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

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Derek Stingley Jr., DB, Dunham, 2019

Stingley is one of the nation’s top DBs. We predicted that he’d make this year’s Opening but due to track he didn’t test or workout fully at the regional. He’ll have a lot of buzz heading into next year’s regional and the numbers he puts up combined with his workout will surely net him an invite to NIKE headquarters.

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Devonta Lee, WR, Amite, 2019

Lee is a big-time receiver who will test well and perform well in 1-on-1s. He’ll also have a lot of buzz as he is set to be the top offensive weapon for Amite.

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Ed Orgeron has his eyes set on a top 5 nationally ranked class in his first year as the Tigers head coach, and these following predictions would help in getting him there. His recruiting tactics have been hard to pin down during his short tenure, but the wind is blowing, the tea leaves are moving and this is what we see shaking out right now.

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Justin Watkins, WR, 6-0, 175, Florida

Watkins is back on the market and LSU is trying to claim what was once theirs. The Tigers have been in persistent pursuit of the playmaker, and the confidence level is higher than many may think. Watkins is intrigued to see what LSU's new offense will look like this year, and a successful passing attack will do wonders. LSU quietly leads for Watkins right now.

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Justin Fields dazzled throughout the 7-on-7 finals at Nike Football's The Opening.

For his efforts, he was rewarded as the top player from the event. Fields was named the Elite 11 MVP and The Opening overall MVP at the Beaverton, Ore., setting.

Fields led his team to a championship in the 7-on-7 event, as Mach Speed beat Vapor Speed 31-15 behind five touchdown passes from Fields.

The nation's No. 3 overall recruit, the five-star quarterback from Kennesaw, Ga., recently visited Alabama and Auburn. He also said he plans to return to Auburn on July 13. He's in contact with Alabama assistant Brent Key, but has not set a return trip.

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** The offensive and defensive line competition continued after it was cut short Sunday because of Greg Emerson's horrifying leg injury. Emerson, a four-star prospect from Tennessee, has Alabama in his top seven. He was carted off in a stretcher, but the good news is that it appears there is no ligament damage and he could be back in action in four to six weeks.

I didn't see the injury, as I was watching 7-on-7, but Emerson's screams could be heard from a distance away.

"He's back, he took it like a champ and we all prayed for him," four-star defensive end Tyreke Smith said.

"That just made us stronger. I like how we didn't break down. We got up from it and kept going. It was tough yesterday, but we regrouped."

Emerson, sporting crutches, announced a commitment to Tennessee on NFL Network's broadcast. Earlier in the day, North Carolina receiver Jordyn Adams, a one-time Alabama target, committed to UNC.

Jamaree Salyer of Atlanta, Ga., won the OL MVP award and Xavier Thomas of IMG Academy won the DL MVP. Both are five-star prospects. Thomas is committed to Clemson.

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Alabama still has a chance to flip four-star offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor from Michigan.

But for now, the 6-foot-3, 335-pound Ekiyor is all maize and blue.

Ekiyor, the nation's No. 108 overall prospect and No. 4 offensive guard, earned an offer from Alabama on his visit earlier this year. He committed to Michigan last October.

He hasn't been able to return to Tuscaloosa yet. He was on scheduled visit lists, but had to back out. He said Monday at The Opening finals in Beaverton, Ore., that he could return in late July, but nothing was set in stone yet.

Alabama will sign a smaller offensive line class, with possibly just three signees at the position. Ekiyor is one of Alabama's top targets.

"I feel like they've made me a priority lately," Ekiyor said. "I talk to Coach (Nick) Saban a lot, stuff like that. They've been recruiting me pretty hard."

He said his last chat with Saban came two weeks ago.

"Just that I fit in their program and I'll be able to play early, things like that to persuade me," Ekiyor said. "It was a nice place, nice facilities, nice people. It's 'Bama, so it was really nice."

Alabama is recruiting him as a guard and center, but the Indianapolis, Ind., native hasn't wavered from his Michigan pledge.

"Michigan just felt like home when I was up there," Ekiyor said. "They showed me the most belief in my, they offered me first. I had a great feeling with the coaching staff."

What could convince the touted offensive lineman to flip?

"I'm not even sure," Ekiyor said. "If I feel it in my heart, then it's meant to be, but I haven't had that feeling yet."

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AL.com was on hand in Beaverton, Ore., last Thursday through this Monday at Nike's The Opening Finals.

There are still some more updates to pass along, but get caught up with the coverage by going here.

Some individual thoughts:

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I'm leaning Georgia for former USC commit Matt Corral, even with his planned visit to Alabama later this month. But what if Georgia tells him to hold off because they are waiting to see what Fields does? Alabama then has a great shot here, I believe. Corral is a big fan of Brian Daboll.

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It would have been a major shock to see the state's last two top prospects, Ben Davis and LaBryan Ray, leave the state. It won't be nearly as much of a shock if Justyn Ross leaves. Clemson has done a great job recruiting Ross and his family, and he has a bond with assistants there and Clemson QB commit Trevor Lawrence. Ross was better the final day of 1-on-1/7-on-7 than the first two days, but he's also better at real football than fake football. His 7-on-7 team, with Lawrence at QB, didn't fare that well but did win a few games.

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