Started By
Message
4
Posted on 5/30/17 at 8:22 pm to TideSaint
quote:
247Sports first ranked Clemson quarterback commit Trevor Lawrence (Cartersville, Ga./High) No. 1 overall in the 2018 class almost two full years ago and he has been atop the 247Spots ranking and recruiting industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings ever since.
It now appears that the first potential legitimate challenge to that that title might be from another quarterback in his own state.
Penn State commit Justin Fields (Kennesaw, Ga./Harrison) moved up to No. 2 overall in 247Sports' rankings this morning and climbed 14 spots in the 247Sports Composite to No. 6 and leapfrogged USC commit Matt Corral in the quarterback pecking order following Tuesday’s updates.
Fields will get an opportunity to compete head to head with Lawrence, Corral and more top quarterbacks this weekend at the Elite 11 Finals (Elite 11 Finals roster) in Los Angeles, and possibly again at Nike's The Opening Finals in Beaverton, Ore., at the end of June. 247Sports will be on hand for full coverage of both events, including daily rankings of the QB performances.
The shake-up in the 247Sports Composite top 10 also includes Houston (Texas) Lamar cornerback Anthony Cook moving up three spots to No. 8 overall.
The bump for Fields was just enough to barely put Penn State ahead of Ohio State at No. 2 in the current 247Sports Team Recruiting Rankings (by 0.03-point margin), but Ohio State got a boost of its own with defensive end commit Brenton Cox moving up 22 spots to No. 22 overall and adding a fifth star.
Another Penn State commit – offensive tackle Nana Asiedu – made a big jump as well, up to No. 60 from No. 82.
LINK
Posted on 5/30/17 at 8:25 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Here is a look at some of the other prospects making a move following Tuesday’s updates:
LB Adam Anderson (LSU) – 67 to 34
DT Michael Thompson – 48 to 38
QB Tanner McKee – 75 to 56
OT Penei Sewell – 69 to 57
WR Jaylen Waddle – 96 to 58
S Steve Stephens (Oregon) – 78 to 69
QB Justin Rogers – 100 to 89
CB Kyler McMichael – 142 to 104
OT Rasheed Walker – 134 to 105
DT Rick Sandidge – 113 to 108
WR Anthony Schwartz – 231 to 143
WR Alontae Taylor (Tennessee) – 199 to 173
LB Jack Lamb – 262 to 190
DE Jordan Davis (Alabama) – 289 to 221
This post was edited on 5/30/17 at 8:25 pm
Posted on 5/30/17 at 8:27 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Nick Saban has long opposed an early signing period.
And despite the Collegiate Commissioners Association approving a 72-hour signing window in college football beginning this year, Saban still feels the same as he did last season -- although he has reluctantly accepted the NCAA’s decision to pass the rule.
On Tuesday at the SEC’s Spring Meetings, Saban pointed to the “paranoia that someone else has an advantage” as the reason to change the longstanding traditions in recruiting.
“I’m not sure about changing the recruiting calendar, I’m not really sure about this whole high school coach thing and employing them in camps,” Saban said in Destin, Fla. “... Sometimes we take a sledgehammer to kill a fly and then have some unintended consequences, which we may see here some time in the future.”
The early signing period for Division I teams will take place from Dec. 20 to Dec. 22, beginning this year or for the 2018 recruiting cycle. Prior to that, college football previously had only one signing period beginning on the first Wednesday of February.
While that signing day will remain, prospective athletes will now be allowed to start taking visits after April 1 of their junior year of high school. This change, however, will not go into effect until April 1, 2018, so recruits signing in the next cycle can take official visits only after the start of their senior year of high school.
Although that’s one of the several reasons Saban isn’t thrilled with the rule change, one of the “unintended consequences” he once again mentioned was the rule that could limit opportunities for high school coaches. That’s a soapbox the 11th-year head coach has stood upon for some time, and he added the consequences he sees for the student-athletes Tuesday.
“I think the issue is going to be when we change and have an early signing period in December -- which to me is way better than having one before their senior year,” Saban said. “So, if we’re going to have an early signing date, this is the best one that we can have.
