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re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:24 am to TideSaint
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:24 am to TideSaint
quote:
4-star cornerback Jaycee Horn will decide between South Carolina and Alabama. Just before he narrowed it down to his top 2, I put in a prediction for the Crimson Tide. Rarely does Alabama miss on a top defensive back target it wants.
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Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:25 am to TideSaint
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4-star offensive lineman Tommy Brown had an interesting story when he received his Auburn offer, but those days seem to be in his rearview mirror. The prospect from California has major family ties to Alabama, and once the Crimson Tide offered, my Crystal Ball pick was an easy choice.
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:26 am to TideSaint
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4-star athlete Harold Joiner has experienced an interesting week. He liked LSU, but the Tigers have taken three running backs. He liked Georgia, but the Bulldogs landed the No. 1 running back in the nation. He said publicly that his leader now is Michigan State, but he’s never actually visited East Lansing. At the end of the day, Joiner has been to Auburn a lot, and the Tigers want him in the class. That’s why I put in a Crystal Ball to Auburn on Thursday night.
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:29 am to TideSaint
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Top Targets: No. 2
This week SEC Country is looking at Florida’s top five targets for the Class of 2018.
The Gators currently have eight verbal commitments and their class is ranked No. 36 nationally in the 247Sports Composite. Offensive line, quarterback and receiver are the biggest remaining needs.
Here is Florida’s No. 2 overall target:
LINK
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:32 am to TideSaint
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4-star WR Jacob Copeland, Pensacola, Fla. (Escambia)
Florida’s chances: 60 percent
Biggest threat: Alabama
Last UF visit: April 7
In his words: “Coach Mac told me I’m his biggest priority. He actually showed me his board and I was the No. 1 receiver on it. Coach Mac told me he’s going to stay on my trail and I’m going to look good in orange and blue. I communicate with Coach Mac every day and a lot of the staff. They treat me like I’m theirs, like I’m already a player there.”
The skinny: Copeland received an offer from the Gators two years ago and now holds more than 30. McElwain is personally recruiting him and he likes the coaching style of assistant Kerry Dixon II, his potential position coach. Copeland plans to announce his decision at the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game.
Clemson led early for Copeland, but he eliminated the Tigers in April and named a top 2 of Auburn and Florida. Now it appears to be a battle between Alabama and Florida, two colleges that hold significance at his high school. An encouraging sign for the Gators is that they’ve been the one constant in his recruitment.
The 6-foot, 192-pound Copeland is ranked the nation’s No. 9 wide receiver and No. 49 overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite.
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:38 am to TideSaint
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Justin Fields, the nation's No. 3 overall prospect, still isn't close to a decision.
But a recent visit to Tuscaloosa has Alabama back in the mix.
The 6-foot-3, 221-pound Fields, a five-star recruit from Kennesaw, Ga., confirmed at The Opening finals that he did visit Tuscaloosa on Sunday.
"My sister had a softball camp there, so at the end of the softball camp, we went to pick her up and went to the football facility," Fields said.
"It was definitely great to talk to (head) Coach (Nick) Saban and all of the coaching staff up there," Fields said. "I like the way (offensive coordinator) Coach Brian Daboll coaches and just the experience he's had with the (New England) Patriots. I just like his style of coaching."
Fields recently decommitted from Penn State. He has also visited Auburn, Georgia, Florida and Florida State recently.
He may visit Alabama this fall for a game, he said. The allure of playing for the only school to make all three College Football Playoffs is appealing.
"I just love the way Coach Daboll coaches," Fields said. "They're going to contend for a national championship every year and they have most of the best players in college football on their team. Just getting to practice with those guys every day is going to get you better."
Alabama does not have a quarterback committed in this class yet. The scholarship situation has Jalen Hurts heading into his sophomore season with Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones as true freshmen. Normally, Alabama has a quarterback committed by now.
Alabama still wants to sign an elite quarterback and Fields is around the top of the list. He's also not afraid of any competition.
"Of course, there are great quarterbacks there, but at the end of the day, I feel like I'm a good playmaker too," Fields said. "It comes down to who can make plays and who can process the defense on the field best."
Fields said he doesn't think he will be able to make a decision before his senior season. But it's clear that Alabama is more of a factor than it was a week ago.
"I wish I had a leader, to be honest, but I have no idea," he said.
Fields threw for 2,770 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 1,176 yards and 15 scores for Harrison High School last season.
LINK
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:38 am to TideSaint
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:44 am to TideSaint
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One five-star Alabama quarterback target in Justin Fields seems a long way off from his decision, but another five-star recruit is on a quicker path.
Matt Corral, the nation's No. 17 overall recruit, decommitted from Southern Cal recently and is down to Alabama, Georgia and Florida. He is the nation's No. 2 pro-style quarterback.
Other Alabama quarterback targets at The Opening finals include Fields and California quarterbacks Jack Tuttle and Tanner McKee.
