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Posted on 3/31/17 at 10:11 am to TideSaint
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Welcome to SEC Country’s daily Roll Tide-ings, a rundown of everything happening in Alabama Crimson Tide recruiting with Chris Kirschner. Today, we discuss the latest with University of California-Berkeley quarterback commit Adrian Martinez and uncommitted California quarterback prospect Tanner McKee.
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Posted on 3/31/17 at 10:12 am to TideSaint
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Golden Bears QB commit still evaluating options
Wednesday night was just another school night for Adrian Martinez until it wasn’t.
He took a break from doing homework for a moment, went on Twitter and saw he had a direct message from Alabama outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi.
Lupoi told Martinez to call him when he was free — so he took an extended break from his homework. While on the phone with Lupoi, Martinez learned he received an offer from the Crimson Tide.
“He went through what makes Alabama great, as if I didn’t know Alabama was as legit as it gets,” Martinez said with a laugh. “They think I’m a good fit for what they are trying to do — an athletic quarterback who can really throw the ball.”
Martinez, a 4-star quarterback from Clovis West High School (Fresno, Calif.), was a celebrity at school and in his family on Thursday. Almost all of his family located all over the country called and texted him congratulations. Almost every single person he came in contact with him also congratulated him on the Alabama offer.
“So many kids in school were just like, ‘You’re completely big time now. You were big time before, but now you’re really big time,”’ Martinez said. “I was just like, ‘Thanks, man.”’
Martinez said he’s expecting to speak with coach Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in the coming days. Right now, Martinez doesn’t know much about Alabama other than its success on the football field. Academics are very important to Martinez, so he’s planning on diving into specifics on the school’s different business finance programs in the coming days and weeks.
One of the main reasons why he committed to California was because of the school’s rich academic history. The University of California-Berkeley is consistently ranked as one of the best academic institutions in the country.
The nation’s No. 12 dual-threat quarterback committed to the Golden Bears in November. Two months later, the team fired Sonny Dykes. Martinez now is in the process of evaluating all of his options but is still wanting to give the new coaching staff a chance.
“I’m really in the process of developing a relationship with quarterbacks coach (Marques) Tuiasosopo, offensive coordinator (Beau) Baldwin and coach (Justin) Wilcox,” Martinez said. “It’s been a process. I see the culture they are trying to build there and I’m trying to see how I fit in there, and if it’s a good situation for me to go in there.”
Martinez is calculated when talking about “fit.” Fit doesn’t just include the scheme a team runs. It also includes academics, location of the school, depth chart and relationships with coaches. One of his good friends at Clovis West High School, Blake Schafer, will attend Alabama next year. Schafer took one visit to Tuscaloosa and fell in love with the city and school. Once he found out Martinez received the Crimson Tide offer, he made sure his friend heard the pitch on why he should go to school there, too.
“The first thing he said to me when he saw me (on Thursday) was Roll Tide,” Martinez said with a laugh. “He just told me about how good of a school Alabama is, how much fun he had visiting, how different the culture is and how much fun we would have together if I went there.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect is planning on visiting Tennessee this spring, but he’s not sure if he’ll be able to visit Alabama, too, while on that trip. If not, he said he’s already discussed a summer trip to Tuscaloosa. In addition to that visit, depending on if the Tide have a commitment by then, he wants to take an official visit to Tuscaloosa, too.
Martinez is definitely interested in Alabama after getting the offer. He said Fresno State, Rutgers, Tennessee and West Virginia were the schools trying to flip him the hardest right now. When he speaks to Saban in the coming days, Martinez is planning to ask him how he exactly sees him fitting into the offense.
Truly honored to have been offered a scholarship to play for The University of Alabama!! #RTR18?? pic.twitter.com/OCKx2munIC
— Adrian Martinez (@MartinezTheQB) March 30, 2017
Lupoi, according to Martinez, sees a perfect fit.