“But the fear is that this will become the signing date. Now everything revolves around Dec. 20th, 22nd, whenever it is. Then everybody will want to take an official visit during the season, which is not the best time to take official visits.
“... I don’t think some of these things have been really thought out well.”
Saban also reiterated how the new rule will hurt late bloomers who will not receive the same opportunities because “everybody has already signed everybody.” Players like tailback Josh Jacobs, who was not on the Crimson Tide’s radar until late last year.
Just like it has since he first opposed the proposal, it all goes back to player development for Saban.
“We typically, and to be honest with you, as hard as you think I work, I like the fact that from June 17 until July 15, our guys are on vacation,” Saban said. “So, they’re not going to be on vacation, because we’re going to have people visiting and we’re going to be recruiting all during the summer. So, I just don’t think these things have been really well thought out.
“I don’t think it creates a real advantage for anybody.”
LINK
Posted on 5/30/17 at 9:24 pm to TideSaint
quote:
DL LaBryan Ray
LaBryan Ray, a 5-star prospect, joins a Crimson Tide team looking for defensive linemen to step up after the departure of Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson. Da’Ron Payne is the only returning starter.
Ray is one of two defensive linemen who’ll join Alabama this summer (Phil Mathis from Monroe, La., is the other). Junior college transfer Isaiah Buggs, who enrolled in January, was the only other defensive lineman the Crimson Tide signed in the 2017 cycle.
Ray was the No. 26 overall player nationally and the No. 1 strong-side defensive end prospect.
Ray finished his senior season at James Clemens High School with 124 tackles, including 25 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 16 quarterback hurries, 2 fumble recoveries and a blocked punt.
Posted on 5/30/17 at 9:25 pm to TideSaint
quote:
OL Jedrick Wills
It’s not easy to play offensive line as a freshman especially if you don’t enroll early. But there are spots open along the Crimson Tide’s front. Jedrick Wills can play both guard and tackle. There are question marks about the right side of the offensive line for Alabama so Wills could compete for one of those spots.
At 6-5, 310 pounds, Wills was tabbed as a 5-star offensive tackle by Rivals.com and the top player in the state of Kentucky by all majoring recruiting services.
Posted on 5/30/17 at 9:26 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Kicker Joseph Bulovas
Alabama really needs a kicker. Punter JK Scott could handle both punting and kicking, but that wouldn’t be ideal.
Kicker Andy Pappanastos missed attempts from 31 and 38 yards during the A-Day game which had to give fans flashbacks of missed kicks over the last few years.
That’s where Joseph Bulovas comes in. Bulovas “signed” with Alabama, but wasn’t included as a part of the Crimson Tide’s 2017 National Signing Day class. He accepted a blue shirt option, and enrolled this summer.
Bulovas may be the most important player from Alabama’s 2017 class given the Tide’s need at kicker.
I hope I'm wrong, but I've got a bad feeling about him.
Posted on 5/30/17 at 9:26 pm to TideSaint
quote:
WR Henry Ruggs
Alabama doesn’t have a big need at receiver, but Henry Ruggs is the type of player who’ll be tough to keep off the field. Whether it’s in the slot, taking handoffs, split out or even on special teams, look for Alabama to figure out a way to get the ball in Ruggs’ hands.
He’s an incredible athlete with blazing speed (watch him win the Alabama 7A 100 meter state championship here). Ruggs could be similar to what Florida had in Percy Harvin.
Posted on 5/30/17 at 9:36 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Ruggs could be similar to what Florida had in Percy Harvin.
He's good, but damn. I'm not sure that's a fair comparison
Posted on 5/30/17 at 10:25 pm to Cobrasize
quote:
He's good, but damn. I'm not sure that's a fair comparison
Harvin was the best athlete I've ever seen on a football field.
He could have been an all time great if his migraine situation didn't pop up when he left Florida.
If Ruggs is half the player he was we're in business.
Posted on 5/30/17 at 10:27 pm to TideSaint
Tom Loy (Notre Dame mod) CB'd Tommy Brown to Oregon.
