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

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KN put out his Take 5 article for the week. It's VIP so here's summary of each slide

- Talks about how impressive Joey Gatewood was Saturday and the numbers he put up despite rotating with Riley Smith. KN says would like to see Gatewood a bit more engaged with teammates when he's not in the game but overall not much to complain about. Apparently numerous people at game were in awe by just how big Gatewood is

- KN says landing Asa Martin was a huge win for AU over BAMA. There was a lot of confidence in Tuscaloosa because they typically don't miss on instate kids they want. But in the end relationships namely Asa's closeness with Tim Horton and Chip Lindsey won out. Apparently Martin is really close with Coynis Miller

- Says to not take Florida lightly and they are a very real threat. However, he's very close with Asa Martin and Rodney Garner. Apparently Miller told KN that he thought Martin would commit to AU. KN still thinks Miller ends up at AU but UF is making a push. Also says Bama has work to do (specifically communication with position coach) but that you can never count them out

- AU's most important game in September for recruiting is obviously Clemson. Clemson will be hosting a slew of top targets and could give AU a chance to impress in person

- KN says AU's confidence in landing 4* WR Seth Williams is at an all time high. Apparently staff has put as much effort and energy into recruiting Williams as they have for 4* WR Justyn Ross. There are some that think Williams has higher upside. Williams will be on campus for the Georgia Southern game. No news on whether Ross will be there as well but he has told Clemson 247 he will be at the AU/CLEM game Week 2

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Alabama has yet to land a 2020 commitment, however, only 38 recruits have reported offers from the program to date.

Three names to keep an eye on in the class include a trio from Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Ga.:

RB Deondre Jackson

DT Nazir Stackhouse

CB Javier Morton

“There’s a good chance that all three will end up heading that way,” the trio’s coach, Corey Johnson, tells BamaOnLine. “They’re in a strong place with those three. Just because the kids, as well as the parents, like it. It’s a strong possibility that they’re going to get that taken care of early.”

Jackson and Stackhouse earned offers from Alabama in the spring, according to Johnson. Morton reported his on Aug. 7. Both Stackhouse and Morton visited last Saturday for the Tide’s practice.

Johnson gave insight into each kid’s ability:

“Nazir, he’s just a monster-sized kid. As a rising tenth grader he’s about 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, so he’s a monster. The kid runs pretty well. He’s a really good kid.”

“Javier is kind of like a freak of nature. At the age he’s at right now, he’s about 6-1, 6-2, playing cornerback. Everybody’s going towards the trend of bigger receivers. He matches up with that person. I think Javier fits in line with exactly what schools are looking for.”

“Deondre’s a special talent. When you’ve got a running back that big, that fast, he’s got great feet, great instincts. Most kids when they come into high school, they don’t come in ready to be productive on varsity. You’re talking about a kid that had 1,500 yards rushing as a freshman. We’re expecting some really, really big things from him this year.”

Johnson expects commitments to be made “sometime soon” for each. Johnson likes the idea of his players making early commitments, so that down the line they’re not having to communicate with 30-40 coaches per day.

“If you pick Alabama early, there’s only a few schools that can compare to them,” he said.

Johnson coached former Alabama commit and now South Carolina freshman Aaron Sterling.

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Sunshine State Weekly Wrap

The latest recruiting news and notes from around the state of Florida.

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— Clearmont (Fla.) Eastridge athlete Justin Watkins has been committed to LSU, Florida State, and Texas already, but he has backed off each of those pledges as well. While it’s clear nothing is certain in this recruitment, there is a chance it comes full circle back to the Tigers. LSU is the team communicating with Watkins the most, and he was already back in talks with the Tigers even before he decommitted from the Longhorns in June. Alabama is the other school in the best position to land Watkins currently, but LSU likely has the edge now.

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Last month, Scout released the Summer 2018 rankings following The Opening.

In addition, the Class of 2019 Scout 125 was released in June.

With recruiting sped up even more than ever, Scout releases the Class of 2020 Watch List with over 150 recruits from across the nation entering their sophomore season on the list.

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MIDLANDS

One to Watch in the Region:

Jase McClellan, RB, Aledo (Texas)

McClellan burst on the scene helping to lead Aledo (Texas) High to a state championship win. McClellan was named the offensive player of the championship game after rushing for 98 yards on 13 carries. He finished the season with 1,528 yards and 20 touchdowns and was named the Scout All-Midlands Freshman of the Year. The then 14-year old McClellan showed a well-rounded skill set that was headlined by his burst and explosion. McClellan showed a high level of maturity for being able to finish runs and score touchdowns. McClellan has already committed to Oklahoma. -Greg Powers

Other names to know:

Andrew Raym, OT, Broken Arrow (Okla.)