“I have a similar skill set to Jalen Hurts, but they think I’m a better passer,” Martinez said. “They said he’s more of a running guy and they really want someone who can throw the ball. I can do that. I’m athletic and can throw the ball. I see myself fitting into that system in place right now. They have a pro-style system that can utilize a running quarterback and put them in good situations.”
Martinez is aware of the Tide’s depth chart at quarterback and knows the team signed two Class of 2017 signal callers. He said if Alabama is going to be a school he’s going to strongly consider moving forward, more research into when he could actually play in Tuscaloosa is needed.
“That would be more of a bigger factor,” Martinez said. “I won’t be able to escape competition no matter where I go. I’m going to have to compete anywhere. In saying that, I want to put myself in a good situation. I don’t want to go to a school that is so loaded and I may not play. There’s a lot to weigh and I’m going to have to figure that out.”
On the flip side, if he did commit to Alabama, Lupoi made it clear what the benefits of that would be. Martinez said it’s going to be hard to ignore the facts.
“He told me the facts of Alabama are this: The majority of your receiving corps are going to the NFL; the majority of your offensive linemen are going to the NFL; you’re going to have a stellar running back; you’re going to have arguably the best defense in the country,” Martinez said. “That, in itself, is amazing. The opportunity to play with that supporting cast is going to be hard to turn down.”
The West Coast quarterback threw for 2,484 yards and 25 touchdowns and rushed for 1,385 yards and 16 scores as a junior.
Posted on 3/31/17 at 10:13 am to TideSaint
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McKee can ‘absolutely’ see himself at Alabama
Tanner McKee was one of a handful recruits who visited Tuscaloosa on Thursday for Alabama’s spring practice. The elite 2018 quarterback was blown away by the Tide.
McKee, a 4-star prospect from Centennial High School (Corona, Calif.), told SEC Country that after his first visit to Alabama, he can “absolutely” see himself playing for the Crimson Tide.
“I honestly loved everything about my visit (on Thursday),” McKee said. “They will be one of my top choices when I commit.”
The nation’s No. 7 pro-style quarterback in the Class of 2018 is going to have a unique path. McKee is a devout Mormon. He will do a two-year mission after he graduates from high school. The plan right now is to commit to a school before the year ends, but signing a national letter of intent with that university remains an unknown.
Effectively, McKee will be a Class of 2020 prospect. By then, however, he’ll be more physically mature than the true 2020 recruits coming out of high school. That’s why schools are still recruiting him as strongly as if he was truly a part of the Class of 2018.
Alabama has no qualms about McKee’s plans to not enroll in college until 2020. In fact, McKee said the entire coaching staff made sure to welcome him in with open arms on Thursday.
“I felt like all of the coaches went out of their way to spend time with me and make me feel welcomed,” McKee said. “I loved all the coaches I met. They all had a ton of experience behind them and I really liked how precise and intense practice was.”
The Elite 11 invitee said he had a chance to speak to Saban in his office for around 45 minutes. Saban listed all of the attributes that are important for his quarterbacks to have. McKee said Saban told him he’s a perfect fit for his offense.
“He said my accuracy, my ability to make the right reads and having the ability to make plays with my feet were the things that most impressed him about my game,” McKee said. “I really appreciated that.”
McKee completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 3,522 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior while rushing for 539 yards and 15 touchdowns. Like Martinez above, both quarterbacks are true passing quarterbacks first, not just athletes under center who can throw the ball, too.
After talking to several quarterbacks who have talked with Brian Daboll, it’s clear that Alabama will have more of a pro-style offense this season with spread elements. The early returns on Daboll from the recruits is that the former New England Patriots tight ends coach is very personable and passionate.
“He is incorporating a lot from what he learned from the Patriots,” McKee said. “He feels my accuracy and ability to throw the ball will fit in well. He was just really personable and cool.
“He was one of my favorite coaches I met.”
McKee said he’s planning on making it back to Tuscaloosa for a game this fall. After one visit to Tuscaloosa, Alabama has become a serious contender for McKee.
