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re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:34 am to Fells
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:34 am to Fells
quote:
I'd also highly recommend kayaking down Autuaga Creek
Only if you have a short kayak. I did it with a longer one and it was a bitch. Too curvy, very shallow water. Coosa River is my go to spot
1
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:35 am to pvilleguru
quote:
Coosa River is my go to spot
Is it big enough for canoeing?
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:36 am to pvilleguru
It's still downtown, right?
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:37 am to TideSaint
Oh yeah it's big enough. Great river to go down. There's like one small part with "rapids" but you can canoe through the other side.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:40 am to Fells
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Oh yeah it's big enough. Great river to go down. There's like one small part with "rapids" but you can canoe through the other side.
That's awesome.
We used to go canoeing up near Waynesboro, TN, once a month when I was stationed in Columbus. I'd love to start doing that again.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:46 am to TideSaint
The Alabama river runs right on the southern end of Prattville. I'd you're feeling ambitious, you can take it all the way down to the gulf 
I would actually love to do something like that and camp on my way.
I would actually love to do something like that and camp on my way.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:55 am to Cobrasize
quote:
The Alabama river runs right on the southern end of Prattville. I'd you're feeling ambitious, you can take it all the way down to the gulf
Nope.
quote:
I would actually love to do something like that and camp on my way.
Going to Waynesboro once a month is really one of the only things I miss about living in Columbus. Well that and being able to go to Alabama games.
It appears I will be able to do both again very soon.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:57 am to TideSaint
Ok. Back to recruiting for the time being.
Al.com has put together an article series about the Top 15 in-state prospects and they are up to #12. The first three were players we have no connection to so I didn't post them. I'll post the ones relevant to us whenever they drop though.
Al.com has put together an article series about the Top 15 in-state prospects and they are up to #12. The first three were players we have no connection to so I didn't post them. I'll post the ones relevant to us whenever they drop though.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:58 am to TideSaint
LINK
quote:
Myles Mason's football career has taken him from the pee-wee days with the Hueytown Jaguars to Pleasant Grove, where as a freshman he garnered recruiting interest.
His journey continues this season at Hewitt-Trussville, his new high school entering his senior season.
"Ever since I stepped on the football field the first time," Mason said, "I fell in love with it."
His next move will occur on National Signing Day in February when he plans to sign as he sign with a BCS school. Mason's list of finalists includes Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Florida State and Clemson.
It's too early to know which college football team will land his services at safety. And it's way too early to know if Mason, No. 12 on the A-List, AL.com's ranking of the state's 15 best senior football prospects, will realize his dream of reaching the NFL.
That would follow in the footsteps of his father, Larry, a running back for the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers (1987-88).
Here's what we do know: Whenever Mason's football days end, his entrepreneur journey is sure to begin. After all, business is the family business. And Myles, the youngest of the bunch, is taking notes.
The men of Mason's family don't just take advantage of career opportunities. They create them.
"When I come to Birmingham, I try to involve my brother in everything that I do," said older brother Ryan Mason, 23, who was also a football standout at Pleasant Grove.
"If I go sit down with business professionals, he's always by my side. I know a lot of the stuff goes over his head - at one time, it was going over my head. But the more he hears it, the more he will understand. The more he understands, the better he will grasp the knowledge and succeed in business."
Posted on 8/9/17 at 9:59 am to TideSaint
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FAMILY OF MENTIONS
Myles' family tree is full of mentors.
It started with his grandfather, the owner of Burt's Carpet Cleaning and Janitorial Service for nearly five decades. Mason's uncle, Micahel Burt, owns B.E. Global, which offers similar services. Both business also offer disaster restoration and related services.
Mason's dad, Larry Mason, owns Mason Fencing.
"Everything that me and my brother needed or wanted, he always found a way to make it happen," Myles said of his father.
Then there's Ryan, who surrendered his football scholarship at North Alabama after three seasons (2012-14) to start a business. His portfolio now includes BizBuzz Digital (bigbuzzdigital.com) a social media marketing company, and Luxe Brand, which creates luxury leather shoelaces (LINK
Myles said his older brother's passion for business has influenced him because of his drive to make it successful, despite the risks. Also, Myles said his mother, Yvette Mason, a registered nurse, makes sure he continues doing the right things in life.
"She's always been there for me whenever I need someone to talk to, and she really goes out on a limb to make me and her family happy," Myles said.
If God, family and football round out this tribe's list of priorities, entrepreneurship is next on the list.