Posted on 5/31/17 at 3:26 am to TideSaint
I haven't really followed the 2018 class that closely but I know we only have 2 commits. Is that something to be worried about or is it likely we're still gonna finish top 3?
This post was edited on 5/31/17 at 3:27 am
Posted on 5/31/17 at 9:38 am to Bamafan15
quote:
Is that something to be worried about or is it likely we're still gonna finish top 3?
It's nothing to worry about, but we probably end up around #4 or #5 due to the smaller class size.
Posted on 5/31/17 at 9:39 am to TideSaint
quote:
Clermont (Fla.) East Ridge four-star wide receiver Justin Watkins has given early commitments to LSU and Florida State. After backing off both of those pledges, Texas is the team that currently holds his commitment.
However, the 5-foot-11, 172-pound playmaker plans to visit several other campuses this summer. Alabama, Louisville, LSU, Ohio State, and Penn State are teams expected to receive visits from Watkins in the coming weeks and months.
The 247Sports Composite, an industry generated average, currently ranks Watkins as the nation's No. 45 overall prospect in the 2018 class.
LINK
Posted on 5/31/17 at 9:41 am to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama is not one of college football's three best teams heading into the 2017 season according to SEC Network analyst Booger McFarland, who tweeted his preseason Top 3 on Tuesday night.
That's right, the three-time defending SEC champs who are the only team to make the Playoff every year since it began are chasing Ohio State, Florida State ... and Clemson:
Clemson , Ohio St, Florida St are 3 best teams in college football going into the season
— Booger (@SECbooger) May 30, 2017
If there's one thing you don't do, it's undersell Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide, especially in May. Alabama has basically become college football's only guarantee when it comes to projecting elite teams every fall and Booger missed the boat on this one.
The replies to McFarland's tweet are about what you'd expect — lots of you've-got-to-be-kiddings and hilarious .GIFs.
Mind you Alabama returns the SEC's Offensive Player of the Year in Jalen Hurts (whose been wildly undervalued this offseason), its four leading rushers, Biletnikoff candidate Calvin Ridley and several potential All-American candidates on defense despite losing the bulk of its front seven.
The Tide welcomed the nation's top signing class too, again.
I don't have an issue with Ohio State and Florida State mentioned inside the Top 3 based on what each squad is returning, but excluding the Crimson Tide for Clemson is a bit short-sighted considering the Tigers will have a first-year quarterback in place of two-time Heisman finalist Deshaun Watson and must fill voids left by notable All-ACC stars Wayne Gallman, Mike Williams and Jordan Leggett.
There's a reason Vegas oddsmakers have set Alabama's regular-season win total at 10.5 this season and Clemson at 9. And for objectivity, the Buckeyes and Seminoles are sitting at 10 and 9.5, respectively.
LINK
Oh Booger.
Posted on 5/31/17 at 9:41 am to TideSaint
quote:
Jensen Beach (Fla.) three-star safety Jamien Sherwood has a few SEC visits coming up this weekend. On June 1, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound plans to visit Ole Miss. The following day, Sherwood plans to visit Alabama.
Posted on 5/31/17 at 10:39 am to TideSaint
Booger is trying to fill in the void of trolling now that Danny Kannel has been canned...
Posted on 5/31/17 at 11:32 am to TideSaint
12 most electric 2018 offensive skill players in Louisiana
quote:
Lawrence Keys, WR, 5-10, 165, McDonogh 35
Like many on this list, Keys has burners attached to the back of his cleats. His ability to accelerate and change direction with minimal loss of speed is impressive. Once he added the ability to run crisp routes, he has become nearly unstoppable for high school defenders.
Posted on 5/31/17 at 11:33 am to TideSaint
quote:
Slade Bolden, ATH, West Monroe, 5-11, 195
Bolden can beat you in so many ways on offense, and West Monroe does a great job of utilizing his versatility. He has great feet, ball skills and the acceleration to eat up ground in a hurry. Bolden does not possess elite top end speed, but his short area quickness and decent top gear make for a lot of big plays.
Page 220 of 1304
Latest Alabama News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News