Posted on 3/31/17 at 10:34 am to TideSaint
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Everyone likes to read about Golden Boy Quarterbacks. That’s a safety valve check down for recruiting coverage. That play call works well for day-to-day beat coverage, too.
Marietta’s Harrison Bailey was — in my estimation — one of the Top 5 QBs in Georgia last fall. My list at the end of the year read: 1) Davis Mills; 2) Trevor Lawrence; 3) Jake Fromm; 4) Justin Fields; 5) Harrison Bailey.
That list may or may not be in order. Those first three names were usually bunched tighter than a Talladega turn. Bailey belonged. But then I thought about this: Do folks REALLY want to commit the name of a 2020 prospect to memory? Even a quarterback?
Too late. Bailey is already that guy. He’s been that guy. SEC offensive coordinators and some guy named Nick Saban knew who he was before he entered high school.
Had a great day today with coach Nick Saban and the Alabama football staff! #rolltide ???? pic.twitter.com/7CSCVLGQlK
— Harrison Bailey (@HBailey_05) March 24, 2016
There’s the rush to anoint everyone as the next big thing. It is part of our culture. But it is different here. My daily charge is to write extensively about the state’s best high school players and everyone else who might be a candidate to play at UGA.
When I scan the field, it seems pretty lax that I haven’t written anything extensive on Bailey. But the effort was made to pump the breaks here. For at least a year.
That said, it just feels like holding back water at this point. Bailey completed 57 percent of his passes for 2,812 yards in 2016. He had a 21:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio while completing 20 passes per game.
The rising sophomore had elite sophomore Ramel Keyton to throw to, but that was his only clear college prospect at receiver.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder first captured my interest during Nike’s 2016 Atlanta Opening regional. Check the tweet below. This was what he looked like a year ago.
Bailey soon went from the “file that name away” to “watch him as much as possible” in terms of Georgia prep prospects. Remember the line Leonardo DiCaprio used in “Django Unchained” to describe a business deal?
“You had my interest,” DiCaprio’s character stated. “Now you have my attention.”
Tracking Harrison Bailey
The young Marietta QB reached that stage after I saw him at the Cam Newton 7-on-7 tournament last Memorial Day. Mills, the nation’s top-rated pro prospect for 2017, was his usual textbook passing clinic self.
The Stanford signee was perfectly cast in the role of All-American rising senior with all the tools. But there was the 2020 kid who threw it around like Mills.
Mills was better, but he by no means looked three full high school seasons better. Those two worked side-by-side taking snaps for the same team.
“Davis really taught me how to stay cool,” Bailey said. “Even when something good or bad happens. To always stay cool and not to get too high or too low about certain things that happen on the field.”
Rusty Mansell of 247Sports shared with his readers over a year ago that Bailey already had spider webs for hands. They were larger than Georgia starting QB Jacob Eason’s were in high school.
Bailey picked up his first offer from Georgia coach Mark Richt shortly after he took over at Miami. That’s when he was still in the eighth grade.
Do folks want to know about a young man who won’t play college football until the final year of Trump’s first term?
Bailey will probably be 6 feet, 6 inches by the time 2020 rolls around. He’ll be hitting his head on the same evaluation ceilings Jacob Eason and Trevor Lawrence did.
Here’s a fair point: Is it reckless to already project Bailey to be as good as Jacob Eason, Davis Mills and Trevor Lawrence? Or is it a reality?
Tony Ballard trains Bailey. He has for some time. I wanted to know what he thought about that.
“Absolutely,” Ballard said. “No question. He’s definitely on that track.”
Ballard is one of the most respected QB trainers in the South. I’ve started calling him the “Quarterback Sherpa” the last few years. Why? Because he takes guys on a long climb to the top of the mountain. See Mills. Mills was also influenced by some strong mental and physical development from Tim Hardy at Greater Atlanta Christian.
But the high school coach no longer seems to do it all. We live in an age where advanced QB training is the norm for top prospects. Ballard has seen a lot of those guys.
