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re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition
Posted on 3/20/17 at 9:33 am to TideSaint
Posted on 3/20/17 at 9:33 am to TideSaint
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AL.com is on hand this weekend in New Orleans for The Opening's area regional. Nike Football puts on regionals all over the country and selects the best players who participate for this summer's Elite 11 and Opening Finals in Beaverton, Ore.
Why is this important? Why should you care? It's a chance for people who write about recruits or assign star ratings to see them in person against mostly equal competition. It's also a better chance to talk to the recruits and see where they stand in terms of picking a school.
Here are some Alabama, Auburn and in-state targets we'll be looking out for on Sunday.
Maurice Robinson, QB, Murphy - Alabama offered Robinson as an athlete, but he'll be throwing here.
Jack West, QB, Saraland - Alabama and Auburn each offered West before he started a varsity game, but he committed to Stanford before his junior year.
Lawrence Keys III, WR, New Orleans - The 5-foot-11, four-star receiver has offers from Alabama and Auburn
Jacob Copeland, WR, Pensacola, Fla. - The four-star receiver is one of the most highly-touted recruits here, and he's also high on Alabama and Auburn. He has a great relationship with AU receivers coach Kodi Burns.
Trey Sanders, RB, Port St. Joe, Fla. (IMG Academy) - The 2019 running back has been committed to Alabama for around a year and he's on the roster for this event.
Malik Heath, WR, Jackson, Miss. - The four-star receiver is committed to Mississippi State, but has an Alabama offer.
Terrance Marshall, WR, Bossier City - The elite receiver has Alabama and Auburn offers and plays for the school which fired its coach after he said Nick Saban wasn't welcome on his campus anymore.
Devonta Jason, WR, New Orleans - The physical four-star receiver is committed to Kansas, but has Alabama and Auburn offers
Kelvin Joseph, DB, Baton Rouge, La. - The cornerback is pushing five-star status and is high on Alabama even though he is committed to LSU.
Andres Fox, DL, Mobile Christian - The 6-foot-5 Fox has earned offers from powerhouses all over the country this spring, including Alabama and Auburn.
Timaje Porter, DL, Theodore - Porter is set to commit to Auburn or LSU soon.
Jordan Davis, DL, Memphis - The 6-foot-6 end committed to Alabama last December.
Dare Rosenthal, DL, Ferriday, La. - The 6-foot-6 Rosenthal told us last spring at this event that he was wavering on his Alabama commitment, and he soon decommitted. He's still on Alabama's radar, though.
Ishmael Sopsher, DL, Amite, La. - Sopsher is one of the top recruits in the 2019 class and he's a teammate of Alabama signee DeVonta Smith.
LINK
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Posted on 3/20/17 at 9:37 am to TomRollTideRitter
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I'm starting to get worried about this class.
We'll be fine. We just lost more coaches than usual this offseason so the relationships aren't there like they have been in the past. They'll ramp up when the Spring evaluations kick off on April 15th.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 9:38 am to TideSaint
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Saraland's Jack West showed why he is one of the top quarterbacks in the country on Sunday at the Opening Regional in New Orleans.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound West, a four-star recruit ranked as the No. 6 pro-style quarterback and No. 98 overall recruit, earned an invite to the Elite 11 finals. He'll be one of 24 quarterbacks who go to California in June and compete for a spot at Nike Football's The Opening Finals in late June.
"I'm competing with the top guys in the country and learning from some of the best coaches in the country, so it's going well," West said earlier Sunday.
West and Justin Rogers, a 6-foot-4 four-star quarterback from Bossier City, Fla., earned Elite 11 invites.
West committed to Stanford before his junior season. He has been there for a game and for a campus visit. He'll enroll there next summer.
"It's a different atmosphere than down here, obviously, but it's a beautiful stadium and a beautiful campus so I love to go out there as much as I can," West said.
He said he's in touch with Alabama, but nothing is changing his mind about Stanford.
"I stay in contact with them a little bit, but at the end of the day, I'm going to Stanford University and that's my place," West said.
West earned several offers before he started a varsity game. Now, he's going into his third year as a starter for Saraland.
"No. 1, to grow as a leader and grow to get to know the game even better," West said of his senior season goals. "Going out to Stanford, they have so many different things they put on a quarterback. It's really just developing my game."
More from The Opening Regional in New Orleans
The following players earned invites to The Opening in Beaverton, Ore.
