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Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:02 am to TideSaint
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Alabama picked up a new piece for its 2018 recruiting class on Thursday evening when three-star West Monroe, La. athlete Slade Bolden announced his commitment to the Tide via a livestream on wmsportsreport.com.
Alabama came from behind to nab Bolden's commitment, beating out LSU and TCU, both programs Bolden appear to favor at different points during the process. However, a visit to Tuscaloosa late last month appeared to put Alabama over the top.
"They definitely beat everybody" Bolden told Rivals.com last month in regard to the Tide's facilities. "It was unbelievable facility but that wasn’t even the best part about it. They were great coaches, great people."
Alabama has been recruiting Bolden as an athlete, meaning he could play any number of positions, including running back or wide receiver. Last month he said he thinks his future is as a slot receiver in new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's offense.
"They want me at slot, Coach Daboll worked with a bunch of guys with my kind of stature when he was in the NFL and that’s what he’s going to use me as and that’s what he was telling me," Bolden said. "Basically what they say is they’re trying to get three good receivers out of this class and they seem to really want me."
Bolden becomes commitment No. 8 for Alabama in the Class of 2018 and just the second offensive skill player, joining four-star wide receiver Xavier Williams.
LINK
This post was edited on 8/4/17 at 10:03 am
Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:07 am to TideSaint
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Is Auburn the favorite for Bo Nix?
In the Class of 2019, Auburn sees Bo Nix as its centerpiece target.
The Auburn legacy from Pinson Valley (Ala.), the son of undefeated 1993 signal caller Patrick Nix, will be the cornerstone target for several of the top programs in the nation. Nix released his list of top-8 schools Thursday night, which included Auburn, Clemson, Ohio State, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and LSU.
Whether it’s valid or not, Nix will be most closely linked to Auburn. His father is one of the more beloved quarterbacks in program history, and Nix might turn out to be the best quarterback in the entire class. He’s already ranked the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in 2019, but the best is yet to come, in my opinion.
Nix dominated the offseason. He was named quarterback MVP of The Opening regional in Atlanta, an event that included Ohio State’s 2018 quarterback commit Emory Jones. Nix shined during camp sessions with Auburn coaches, and his Pinson Valley 7-on-7 squad won the tournament the Tigers hosted.
There is no question Nix is priority No. 1 for Auburn in the 2019 class.
“You can tell how hard they’re recruiting me, how much they want me,” Nix told SEC Country earlier this summer.
Nix is the best uncommitted quarterback available in the 2019 class. When his junior and senior seasons are complete, I have little doubt he’ll be the top overall quarterback in the class. It isn’t the most talented quarterback class in recent memory, but Nix has all the tools to sit atop it.
“As far as a player, he’s farther along than I was at this time. I think most players are now than when I was coming out,” Nix’s father, Patrick, said earlier this summer. “He’s said it a couple times. If he can be the best quarterback in the house when it’s all said and done, he’s going to be pretty good.”
Despite the 12-out-of-12 Crystal Ball projections in Auburn’s favor, Nix to the Plains isn’t a guarantee.
I’d call the Tigers the favorite, but not a shoo-in. If Auburn’s offense excels under Chip Lindsey, it’ll probably shift that bar a little bit. But Nix isn’t in a rush to decide. He wants to get on board soon enough to build a class around him, but he wants to enjoy the recruiting process and be diligent about it.
Another factor that could persuade Nix’s decision would be the rest of the Tigers’ quarterback recruiting in 2018. Auburn has created depth in short order. Jarrett Stidham and Sean White both have multiple years of eligibility remaining. Malik Willis has shined in spring and fall practices and, according to all reports, has the makings of an Auburn superstar.
Meanwhile, Joey Gatewood is already set to come in. If Auburn wins the Justin Fields sweepstakes, as much as the Tigers would still want to add Nix, Fields is a can’t-miss, program-changing prospect.
That’s not to say that depth would push Nix elsewhere, but a program such as Florida State could benefit from Auburn’s recent quarterback success on the recruiting trail.
“A lot of them are like, ‘Do we really have a chance?’ My thing is, if you don’t offer, I can assure you that you don’t have a chance. If you do, I don’t know. But if you don’t, then you don’t have a chance because everyone else has,” Patrick Nix said.
LINK
Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:08 am to TideSaint
From the same link:
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Explaining my Seth Williams prediction
You’ll notice a curious Crystal Ball pick from Thursday. Well, that is if you missed my most recent 2018 class projection.
With nine predictions for Alabama, I placed the first Williams-to-Auburn prediction, falling in line with my most recent projection. My projection came prior to Williams’ most recent set of visits to Auburn and Tuscaloosa, and my belief Williams lands in Auburn’s class has grown stronger, though there will be a few hurdles for the Tigers.
There was a point in Williams’ recruitment when he was ready to commit to Florida State, but he backed off. The Seminoles now have three wide receivers, and Williams didn’t mention them when we spoke two weeks ago as a team recruiting him heavily
The obvious obstacle continues to be Alabama.
Williams, a Tuscaloosa product, said at the Tigers’ cookout that Alabama, Auburn and Ole Miss are the three programs recruiting him the hardest. With Ole Miss’ recent pitfalls, this has the feel of an Auburn-Alabama competition.
