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re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:26 am to bamasgot13
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:26 am to bamasgot13
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Asa Martin committed to Auburn over Alabama during a ceremony at his school on Thursday. The Crimson Tide had been confident for months that Martin was going to commit to them when he announced his decision.
What changed?
Auburn’s coaching staff drilled its favorable depth chart at running back over Alabama’s. Martin bought into it. It’s the same thing the Tigers did last year with 4-star offensive tackle Austin Troxell, who’s a lifelong Tide fan. Troxell was all Alabama until Auburn’s staff made him second guess the Tide’s depth at offensive tackle.
It’s possible Alabama only has three running backs heading into next season as Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris could decide to leave for the draft. That would leave the Tide with just Josh Jacobs, Najee Harris and Brian Robinson. And Martin is nothing like those three, as he is more so of a change of pace back, ala Kenyan Drake, so he likely would have seen the field early.
Martin, a 4-star prospect from Austin High School (Decatur, Ala.), didn’t give Auburn his final word until a few hours before his decision. There was a lot of back-and-forth between he and his family. I don’t think this recruitment is over by any means as he was 50-50 last night and didn’t decide on the Tigers until a few hours beforehand.
So, now that Martin has committed elsewhere, who are Alabama’s other options at running back?
LINK
No offense to Austin Troxell, but Alabama landed two OTs last year that are light years ahead of him talent wise.
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Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:26 am to TideSaint
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Zamir White, 5-star prospect, Laurinburg, N.C. — committed to Georgia
White committed to Georgia over Alabama in late June. It was much closer than people think. White had been pegged to UGA for about a year prior to his decision. He actually told the Alabama staff the night before his decision that he was going to choose the Tide.
Since his commitment to Georgia, Alabama has kept in contact with White almost every single day. The staff is aware that flipping White from the Bulldogs is going to be a challenge, but it will continue to try to chip away at his commitment. Who knows; perhaps another underwhelming season by Georgia and another national title game appearance from Alabama will be enough to change White’s mind.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:27 am to TideSaint
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Harold Joiner, 4-star prospect, Mountain Brook, Ala. — uncommitted
Joiner recently said that he’s down to LSU and Michigan State, but that really doesn’t matter. He has changed his mind so many times on the schools he’s considering that what he says and what he does are two totally different things.
Now that Martin has committed to Auburn, I fully expect Alabama to turn the heat up on Joiner. The staff was waiting to see what Martin did before deciding to strongly pursue Joiner. At least one person close to the Alabama program believes Joiner has more ability and upside than Martin.
Joiner has told SEC Country before that there’s no chance he commits to Alabama because of the team’s depth at running back, but, again, what he says and does are two different things.
So it begins.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:28 am to TideSaint
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Jerome Ford, 3-star prospect, Tampa, Fla. — uncommitted
Ford is a prospect we haven’t talked about much on here, but he is in the mix for Alabama. Ford attended a satellite camp at the University of South Florida where Alabama’s staff was in attendance, too. While there, Ford got to speak with Nick Saban where the recruit was told that he has a scholarship offer and is wanted in this class.
He’s ranked as the nation’s No. 24 all-purpose running back.
We already have an APB in this class (Slade Bolden). We don't need another one.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:29 am to TideSaint
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Vernon Jackson no longer committing on Saturday
Vernon Jackson, a 3-star athlete from Boling (Texas) High School, was going to announce his commitment this Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. That will no longer happen.
The state of Texas is bracing for a major hurricane that is being considered “life-threatening.” The governor of the state has issued a state of disaster in 30 counties, including Wharton, which is where Boling High School is located. Because of Hurricane Harvey’s expected destruction, Jackson has postponed his decision until Saturday, Sept. 2, Boling coach Kevin Urbanek told SEC Country.
Alabama dealt with a similar situation in the 2017 class when DeVonta Smith postponed his August decision because of severe flooding in Louisiana. Smith ended up pushing his decision back all the way until National Signing Day and signing with the Crimson Tide.