* Kelvin Joseph, a four-star cornerback from Baton Rouge, La. He is committed to LSU, but there is mutual Alabama interest.
* Corione Harris, a four-star cornerback from New Orleans. He is committed to Kansas.
* Micah Baskerville, a three-star linebacker from Shreveport, La., who is committed to LSU.
* Terrace Marshall, a five-star receiver from Bossier City, La. He is the top prospect in Louisiana. Here's why he isn't considering Alabama right now.
Alabama defensive end commit Jordan Davis from Memphis and Mobile Christian defensive end Andres Fox, an Alabama and Auburn target, each made the Final 5 defensive linemen.
More players from this regional, which featured recruits from Alabama, Louisiana, the Florida panhandle and other nearby states, will eventually get invited to The Opening finals.
Some other notes, which will lead to more stories throughout this week. AL.com will be at the Atlanta Opening Regional next Sunday.
** Read why Theodore DL Timaje Porter won't make his commitment this Friday between Auburn and LSU
** Murphy QB Maurice Robinson was throwing with the top group of quarterbacks at the event, though many schools want him as an athlete, including Alabama. He is set on playing quarterback, though.
** New Orleans, La., four-star receiver Devonta Jason is committed to Kansas. He said Auburn has tailed off a bit in his recruitment.
** The receiver group was strong here and I expect more Opening invites to come, including with four-star Jacob Copeland from Pensacola. He likes Auburn a lot. Alabama isn't in the picture right now. Jason looked the part. Malik Heath is an Alabama target. Metairie, La., three-star JaMarr Chase also was impressive. He said he speaks to Kodi Burns at Auburn from time to time, and Burns really wants to get him on campus. If he comes to campus, his recruitment by Auburn could intensify.
** I thought for sure Alabama DE commit Jordan Davis would earn an Opening Invite. There's a good chance he will. He was being coached on how he needs to be more consistent afterwards, but he looks the part. He's very solid to Alabama but visited LSU this weekend.
** Spoke with New Orleans three-star safety Joseph Foucha. He's excited about his recent Alabama offer and how Auburn was one of the first schools to offer him. More on him this week.
** The combine had some 400 participants there. Plenty of under-the-radar guys stand out. One such was Carver-Birmingham receiver Cameron McKinney. He's 6-foot-3 and 185 pound receiver who looks the part. He plays it for most of the time. He wasn't perfect on the day, dropping a red zone pass in the end zone, but he showed some glimpses. Someone close to him told me they believe he's a Power 5 guy but doesn't have much exposure yet.
LINK
Posted on 3/20/17 at 10:17 am to TideSaint
Well you can likely scratch Tanner McKee off our QB list:
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A round of unofficial visits in the coming weeks will be important for four-star quarterback Tanner McKee, who expects to see North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Texas soon.
The Longhorns offered the Corona (Calif.) Centennial recently.
“I’m really excited,” McKee said. “I’ve been texting with (Tom) Herman a lot to see how they’re going to get things going over there. I’m going to take a visit down there and see how things are going.”
A devout Mormon, McKee is planning to take a two-year LDS mission directly after high school. BYU and Stanford had been early front-runners but McKee said he remains open to all programs. LSU is showing more interest.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 10:19 am to TideSaint
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EMERSON, Ga. — Justin Fields blew up blew up as a football recruit last fall before committing to Penn State December 1. The four-star dual-threat quarterback out of Kennesaw (Ga.) Harrison is a two-sport athlete and he is currently batting lead-off for the Hoyas. When time allows, he gets out to compete at camps and play for Cam Newton's 7v7 team. He is not focused on recruiting right now. One reason, because of baseball, but the other is due to how strong he is committed to the Nittany Lions.
IN HIS OWN WORDS: "I am locked in on Penn State right now," said Fields. "I am in contact with coach [Joe] Moorhead (offensive coordinator) every day. Me, my dad and coach Moorhead have a little group message going on through text messaging, so we are always talking that way.
"We talk about school, classes, baseball, football and more about life than anything. That is honestly what I like most about talking with coach Moorhead; it is not all about football.
"I feel like we are very close and that we have a great relationship. Every time I go up there, he treats me like family and he is a big part of why I am committed to Penn State. He makes me feel like I am already part of the family up there.
"I still feel really good about my commitment to Penn State right now. I am 100-percent committed right now and I plan to stick with Penn State, but you never know what the future holds. I have no plans to change my mind though."