“I think (Bailey) is about two years ahead of his time,” Ballard said.
Harrison Bailey’s way early outlook
Bailey’s recruiting story may follow the new curve for the alpha quarterback. The prospect surveys the field at an early age. The mass visits take place by the sophomore year. There will be just a select few schools at the end.
Lawrence followed a similar pattern.
Georgia fans hope that the QB succession plan in Athens follows a parameter that fits Bailey’s progress. I already get Bailey questions all the time. Jacob Eason will be gone by 2018 or 2019. Jake Fromm’s timeline could go to 2020.
It feels outlandish to project guys out that far. Fromm hasn’t even taken a college snap. But the Bailey timeline calls for looking that far downfield.
That Miami offer came in February of 2016. FSU was his latest in February of 2017. North Carolina, Florida, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia all came in between. Georgia finally offered back in October.
Bailey did not grow up with a dream school. Not really.
“I kind of watched everybody,” Bailey said. “Dream school? If I had to say, I guess I would probably say Florida.”
Tim Tebow was the reason for that. That was his favorite player. He’s a 2020 prospect, but the modern recruiting reality for an elite QB is the junior year. That’s when most settle on their decision.
“Some schools have been knocking on the door but some schools have been laying low until I get older,” Bailey said. “Georgia, of course, has really been pushing hard.”
He does notice the succession plan at UGA. That’s even though the Bulldogs hope to have signed at least a couple of dual-threat QBs by 2019.
“Fromm is the class of 2017,” Bailey said. “I’m the class of 2020. Even if he redshirts and then plays a couple of years I will just have to redshirt just one year and then try to win the job. That’s unless they pick up somebody very good in 2018 or 2019.”
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Posted on 3/31/17 at 10:35 am to TideSaint
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Harrison Bailey’s future
Ballard thinks Bailey’s mental approach is his best tool.
“He has a desire to be better today than yesterday like no other,” Ballard said. “His mental aspect is as good as it gets for his age.”
He evaluates QBs based on tools. Not just physical tools. He studies what the leader of the offense does with the talent he has around him in the huddle.
“That’s why I have the utmost respect for Davis Mills,” Ballard said. “Look what he did with the talent around him. No 2, 3, 4 or 5-stars and he took Greater Atlanta Christian to two state championship games and (the state semifinals) in three years as the starter. Now, look what Harrison did with that this past year.”
The Blue Devils are on the rise, but they won just three games last year. That program has had just two seasons of double-digit wins since 1996.
“Harrison has the potential to do what Davis and Trevor have done as long as he continues to develop on and off the field,” Ballard said.
That’s a good sign Bailey will continue to get better. Substantially. He felt his junior year also seemed like a logical time frame to make his decision.
“I want my sister to go to school with me,” Bailey said. “So probably either before or during junior year.”
That’s his older sister. He hopes his choice hopes will help influence her decision. The plan is for both of them to go to the same school.
Georgia was the 10th school to offer Bailey a scholarship.
“Georgia was kind of iffy at first,” Bailey said. “Like before I got the offer. Now that they have offered me and are recruiting me I have been following (Georgia offensive coordinator) coach (Jim) Chaney. They have moved from iffy to high.”
He said the Bulldogs are in constant contact with a steady stream of edits and messages through social media.
Bailey noted that North Carolina has caught his attention. The Tar Heels already show an extreme amount of interest. UNC would be an “up there” school for him, too.
Posted on 3/31/17 at 2:31 pm to TideSaint
Posted on 3/31/17 at 2:38 pm to TideSaint
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King Mwikuta was one of top performers at last weekend's The Opening Atlanta.
His recruitment is gaining momentum. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Mwikuta already holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Louisville and Wake Forest among others. Clemson is also showing significant interest.
According to Mwikuta, Alabama, Georgia and Clemson are recruiting him hardest, and he gave a thought on each.