With Jackson just postponing his decision a week later, I don’t expect anything to change with his choice.
The Crimson Tide started looking like Jackson’s eventual pick after a trip to Tuscaloosa last month. He stayed on campus for three days, which was his first time visiting the school. He loved it.
“He went there this summer and felt that connection with the staff,” Urbanek said. “I think when he went there this summer that he got that feeling, and we always talk with coaches about what he’s looking for in schools. He’s looking for that place where he just knows like he belongs. I think that was the thing with him when he went there.”
Some fans may yawn over Alabama likely getting a 3-star prospect when he commits next week, but this would be a really good pickup for the Tide. Alabama has considered Jackson a priority for several months now.
“I don’t know how 25 guys are rated ahead of him,” Urbanek said of Jackson’s ranking. “I would really like to see those guys. I know if there are that many players rated above him, I would really like to meet them. He’s such a special kid, so if someone is ahead of him, how special is that guy?”
If Jackson chooses Alabama next week, the Crimson Tide would move up to 23rd in the team recruiting rankings on the 247Sports composite, just ahead of Auburn.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:30 am to TideSaint
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Jaycee Horn note
Jaycee Horn, a 4-star cornerback from Alpharetta (Ga.) High School, committed to Tennessee live in the SEC Country studio on Thursday night. Alabama and South Carolina were his other finalists, but he didn’t have a committable offer from the Crimson Tide.
Five-star prospects Tyson Campbell and Patrick Surtain Jr., 4-star prospects Nadab Joseph and Josh Jobe, and junior college prospect Saivion Smith are all higher on the Tide board than Horn. Horn also told SEC Country that the Alabama coaching staff now views him as a safety. The Tide are only expected to take one in the 2018 class. Jobe could play safety and Alabama is also recruiting LSU DB commit Kelvin Joseph as a safety.
I asked Horn, a lifelong Alabama fan, if the team extended a committable offer his way in the future, would that change his mind on Tennessee? He quickly said it wouldn’t. He doesn’t want to go somewhere where he knows he’s a second option. So, it would appear that Horn won’t be considering Alabama moving forward.
Best of luck to him in Knoxville.
Except, of course, on the 3rd (sometimes 4th) Saturday in October.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:33 am to TideSaint
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Who is next to commit to LSU?
LSU is sitting with the No. 8 recruiting class in the country for 2018 and the No. 3 group among SEC schools, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
The Tigers currently hold 20 commitments and aim to reel in 26 or 27 in their 2018 class. With the summer winding down and many senior football seasons about to get underway, SEC Country took a closer look at which prospects could be next to pop to LSU.
LSU has several needs to address before National Signing Day, including wide receiver, offensive line and cornerback. The team has made progress on several of those fronts ahead of what should be an eventful fall and winter.
LINK
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:33 am to TideSaint
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Andres Fox
The 3-star Alabama edge rusher has been high on LSU for a while and visited Baton Rouge on July 30 when the players were reporting for fall camp. Fox spent that entire Sunday in players and team meetings and had the chance to get a feel for what it means to be a Tiger.
Andres Fox is publicly down to four schools — LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Stanford — but privately is favoring one. While the 6-foot-4, 233-pound prospect wouldn’t reveal too much about his leader, there is a chance he pulls the trigger on a commitment ahead of his senior season at Mobile (Ala.) Christian School. He could elect to hold off until closer to signing day, but it sounds as if Fox has made up his mind.
LSU is quietly in a very strong spot with the underrated defensive end/outside linebacker.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:34 am to TideSaint
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Harold Joiner
LSU was Joiner’s longtime leader, but after a five-day span in which the Tigers procured commitments from three different running backs, lost steam with the blue-chip Alabama tailback.
The 6-foot-3, 218-pounder has since reconnected with LSU running backs coach and area recruiter Tommie Robinson and named the Tigers as his co-leader along with Michigan State. LSU’s advantage here is that he has already visited Baton Rouge and has an official visit slated for Oct. 14. A commitment could come sometime in September or soon after his return trip back to LSU.
