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

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Top uncommitted targets

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Terrace Marshall Jr., 5-star WR (Bossier City, La.) — Marshall made a second unofficial visit to LSU in as many months last Thursday and again brought his entire family. Marshall was high on his relationship with the LSU coaching staff, but added it will come down to how the Tigers offense looks in the fall. LSU is sure to get one of his five official visits. As will Texas A&M, Texas and Miami. Alabama, Florida State and TCU are in the mix for the fifth. A decision will come Dec. 22.

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Harold Joiner, 4-star RB (Birmingham, Ala.) — After jumping out to an early lead then being excluded from his top six, LSU again finds itself in a strong position to land a commitment from Joiner. The 4-star tailback was deterred away from the Tigers after they procured commitments from three running backs at the end of June, but Tommie Robinson has worked hard to repair the relationship and put LSU in a strong position to add Joiner to the class sometime this fall. Joiner will officially visit LSU on Oct. 14 and UCLA the weekend after. Joiner should be the final running back in LSU’s 2018 class.

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Andres Fox, 3-star EDGE (Mobile, Ala.) — LSU cracked Fox’s top-4 schools in July before he conceded Auburn and Alabama were a notch above the Tigers. Fox made visits to Auburn and Alabama in July and also squeezed in a stop to Stanford and LSU, but he opted to delay announcing his commitment, which was originally scheduled for before his senior season. At one point, LSU was in a strong position. Things have cooled on those fronts in recent weeks.

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KJ Henry still high on Alabama

KJ Henry is down to five schools. Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia Tech made the cut for the 5-star defensive end from West Forsyth High School (Clemmons, N.C.). Those schools are expected to get official visits this fall.

Most in the recruiting industry and college coaches I’ve spoken to believe this is really a two-team race between Alabama and Clemson. Henry, the nation’s No. 2 weakside defensive end, explained why he’s high on the Crimson Tide.

“That’s another school with a 3-4 (defense),” Henry told SEC Country’s Hale McGranahan. “They see me as an outside linebacker. There’s so much to say. One of the best teams in the country every year. Their biggest thing is they’re a little low on numbers, as far as that position. They already had two [players] commit this year [Jordan Davis and Cameron Latu]. That just shows you the fact that they haven’t had that many people at that position. Last year, I don’t think they had any commits, so they’re just trying to reload on that. To be one of the best teams in the country, and then have guys they need to have come in and make an impact within the first two years, that’s definitely appealing.”

Alabama did have a commitment at Jack linebacker, the position Henry is being recruited at, in the 2017 class in Christopher Allen. Allen has caught the attention of reporters in Tuscaloosa during practice because of how big he is (6-foot-4, 239 pounds).

Henry is right when he says the Crimson Tide need several Jack linebackers in the 2018 class. In addition to Henry, Alabama is also recruiting Eyabi Anoma, Micah Parsons and Andres Fox at the position.

Sources I’ve talked with believe Alabama is in the best position to land Henry when he makes his decision but others believe Clemson is going to be the choice when he makes his commitment this December. Henry has said numerous times that Alabama’s success of getting players to the league helps the Crimson Tide’s chances with him.

“Coaching success definitely speaks to what position I’ll be put in when I get there, so if they’re putting guys in the NFL, it definitely speaks to what they’re doing on the practice field and all that type of stuff,” Henry said.

If I were to offer a prediction on where Henry is going to play in 2018, I would say Clemson. But it’s very close between the two schools. He’s visited both campuses multiple times and is very close to both coaching staffs. It wouldn’t shock me at all if he ends up committing to Alabama.

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CB target Nadab Joseph back on the market

In case you missed it, Nadab Joseph, a 4-star defensive back from Champagnat Catholic School (Hialeah, Fla.), told SEC Country two months ago that a de-commitment from LSU in the near future was “very possible.” That came to fruition on Thursday.