Alabama: "I like their culture and tradition," Mwikuta said. "I've talked to coach (Nick) Saban and (outside linebacker) coach (Tosh) Lupoi and I look at them as father figures."
Posted on 3/31/17 at 2:40 pm to TideSaint
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Cameron Latu
Olympus HSSalt Lake City, UT
6'5" / 236 lbs / 4.82sVerified
Salt Lake City (Calif.) Olympus defensive end Cameron Latu jumps in to the Scout 300 at No. 135 and has had a great off-season. He earned an invite to The Opening Finals earlier in the month and has a lot of tools that project well to the next level.
Latu has a college body right now with plenty of room for growth. He’s a physical player, quick off the edge and will be able to fit in any defensive front. He can rush the passer, play the run and has a great motor to him as well. The former BYU commit is still looking at the Cougs but also mentions Alabama, Oregon, Notre Dame, USC, Utah and Washington.
Posted on 3/31/17 at 2:41 pm to TideSaint
Posted on 3/31/17 at 2:42 pm to TideSaint
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1. Patrick Surtain Jr.
2. Anthony Cook
3. Tyreke Johnson
4. Jalen Green
5. AJ Lytton
Posted on 3/31/17 at 2:42 pm to TideSaint
Posted on 3/31/17 at 2:43 pm to TideSaint
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CB Anthony Cook - Houston (Texas) Lamar
New Scout five-star. Cook has jumped up to the No. 2 CB spot nationally and is now the No. 8 prospect overall in the Scout Top 100. He is a corner who can play on an island. National offers list that features schools like Clemson, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Texas to just name a handful.
Posted on 3/31/17 at 2:43 pm to TideSaint
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CB Jalen Green - Houston (Texas) Heights
New to the Top 25. This is a defender who has plus size and skills and plays with a bit of edge to his game. He closes on the ball in an instant. He is a lot of fun to watch. His recruitment has hit 36 offers with schools like Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, TCU, Texas, and USC all stepping to the plate.
Posted on 3/31/17 at 2:43 pm to TideSaint
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S Leon O'Neal - Cypress (Texas) Springs
New to the Top 100. O'Neal is a safety who has a blend of what you would be looking for in a safety. He plays with confidence and swagger and patrols the middle of the field with authority. Offers from schools like Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, and Texas A&M.
Posted on 3/31/17 at 2:44 pm to TideSaint
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DE Joseph Ossai - Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge
New to the Scout 300. Great edge rushing specialists are hard to find and highly coveted and Ossai is one of the best in the region. Whether he ends up standing up on the edge or playing with his hand in the dirt he will get after the QB. High interest in Alabama and Texas A&M among a host of other national offers.
Posted on 3/31/17 at 2:44 pm to TideSaint
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ATH Vernon Jackson - Boling (Texas)
New to the Scout 300. Jackson has been one of the hottest recruits in recent months picking up an elite offer list that features schools like He plays quarterback for his high school and will play running back or linebacker in college. He is a big-framed prospect who can get up and move. Offers from Alabama, Baylor, Colorado, LSU, Mississippi, Oklahoma, TCU, and Texas A&M.
Posted on 3/31/17 at 2:46 pm to TideSaint
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THE NEXT FIVE:
Olaijah Griffin, DB, Mission Viejo (Calif.): No. 27 player nationally
Elite combination of size, speed and playmaking skills.
Tanner McKee, QB, Corona (Calif.) Centennial: No. 29 player nationally
Strong armed pocket passer who can beat you with his arm or his legs.
Isaac Taylor-Stuart, DB, San Diego (Calif.) St. Augustine: No. 38 player nationally
Has great size and speed, could play corner or safety down the road.
Talanoa Hufanga, Cresent, ATH, Valley (Ore.) Corvallis: No. 39 player nationally
Top player in the NW, could excel on either side of the ball.
Steve Stephens, Fresno (Calif.) Edison: No. 25 player nationally
One of the best pure cover safeties we’ve seen in some time.
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