit the fool out of him and he makes the decision and I'm not the one who's going to go play."
Propst said other schools aren't out of it. Peterson wants to visit Florida State. He's been to Florida and South Carolina, Arkansas and Tennessee shouldn't be counted out.
"We're trying to keep it to a limit of 10, maybe knock it to seven in a couple of weeks, hopefully summer get to a top five," Propst said.
"We're dealing with a top three (Alabama, Auburn, Georgia) in more than just casual recruiting."
Propst said that Peterson needs to visit Auburn for Big Cat weekend and take trips again to Alabama and Georgia.
Peterson has already had to grow up faster than most kids his age. He has a 4-month-old daughter, Propst said.
"I told him your life's going to be in chaos for the next four or five years," Propst said. "It's good chaos. He comes from a tough situation at home and he could be picked in the NFL Draft in five years if he does things right.
"When he does get it and he does mature, that tree's growing as good as it's going to grow and that flower's blooming as pretty as it's going to be, this one right here is going to be special."
LINK
Oh Rush.
This post was edited on 5/12/17 at 9:49 am
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:49 am to TideSaint
Continued:
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The talent
Propst said that the linebacker position has evolved and Peterson's ability to rush the passer and run with faster receivers has given him an edge.
His speed is evident just one minute into his junior highlights, when he returns a kickoff for a touchdown. Before that, Peterson is easily shedding blocks and crunching ball-carriers.
"You've got to have athletes who can run with these guys, these four and five-receiver offenses, that's the key to it," Propst said. "JJ fits that mode. He can run and he can rush the passer. You don't have to get him off the field. He's a first-down backer and a third-down backer.
"If you look at his ability to rush the passer and his ability to play every down, that's what puts him way above."
And that speed. It helped him earn an invitation to Nike's The Opening Finals at the end of June. It'll help Propst's Packers be a state championship contender again.
"He has the speed of any linebacker that's ever played at Alabama," Propst said. "He can flat close and run. He has great tackling ability and he can run with anybody.
"He could probably play receiver for 10 of the 14 schools in the SEC. He knows he can make his money on defense. That's what the game has turned to."
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:51 am to TideSaint
quote:
It took taking a page out of a classic political strategy to get a football early signing period finally passed.
For years, college football couldn't find consensus on when an early signing period should be implemented. In 2014, Susan Peal, the director of the National Letter of Intent, said there was "more momentum than ever" to get it passed yet here we were more than three years later with no new rules. Peal wasn't wrong -- there was momentum, at least on a conceptual basis for an early signing period -- but the specifics held everything up.
The Atlantic Coast Conference wanted an August early signing period before the season started. The Southeastern Conference didn't want one at all, but if it had no choice, it wanted it in November. College football's most influential figures were all working in their self-interests making it difficult to move it closer to approval.
What finally got it over the top could best be described as a "chicken in every pot." In Washington, D.C., legislation often gets passed when there are enough extra measures thrown in to make everyone happy. That's essentially what happened with this legislation as college football officials realized it was always going to be difficult to pass an early signing period as a standalone measure. Instead, multiple other changes were rolled into a single package -- everything from satellite camp changes to new rules concerning hiring high school coaches -- to ameliorate those lukewarm about an early signing period.
"Change is hard, and that's why this took a while," Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said. "On big topics, when there is connection between issues, I think it is wise to try to put together a package rather than doing one-offs. There is always compromise in any of these political processes; it's just the nature of it. By packaging it together hopefully, you can build in some wins for everybody, in some form or fashion."
The result was a Dec. 20-22 signing period officially approved by the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) this week. The major conferences didn't publicly campaign for that date, but it had long been the preferred period for the various groups that studied the topic over the last half-decade. When Steinbrecher chaired a working group studying a possible early signing period, that was the recommendation after interviewing coaches, players and administrators at every level. The Division I football oversight committee came to a similar conclusion. Peal told AL.com this week that the CCA purposefully waited to do anything for the oversight committee to complete its work on the football recruiting model.
