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

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Who's No. 1?

Who are Alabama’s best high school football teams, regardless of classification? That’s what the Power 25 tries to decide.

This week, several teams moved up after week-one victories, including Spain Park and Muscle Shoals, which play this week.

25. Leeds (1-0)

Preseason ranking: Not ranked

Last week’s result: Defeated Lincoln 38-27

This week’s game: vs. Cleburne County

24. Auburn (1-0)

Preseason ranking: Not ranked

Last week’s result: Defeated Carver-Montgomery 27-0

This week’s game: at No. 11 Opelika

23. Mobile Christian (1-0)

Preseason ranking: Not ranked

Last week’s result: Defeated Lighthouse Christian 42-14

This week’s game: Does not play

22. Minor (1-0)

Preseason ranking: Not ranked

Last week’s result: Defeated Greensboro 48-12

This week’s game: vs. Paul Bryant

21. Fyffe (0-0)

Preseason ranking: 23

Last week’s result: Lost 20-7 to Maplesville in Champions Challenge exhibition game

This week’s game: at Geraldine

20. Handley (0-0)

Preseason ranking: 16

Last week’s result: Did not play regular season game

This week’s game: at Callaway (Ga.), 6 p.m.

19. Daphne (1-0)

Preseason ranking: 20

Last week’s result: Defeated Davidson 3-0

This week’s game: vs. Spanish Fort

18. Park Crossing (1-0)

Preseason ranking: 17

Last week’s result: Defeated Jeff Davis 53-20

This week’s game: at Lee-Montgomery

17. Muscle Shoals (1-0)

Preseason ranking: 25

Last week’s result: Defeated Gardendale 39-28

This week’s game: vs. No. 12 Spain Park

16. Maplesville (0-0)

Preseason ranking: 24

Last week’s result: Defeated Fyffe 20-7 in Champions Challenge exhibition game

This week’s game: at Resurrection (Miss.)

15. St. Paul's (1-0)

Preseason ranking: 14

Last week’s result: Defeated Fairhope 24-21

This week’s game: vs. St. Stanlislaus (Miss.)

14. Briarwood Christian (0-0)

Preseason ranking: 11

Last week’s result: Did not play regular season game

This week’s game: vs. Chelsea

13. Ramsay (0-0)

Preseason ranking: 9

Last week’s result: Did not play regular season game

This week’s game: at No. 8 Pinson Valley

12. Spain Park (1-0)

Preseason ranking: 21

Last week’s result: Defeated Gadsden City 31-19

This week’s game: at No. 17 Muscle Shoals

11. Opelika (1-0)

Preseason ranking: 13

Last week’s result: Defeated Smiths Station 51-0

This week’s game: vs. No. 24 Auburn

10. Oxford (1-0)

Preseason ranking: 25

Last week’s result: Defeated Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 21-0

This week’s game: vs. Gadsden City

9. Blount

Preseason ranking: 6

Last week’s result: Defeated Vigor 27-6

This week’s game: vs. Robertsdale

8. Pinson Valley (1-0)

Preseason ranking: 12

Last week’s result: Defeated McAdory 47-13

This week’s game: vs. No. 13 Ramsay

7. Beauregard (0-0)

Preseason ranking: 8

Last week’s result: Did not play regular season game

This week’s game: vs. Greenville

6. McGill-Toolen (1-0)

Preseason ranking: 7

Last week’s result: Defeated Spanish Fort 27-20

This week’s game: at Davidson, at Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium

5. Thompson (1-0)

Preseason ranking: 4

Last week’s result: Defeated Hapeville Charter (Ga.) 21-20

This week’s game: Does not play

4. Austin (1-0)

Preseason ranking: 5

Last week’s result: Defeated Jasper 47-7

This week’s game: at Bob Jones

3. Hewitt-Trussville (0-0)

Preseason ranking: 3

Last week’s result: Defeated Pell City in Champions Challenge exhibition game

This week’s game: vs. Callaway (Miss.)

2.Hoover (0-1)

Preseason ranking: 1

Last week’s result: Lost 35-26 to Grayson (Ga.)

This week’s game: vs. Meridian (Miss.)

1. Central-Phenix City (1-0)

Preseason ranking: 2

Last week’s result: Defeated Bob Jones 33-7

This week’s game: vs. Fairfield

Who else?

Others receiving votes (in alphabetical order): Alexandria, Carroll, Clay-Chalkville, Decatur, Enterprise, Hartselle, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, James Clemens, Linden, Mountain Brook, Ohatchee, Piedmont, Sidney Lanier, Spanish Fort, Theodore, UMS-Wright

Fell out: Bob Jones, Enterprise, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, James Clemens, Piedmont

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The Crimson Tide are the 247Sports Crystal Ball leader for Ford including my forecast, a prediction I continue to feel good about.