But the Crimson Tide have cast a much wider net at wide receiver than Auburn, which should work to the Tigers’ advantage.
Alabama has a commitment from Xavier Williams (high school teammate of Shaun Shivers), and the Crimson Tide snagged another wide receiver option in the form of Slade Bolden who committed to Alabama over TCU on Thursday. The Crimson Tide are also in the mix for guys like Justyn Ross, Jaylen Waddle, Justin Watkins and Kearis Jackson.
Aside from Ross, as strange as it may sound, Auburn fans may be rooting for Alabama to land its receiver targets. As spots fill up, Williams is more likely to land in Auburn’s class.
My take: Williams has the best hands in the state of Alabama. He catches everything that comes his way. The Auburn staff loves him, and why wouldn’t they? He’s tall. He’s strong. He’s fast. And he can jump. He’s the total package. I’m not sure why Alabama seems to be prioritizing other wide receivers, but to me, Williams brings as much ability and upside as Ross.
Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:27 am to TideSaint
Hank and Tim are still predicting Latu will commit to Alabama today.
Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:32 am to TideSaint
Latu is committing at 12:00 his time. Would that be 1:00 Bama time?
Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:32 am to TideSaint
Give me Jordan Davis, Cam Latu, Eyabi Anoma, and/or Andres Fox at DE/Jack and I'm going to be one happy camper. Just need the interior DL class to come together.
Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:39 am to jatebe
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Would that be 1:00 Bama time?
Yeah. I'm in the Mountain Time Zone too.
Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:40 am to CapstoneGrad06
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Give me Jordan Davis, Cam Latu, Eyabi Anoma, and/or Andres Fox at DE/Jack and I'm going to be one happy camper.
KJ Henry is still out there.
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Just need the interior DL class to come together.
Stephon Wynn, Caleb Tremblay, Robert Coburn and Coynis Miller would make me happy.
Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:42 am to TideSaint
Top 10 Offensive Guards in the West (2018 Post-Summer Rankings)
After I drop off Cameron Latu's Charger tomorrow morning, I'm going to give Sewell his on my way back home Sunday night.
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1. Penei Sewell, St. George (Utah) Desert Hills
Sewell started as the region's top tackle, but after a great performance inside at The Opening Finals, he's now the region's top offensive guard.
After I drop off Cameron Latu's Charger tomorrow morning, I'm going to give Sewell his on my way back home Sunday night.
Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:46 am to TideSaint
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"They want me at slot, Coach Daboll worked with a bunch of guys with my kind of stature when he was in the NFL and that’s what he’s going to use me as and that’s what he was telling me," Bolden said. "Basically what they say is they’re trying to get three good receivers out of this class and they seem to really want me."
The designation for Bolden is supposed to be "athlete" so that we don't hurt our chances with Jaylen Waddle
. Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:48 am to Culverhouse13
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The designation for Bolden is supposed to be "athlete" so that we don't hurt our chances with Jaylen Waddle
I honestly think he could run the ball for us. He's built just like Christian McCaffrey.
Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:58 am to TideSaint
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Cameron Latu set to announce his commitment on Friday
Cameron Latu, a 247Sports 4-star Jack linebacker target from Olympus High School (Salt Lake City), will announce his commitment on Friday afternoon, choosing from five finalists: Alabama, Nebraska, Southern California, Utah and Washington.
If you ask his mother, Jill Argust, which school she would pick, that answer comes easily.
“There’s no wrong choice in this matter, but if I had the choice, and it’s not, then Alabama is what I would pick,” Argust told SEC Country. “I’ve loved it each time I’ve been there. I love the coaches, especially (outside linebackers coach) Tosh Lupoi. He’s amazing. His passion, drive, skills and his bio itself is just amazing. He’s the biggest reason why. The academics are great. It’s a great school.”
Latu, the nation’s No. 8 weakside defensive end in the Class of 2018, told SEC Country last month at The Opening Finals in Beaverton, Ore., that his mother wanted him to choose the Crimson Tide. He also cited her thoughts on Lupoi, who is arguably the best recruiter on the Alabama staff outside of Nick Saban himself.
“Cameron and I have a great relationship with him,” Argust said of Lupoi. “I can talk freely, and I am just very comfortable with him. The one time he went to Alabama without me, I called Tosh and asked if he was OK to go by himself. He said they would take good care of him, and I didn’t worry at all.”
The 6-foot-5, 236-pound prospect has visited Tuscaloosa three times, which is a significant amount for a player who lives almost 2,000 miles away from campus. One reason for the frequent amount of trips could be because Argust gets free plane tickets on Delta because she works for the airline. She’s already planning to be at every game if Cameron chooses Alabama. The last visit to Tuscaloosa came two weeks ago for the Champions Cookout.
While there, Argust and Latu spent significant time with Saban. She said they got to see a more relaxed side of the coach. She also learned about the tutoring programs they have for the players and even learned that the team notifies parents of their son’s progress.
“We sat down with Coach Saban, and he said, ‘We do send report cards to parents. So, if you say don’t tell my mom about something, we are going to tell your mom,”‘ Argust recalled with a laugh.