Ashaad Clayton, RB, New Orleans (La.) Warren Easton

Branard Wright, OG, Dallas (Texas) Carter

Collin Sullivan, WR, Round Rock (Texas)

Courtland Ford, OT, Cedar Hill (Texas)

Darius Snow, S, Lewisville (Texas) Hebron

Demond Demas, WR, North Forest (Texas)

Drew Sanders, ATH, Colleyville (Texas) Heritage

Dustin Dyson, TE/DE, Hammond (La.) St. Thomas Aquinas

Dwight McGlothern, CB, New Caney (Texas)

E.J. Smith, RB, Dallas (Texas) Jesuit

Ja'Quinden Jackson, ATH, Duncanville (Texas)

Jacobi Bellazin, WR, Livonia (La.)

Jordan Jefferson, OG, Navasota (Texas) - Committed to Texas A&M

Kelvontay Dixon, WR, Carthage (Texas)

Kevontre Bradford, ATH, Lancaster (Texas)

Koy Moore, WR, Metairie (La.) Archbishop Rummel

Lorando Johnson, CB, Lancaster (Texas)

Quin Bright, WR, Cedar Hill (Texas)

R.J. Mickens, CB, Southlake (Texas) Carroll

T.J. Finley, QB, Ponchatoula (La.)

Tren Jones, ATH, Arp (Texas)

Zachary Evans, RB, Galena Park (Texas) North Shore

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SOUTH

One to Watch in the Region:

Harrison Bailey, QB, Marietta (Ga.)

Bailey is another one of these quarterbacks with early hype, and understandably so. His frame turns heads before he even touches a football at a legit 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and he spins the ball like the pro-style prototype his body suggests he is. Bailey has a very strong arm and can deliver a strike from multiple arm angles, with enough accuracy and ability to get through early progressions to make every spot on the field a potential target area. He is getting more consistent on when to take something off of the ball as he matures, though just about every other QB trait he possesses is beyond his years. By the time he is ready for college, Bailey would have been a four-year starter at ascending Marietta (Ga.) High, a program college coaches can't miss during evaluation periods. -John Garcia

Other names to know:

Antwan Burnett, WR, Montgomery (Ala.) Carver

Avantae Williams, S, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG

B.J. Ojulari, DE, Marietta (Ga.)

Bryn Tucker, OT, Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic

Chantz Williams, DE, Orange Park (Fla.) Oakleaf

Chris Morris, OT, Memphis (Tenn.) Freedom Prep Academy

Darin Turner, WR, Memphis (Tenn.) Central

Dazalin Worsham, WR, Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville

Deajaun McDougle, WR, Deerfield Beach (Fla.)

Jake Wray, OT, Franklin (Tenn.)

Jaylen Harrell, OLB, Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep

Jayson Jones, ATH, Fultondale (Ala.)

Jeremiah Pegues, ATH, Oxford (Miss.)

Jermaine Burton, WR, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG

Jordan Burch, DE, Columbia (S.C.) Hammond School

Keshawn Lawrence, CB, Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth

Kobe Hudson, WR, LaGrange (Ga.) Troup County

Kristian Story, ATH, Lanett (Ala.)

Latarie Kinsler, DE, Pahokee (Fla.)

Lejond Cavazos, S, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy

Leonard Manuel, WR, Ocala (Fla.) Vanguard

Luke Doty, QB, Myrtle Beach (S.C.)

Marcus Dumervil, OT, Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas

Marcus Henderson, OT, Memphis (Tenn.) University School

Max Johnson, QB, Watkinsville (Ga.) Oconee County

McKinnley Jackson, DT, Lucedale (Miss.) George County

Miles Friday, RB, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy

Miller Merriweather-Lewis, OL, Ocala (Fla.) Vanguard

Myles Hinton, OL, Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian

Omari Thomas, OT, Memphis (Tenn.) Briarcrest Christian

Quandarrius Robinson, OLB, Birmingham (Ala.) Jackson-Olin

Reggie Grimes, ATH, Mount Juliet (Tenn.)

Robby Ashford, QB, Hoover (Ala.)

Tank Bigsby, RB, Hogansville (Ga.) Callaway

Tonka Hemingway, DE, Conway (S.C.)

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The next wave of elite college football prospects have been identified by national recruiting websites, and six Alabama players are included in the latest list.

Scout.com today released its initial Class of 2020 Watch List, which features 150 players from around the county.

Five of the six Alabama players are skill-position athletes - Carver-Montgomery receiver Antwan Burnett, Hewitt-Trussville receiver Dazalin Worsham, Fultondale athlete Jayson Jones, Lanett athlete Kristian Story and Hoover quarterback Robby Ashford. The sixth Alabama prepster is Jackson-Olin linebacker Quandarius Robinson.

These players are high school sophomores, which means some haven't made a major varsity impact yet.

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