The 6-foot-2, 196-pound Corral, who is from Long Beach, Calif., will visit all three schools in late July and have a decision before his senior season at Long Beach Poly.
Corral has visited Georgia, but not Alabama or Florida. The southeast visit led to his USC decommitment.
"I felt like there was a lot of stuff out there for me," Corral said Thursday at The Opening finals in Beaverton, Ore. "USC being the only school I visited before I committed, I didn't really think about that until I went to another school. I wanted to see what was out there.
"Turns out, I really liked what was in the southeast. It's completely different than the Pac-12. That football atmosphere, you just have to experience it to understand what I am trying to say."
Alabama does not have a quarterback committed in this class and has three young scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. Corral, who is being recruited primarily by assistant Tosh Lupoi, isn't afraid of competition.
"I'm excited, because when they talk about Alabama, they talk about how much bigger it is than an SEC school," Corral said. "The winning history. I talked on the phone with coach (Nick) Saban. What Coach Tosh pretty much tells me is to come play for the best of the best colleges and to have Coach Saban be your guy for the rest of your life and take care of you, and having connections through him."
Corral has also spoken plenty with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and gotten a hint of his NFL experience with the New England Patriots and other franchises.
"I really like the system," Corral said. "With Coach Daboll, that's Tom Brady's guy. If I want to be as good as I want to be, coming in under Coach Daboll ... five Super Bowl rings, he even sent me a picture with all of them."
Here's what Corral said about his other finalists:
GEORGIA: "They're up there for sure. I really like Coach (Jim) Chaney. I talk to him every day. He's up at his brother's cabin right now in Kansas. When I go out there, me and my family will talk with Coach Chaney and Coach (Kirby) Smart."
FLORIDA: "Coach (Doug Nussmeier, really like him. Talking to him, he's a guy who texts you every day. I'm on the phone with him and we'll talk about how my day was. He wants to get on the phone with my family and I'm trying to set that up. That'll be a good option for me."
LINK
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:45 am to TideSaint
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:48 am to TideSaint
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Central-Phenix City's Justyn Ross will have a chance to move further up recruiting rankings this week at Nike's The Opening finals in Beaverton, Ore.
The 6-foot-4, 197-pound Ross, from Central-Phenix City, is easily the state's top recruit. He has a top five of Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida and Florida State.
Ross's five-star status in the 247Sports composite ranking has fluctuated. Now, he's ranked No. 24 nationally in the service as it combines rankings from 247Sports, Rivals, Scout and ESPN. There are 25 247Sports composite five-stars.
But Ross is ranked No. 47 in the 247Sports individual, so he's ranked a little bit lower there than by other sites.
"I don't know that we've seen him quite as much as some other guys," said Barton Simmons, 247Sports' Director of Scouting. "This will be a week where we get a chance to see him up close along with the other No. 1 receiver candidates and see where he stands."
The Elite 11 portion of the event started Wednesday night. Media were allowed to watch the first of two Thursday practices. Elite 11, with quarterbacks, receivers and tight ends, continues Friday before the remainder of the prospects begin participating on Saturday.
"I think he showed some good ball skills today," Simmons said. "Today's really about seeing how these guys run and who's fluid catching the ball.
"One thing that stands out about Justyn is that he is one of the true big-bodied receivers in this class. So I think he's got the physical tools to be as good as any receiver in this class."
Ross is ranked as the No. 5 receiver recruit in the composite rankings, and No. 8 by 247Sports individual. Receivers are catching passes on air these first two days. He'll get a good look in 1-on-1 drills beginning Saturday and in 7-on-7 work starting Sunday. The Opening ends Monday.
Simmons said receivers could move up or down rankings as soon as 1-on-1s take place.
Alabama has three in-state prospects at The Opening. We'll hear from Simmons more on Mountain Brook running back Harold Joiner and Park Crossing offensive lineman Tank Jenkins later this week.
LINK
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:50 am to TideSaint
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:51 am to TideSaint
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:54 am to TideSaint
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Justin Fields' connection to Auburn is one of the greatest players in college football history.
The 6-foot-3, 221-pound Fields, the nation's No. 3 overall recruit and a five-star recruit, played for a 7on7 team that was coached by Cam Newton, the quarterback for the Carolina Panthers who won the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner and national championship as Auburn's quarterback.
"I'm very close with Cam," Fields said Thursday at The Opening in Beaverton, Ore. "We used to (communicate) every week, but now that the 7on7 thing is over, we've stopped a little bit. He's talked to me about recruiting some.
"He doesn't really lean towards any school. He wants me to make the best decision for me and my family."
Fields is not close to making a decision, following his decommitment from Penn State. He has visited Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Georgia since then. He may have made secret visits to other schools.
"I think I've been there once or twice," Fields said of Auburn. "Just to see how well I fit in with the players and coaches. Last time I went up there, I talked to a few players and got to see how they fit in and why they chose Auburn."
