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

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Just thought I'd drop by and let you all know that Cameron to Bama is getting really close to becoming a reality. He hasn't publicly released a top 3 yet, but according to his mom, we are in it, if not at the top of it. As we all know, he and his mom will be in Tuscaloosa July 21st, and in talking to his mother, at this point I'd put big Cam on commitment watch during his visit. Roll Tide!

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BEAVERTON, Ore. — The Opening finals’ main event began on Sunday with pool play for the 7-on-7 tournament kicking off.

There was a good amount of media availability, so let’s get right to what we learned on Sunday at The Opening:

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Matt Corral, a 5-star quarterback, will visit Alabama on July 21. That’s big news as the Tide continue to look for their Class of 2018 quarterback.

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Tyson Campbell, Alabama’s top cornerback target, said he wants to narrow his list of schools to seven. The Crimson Tide will make the cut when that time comes, he said.

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Brian Daboll’s presence at Alabama a major factor for 5-star QB

BEAVERTON, Ore. — If Nick Saban didn’t hire Brian Daboll from the New England Patriots, Alabama wouldn’t have any chance to sign 5-star quarterback Matt Corral.

Corral, the nation’s No. 2 pro-style quarterback from Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High School, said the Crimson Tide are one of three schools (Florida and Georgia the other two) in the mix for him because of Daboll’s presence.

“Coach Daboll is one of the biggest reasons (I’m interested in Alabama),” Corral told SEC Country at The Opening Finals. “He just texted me today and told me good luck and spin it. Him having NFL experience, for sure, gives them an advantage.”

The 6-foot-2, 196-pound prospect will visit Tuscaloosa for the first time on July 21 for Alabama’s invite-only cookout event, where the majority of the Tide’s top targets will be on campus. He’ll then visit Georgia on July 25 and Florida at an unknown date after his trip to Athens. It’s possible he stays multiple days in Tuscaloosa when he visits later this month.

The U.S. Army All-American said Georgia holds an edge for him at the moment because it is the only school other than Southern California to have him on campus. He’s looking forward to visiting Alabama, though.

“Alabama is always hyping it up like talking about come there to win a championship and see what Alabama is all about,” Corral said.

Alabama is in an interesting spot for quarterback recruiting this year because the team is loaded with young depth. Jalen Hurts is a sophomore and Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones are freshmen. It’s not an appealing situation for an elite Class of 2018 quarterback to commit there because early playing time doesn’t look obtainable; however, Corral sees the depth as a positive.

“I feel like they would be passing down knowledge to me,” Corral said. “I know Tua (Tagovailoa). He’s a great kid on and off the field. Now that he’s getting coached under Coach Daboll and Saban, he has a lot of stuff to pass on to me. I feel like that would make me a better person on and off the field.”

Corral said he’s 80 percent sure he’ll make a commitment before his senior season begins. He also said he will not be making any commitment to his school of choice while on campus. He wants to visit every school, evaluate his options and then go from there.

Expect Alabama to turn up the heat on Corral when he visits campus.

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BEAVERTON, Ore. – The Opening Finals kicked things up a notch on Sunday when the skill players began pool play and the lineman strapped on the pads. The stakes were higher, the performances were more important and the stars came out. This is our most meaningful top performers list of the week.

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The next 10

1. Justin Fields, QB

The 6-foot-3, 221-pound Fields clearly had the best day among the quarterbacks. He engineered scoring drives on half of the drives that he was under center and he was the only quarterback from Sunday that avoided interception. Fields wasn't just completing passes, he was hitting spots and allowing his receivers to run. He showed it all.

2. Brendan Radley-Hiles, CB

The Nebraska commit looks like this year's disruptive nickel defender that quarterbacks can't stand. He had interceptions in every game he played, three total. He also had five pass breakups and his instincts are off the charts. Though he's small, he's just always around the football, probing and needling quarterbacks.

3. Jalen Green, CB

Though we've got him listed as a cornerback, Green was awesome at corner and safety on Sunday. He's got a great knack for finding the football. When a dangerous ball goes in the air, he's going to track it down. He finished with five pass breakups on the day and three interceptions, one of which he took back for a touchdown.

4. Nolan Smith, DE

Only a class of 2019 prospect, Smith is an edge guy who is supposed to be a one-trick pony as a speed rusher. He showed us on Sunday that he's got some other tricks. He was one of the best defenders in run-game one-on-ones showing elite explosiveness and physicality. The Georgia commit is making a case as the best player in the country for 2019.

5. Channing Tindall, LB

A lot of Tindall's film shows him at defensive line and yet in this 7on7 setting, among the best athletes in the country, Tindall was the best cover linebacker on hand. Tindall's presence on defense was like having another safety in the defense with linebacker size. He was getting his paws on everything and we tallied at least five pass breakups.

6. Jamaree Salyer, OG

Among any offensive lineman, Salyer was the most consistent on Sunday. He showed power in the run game but he also showed really good hand placement and punch in pass-rush one-on-ones. Though Salyer is powerful and thick, he's deceptively quick with great feet.

7. Brevin Jordan, TE

I compared Jordan to Orson Charles on Twitter because like Charles, Jordan is a shorter tight end but runs routes like a wide receiver. He's thick, though, so Jordan has a unique balance as a really good pass catcher that still can play bigger than his measurables. The Miami commit was one of the day's toughest guys to slow down on Sunday.

8. William Barnes, OL

Barnes had a really impressive rep in the run-game one-on-ones against Xavier Thomas. He was impressive in his pass sets, too. The kid played with more intensity than maybe any other offensive lineman and he is able to generate a ton of power in his hips. Listed as a tackle, Barnes has been lining up at guard this week and probably has the ability to play either spot at the next level.

9. Terrace Marshall, WR

On the day, we tracked Marshall with 13 catches and two touchdowns but he had several big plays downfield without scoring and he had a couple of other touchdowns that were called back due to sacks or spectacular breakups. Simply put, Marshall was the best deep threat at the event.

10. Justin Shorter, WR

Marshall had more big plays but Shorter was just as scary from a matchup standpoint. His 7 catches and 2 touchdowns on the day made him one of the most productive receivers but there were times when he was uncoverable, particularly in the red zone when Justin Fields put a goal-line fade in a spot where even big corners had no shot.

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