This post was edited on 8/4/17 at 11:02 am
Posted on 8/4/17 at 10:59 am to TideSaint
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Cameron Latu very comfortable in Tuscaloosa
The comfort level in Tuscaloosa for Argust and Latu is very high. Latu has developed a good relationship with freshmen Tua Tagovailoa and Najee Harris, staying in their dorm room on his three visits there. Latu has especially clicked with Tagovailoa because both have Polynesian backgrounds. Latu is part Tongan while Tagovailoa is Samoan.
Argust met Tagovailoa’s mother, Diane, two weeks ago. The Tagovailoas relocated from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, to Alabaster, Ala., which is roughly 50 miles away from Tuscaloosa.
“She let me know that he always has family there if he decides to go there,” Argust said of Diane Tagovailoa. “That was really nice to hear.”
Each time Latu has left Alabama, he’s felt more strongly about the school. The main reason is that comfort with the players and coaches. It’s hard to see him choose any school other than Alabama.
“One thing he has said about Alabama is that it feels like home to him,” Argust said. “He’s really comfortable there. He has such a great rapport with Tosh.”
This post was edited on 8/4/17 at 11:02 am
Posted on 8/4/17 at 11:00 am to TideSaint
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Cameron Latu, where will he go?
Latu is set to announce his decision at 2 p.m. ET. My prediction is Alabama, and I feel very confident in saying that.
If he does choose the Crimson Tide, Latu will be the second Jack linebacker on board in the 2018 class, joining Jordan Davis (though Davis will likely grow into a defensive lineman). Other Jack linebacker targets include: KJ Henry, Micah Parsons, Eyabi Anoma and Andres Fox.
This post was edited on 8/4/17 at 11:03 am
Posted on 8/4/17 at 11:05 am to Buckeye06
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Clemson, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Alabama, LSU and Georgia This would be my top 8 too, aside from putting USC in for Florida likely Just pick 8 of the top 20 schools and let's go
Think I'd have to add Hawaii and Arizona State to the mix.
Posted on 8/4/17 at 11:07 am to TideSaint
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He gone.
Fine with me either way. I like Walker. But I really REALLY like Kaho.
Posted on 8/4/17 at 11:14 am to Bama3714
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But I really REALLY like Kaho.
I think landing Latu, Sewell and already having Tua on board may help with Kaho.
We setting up our own little Polynesian community in Tuscaloosa.
Tanner McKee is a Mormon too so if we get him that may help as well.
Posted on 8/4/17 at 11:19 am to TideSaint
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Alabama landed its eighth commitment in the 2018 class when Louisiana wide receiver Slade Bolden chose the Crimson Tide over the TCU Horned Frogs on Thursday night.
Bolden, a 3-star prospect from West Monroe (La.) High School, became a priority for Alabama after his performance at the team’s high school camp last month. Entering that camp, Bolden had Alabama, LSU and TCU in his top three. He couldn’t commit to ‘Bama at the time, but before he left Tuscaloosa, his showcase was enough for the coaching staff to give him the green light.
Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll told Bolden and his mother that the recruit reminded him some of New England Patriots slot receiver Julian Edelman. Bolden’s coach at West Monroe, Jerry Arledge, told SEC Country that Alabama is getting a special player.
“I can say that he’s as good of an athlete as we’ve had come through here in the 26 years I’ve been here,” Arledge said.
Alabama offered Bolden, who will enroll early in school, as an athlete, but he’ll likely end up playing slot receiver. Arledge said he believes that’s what sold Bolden on wanting to commit to the Crimson Tide. Bolden himself said Daboll’s experience in New England where the slot receiver is vital made Alabama an attractive place to him.
“That definitely helps them,” Bolden told SEC Country. “Obviously, Alabama is going to have some of the best running backs in the country. They’re still going to run the ball. I know he’s going to incorporate some of what he learned in New England for this offense.”
The 5-foot-11, 198-pound prospect’s versatility is what makes him such an intriguing prospect. At West Monroe, he’s played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, cornerback, safety and special teams.
“He’s whatever you want him to be with his versatility,” Arledge said. “If you need a cornerback, he can play there. A safety, wide receiver, tailback — he could play them all at a high level. He doesn’t have great sprinter speed, but he has quickness, escapability. Those intangibles make you a football player and separates guys with talent.”
With Bolden on board, attention now shifts to several receiver targets who are still on the team’s wish list such as Justyn Ross, Seth Williams, Jaylen Waddle, Justin Watkins and Jacob Copeland, who committed to Florida in an exclusive video with SEC Country on Wednesday.
The plan has been to take three receivers, and if we are listing Bolden as an athlete, Alabama technically only has one receiver commit in 4-star prospect Xavier Williams. I believe Alabama will land Ross and Waddle, in addition to Williams.
One last note on Bolden: He has a 4.0 GPA and is in the National Honor Society. Arledge believes Bolden is the total package.
“He’s the type of kid who you want your son to grow up to be like and the type you want your daughter to marry,” Arledge said.
LINK
This post was edited on 8/4/17 at 11:21 am
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