Joseph, one of Alabama’s top cornerback targets in the 2018 class, made a surprise visit to Tuscaloosa last month. It was his second trip to Alabama in as many months.

An interesting fact regarding Alabama’s chances, is that Joseph’s legal guardian is one of Tide safety Ronnie Harrison’s cousins. Harrison and Joseph have a very strong bond. When Joseph visited last week, he spent a lot of time with Harrison. He’s also close with Deionte Thompson.

“Ronnie and I are very close, so I guess you can say like we are cousins,” Joseph said. “Ronnie and DT are on me hard. They’re telling me that they know I can come in and play. Ronnie would probably be leaving (next season), but it will be really fun to play with DT.”

In addition to Joseph, Alabama’s top targets at corner are Tyson Campbell, Josh Jobe, Patrick Surtain Jr. and Jaycee Horn. The Tide already have a corner committed in Jalyn Armour-Davis.

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More 5-star talk

On Thursday morning, SEC Country detailed the interest 5-star defensive end KJ Henry has in South Carolina, one of the five schools that occupy a spot in his lead group.

Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Virginia Tech also are in the mix. Henry, a 2018 prospect from West Forsyth High School (Clemmons, N.C.), also shared some specifics about those other four schools.

Alabama: “That’s another school with a 3-4 [defense]. They see me as an outside linebacker. There’s so much to say. One of the best teams in the country every year. Their biggest thing is they’re a little low on numbers, as far as that position. They already had two commit this year. That just shows you the fact that they haven’t had that many people at that position.

“Last year, I don’t think they had any commits, so they’re just trying to reload on that. To be one of the best teams in the country and then have guys they need to have come in and make an impact within the first two years, that’s definitely appealing.”

Clemson: “Just the fact that I like Clemson a lot, they’ve been one of my favorite schools through the whole recruiting process. They haven’t really had to do anything special, except be themselves. Coach [Dabo] Swinney is a great guy. Both of my parents love him a lot, so if they just keep doing them, and they’re good, too.”

Georgia: “I think what sticks out the most about them is the town and stuff; the academics are really good. They just have a really good system for getting guys their degrees as fast as possible, in a very professional way. They keep everything in order and I like that. I think the football team is taking a step up every single year.”

Virginia Tech: “I think coach [Justin] Fuente – it’s weird to say, but the fact that they’re offensive side is picking up, because their defense, in my opinion, has been great the last 10 or so years, however long coach [Bud] Foster’s been there. His credibility speaks for itself. … They’re good with my family as well, so it’s going well.”

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla – Football prospects, especially in South Florida, are a tight-knit group. They often share information on the game and their recruitments. It’s why there are few better at guessing where top players may land. Rivals.com surveyed some Florida-based players about where their uncommitted peers may end up in college.

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CB Patrick Surtain

“LSU, man. LSU. You know that one. Done deal.” -- Jones

“He’s a robot, but I think LSU or… I don’t see him at Florida State, so LSU.”-- Blades

“Yeah, LSU for sure.” -- Hicks

“LSU or Alabama.” -- Samuel

“LSU, and I really don’t know why. I’m just guessing, so I’ll say LSU.” -- Shivers

“To be honest, he keeps you guessing. He doesn’t talk about schools. He kind of confuses me. I can’t even tell you." -- Four-star defensive back Tyson Campbell

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IMG RULES FLORIDA

Since IMG Academy started a football program in the state of Florida, rankings have been a little skewed toward the school, but the talent atop the Sunshine State rankings in the 2019 class is hard to ignore. Currently, five the state’s top 12 players are from IMG, including the state’s No. 1, Alabama running back commit Trey Sanders. Florida football purists can take solace in the fact that Sanders is a native of Port St. Joe, Fla., so regardless of where he was attending school, he would still be the state’s No. 1. Also worth noting is the staggering amount of committed players in the state – 21 of Florida's top 50 prospects are currently committed.

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