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

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1,000 YARDS?

Would you buy a pair of HJ1s? (Hard Joiner's first signature shoe)

A few years from now, your kids, the next generation of sneakerheads, may promise to clean their room every day for a year if you buy the shoes associated with their favorite NFL star. Watch out Big Baller Brand.

Pro football or not, Joiner is interested in a future in sports marketing, a career journey which could lead him to Nike.

Said Joiner: "Marketing is a cool way to show a different side of you."

Not that Joiner is in a rush to embark on his marketing career. Up first is football. He has trimmed his college recruiting list to Michigan State and LSU, his final two options. Both schools are competing to earn his commitment and even more important, his signature of National Signing Day 2018.

But first, Joiner's senior season at Mountain Brook.

Joiner will try to post the first 1,000-yard rushing campaign of his high school career. As a junior, Joiner rushed for nearly 800 yards. He will share the backfield with AJ Gates.

Joiner will attempt to blend speed, scores and of course, style en route to Mountain Brook's latest playoff run.

"People ask me all the time: 'What cleats are you wearing today?'" Joiner said, setting up his own punch line. "I'm like, 'I don't know yet.'"

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Man I am glad this kid is going somewhere other than Alabama.

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Even 57 year old Jamar King, who was looking like a bust, is beginning to show a lot of promise in practice.

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I think Dunbar will do well but any DL coach will struggle to compete with older guys. Just saying.

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Man I am glad this kid is going somewhere other than Alabama.

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The sad thing is dude has some real athletic talent that I think he could be quite the weapon at the next level. But man, every interview he comes off worse and he's not an SEC RB as much as he wants to be. There's an AU poster that apparently knows him and says he's a good kid. I am kind of like you though and happy won't have to deal with him

Ranking Louisiana's top OL recruits over the last 5 years

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No. 6 Ray Parker, OT, Ruston, 2019

I expect big things from this budding star. He is tremendously agile for his size, playing tight end for his Ruston High School team. But make no mistake about it, he is a future offensive lineman. Parker looks like he may have an elite package of size, strength and mobility for a potential left tackle prospect. I am bullish on Ray Parker right now, but there is still a long ways to go before building more confidence in this long-term projection.

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Elite?

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A decision is just days away now for Rivals 250 wide receiver Kearis Jackson. The Fort Valley (Ga.) Peach County star will commit Saturday around 4pm ET in his hometown and we now know it will be one of two schools.

"I am pretty close to making my mind up and I have it down to Alabama and Georgia," said Jackson. "I know I do not want to go too far from home, I know I want to play for a great program and those two schools offer me that.

"I feel I can call either one of those places home. I was really looking hardest at schools in that three to four hour range from home, so Alabama and Georgia really have had my attention."

Is his mind already made up? The decision is Saturday, so he has to have an idea, right?

"I pretty much already know, but you know, as you get close to a decision like this one, you still think about it, you still want to make sure and things like that.

"My family has a good idea where I am going, but nothing will be official until I go public Saturday. I am truly still thinking on it, but I do have a school in mind."

It comes down to Nick Saban vs. Kirby Smart. Saban's been around and had a lot of success at Alabama and LSU as a head coach in the SEC. Smart worked under Saban for close to 15 years and Smart is about to start his second year as the head coach at Georgia.

The two are different, but Jackson sees a lot of similarities.

"Coach Saban is a winner and that is what coach Smart is working to be," said Jackson. "Both are intense guys who are very detailed.

"Both Alabama and Georgia want the same thing — to win. Coach Saban has been around longer and done that, so now coach Smart wants to get there. All coaches want to win and I can see a little bit of coach Saban in coach Smart."

Jackson not only sees a few similarities in the coaches, but also what each school offers.

"I feel I can play at Alabama or Georgia. Both schools have opportunities for me. They both have recruited bigger, taller wide receivers and they both see me in the slot, so I like my chances to play at both schools.

"They play in the SEC, they recruit a lot of the same players, and they offer a lot of the same stuff for me as a player. It is a tight race and I like both schools a lot, so I will be happy when Saturday gets here so I can get this done."

As early as 5pm ET, Jackson may be putting his recruiting hat on. Will it have an 'A' or 'G' on it, that is the question all are waiting to find the out the answer to right now.

As soon as we know, Jackson will be on the phones and social media.

"I am going to recruit the mess out of players as soon as I commit to one," said Jackson. "I am about winning no matter where I go, so I want the best players to be right there working with me.

"I am excited to get this done, so I can focus on Peach County and recruiting for my future team."

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#hatonthetableu

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seems we'd be doing everything possible to land an elite guy in our backyard.

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you might be playing up coynis Miller's eliteness a little. He's a good player and we would surely take his commitment, but he's not elite relative to guys like Daron Payne, ashawn Robinson, labryan ray etc.. if you buy into recruiting rankings he's less elite than Josh Frazier

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The sad thing is dude has some real athletic talent that I think he could be quite the weapon at the next level. But man, every interview he comes off worse and he's not an SEC RB as much as he wants to be. There's an AU poster that apparently knows him and says he's a good kid. I am kind of like you though and happy won't have to deal with him

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He may well be a good kid, and he might also be overconfident about his abilities. The two aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.

The body of his recruitment (at least the public part) has made him come across as immature to me. I hope he finds his niche somewhere. Lord knows I was pretty damn immature at that age.

I'd like to see Jackson run a 100 yard dash.

He's got that build up type speed, pulls away from defenders on his highlights.

A source close to Jaylen Waddle has told BOL that Alabama is his leader.