RIVALS REACTION: Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee are just some of the schools Fields mentioned as ones that continue to recruit him. Tennessee has been texting him. Georgia texted him over the weekend about how he would fit in their offense. Fields is likely going to take visits to a few other schools, but nothing is planned at this time and nothing is in the works. He is focused on baseball right now and he is participating in a few camps and 7v7 events when his schedule allows. He is a bright young man who gets it. He sees the big picture and he is still a strong Penn State commitment. It is going to take a lot to even make him waiver, much less change his mind.
Shiiiiiiiiiiiit.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 10:21 am to TideSaint
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LAS VEGAS – Galu Tagovailoa smiled the entire time as he sat at Desert Breeze Park on a chilly March evening and reminisced about his son's shocking decision to attend college football kingpin Alabama.
Four-star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa committed to the Crimson Tide in early May after a visit to Tuscaloosa. It was a complete surprise to many. USC was the favorite for months, if not years, but that trip to Alabama changed things, changed the family’s thinking and changed Tagovailoa’s life.
“We were blown away,” Galu Tagovailoa recalls.
“That year they were the No. 1 team in the country. With Tua, he felt like winning the Elite 11 and then getting an offer from the No. 1 school in the country, he felt like this was his calling. He needed to be there.”
The season played out and Alabama’s quarterback situation was unsettled until freshman phenom Jalen Hurts took over and led the Crimson Tide back to the national championship game, where they lost to Clemson.
With calmness and a steadiness unseen in many freshman quarterbacks, Hurts might have solidified his spot as Alabama’s starter for the next couple years.
But Tagovailoa never seriously budged from his Alabama pledge. Instead of looking elsewhere, the four-star quarterback from Honolulu (Hawaii) St. Louis looked even more forward to the competition ahead.
“To watch Jalen Hurts just tear things up, awesome season, and I felt like I needed to talk to Tua and reconfirm to see if that’s what he really wants,” Galu Tagovailoa said.
“He said, ‘Dad, if I’m going to play for the best team, if I’m going to be the best, then I have to compete against the best. I can’t second-guess myself.’ I said if he was set with his mind then let’s make it happen.”
It’s rarely a major surprise when a top prospect – Tagovailoa was rated as the third-best dual-threat quarterback and No. 53 overall in the 2017 class – commits to Alabama.
This one, though, was different.
USC was a lifelong favorite and Tagovailoa had called it his dream school. The four-star also had an outstanding relationship with then-UCLA assistant coach Marques Tuiasosopo, now at Cal.
But it was that trip to Tuscaloosa that sold him, sold the family, that it was the right place.
“It’s his maturity and his competitiveness,” Galu Tagovailoa said. “He likes to compete. He just loves competing.”
There was some intense last-minute competing for Tagovailoa’s services as well, a lot of it behind the scenes.
First-year Oregon coach Willie Taggart flew to Hawaii late in the process in an attempt to sway Tagovailoa to Eugene. While his attempts were appreciated, Tagovailoa was not budging. His mind was made up and his future was more than 4,000 air miles away in Alabama.
Tagovailoa’s brother, Taulia, is a promising 2019 quarterback who performed well at the adidas 7v7 National Championship and has already landed offers from Alabama, Florida Atlantic, Hawaii, Oregon and Utah.
Despite some reports, Galu Tagovailoa said moving to Alabama so the family could be closer to Tua is still only being considered.
“We were talking about it because my wife wants to get closer to her son and my little one (Taulia), I want to keep at Kapolei and get things going,” he said. “If momma goes, then the family goes. We looked into some things. Nothing is set in stone.
“That is far. It’s far from my family in Hawaii but at the same time our kids are our lives. We cherish our kids and their decision-making and what they want to do. At the same time, I love my parents, my mom is back home, I don’t want to leave her, and so are (Galu’s wife’s parents).”
For Galu Tagovailoa, the entire recruiting experience has been incredible.
From fighting for attention in Hawaii, to landing the biggest offers college football has to provide, to thinking USC was the right school, to picking Alabama and then hearing the late pitches from Oregon, it was certainly a memorable time.
It was stressful. It was exhilarating. It was a wild ride that might only be getting started now that Tagovailoa is with the Crimson Tide and could be the starting quarterback in a couple short years. There’s a real chance his son could be vying for national titles soon.