LSU aims to take three running backs in its 2018 class. Chris Curry is already on board and Tae Provens was taken as an athlete. That opens the door for Joiner to headline the group and be the Tigers’ future workhorse once Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams head for the NFL after the 2017 football season.
Joiner plans on releasing a commitment video and make a public announcement sometime this fall and should add another elite running back to LSU’s class.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:34 am to TideSaint
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Patrick Surtain Jr.
This is not a typo.
Patrick Surtain, the No. 1 cornerback in the Class of 2018 and the No. 4 overall recruit in the class, has left a pretty large window for a decision. The 5-star prospect from Florida could decide as early as the fall or elect to hold out until National Signing Day in February.
What we do know is that Surtain named LSU as his leader as far back at last summer. He has maintained that position after several unofficial stops in Baton Rouge this spring and summer.
Surtain will officially visit LSU in the fall and will also make trips to some other contenders such as Ohio State, Alabama, Florida State and Clemson. He remains undecided which schools he’ll officially.
While the 6-foot-2, 181-pound corner certainly garners the national spotlight, he is not the type of recruit who enjoys it. Surtain may opt to commit quietly after making some of his official visits, if he leaves with his mind completely made up. It would not be out of the realm of possibility to see Surtain commit to LSU in October or November instead of waiting until signing day.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:37 am to TideSaint
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The flip is in.
Kelvin Joseph, LSU’s prized defensive back commit and the longest-tenured pledge in the 2018 recruiting classes, has flipped to the U.S. Army All-American Game.
The 4-star cornerback from Scotlandville (La.) High School in Baton Rouge, La., made the decision public Thursday. He was previously committed to play in the Under Armour All-America Game.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Joseph is the highest-rated recruit in the Tigers’ 2018 class, which is currently ranked No. 12 in the country and fourth among SEC schools, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. Joseph, the No. 49 overall prospect in the class, is the No. 8 corner in the country and No. 3 player in the state.
Before enrolling at LSU, Joseph will display his skills against some of the best in the country in San Antonio, Texas.
For a preview, check out SEC Country’s highlight tape documenting Joseph’s offseason.
LINK
But, hey, at least seems to be okay with flipping.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:42 am to TideSaint
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Nicholas Petit-Frere now a 5-star recruit
There’s a new recruit sitting atop the player rankings for offensive tackles in the Class of 2018.
Nicholas Petit-Frere, who attends Berkeley Prep in Tampa, Fla., is now the nation’s No. 1-ranked OT and has been bumped up to a 5-star rating by 247Sports. He’s also a top-10 overall prospect.
Programs from across the country have the 6-foot-6, 272-pound Petit-Frere at or near the top of their overall recruiting board for this cycle. SEC Country knows of at least three league coaches who view him as a future first-round pick in the NFL Draft.
Petit-Frere hasn’t let the hype go to his head. In fact, he can’t even tell you how many scholarship offers he has.
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure,” Petit-Frere said when asked. “It’s whatever. I’m very humble to have all the offers I have. As long as I have one, I’m very grateful.”
No, that’s not a humble brag or a conceited kid. Petit-Frere is the real deal.
He shows humility and modesty with every word and he thinks before opening his mouth. And yes, he keeps things close to the vest and doesn’t give away anything about his recruitment.
Alabama, Florida and Notre Dame are considered the top contenders for Petit-Frere, who holds more than two dozen offers. However, he isn’t ready to name a leader or even a group of favorites.
“A lot of schools have tried to say good things about me and they’re very nice and thoughtful,” Petit-Frere said. “There’s no one I can really say who hasn’t done a good job recruiting me. They all have.
“Their job is to make sure that they recruit good players and I’m very grateful that they think I can be one of those players. I’m just trying to make sure that I enjoy the process to the best of my abilities, see everything I can and make a very informed decision.”