It helps that college coaches are accustomed to signing players in December because those dates coincide with the junior college midyear signing period. There was also support for it because it would be after most head coaching hires had been made, according to Steinbrecher. In theory, that would limit the possible issues of a player signing a binding letter of intent only for that school's head coach to leave. There are already compelling arguments that an out-clause should be added to NLI in case of coaching changes, and Steinbrecher said it's been discussed.
There's mixed opinion on whether an out clause in case of coaching changes was considered for the new early signing period.
Further debate and discussion - both positive and negative - was to be expected after such a comprehensive recruiting package. The early signing period is the grabbiest measure of the bunch, especially given all the years of talk about it, but the other rules within it have generated headlines. In Alabama alone, Auburn can't recruit local Opelika High School for the next two years because the school hired Brian Blackmon in February as an analyst. There have been college coaches and administrators at every level of FBS football that have already come out with gripes about a piece of the legislation. Even Steinbrecher would like to see an early signing period even earlier than December but admits "the political will isn't there for that and maybe it will never be there for it."
Still, the approval this week was a long time coming for the MAC commissioner who in some ways was the face of early signing period legislation. For nearly four years he's been involved in some capacity on the hot button issue. He worked with former Auburn coach Gene Chizik and Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity, among many others, as part of a working group trying to put together an early signing period solution palatable enough to a diverse group with many different wants and needs.
"This was in many ways one of the most collaborative pieces of legislation I've ever been a part of," he told AL.com. "I thought there was a lot of good discussion. A lot of good work done to listen, to absorb and then try to craft a package that hopefully advances the needs of our student-athletes, is respectful of the coaches time and is ultimately in the best interest of college football."
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby told reporters recently that "there were disagreements, there were compromises, but at the end of the day, I think we've come up with the most comprehensive and impactful package we've had in football in 25 or 30 years."
All it took was realizing as long as everyone gets a chicken in their pot, they'll leave full and content.
LINK
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:52 am to TideSaint
Damn double post. 
This post was edited on 5/12/17 at 9:53 am
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:54 am to TideSaint
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CORDELE, Ga. — Quay Walker will play college football in the SEC, but which school he’ll exactly pick still remains an unknown.
Walker, a 4-star linebacker from Crisp County High School, spoke with SEC Country on Thursday at his school to get the latest on his recruitment and where things stand with his all-SEC top 5 of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU and South Carolina.
The Crimson Tide are on top for his services at this point.
“They just hit me up all of the time,” Walker said. “We talk about football, but sometimes we don’t even talk about that. We talk about life itself and how I can become a better person if I went to Alabama besides just playing football.”
In the video above, you’ll get the answers to the following questions:
1) Which school out of the five is recruiting him the hardest right now?
2) Has his former teammate, Auburn signee Markaviest “Big Cat” Bryant been in his ear about linking up once again?
3) Why South Carolina leapfrogged Georgia for a spot in his top 5?
4) What is LSU’s message to him and what does he think about the Tigers?
5) Which of the five schools was his first SEC offer?
LINK with video
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:55 am to TideSaint
Josh Marsh appears to be one of those scrappy, gym-rat kids
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:56 am to TideSaint
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Top OL in Alabama talks Auburn
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Marcus Jenkins — his birth name — earned his nickname well before anyone knew what he’d become.
Better known in the recruiting world as “Tank,” Jenkins’ mother started calling him that as a kid. It derived from a variation of nicknames his father had and it stuck throughout his childhood. By the time Jenkins became a 4-star football prospect, it was a logical nickname for the 6-foot-3, 320-pound prospect.
“I turned into a Tank, so it fits,” Jenkins said. “My dad is like 6-foot-3, about 280, a real big dude.”
Jenkins has lived up to the billing, especially in recent weeks.