“You never expect this,” Galu Tagovailoa said. “You never expect this especially coming from the island but you appreciate these things and you want to utilize this experience to pass on to the kids on the island. Talking with them, letting them know what we’ve gone through and it’s not for everyone.
“Some people can take it and some people will think that’s a lot of work.”
LINK
I thought little Tua was transferring to an Alabama high school?
Posted on 3/20/17 at 10:23 am to TideSaint
Dare Rosenthal says Alabama still leads.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 10:28 am to TideSaint
Dare Rosenthal's Junior Film
ETA: Holy shite. They have him split out wide on multiple occasions. He's 6'7" 320 pounds.
ETA: Holy shite. They have him split out wide on multiple occasions. He's 6'7" 320 pounds.
This post was edited on 3/20/17 at 10:31 am
Posted on 3/20/17 at 10:30 am to TideSaint
W'll definitely have another great class, but number 1 classes aren't as easy as Saban has made it look. Plus the in state talent is a couple steps below average this year.
Posted on 3/20/17 at 2:09 pm to TomRollTideRitter
We got another CB for Max Wray.
Posted on 3/21/17 at 10:10 am to TideSaint
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Jordan Davis -- the Alabama edge defender commit turned heads most among true edge rushers at the event. He has added some 20 pounds to his frame since Scout first saw him at last year's New Orleans regional camp and he used the extra bulk to prove he is not simply a first-step speed rusher. Davis still showcased an above-average get-off with some counter-ability to rip back underneath to win early reps during a dominant start to the competition phase of the camp.
Posted on 3/21/17 at 10:10 am to TideSaint
Speaking of Davis, he should be in line for a ratings boost soon. He's only a 2-star on Scout. 
Posted on 3/21/17 at 11:32 am to TideSaint
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Welcome to SEC Country’s daily Roll Tide-ings, a rundown of everything happening in Alabama Crimson Tide recruiting with Chris Kirschner. Today, we discuss the latest with Florida wide receivers Jacob Copeland and Joshua Moore, plus the latest from junior college tight end Dominick Wood-Anderson.
LINK
Posted on 3/21/17 at 11:33 am to TideSaint
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Daboll’s message pays off for Alabama
NEW ORLEANS — Jacob Copeland admits that Alabama wasn’t one of his top schools before visiting Tuscaloosa in late February for the team’s junior day event. The reason why he wasn’t high on the Crimson Tide is because he believes Alabama usually has one focal wide receiver and that’s it.
Copeland, the nation’s No. 9 wide receiver in the Class of 2018 from Escambia High School (Pensacola, Fla.), mentioned how Calvin Ridley, Julio Jones and Amari Cooper were the go-to receivers for the Tide and the team didn’t spread the ball around as much as he likes to see out of schools he’s considering.
After sitting down with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll last month, though, he’s under the impression that Alabama will spread the ball around more than it did under Lane Kiffin.
“It seems like they’re going to change the game up a little bit,” Copeland told SEC Country. “We chopped it up for a while when I was there and he said they want to pass the ball more this year. Usually, Alabama only focuses on one wide receiver, so I didn’t really have much interest in them. After talking to him, Alabama is getting back up there. I want to see what they look like throwing the ball this season.
“That was why I wasn’t really considering Alabama all that much. It didn’t make sense for me because there would always be a receiver who’s there that would be in front of me that they would focus on.”
The 6-foot-1, 188-pound prospect has been given the choice to either play wide receiver or cornerback at Alabama, but he’s sticking with offense if he chooses the Tide because wide receiver is where he’s most comfortable.
Copeland said he spoke to Daboll for approximately an hour when he visited Tuscaloosa last month and his first impression of the new coach was different than other coaches he’s met throughout the recruiting process.
Copeland said that the one thing that was different about Daboll is all of the NFL experience he has. He knows exactly what it takes to be a successful NFL player, and that has Copeland’s interest in Alabama growing by the day.
“He knows what it takes to make it in the NFL. He said he knows I have the skill set to possibly make it there one day. He said he believes he can help me get there and be a first-rounder. This is a guy who’s won Super Bowls. That’s the top of the top in the NFL. That’s something I am keeping notes on.”
Florida, Clemson, North Carolina, Auburn and Miami are the other schools Copeland is strongly considering at this point. The Gators are prioritizing the in-state recruit, and Jim McElwain himself has made Copeland a top priority ever since he took the Florida job.
