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

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DE Jordan Davis

“The Alabama commitment is one of the fastest rising prospects in the Southeast, dominating camp events and elite offensive linemen at every stop he makes. He's already built like a college prospect and looks like a future terror as an edge rusher at the next level.” -- Wommack

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Thompson Station (Tenn.) Independence wide receiver Kendrell Scurry decommitted from Tennessee on Tuesday afternoon with a statement on Twitter reading in part, "I would like to thank the University of Tennessee for recruiting me thus far but I am officially de-committing to see what other universities have to offer."

Currently ranked as the No. 81 player in the country according to the 247Sports rankings in the class of 2019, Scurry had been committed to the Vols since July of last summer, making that pledge when Zach Azzanni had been running the wide receiver room in Knoxville. With three years of high school still to go at the time of his initial commitment a lot was sure to change and with it, so too has his commitment.

"When they offered, I felt like this was a big offer, this was one of the biggest offers I was going to get," Scurry told 247Sports. "When I committed, I didn't know Coach Azzanni was going to leave. Coach Azzanni was a big part of my recruitment. He was a good coach. I really liked him, really liked the vibe he gave off."

Since that commitment, Azzanni took off for an opportunity to coach the Chicago Bears wide receivers, leaving Scurry to reassess his recruitment. Scurry has had a chance to talk to new wide receivers coach Kevin Beard but due to limited contact rules with underclassmen, their interactions have been restricted.

"The coach now, he's a good guy. He really knows what he's talking about but he's just different and Coach Azzanni was the guy that I thought was going to be my coach. "

With the decision to decommit behind him, Scurry is hoping to communicate more with Notre Dame, South Carolina, LSU, Clemson and Alabama.

"I've got two more years of high school. I'm going to be on a lot more visits, going to see a lot more things. I don't really know what's going on. If I’m committed to one school, other schools aren't going to want me there."

Currently Scurry plans to camp at Alabama, LSU and Clemson to go try to earn offers this summer. He also plans to take a visit in June to South Carolina.

So what is he looking for in his next pledge?

"First thing, make sure I'm good in school. So if Stanford ever stopped by, my grades are good. If the coaches give me a good vibe, I like that. I like bonding with people and talking to coaches. I like getting to know them and getting to know me. I like coaches being cool and acting like we're family."

The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder caught 58 passes for 977 yards and 16 touchdowns last fall.

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Scout hit the road this month to make several stops up and down the state of Alabama. One of the themes of the spring tour became hard to ignore along the way, the quarterback position may be back.

The debate as to whether it left or not, following names like national champion arms A.J. McCarron, Jacob Coker and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, is a story for another day.

But the depth of the state's top passers in the class of 2019 and even 2020 appears to be strong this far out.

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Taulia Tagovailoa - 2019

The most popular name among 2019 QBs in the state has to be Taulia Tagovailoa, who is new to the state following a breakout sophomore season at Kapolei (Hawaii) High where he threw for more yards than top five class of 2017 passer and Alabama freshman Tua Tagovailoa. Taking the reigns at Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson High alongside state champion coach Mark Freeman, the right-hander has a familiarly quick release with good arm strength and ability to push the ball down the field at will. Alabama, Oregon, Utah, Syracuse and Hawaii have already offered Tagovailoa.

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Peter Parrish - 2019

The newest SEC-level prospect in the class is Peter Parrish, a Miami native now at Phenix City (Ala.) Central competing for the starting quarterback job. Mississippi State has already offered the dual-threat standout, who has a fluid passing motion and well above-average arm strength. When he's not passing the football, he's just as dangerous on the move. Parrish ran sub 50 seconds in the 400-meter dash at the state tack meet, finishing fourth in the 200-meter dash at 23.21 seconds while helping Central snag the state championship in the 4x400-meter relay. With the top football prospect in Alabama, Justyn Ross, among the weapons at his disposal, Parrish will have every chance to be seen through the 2017 season.

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Tucker Melton - 2020

Ashford isn't alone in 2020 even at this early juncture, and like Ashford Tucker Melton will have to compete to be 'the guy' in 2017. The balanced young arm, also 6-foot-3, is competing with a dual-threat mentioned above in Peter Parrish at Central-Phenix City. Each split reps during an intersquad scrimmage Scout took in (video below) and each made plays in the process. "We have a battle!" Central coach Jamey DuBose said before the pace picked up that day. It is very possible both Parrish and Melton see considerable time during the 2017 season, one where few offenses in the 7A classification will be as talented as the Red Devils.

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