As the No. 10 offensive guard in the nation, Jenkins is listed as the top offensive lineman in the state of Alabama. Last weekend, Jenkins put on a show at the Nike Opening regional in Charlotte. His performance received OL MVP honors at the camp.
Those accolades are forcing top programs to put on the recruiting pressure. He’s receiving most of that attention from Oklahoma, Missouri, Florida, Auburn, Louisville, Mississippi State, Miami, Arkansas and a few others.
Expect to see a complete list in the near future.
“I’ll make a top 10 [soon],” Jenkins said. “[I’ll have a decision] probably at the end of May. I’m going to go visit some more schools and talk to more coaches. For now, I think they’re all recruiting me the same. I just want to get it out of the way since I plan to enroll early.”
Jenkins projects as a guard at the next level.
For Auburn purposes, that adds some intrigue to his recruitment. So far, the Tigers have two offensive linemen committed in the class — Jalil Irvin and Kameron Stutts — who are both expected to be interior linemen, likely guards. Irvin could play center, which means the Tigers could plan to take another guard.
It’s still up in the air whether Auburn hopes to take four or five offensive linemen. With other guards such as Trey Hill out there, the Tigers’ priority figures to focus on tackles going forward.
Still, Jenkins feels like Auburn wants him. The presence of two other guards in the class doesn’t scare him away.
“It doesn’t play a role, for real. It all depends who would go there and get the spot and grind for it,” Jenkins said. “They love me. They want me to come play and be their best guy. It’s a good school. It’s a good in-state school.”
Most, if not all, of Jenkins’ communication runs through offensive line coach Herb Hand.
“He’s a real cool guy. He’s just like my offensive line coach at Park Crossing,” Jenkins said. “He’s real cool and laid-back. I just have a good relationship with Coach Hand. He always says real good stuff to me.”
Word around the campfire is Alabama is close to offering. If true, I imagine we'll make his Top 10.
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:57 am to Cobrasize
quote:
Josh Marsh appears to be one of those scrappy, gym-rat kids
We do have a white LB spot open in this class.
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:57 am to TideSaint
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Joey Gatewood’s offer to watch
The central figure of Auburn’s 2018 recruiting class picked up a big offer Thursday, though there might’ve been some confusion about when he actually received it.
Alabama offensive line coach Brent Key swung by Bartram Trail in Jacksonville, Fla., to let Gatewood’s high school coaches know that the quarterback has a spot in the Crimson Tide’s 2018 class if he wants it.
The interesting element: Alabama said the offer had been extended a year prior.
“I think they offered last year, but there wasn’t much communication so [Key] reaffirmed it to me again today,” Gatewood told SEC Country shortly after picking up the offer.
Gatewood had mentioned Alabama’s offer to me for a while.
Not that it will alter his commitment in any way, but it’s a place he has interest in finding out more about. Gatewood said he’ll “probably” visit Alabama this summer. That comment alone will likely worry many in the Auburn community.
For now, however, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about, simply something to watch.
Worth noting: This all comes on the heels of Auburn electing to take two quarterbacks in the 2018 class.
Posted on 5/12/17 at 9:59 am to TideSaint
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LSU’s offense is evolving, but Canada has better pitch for Gunnell
HOUSTON — LSU offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s recent travel plans provided a closer look at his priority list when it comes quarterback targets.
Canada kicked off the NCAA’s evaluation period with a visit up to Northern Louisiana to see the state’s top-ranked passer, Justin Rogers, then immediately headed west to Texas to take a closer look at Grant Gunnell, one of only two quarterbacks in the 2019 recruiting cycle that holds an offer from LSU.
Canada was joined by area recruiter and outside linebackers coach Dennis Johnson, whose presence reaffirmed the staff’s message to the 4-star prospect from St. Pius X High School. It had nothing to do with an evolving passing game or a new-look offense, but everything to do with kickstarting another special class for the Tigers.