He said relationships are going to be key to land his commitment, which he is planning on announcing at the Under Armour All-America game. Right now, his relationship with Alabama is in the growing stages, unlike the one he has at Florida, mainly because Daboll and Mike Locksley still are new.
But the nation’s No. 45 player said he can already see himself at Alabama.
“I feel like I got that skill set to play at Alabama because I’m all about work,” Copeland said. “I can compete with Calvin Ridley. I’m going to give it all I got no matter where I go.”
Interdasting.
Posted on 3/21/17 at 11:35 am to TideSaint
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Moore high on Alabama despite lack of visit
Joshua Moore has never visited Tuscaloosa before, but Alabama already is one of his top schools due to the relationships he has with the staff.
Moore, a 4-star wide receiver from IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), told SEC Country at the New Orleans Opening regional this past weekend that Saban, wide receivers coach Locksley and assistant director of player personnel Sam Petitto are in contact with him multiple times a week.
“The coaching staff is always showing my family a lot of love,” Moore said. “They keep in touch with me at least three times a week. Relationships are very important in my recruitment. That will definitely play a big factor on why I go there or not.”
The 6-foot-1, 160-pound prospect admits that his relationship with Locksley isn’t as strong as other coaches he’s talking to elsewhere because he’s new, but he says the coach not only talks to him but also his mother, father and high school trainer, which is important to him.
Locksley isn’t selling Moore on playing just wide receiver at Alabama, if he did go there, and that has piqued his interest.
“Coach Locksley has told me that it’s my decision on whether I want to play offense or defense, if I go there, and even kick and punt returner,” Moore said. “With me being the athlete that I am, that’s like music to my ears. Anyone would want that. It sounds like a great opportunity for me.”
He doesn’t care which position he ends up playing, which is important because some recruits get turned off from a school if it’s not recruiting him at the position he thinks is best for his future.
Florida State and LSU, two of Moore’s top schools, are pitching him on playing football and track at their respective school. That has also caused him to seriously consider those programs. Track was one of Moore’s first loves.
“Only LSU and Florida State are schools that have given me the opportunity (to run track),” Moore said. “It’s something I’d love to look into doing. It’s a big part of my decision because I grew up as a track guy.”
The Under Armour All-American said he’s expected to make his first trip to Tuscaloosa on June 4. The timing of that visit will be critical because he’s planning a July commitment as of now. That’s not set in stone. If he’s not ready, Moore will postpone his decision until the Under Armour game in early January.
In addition to Alabama, Florida State and LSU, Moore rattled off Georgia, Oklahoma and Tennessee as other schools he’s strongly considering at this point. Though he hasn’t visited, Moore said he feels close to Tide staff members because of how often they have communicated with him over the past few months.
Moore talks to Saban frequently and he said the five-time national champion is a man he could see himself playing for next season.
“That’s a head coach who I would definitely want to be under because he’s the kind of guy I am, too,” Moore said. “I’m a business guy. I don’t like to play around too much. I like to handle my business and get out of there. You want to be under a coach that you get along with.”
Moore is on track to enroll early at his university of choice in January.
Posted on 3/21/17 at 11:35 am to TideSaint
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JUCO TE explains why Alabama is a top school
Dominick Wood-Anderson, the nation’s top junior college tight end in the Class of 2018 from Arizona Western, released his top 6 early Tuesday morning and Alabama made the cut along with Auburn, South Carolina, Tennessee, Oregon and Utah.
Wood-Anderson has said in previous interviews that Alabama and Louisville were his top two schools, and the Cardinals didn’t make this cut. He told SEC Country why Alabama is one of the schools he’s looking at closer.
“It’s somewhere where I’m going to come in and make an immediate impact and somewhere that’s going to give me the best shot to be a top 5 TE in the country my first year and be a top 20 draft pick after my second year,” Wood-Anderson said.
He said seeing O.J. Howard’s success in the NFL combine and the chatter of him possibly being a top 10 pick in next month’s draft definitely help Alabama’s case of possibly landing his commitment.
The Tide signed two tight ends in the Class of 2017 in Major Tennison and Kedrick James, but they would like to add at least one more in the Class of 2018. Wood-Anderson is one of the top, if not the top, target at the position.
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound prospect has three years to play two when he transfers to an FBS school. He will make his first-ever trip to Tuscaloosa on April 3. When he arrives for that trip, he will be on commitment watch.