That attitude is one reason why coaches think so highly of Petit-Frere. It’s not just about his talent. He has the physical skill set and the mental makeup to be the face of a college program and potentially an NFL franchise.
Petit-Frere told SEC Country after his spring game he planned to take several visits this summer and did just that, hitting up Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Ohio State over the last two months. He checked out the Gators on July 22 and met with UF coach Jim McElwain and offensive line coach Brad Davis, his primary recruiter.
“It was a good trip,” Petit-Frere said of his Florida visit. “We just went around the campus and talked to a few coaches. We talked to Coach Davis and Coach McElwain. They were excited to have me on campus and they were just expressing how happy they were that I came up to see them.”
“It’s close to home and we thought it would be a good chance to go and do a little more research on Florida. [The school has] great facilities, great people, it was just great overall.”
Petit-Frere took his recruiting process slow in the spring and still has more left to do, such as official visits this fall and dinners at his house with the likes of McElwain and Nick Saban.
The Under Armour All-American will “most likely” commit after his senior season, and he’ll make that decision with the guidance of his mother and high school school, Dominick Ciao.
“There’s a lot of factors,” Petit-Frere said. “My mom told me to make sure I take care of my academics. So I just want to make sure that if I go anywhere, I get a good education and I finish with a degree.”
LINK
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:51 am to TideSaint
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Remember a few years back when 4-star athlete Justin Watkins was committed to LSU? At the time, that commitment was at defensive back to play in the secondary for Corey Raymond.
Watkins, a top-50 prospect in the Class of 2018, is again down to LSU, as well as Alabama and Florida. The one-time Tigers verbal is being courted by Raymond. However, if he were to return to LSU’s recruiting class it would likely be at a different position this time around.
“Honestly, either,” said Watkins, when asked what position he would like to play in Baton Rouge. “It doesn’t matter just as long as I’m on the field playing. Slot receiver is probably my best position, so I might have to go with that.”
During Watkins’ most recent visit to LSU — his first — he spent time with offensive coordinator Matt Canada and learned about the different roles there are for him in the new-look offense. Wide receiver is a much bigger need for the team in 2018, particularly with D.J. Chark and Russell Gage being seniors.
Of course, if LSU is able to land Terrace Marshall Jr., Lawrence Keys III and even flip Ja’Marr Chase, it’s unlikely it would turn away an athlete like Watkins if he wanted it. Like Watkins, Keys is being courted by the Tigers to play a role in the slot and is an LSU lean. Watkins’ versatility could warrant consideration as a defensive back. After the loss of 4-star Nadab Joseph, Raymond could insert Watkins into the Tigers’ secondary plans at cornerback.
Both scenarios are plausible.
LINK
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:54 am to TideSaint
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The state of Florida always produces some of the nation’s best high school football players, and the Class of 2018 is no different. The Sunshine State is loaded with top talent and SEC Country will be ranking Florida’s top 20 recruits for this cycle.
These rankings will be released once a month throughout the football season. The list is based on evaluations by SEC Country reporters, recruiting interest from Power 5 programs and rankings from the four recruiting services (247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout). The star ratings below come from the 247Sports composite.
IMG Academy players from out of state were not included in our rankings. Here are SEC Country’s top 20 prospects in Florida for 2018:
LINK
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:54 am to TideSaint
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16. Xavier Williams, 4-star wide receiver, Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Hollywood)— Alabama commit
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:55 am to TideSaint
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9. Justin Watkins, 4-star wide receiver, East Ridge (Clermont) — uncommitted
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:55 am to TideSaint
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4. Tyson Campbell, 5-star cornerback, American Heritage (Plantation) — uncommitted
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:55 am to TideSaint
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3. Nicholas Petit-Frere, 4-star offensive tackle, Berkeley Prep (Tampa) — uncommitted
Posted on 8/25/17 at 9:56 am to TideSaint
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1. Patrick Surtain Jr., 5-star cornerback, American Heritage (Plantation) — uncommitted
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