“What they always really say is that I’m their guy,” Gunnell told SEC Country. “They want me to help start the class. They already have the No. 1 tackle and guard, and they want me to help build on that. It’s just pretty cool.”
The No. 1 tackle, of course, is 5-star Kenyon Green, who also hails from Texas. The No. 1 guard is Kardell Thomas. Along with Tennessee cornerback Maurice Hampton, the third blue-chip recruit in the group, LSU has the nation’s No. 4 class in 2019, per the 247Sports composite ranking.
Gunnell is the No. 2 pro-style passer in that cycle and the No. 55 overall prospect in the class, and he’s just a few weeks removed from a third unofficial stop in Baton Rouge, this time for the spring game. While the visit was cut short because of rain, he still saw a glimpse of Canada’s new offense, which left a lasting impression.
“I really liked Coach [Cam] Cameron, but Coach Canada really prepares his quarterbacks. He’s one of the best at getting quarterbacks to the league, and he’s really cool,” Gunnell said. “He’s not uptight or anything. His offense has a lot of motion. When I went to the spring game, they passed the ball a lot more than they had in the past.”
Gunnell sat in on the quarterback meeting with Canada during that visit, which also meant a lot to the 6-foot-5, 203-pound gunslinger. Canada’s football knowledge resonated with Gunnell.
As he prepares for his junior campaign, Gunnell has had both LSU and Arkansas coaches visit him, and coaches from Notre Dame and Oklahoma were expected by this past week. The 4-star passer is preparing for another big season and inching even closer to his dream.
He is a big-time quarterback now, which was always the goal growing up.
“It’s amazing,” Gunnell admitted. “I grew up watching it and saying ‘I want to do that one day.’ When it actually happens, it’s like wow. You work so hard for it and you don’t think it’s ever going to happen.”
Gunnell has spent this spring working on different aspects of his game, including throwing the ball more quickly to his right, opening up more, his three-step drop, ball placement and perfecting his timing with his receivers.
Once spring football wraps up later in May, Gunnell plans on trimming his list of schools. At Nike’s “The Opening” regional in New Orleans in April, Gunnell told SEC Country it will be a top 6 and that LSU is a surefire bet to make the cut.
“I’m about to drop a top 6 and LSU is up there,” Gunnell said in April. “They changed the offense. I can tell. … I want to get it [his commitment] and start recruiting players that I want to play with.”
A commitment should come soon after his junior season, likely around next spring. Expect LSU to be one of the main contenders for the elite 2019 passer along with Florida State and Texas A&M.
LINK
Posted on 5/12/17 at 10:00 am to TideSaint
quote:
4-star OLB Quay Walker talks LSU
LSU outside linebackers coach Dennis Johnson spent Thursday at Crisp County (Ga.) High School with a keen eye on two of the defensive standouts. That includes 4-star outside linebacker Quay Walker and 2019 athlete Jammie Robinson.
Walker is the No. 11 outside linebacker in the 2018 class, per the 247Sports Composite rankings, and recently named a top five of LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Florida and South Carolina.
So, how did the Tigers make the cut? Hint: it had something to do with the coach eyeing him on the sidelines.
“Coach Dennis Johnson, himself, stands out,” Walker told SEC Country. “It’s not all about football. He checks up on my grandmother, and she plays a big role in this, too. I’ve talked to Coach O two or three times, and we connected.”
Johnson, more affectionately known as “Meatball,” is the only college coach that has remained in contact with Quay’s grandmother.
Of his final five, Walker indicated that the Crimson Tide are recruiting him the hardest. However, Johnson and his ties to the family is giving the elite Georgia linebacker plenty to think about at this stage.
“It means a lot,” Walker said. “Basically, if you want me you need to get in closer with her. He checks up on her, and that’s big. I pretty much love that.”