"I think the more he learns," Ryan Mason said, "the more he listens, the easier it will be."
Years ago, when Myles Mason's peers focused on reaching the next level of Candy Crush, he pitched a startup business to his older brother.
After football, Myles told Ryan, he wants to co-own a training facility, complete with a physical therapy and a restaurant with healthy options.
"It was so funny because we had the same vision," Myles said.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:00 am to TideSaint
quote:
BEST OF FRIDAY NIGHTS
Football's lessons are sure to make Myles Mason a better businessman.
"I've always been taught to stay humble," he said. "My parents always stress that to me - that you don't have to brag on yourself. If you're successful, it will come to you. Other people will brag for you, and I believe that being that way keeps me focused and not getting caught up in the hype."
He's also knows what he wants on the football field.
"I want to play against the best competition, in the biggest stadiums, the biggest environments," Mason added. "I feel like I can compete with some of the best guys, some of the best schools in the area.
"I don't feel like I have to prove anything anymore. But it's something I really want to do. I'm a competitive person. I look forward to any challenges. I want to play against the best people."
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:01 am to TideSaint
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FOLLOWING DAD
The Mason brothers grew up around the game they loved, thanks to Larry. They spent plenty of time around current and former NFL players: The list includes cousin, Joe Mickels, a former Gardendale star who later played for Ole Miss and in the NFL for Washington and San Diego; Otis Leverette, who played for UAB before his four-year NFL career (Washington, San Diego, San Francisco); DeMeco Ryans, a former Jess Lanier star who later played at Alabama and 10 seasons in the NFL (Houston, Philadelphia); James Bradberry, a former Pleasant Grove star who played at Samford before starting 13 games last season for the Carolina Panthers; former Alabama safety Justin Woodall, and many others.
Dad, of course, was the brothers' biggest football influence.
"He played in the NFL, so I've always wanted to play in the NFL like he did," Myles said.
Larry Mason taught his son the fundamentals: How to watch film; how to prepare yourself for an opponent; how to keep your body strong; how to prevent injuries; how to work in the offseason; how it's easy to get in trouble, yet hard to get out of it.
These skills will one day make Myles a better football player on the college level. And one day - much later - it will make him an even better man. As Mason backpedals his way through life, balancing his existence in football and family, he's always ready to excel at whatever he decides to tackle.
Watch out world.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:03 am to TideSaint
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Commitment by the end of the month possible for Penei Sewell
Penei Sewell will likely come out with a very short top schools list by this weekend. Don’t expect more than four schools to be on that list. It could even be three schools. Alabama and Oregon are definitely going to make the cut.
Sewell, a 4-star guard from Desert Hills High School (Saint George, Utah), is one of Alabama’s top offensive line targets in the 2018 class, but the Crimson Tide have some strong competition from the Oregon Ducks. Sewell and his entire family visited Oregon last weekend, and there’s some buzz with the Ducks because of Mario Cristobal, a former Alabama assistant coach who is now Oregon’s offensive coordinator.
“He was really intrigued that Alabama’s former offensive line coach is there,” Gabriel Sewell, Penei’s father, told SEC Country. “We heard a lot of good things about him, but we need to figure out who’s going to put him in the best situation and help him reach his life goal.”
That goal is to make it to the NFL and Gabriel Sewell believes Alabama is the best place to make that dream a reality. An Alabama offensive lineman has been drafted every year since 2009, except for 2012. In the same time period, Oregon didn’t have an offensive lineman taken in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
“As it stands today, there’s no comparison,” Gabriel Sewell said. “Historically, there’s a good probability of making it to the league if you play at Alabama. With Nick Saban there and everyone under his watch, things have been good. There’s no argument there. The proof is in the pudding.”
Cristobal’s success at Alabama in making sure the Tide’s offensive linemen are NFL ready is why Oregon is such a threat. But the good news for Alabama is the family hasn’t changed their opinion about the team. When they visited Tuscaloosa in June, it was clear Alabama was the team to beat. After all, Sewell’s nickname is ‘Bama.
There’s usually always a visit high with recruits after they visit any campus. The Sewells were no different. Two months later, though, those feelings on how they felt at the time are still there.
“We still feel the same way, in regards to Alabama,” Gabriel Sewell said. “As the days go on and we think of different things, we continue to ask them questions. We still think Alabama is the same place as when we left. They have [QB] Tua [Tagovailo] there, and now they have [Alabama Jack linebacker commit] Cam [Latu]. That’s the only difference from the last time we visited, which is a good thing.”
