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

quote:

---

Drew Pyne capped off an impressive freshman season at New Canaan (Conn.) by leading his team to its fourth straight Class L state championship.

Truth be told, Pyne was getting plenty of college offers, including Alabama and Florida State, before he played in a varsity game. Auburn offered Pyne in April.

Other offers include South Carolina, Penn State, Baylor, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech.

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Pyne, a class of 2020 recruit with around 20 offers was with his New Canaan teammates over the weekend in Hoover for the USA Football 7on7 Championships.

He and his teammates took visits to Alabama, Auburn and UAB while down here.

Pyne won the starting job early last season after New Canaan's senior starter suffered a season-ending injury. He threw for 2,347 yards with 26 touchdowns and rushed for 430 yards.

"Our kids did a great job of welcoming him and making him feel comfortable," New Canaan coach Lou Marinelli said. "Once he won the job and felt comfortable, I thought he did a tremendous job. He's young. He's got a lot to learn but as far as poise and leadership, it's certainly coming."

But several major programs liked what they saw from Pyne in camps and pulled the trigger with offers before he joined the varsity.

"His quick release and his poise under pressure," Marinelli said, when asked what colleges saw last summer. "The thing that I'm so impressed with is his ability to throw people open. Young quarterbacks especially try to hit the home run all the time, but he's been very good at going through progressions, hitting the open guy and he has that knack for throwing the ball where only the receiver can get it."

Pyne said he's been to Alabama a "handful of times" and the trip to Auburn would have been his third. He has connections to the state, training with David Morris of QB Country.

"They offered me in eighth grade, so it was really cool and awesome," Pyne said. "Alabama's a great place. I trained with AJ McCarron and Jake Coker before, so I've only heard good things. As of now, I'm only focused on the upcoming season. When the time comes around, I'll be more vocal on that."

Pyne also wanted to switch focus to his team when asked about Auburn, but added that he was "very thankful for everything."

"I'm really just focused on my team right now," Pyne said. "I don't really let (early recruiting attention) get to me. At the end of the day, it's just an opportunity to play at the next level, so it really doesn't mean anything unless you work hard to be ready."

The day after his team's Alabama visit and before they went to Auburn, Marinelli said Alabama "couldn't have been nicer to us and our kids." He's also been pleased with Pyne's development.

"Once he does (gets more comfortable in the offense), he makes things happen," Marinelli said. "Even when the progressions break down, he's able to always look downfield and the thing you don't see here is that he's got very good speed."

Quarterbacks sometimes commit early, and Pyne knows that. But this is still too early for him. He's enjoying the moment and getting ready for another state championship run with his team.

"When the time's right, I'll know," Pyne said. "I was just very thankful for everything. At the end of the day, I haven't really changed my work ethic. It's just an opportunity. You've just got to be ready for when the time comes."

---

quote:

---

What's going on in Alabama?

Some key visitors are on campus right now.

Four-star Reno, Nev., linebacker Brandon Kaho is camping to earn an offer, thought he has been committed to BYU for more than a year.

Four-star Miami defensive back Nadab Joseph, an LSU commit, is on his second trip to Alabama in just over a month.

Elite four-star offensive tackle William Barnes from Apopka, Fla., was in town late last week.

Some other key visitors in the 2018 class (all noted on social media or confirmed) include four-star Dayton, Ohio receiver Joseph Scates, West Monroe, La., three-star running back Slade Bolden, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., three-star cornerback Stanley Garner, four-star Detroit athlete Kalon Gervin.

Numerous 2019 and 2020 prospects are coming through, and those in Tuscaloosa this weekend include five-star Powder Springs, Ga., safety Jaylen McCollough.

Four-star Alpharetta, Ga., cornerback Jaycee Horn was going to commit to Alabama or South Carolina on July 15, but delayed that decision.

---

quote:

---

Alabama wide receiver commit Xavier Williams posted a video on his Twitter account Monday displaying an impressive one-handed catch, providing a slight glimpse into why the Crimson Tide staff is so high on the Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Prep product. 

Williams caught eight passes at The Opening Finals earlier this month. 

At 6-foot-0.5, 190 pounds, Williams is rated the No. 18 receiver and the No. 92 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. 

Williams committed to Alabama back in January. He plans to visit on Friday for the Champions Cookout. 

---

quote:

---

Isaiah Rutherford ?? @zay_rutherford

Blessed to receive my FIRST offer to the University of Alabama #RollTide ?

---

quote:

---

Max Williams @maaaax_1

Extremely Blessed to have Received an Offer From The University Of Alabama !! #RollTide

---