Fields has offers from all over the country, just recently adding USC. He is ranked as the nation's top dual-threat quarterback. Fields threw for 2,770 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 1,176 yards and 15 scores for Harrison High School last season.
Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey started recruiting Fields when he was at Arizona State.
"Coach Chip, he's a big family guy and I love the way he coaches," Fields said. "I just like how Auburn is really family-oriented."
Auburn has a commitment from Jacksonville, Fla., quarterback Joey Gatewood, but wants to add another one. Presumed starter Jarrett Stidham will be a junior in 2018 and a young quarterback will have a chance to make his case for Auburn's quarterback of the future.
"I feel like I fit in pretty good with them and with Coach (Gus) Malzahn has done with those quarterbacks in the past, I feel like I fit in good," Fields said.
Fields doesn't anticipate having a decision before his senior season.
"I wish I had a leader, to be honest, but I have no idea," Fields said.
LINK
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:57 am to TideSaint
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Malik Langham knows that there's no slowing down once you're in the recruiting spotlight.
The Lee-Huntsville 2018, three-star defensive end's recruitment exploded in January following his first season as a varsity starter. His offer list now includes eight SEC teams.
"Just knowing that my name is starting to get around, I have to compete at a high level, because I know they're expecting a lot out of me," said Langham (6-foot-5 1/2, 270-pounds). "I've got to go out there and compete to my fullest capability every day."
That includes putting on solid performances on the camp circuit this month. Langham camped at Alabama, Vanderbilt and Middle Tennessee, which allowed him to work with Crimson Tide defensive line coach Karl Dunbar and his Commodores counterpart C.J. Ah You.
"It was good to get some good workouts and let the coaches coach me up," Langham said. "I like how the D-line coach at Vanderbilt coached. Coach Dunbar knows what he's talking about because he coached in the NFL. The drills he showed me can really help me improve my game."
Langham released his top 11 schools May 25. Making the cut were Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, Penn State, Washington and Georgia Tech. Langham met Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin and worked with defensive line coach Sean Spencer at the Middle Tennessee camp.
"He gave me some pointers to help my game; be stronger and quicker," Langham said of Spencer.
Langham said that he still hears from Alabama, but not too much from Auburn. He's still hoping to land an offer from the Crimson Tide.
"I think if I keep progressing in my game like I'm capable of," he said, "and keep working hard, trust and believe in the coaching, I'm sure it will come."
Langham said he'll try to narrow his list down to "five of the schools that I can focus on" by the end of summer, then possibly commit in November or December.
Langham recorded 70 tackles, 10 for loss with eight sacks, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles last season. Lee kicks off the new season Aug. 31 against Grissom at Milton Frank Stadium in Huntsville.
LINK
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:58 am to TideSaint
Posted on 6/30/17 at 11:59 am to TideSaint
Posted on 6/30/17 at 12:03 pm to TideSaint
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We're still nearly six months from National Signing Day, but we've reached that time of year when top high school football recruits begin to make their college commitments.
Though they're off to slow starts, history shows us that both Alabama and Auburn will land Top 10 recruiting classes again this winter. But that doesn't mean they'll get everyone they want.
Who are some of the biggest near-misses for the Crimson Tide and Tigers in recruiting history? Here's a list of five for each:
LINK
Posted on 6/30/17 at 12:04 pm to TideSaint
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Alabama
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1. Bo Jackson, 1982 -- How close Jackson came to signing with Alabama is up for debate, but it's indisputable that he played a big part in re-configuring the Iron Bowl rivalry in the 1980s. Jackson has said Alabama assistant Ken Donahue told him he wouldn't play early in his career with the Crimson Tide, though it's just as likely the long-rumored retirement of Paul "Bear" Bryant played a bigger role in Jackson's decision to go to Auburn.
Posted on 6/30/17 at 12:04 pm to TideSaint
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2. Carnell Williams, 2001 -- Williams supposedly grew up an Alabama fan, but a series of circumstances instead led him to become a legend at Auburn. Rumor has it that new Crimson Tide coach Dennis Franchione made quarterback Brodie Croyle -- like Williams, from the Gadsden area -- a higher priority during recruiting, and that turned Williams off. Alabama was also facing major NCAA sanctions at the time, which it would be hit with during Williams' freshman year at Auburn.
Posted on 6/30/17 at 12:05 pm to TideSaint
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3. Tim Tebow, 2006 -- Though it's hard to imagine lifelong Florida fan Tebow spurning the Gators for Alabama, he has said publicly the choice was a very difficult one for him. Mike Shula made a legendary 13-hour in-home visit with the Tebows, but couldn't sway Tim to commit. Imagine if Tebow had come to Alabama, though. If the Crimson Tide had had a better season in 2006, Mike Shula might have kept his job, and thus, no Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa the following January.
Thank God we didn't land him.
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