Like Tagovailoa and Latu, Sewell is Polynesian. Those three have developed a connection. Sewell almost missed his flight home back in June because he was having a great time hanging out with Tagovailoa. Sewell and Latu formed a friendship this summer as they attended plenty of recruiting camps together. Gabriel Sewell said his son and Latu talk to each other often, and he believes they have communicated since Latu committed to Alabama last week.
A commitment for Sewell could be coming in the near future, too. His father believes a decision is likely before the end of the month. If it doesn’t happen by then, it won’t extend into the fall for long.
“I think right now there’s a 75 percent chance he commits before the end of the month, but we’ll see,” Gabriel Sewell said.
Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon and Southern California are the schools recruiting Sewell the hardest, but his recruitment should come down to the Crimson Tide and Ducks.
Sewell is looking into taking an official visit to Alabama for the LSU game on Nov. 4, but that depends on how his high school team does this season. That weekend is the first round of the Utah state playoffs. The nation’s No. 4 tackle (he’s being recruited as a guard for the Tide) isn’t planning on taking all five official visits. His father said he may take two or three, so the fact that Alabama will get one is good for the Tide.
Because of Alabama’s success in churning out offensive linemen in the NFL draft, I still think he’s going to commit to the Crimson Tide when he makes his decision. Other guard targets for the Tide include Michigan commit Emil Ekiyor of Indianapolis and 4-star prospect Jerome Carvin from Memphis, Tenn.
LINK
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:04 am to TideSaint
quote:
NEW ORLEANS — Joseph Foucha‘s list of top schools are slowly whittling down.
On Monday, the highly sought-after 3-star defensive back trimmed his list of top schools to seven schools. LSU, Auburn, Alabama and Arkansas were the four SEC teams to make the cut along with Florida State, Arizona State and Kansas.
The common thread between his final seven schools: playing opportunities and a platform to eventually fulfill his professional football dreams.
“Those seven teams had a lot of opportunities,” Foucha told SEC Country. “I thought about it from playing-wise and also getting to the next level.”
Earlier in the spring, Auburn emerged as a front-runner for the 3-star defensive back, who projects as a safety at the next level.
After garnering an offer from LSU and receiving more interest from some other programs, Foucha maintained that he doesn’t have a leader and all seven teams are pushing equally as hard.
“Every school is recruiting me about the same,” he said. “I talk to the coaches at LSU a lot and I go up there to visit sometimes, being that it’s so close. Everybody, really, is 50-50.”
Foucha made visits to LSU, Alabama and Florida State in July.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound prospect from McDonogh 35 (La.) High School in New Orleans added an offer from the in-state Tigers after the elite high school camp in June and LSU quickly asserted itself as a major player in Foucha’s recruitment.
He camped at Alabama and Florida State the following month before returning to Baton Rouge before the NCAA’s dead period.
“LSU wasn’t in my top 15, but it’s a school I’ve liked since I was a kid,” Foucha said. “The players they’ve produced like Tyrann Mathieu — we’re from the same park — Leonard Fournette — I grew up knowing him.
“I’ve been out to Alabama a few times, but this time I wanted to go for a camp to show how much I’ve improved. It was great. I talked to coach [Nick] Saban and he told me I remind him of Landon Collins, which was pretty amazing because he’s from New Orleans and moved after the hurricane.”
Foucha, a top-400 prospect in the Class of 2018, is the No. 32 safety in the country, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. He is the No. 14 overall recruit from Louisiana.
Foucha is planning to release his five official visits sometime this week. A commitment won’t follow until National Signing Day on Feb. 7.
One hint that the standout defensive back provided was that he enjoyed his July visits because they were to teams with defensive-minded coaches. That includes Saban at Alabama, Ed Orgeron at LSU and Florida State defensive coordinator Charles Kelly.
“Those three teams have a lot of players in the league and also come from defensive-minded guys,” Foucha explained. “Those three schools are known for defense like Nick Saban is a defensive coach, Coach O is a defensive guy and Coach Kelly at Florida State. When I went out to camp there, we linked up and I did my thing and everything went well there defense-wise.”
LINK
I don't think he has a committable offer.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:06 am to TideSaint
quote:
Is it big enough for canoeing?
Plenty. There's a few rapids, but nothing too serious. You may flip once or twice in a canoe, but I've never flipped in a kayak.
If you want to look it up on Google Earth, there's a dam on the Coosa in Wetumpka. You can drop in there. There's a few companies that you can rents canoes, kayaks, etc. from and you can get out before you get to the bridge. Coosa Outdoor Center is company I use.