Posted on 3/21/17 at 11:40 am to TideSaint
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Spring practice visitors
With the first day of spring practice here, Alabama will host several visitors. Here are the following players who are expected on campus in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday:
-Priority defensive tackle target Coynis Miller from Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham.
-In-state 2019 offensive lineman Pierce Quick. He grew up an Alabama fan and got his offer from the Tide last month at the team’s junior day event.
-5-star 2019 offensive tackle Devontae Dobbs from Detroit.
-4-star 2019 center Tyrone Sampson from Detroit.
-2019 wide receiver Julian Barnett from Detroit.
Posted on 3/21/17 at 11:46 am to TideSaint
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The night before four-star receiver Joshua Moore went to New Orleans to support his twin brother Jordan at the Opening Regional on Sunday, he talked to Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
Moore, a 6-foot-1, 160-pound recruit now at the IMG Academy, released a top 10 last week and Alabama was on it with Texas A&M, Texas, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee and Nebraska.
All are even for Moore, a Houston native who transferred to the IMG Academy in Florida last month. But Moore, who is ranked as the No. 81 overall recruit and No. 15 receiver, has a great relationship with Saban and assistant director of player personnel Sam Petitto.
"He's a cool guy," Moore said. "I love Coach Saban. He told me if I was going to commit, it would be my choice where I could play. It could be on offense, defense, special teams or maybe even both sides of the ball. Me being the athletic guy that I am, that's something I'd love to hear."
Moore said he doesn't care what position he plays in college, but it's clear his athleticism will put him in position to succeed on either side. He earned an invitation to The Opening Finals back at the Orlando Regional. His twin brother Jordan, a four-star recruit, also has an Alabama offer but is committed to Texas A&M.
Jordan is still at Yoakum High, while Joshua is enjoying his transition to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
"It's helped me a lot," Joshua Moore said. "For one, if I was a commit to, say, Alabama, I'd already have been away from my family and I'd be used to that already. I'm competing against the top guys in the country every day and my skillset is getting better. I'm getting better athletically and academically."
Moore isn't sure when he'll commit. He has not visited Alabama yet, but plans to in June.
"For one, they're a winning team," Moore said. "Two, the coaching staff shows me a lot of love. They text me, my mom and my dad around three times a week. That's definitely something that sticks out about them and one of the things that's most important to me."
Moore said all of his top 10 schools are even right now.
247Sports described his performance at the Orlando Regional - "an acrobatic pass catcher with extreme quicks, Moore is another that got open in a variety of ways. No question one of the more smooth receivers in the country."
LINK
Posted on 3/21/17 at 11:47 am to TideSaint
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Alabama hasn't stopped recruiting four-star Baton Rouge, La., cornerback Kelvin Joseph since he committed to LSU on Feb. 13, 2016.
The 6-foot-1, 191-pound Joseph is still listening, too.
Joseph, the nation's No. 35 overall recruit, No. 5 cornerback and No. 2 prospect in Louisiana, has made multiple trips to Alabama, including to a Junior Day and to a camp last summer.
He said he has good relationships with the entire staff, including area recruiter Burton Burns, secondary coach Derrick Ansley and defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.
"Alabama, I like how they work," Joseph said Sunday at the New Orleans Opening Regional. "Every day, it's hard work, every time I visit. It's back to back championship (game appearances)."
Joseph was selected after the regional to participate in Nike Football's Opening Finals, which will be in Beaverton, Ore., this summer and feature many of the country's top prospects.
LSU is certainly making him a priority, but he understands why people think he may flip to Alabama.
"It's LSU and Alabama, and plus people in the past, they decommitted from LSU and went to Alabama," Joseph said, later adding that LSU "just has to keep it real and win games. It's about winning and how you're going to use the players."
Alabama signed some of Louisiana's top prospects in February, including Baton Rouge natives Dylan Moses and Christopher Allen along with Monroe defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis and Amite receiver DeVonta Smith.
He said he's also talking to Texas A&M and Kansas, and will visit Georgia soon along with Houston.
"Make me feel like it's home, like they really need me," Joseph said, when asked what it would take for anyone to flip him.
He said Alabama is recruiting him with the thought that he could play anywhere in the secondary.
"They say they really need me, that I can come in and change the program," Joseph said.
Joseph had 72 tackles (55 solo), seven for loss with two sacks, five interceptions, 16 pass breakups and three defensive touchdowns. as a junior for Scotlandville Magnet.
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