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Emory Jones still talking to Alabama

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — Alabama is still searching for its Class of 2018 quarterback. Emory Jones, the nation’s No. 3 dual-threat prospect from Heard County High School (Franklin, Ga.), appears to be the likeliest top quarterback in the current recruiting class to choose the Tide, even though he’s saying he’s 100 percent committed to Ohio State.

“Everything is all good [with Ohio State],” Jones told SEC Country after his team lost to Saraland (Ala.) High School, 14-10, on Saturday. “I talk to them every day. Our relationship has grown so much more over the last year. I’m good with them right now.”

Though Jones is saying all of the right things to the media regarding his commitment to OSU, there is some reason for the Buckeyes to be concerned. Jones took a secret visit to Tuscaloosa last month without telling the Ohio State staff in advance, which raised eyebrows. If Jones wanted to visit Georgia Southern or Georgia State, I’m sure there would be no worries from Ohio State, but it’s Alabama we’re talking about. The Crimson Tide have shown over the years that they can get almost any recruit they want to sign with them.

Shortly after secretly visiting Alabama, Jones flew to Columbus to attend Ohio State’s Friday Night Lights camp, where the trip to Tuscaloosa was a popular topic of conversation between he and the Buckeyes’ staff.

“They didn’t like [the visit to ‘Bama],” Jones said. “They said they were disappointed in me and wanted me to talk to them about everything I do. They want me to shut it down, to be their quarterback for the class, but I might take some [visits]. I’ve not decided yet.”


Jones did confirm that he will be in attendance at Alabama’s opener against Florida State. If you missed SEC Country’s list of recruits who are expected to be at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this Saturday, check it out here. Besides that visit, Jones is planning to attend Ohio State’s game against Penn State on Oct. 28. That trip to Columbus is the only official visit he has planned thus far.

Expect Alabama to get an official visit at some point this fall, too.

“Alabama … it’s the only school I’m still talking to,” Jones said. “They check on me every week. They just want me to get back up there and spend more time with them. I don’t have that good of a relationship with them.”

What makes Alabama an appealing option for Jones if he were to decide to back off his pledge to Ohio State?

“I like the way they play Jalen Hurts,” Jones said. “I just want to see how they do this year. [Brian] Daboll is saying they’re probably going to put more NFL, more pro-style stuff [in the offense]. That’s a good thing.”

From talking with Land of 10’s Jeremy Birmingham, who covers Ohio State recruiting for our sister site, there’s little concern on the Buckeyes’ end on Jones actually de-committing.

He’s been committed to Ohio State for more than a year now.

“I think it’s a matter of a kid who wants to experience some of the things that the recruiting process has to offer,” Birmingham told SEC Country. “I don’t think he’s genuinely interested in attending another school, though. There are certainly programs out there, Alabama being one of them, that Ohio State isn’t going to be thrilled about him visiting.”

There is some buzz out there that several of Jones’ family members want him to stay close to home for college, which would be a good thing for the Tide’s chances of flipping him. But, again, Jones seems like he’s locked in with the Buckeyes.

“I’ll probably go on visits and stuff like that,” Jones said. “But it’d take a lot for me to de-commit from Ohio State. It’s my dream school. It’s what I’ve dreamed [of doing] for so long and I’ve got that opportunity.”

Other than Jones, Tanner McKee, the nation’s No. 2 pro-style quarterback, remains an option for Alabama. He will take an official visit to Tuscaloosa in November for the LSU game. McKee won’t play college football until 2020, though. He will go on a two-year Mormon mission after graduating from high school. If the Tide don’t land Jones or McKee, there aren’t any other major quarterback targets out there that Alabama is pursuing.

It’ll be interesting to see what the team does if McKee or Jones don’t wind up in crimson.

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6. BUCKEYE COMMIT A PRIORITY FOR ALABAMA

Emory Jones always seems to be wearing some Ohio State clothing every time you see him. He has been committed to the Buckeyes for over a year now, but is Columbus going to be where he ends up?

He says all the right things. He calls his commitment “100 percent” to the Buckeyes, but Alabama is there lurking. Jones visited Tuscaloosa late in July and he was hoping that visit would stay quiet. Urban Meyer got word of the visit pretty quickly and wasn’t happy. All seems to be good now between the two, but keep an eye on Alabama. There could be another school or two work to get him on campus for a visit, but for now, Ohio State has to worry about Alabama with Jones.

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Jones team should have won that game Saturday, he made a hell of a throw between two defenders in end zone that his receiver dropped in the last minute of the game.

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"Really well," Ford said about how things continue to progress with Alabama. "Talk with coaches consistently, and they make it known I'm their primary guy for the tight end position."

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BamaOnLine will have a series of recruiting content as it pertains to this Saturday's Alabama-Florida State game. Today, we look back on several recruiting wins the Crimson Tide has had involving Florida State in recent years.

Check it out.

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