This post was edited on 8/9/17 at 10:11 am
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:06 am to TideSaint
quote:
OL’s commitment to Tide shakes up recruitment of Jerome Carvin
Cordova, Tenn., native Jerome Carvin ranks as the top uncommitted prospect from the Volunteer State for the Class of 2018.
The offensive lineman has not officially reduced his list to fewer than 10 schools, but Alabama and Tennessee have been leading the pack.
I surmised that Carvin has leaned toward the Crimson Tide for the past month or so. He enjoyed his trips to Tuscaloosa and his friend Jordan Davis has committed to Alabama.
Alabama took a commitment from offensive lineman Jarrett Bell on Monday, which has shaken up its recruiting board.
SEC Country’s Alabama recruiting reporter Chris Kirschner once believed Carvin was headed to the Crimson Tide but not so much anymore.
Kirschner thinks Bell has taken Carvin’s spot in the Alabama recruiting class.
Tennessee on top
It now appears the Vols sit alone at the top for Carvin.
Carvin has said his best relationship with a coaching staff is with Tennessee, so this is by no means a consolation prize. The Vols had always been very much in play.
Carvin rates as a 3-star prospect and ranks as the No. 30 offensive tackle in the class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. Although he is graded as a tackle, he could very well play guard at the next level.
The Vols have three offensive line commits this cycle in Cade Mays, Ollie Lane and Tanner Antonutti. All three play high school football in Tennessee. Mays and Antonutti project as tackles, while Lane’s best fit could be at guard.
The Vols will only take one more offensive lineman this cycle, and now it will likely be Carvin.
LINK
Best of luck to him at Tennessee.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:07 am to Fells
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It's still downtown, right?
Yes.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:08 am to TideSaint
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5-star RB likes Williams-Brice
Class of 2019 5-star running back Quavaris Crouch has been to a few South Carolina games at Williams-Brice Stadium and is impressed.
“It’s amazing. The crowd is into it. They’ve got the towels and all shaking,” the 6-foot-2, 225-pound running back told Hale McGranahan of SEC Country. “Places like that, SEC [and] big places like that, if you’re not ready to play when that crowd is jumping like that, I just feel like you’re not a football player.
Crouch is rated as the No. 17 overall prospect in the country in the 247Sports composite.
LINK
This kid is at the top of my 2019 wish list. He's an animal.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:09 am to pvilleguru
quote:
Plenty. There's a few rapids, but nothing too serious. You may flip once or twice in a canoe, but I've never flipped in a kayak.
Cool.
We go white water rafting up here, but I like to take it easy so I can drink while floating down the river.
Posted on 8/9/17 at 10:11 am to TideSaint
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Tennessee back in the mix for Jaycee Horn
Jaycee Horn cut Tennessee out of his final two, but the Vols have clawed back into the 2018 cornerback’s race.
Horn, rated a 4-star prospect by the 247Sports composite rankings, will decide from the Vols, Alabama and South Carolina. Horn planned to make his final decision on July 15 but obviously that plan changed.
“I just wasn’t ready in July to make my decision,” Horn told Rivals’ Chad Simmons in a story published Monday. “Tennessee worked their way back in the mix. They didn’t give up, they recruited me harder after I named my top 2 and after visiting there again, I had to put them in my top 3. It is them, Alabama and South Carolina. I feel pretty good about it being one of those schools.
“I have been close to committing to each of those schools at least once. A couple of times on a couple of them. I have been very close. I can’t go wrong with any of the three.”
Horn visited Knoxville on July 22 — a day after a trip to Alabama — with the main conversation being playing time.
“When I went up there for a visit in July, I got an in-depth look at their depth chart,” Horn said. “Playing time is a big part of my decision, so seeing what it looked like really helped them with me. I also like the family atmosphere and that visit really made me take a step back.”
Tennessee has three senior cornerbacks — Shaq Wiggins, Justin Martin, Emmanuel Moseley — on the 2017 roster.
What will Jaycee Horn do?
Horn’s recruitment has really become an enigma. You can’t blame someone for having a tough time making such a life altering decision, though.
Tennessee continues to trend up for Horn and the longer his decision date drags on the better chance the Vols might have here.
I think Horn ultimately ends up at Alabama, but the Vols are in a better position than South Carolina at the moment.
Horn continues to say each team has equal chances, though.
LINK
If this kid was a little bit faster he'd be a high 4-star.
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