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

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3-star DT Jalen Cunningham, St. Clair Co. (Ala.)

Alabama has led for Cunningham throughout, and that hasn’t changed, but he’s starting to open up to the idea of playing elsewhere.

He said when his recruitment first started that, as an Alabama fan growing up, he couldn’t stand the idea of even visiting Auburn. That has changed in a major way. His closeness and relationship with the Auburn coaching staff has opened his eyes to the Tigers.

If Alabama isn’t the choice, it’ll be Ole Miss, Mississippi State or Auburn.

Every coaching staff has told Cunningham he needs to lose weight. He’s down to 352 pounds and wants to be down to 330 by his senior season.

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Lots of 247 VIP articles on visitors. Will post either today or tomorrow whenever I get a chance. Sounds like we lead for Matthew Hill, Shedrick Jackson, Juanyeh Thomas and Andres Fox. We are a close #2 for JJ Peterson and Channing Tindall. Have made a big run for Kyler McMichael but Clemson could be hard to beat there. Jamien Sherwood has become possibly our #1 S target if not close to the top. Jalen Cunningham no longer hates AU but he ain't signing with us.

As for the three big instate visitors: Justyn Ross, Coynis Miller & Asa Martin. Sounds like it went real well with Ross, he plans to visit again later this week. Garner is selling Miller hard on playing early but I still think he's all Bama. Personally I think we get Martin as he keeps talking about finding the right system fit

Something of note as well is former Bama commit 4* RB Dameon Pierce is visiting this weekend. With Master Teague trending UGA (possibly could become Bama target as well after balling out at their camp) we might make Pierce a priority

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Scout takes a look at the top ten performers on Day One of the Elite 11 Finals at Redondo Union HS in Southern California...

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Tanner McKee (Considering BYU, Texas, Washington, Alabama, Georgia and UCLA)

The No. 4 quarterback blazed through the roll out scramble drill and showed impressive mobility despite his length.

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Jack Tuttle (Committed to Utah)

Ranked No. 17 nationally, Tuttle flashed a compact release with tight throws and showed terrific touch in the red zone drill.

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Scout states their top twelve quarterbacks from throughout the weekend at the Elite 11 Finals in Southern California...

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Tanner McKee (Considering BYU, Texas, Washington, Alabama, Georgia and UCLA)

While he didn't work out on Sunday, he was excellent on Friday and Saturday and made a big case on those two days to earn a spot in The Opening Finals

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Jack Tuttle (Committed to Utah)

The Elite 11 coaches said that Tuttle was among the best in the chalk talks throughout the weekend and it carried over onto the field, being one of the most consistent passers each day.

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RODONDO BEACH, Calif. — The 2017 Elite 11 Finals are complete. 247Sports recaps shares some observations from the three-day camp that featured 24 of the nation’s top quarterbacks.

No ‘Alpha’ Emerged

247Sports’ signature feature is naming an ‘Alpha Dog’ at the various camps and competitions held throughout the year. Tabbing the top quarterback from this Elite 11 Finals proved to be a tough task. Certainly, no signal caller separated from the pack the way Alabama signee Tua Tagovailoa did a year ago.

Perhaps the quarterback that has the strongest argument is USC commit Matt Corral, who was the only quarterback to finish inside the top 5 of 247Sports’ rankings the first two days. However, a 9 of 15 for two touchdown performance during the 7on7 portion, the camp’s most important session, was a middle of the pack outing.

After Saturday’s pro day simulation, it looked as if Corona (Calif.) Centennial’s Tanner McKee had positioned himself to earn the top overall billing. However, as a Church of Latter-day Saints member, McKee did not take part in Sunday’s 7on7, the weekend’s most important event. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound McKee unleashed a series of NFL-like throws during that pro-day, but missing the most important measuring stick of the camp makes it hard to tab McKee in the top spot.

The top performer during the 7on7 portion, Washington State commit Cammon Cooper, was in the lower half the group during the pro day simulation on Saturday night and the throwing circuit the quarterbacks did on day one. He certainly upped his play during the most important session, but was it enough to erase two below average outings previously?

Another quarterback that has an argument for top billing on the weekend is UCLA pledge Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Each day, he improved his standing on 247Sports’ daily rankings landing at No. 11 following the opening day’s throwing circuit, No. 5 after the pro-day simulation, and No. 3 following the 7on7 portion.

The two quarterbacks that most expected to be competing for the to spot heading into the camp, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields, were only solid. Neither pulled away from the pack like expected, but both certainly flashed an elite skill-set that has them so highly ranked. Both also ended the week with fairly pedestrian 7on7 showings.

Questions about composite 5-stars

Heading into the camp, we stated a desire to see more from a pair of quarterbacks short of a five-star grade at 247Sports, despite being five-stars on the industry-generated composite.

Ohio State commit Emory Jones was inconsistent at both the Atlanta and Charlotte Elite 11 Regionals. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound would unleash an elite-level throw, only to follow it by short hopping his receiver. To be blunt, he was inconsistent. This weekend, Jones came out on fire during day one, but slowly saw his level of play fall off through the week. His consistency was significantly better than his previous performances this spring, but still disappointing he couldn’t keep up his level of play from day one the following two outtings.

Washington commit Jacob Sirmon was the other composite five-star 247Sports had on notice. The No. 28 in the nation ranking next to Sirmon’s name comes with lofty expectations. Unfortunately, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound prospect did not earn a top 11 ranking from 247Sports any of the three days at Elite 11. Simply put, he did not answer the bell this weekend, while others with lower ratings out-shined him regularly during the three open throwing periods.

Sunshine State Sleeper

Jacksonville (Fla.) Providence’s Carter Bradley is currently ranked as the nation’s No. 820 overall prospect in the 2018 class according to the industry generated 247Sports Composite.

However, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect turned in one of the better performances of the Elite 11 Finals earning No. 6 ranking after the pro day simulation and a No. 2 ranking after the 7on7 session by 247Sports. Bradley showed that he belonged in the group of 24 competing in Los Angeles, and registered a better performance than some other signal callers with a higher rating.

Bradley did not earn an invitation to The Opening, but his showing during the pro day simulation and the 7on7 were worthy of advancing.

Cusp of a 4th Star

Two quarterbacks currently sitting on an 89 grade, the highest of the three-stars at 247Sports, are Virginia Tech commit Quincy Patterson and Kentucky commit Jarren Williams. Both made strong cases to finally earn that fourth star.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Patterson is physically stout, but he flashed the ability to make elite-level throws. He uncorked some beautiful vertical routes throughout the week.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Williams is just so fundamentally sound in everything he does. Perhaps the biggest take away from the weekend with Williams was during his pro day simulation when he showed off arm strength not yet seen from him prior.

The Opening’s 12 QBs

The 12 quarterbacks that advanced to The Opening later this month were Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Tanner McKee, Tyler Shough, Matt Corral, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Jack Tuttle, Devin Leary, Cammon Cooper, Quincy Patterson, Jarren Williams, and Justin Rogers.

Both Cooper and Shough were in middle of the 24 quarterback pack at best until having stellar 7on7 outings. Carter Bradley’s performance during the pro day simulation and 7on7, where he took the most risks down the field, gave him a very strong case to make this top 12.

Iowa State commit Re-al Mitchell also made a strong bid to be in the top 12 as well. Despite being the shortest quarterback competing, Mitchell still threw the ball well the first two days before exploding with a five touchdown performance during 7on7 play.

Emory Jones appeared to be in the upper half through two days of competition. However, going 12 of 18 for one touchdown and one interception during the 7on7 portion dampened his weekend.

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Is this a weak year for talent all over the country?

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