Posted on 5/12/17 at 10:00 am to TideSaint
quote:
Robinson adds an offer from LSU
While at Crisp County, Johnson distributed an offer to fast-rising 2019 athlete Jammie Robinson, who — to be perfectly honest — was expecting it when he caught a glimpse of the LSU coach.
Nonetheless, the offer carried weight for the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Robinson, who will likely become a full-time defensive back at the next level.
“I was kind of expecting it because the coaches were there,” Robinson told SEC Country. “I put the work in and the work paid off. I got the good news, I got the offer from LSU.”
“It means a lot,” he added. “I pray every night and it’s paying off. It’s starting to pay off, but I need to stay humble and stay hungry.”
Robinson has enjoyed a very busy spring, collecting overtures from Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Auburn, Kentucky and now LSU. He visited Auburn earlier in the spring and will head to Baton Rouge next month.
That should lift LSU into a strong position to potentially land to standout Georgia prospect, who admitted he watches the Bayou Bengals each Saturday.
“I watch them on Saturday,” said Robinson. “I like LSU. I like them a lot.”
Robinson named Alabama his leader after being offered on A-Day.
Posted on 5/12/17 at 10:02 am to TideSaint
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Following legends
When Jacob Copeland transferred to Escambia High School after his junior season, the 4-star wide receiver knew he had big shoes to fill.
However, that’s exactly why he made the move.
“This school is a legendary school,” Copeland said. “If you’re from Pensacola and you want to be one of the big dogs in football, this is where you play.”
The school has produced a pair of first-round draft picks in running backs Alabama’s Trent Richardson (2005-08) and Florida’s Emmitt Smith (1983-86), the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. Both Richardson and Smith won SEC Player of the Year honors and set the single-season record for rushing yards at their respective schools.
Mike Bennett in his first year at Escambia after spending 18 seasons at Pensacola High School. Having coached in the area for more than two decades, Bennett said Copeland compares to the Pensacola greats.
“He’s up there with some of the best athletes that have came through this high school, that’s for sure,” Bennett said. “He’s been a name in this area since little league football, which is a big deal around here. So he was able to get the hype around him early and has created some excitement in the city again.”
Escambia is implementing a spread offense this spring and Copeland will line up at several positions in 2017, including running back.
Top-100 WR @JCope5era getting some action at running back in practice. pic.twitter.com/9jAnC6Seff
— Zach Abolverdi (@ZachAbolverdi) May 9, 2017
Alabama or Florida?
Like Richardson and Smith, Copeland is a coveted recruit being pursued by some of the nation’s top programs.
The 6-foot, 192-pound prospect holds more than 30 scholarship offers, but his top 5 consists of SEC schools. Copeland could follow in the footsteps of Richardson or Smith, with a potential battle brewing between Alabama and Florida.
“UF was always a dream school for me,” Copeland said. “Just knowing it’s Florida, you can’t go wrong there. You’re going to get a great education there, they invented Gatorade, it’s a lot of things (that are appealing).
“The Crimson Tide, man, that’s a legendary school. They have national championships. Nick Saban is a legendary coach.”
Copeland visited the Crimson Tide twice in April and shared a car ride with Nick Saban on the day of Alabama’s spring game, making a big impression on the Under Armour Armour All-American.
“We were just cruising along,” Copeland said. “Saban is just a really cool coach. I can vibe with him. He’s not always serious like people think. If you spent time around him, you’d understand.”
Copeland has spent even more time with Florida coach Jim McElwain. He offered the receiver as a freshman and has personally recruited him for more than two years.
“I was the first recruit Coach McElwain offered out of any class … that means something to me,” Copeland said. “Ever since then, he’s been on my trail heavy. We text on a daily basis and it’s not all about football with him.”
LINK
Posted on 5/12/17 at 10:27 am to TideSaint
Alabama could end up taking 8-10 in-state kids. Which is interesting considering it seemed to be such a down year talent wise. And it hasn't exactly been great in-state lately either.
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