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

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Confirmed visitors

Here are the other visitors who were in town this past weekend:

• Jalyn Armour-Davis, 4-star CB — committed to Alabama

• Skyler Delong, 3-star P — committed to Alabama

• Matthew Flint, 3-star LB — committed to Tennessee

• Andres Fox, 3-star Jack LB

• Tank Jenkins, 4-star OG

• Cameron Latu, 4-star Jack LB — committed to Alabama

• Asa Martin, 4-star RB — committed to Auburn

• Michael Parker, 3-star TE

• Cam Taylor, 3-star ATH — committed to Missouri

• Cortez Andrews, 2019 4-star S

• Mohamoud Diabate, 2019 4-star OLB

• Amari Kight, 2019 4-star OT

• King Mwikuta, 2019 4-star LB

• William Norton, 2019 4-star OL — Alabama offered this past weekend

• Jalen Perry, 2019 4-star CB

• George Pickens, 2019 4-star WR — committed to Auburn

• Pierce Quick, 2019 4-star OT — committed to Alabama

• Taulia Tagovailoa, 2019 4-star QB

• Brandon Turnage, 2019 4-star WR

• Paul Tyson, 2019 3-star QB

• Clay Webb, 2019 5-star OL

• Jeremiah Pegues, 2020 TE

• Tate Ratledge, 2020 4-star OT

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After evaluating the high school football talent throughout Louisiana during various camps, 7-on-7 competitions, drills on campus and watching film through the first half of the season, SEC Country is ready to unveil its third installment of prospect rankings for the Class of 2018.

As expected, LSU holds commitments from a bevy of the talent included in the top 30 and is squarely in the mix with those who remain uncommitted at the time of these rankings.

Note: These rankings take into account the spring and summer evaluation periods and were updated following the first two months of Louisiana’s high school football season.

Without further ado, here is our countdown of the top 30 prospects in Louisiana for 2018:

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2. Kelvin Joseph, 4-star DB (6-foot-2, 190 pounds); uncommitted

Kelvin Joseph has cemented his spot as Louisiana’s No. 1 defensive back and No. 1 overall defensive prospect. He plays with a nasty streak at his free safety position for Scotlandville. He thrives in 1-on-1 coverage with his incredible upper-body strength and ability to press at the line of scrimmage. He is also a true center fielder in his ability to disrupt plays with hits after the catch or assisting in the run game. This fall, the 4-star defensive back is flirting with 5-star territory averaging better than 10 stops per game and thriving as a return specialist. Joseph’s game is at an all-time high.

August rank: 2

September rank: 2

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Isaac Taylor-Stuart has two SEC visits planned but if you’ve been following his recruitment closely, the schools could be a little surprising.

“Texas A&M and Alabama are guaranteed,” Taylor-Stuart said. “Everybody else, I'm still deciding.”

Earlier this season, the five-star cornerback from San Diego Helix said he was absolutely planning to visit LSU during his senior campaign and he talked highly of the coaching staff and the defensive back history at the school.

LSU could very well get a trip in the coming months but Taylor-Stuart seems more focused on those two other SEC schools at this point.

The Aggies especially moved up Taylor-Stuart’s after he spent some time at summer events with Texas A&M commits, especially four-star defensive back Leon O’Neal, and getting to College Station seems important.

Alabama has been one of the most consistent schools coming after Taylor-Stuart and he said this season that other than Oregon the Crimson Tide was recruiting him the hardest.

In late September, the five-star cornerback released a top 12 of Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Georgia, Oregon, Ohio State, Washington, Michigan, Illinois, USC, Texas A&M and Texas.

The Trojans could be the frontrunner in his recruitment and Taylor-Stuart often intends to take an unofficial visit to USC. That coaching staff is also coming hard after him, like many others.

As for a decision, Taylor-Stuart plans to take his visits, take his time and then make his commitment at the earlier in December but probably at an all-star game.

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THE LATEST: Jalen Perry took his third visit to Alabama Saturday and the four-star cornerback out of Dacula (Ga.) and this could be his last trip to Tuscaloosa before he commits.

It was the first his game-day experience and the No. 11-ranked cornerback in the 2019 class had a great time. The Crimson Tide are right in the thick of this race and they made it clear that he is a target of theirs Saturday.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: "The main things that I took away from Saturday’s visit to Alabama is that they are continuing to move in the right direction on the field, and that their coaching staff is making it clear that they want me," said Perry.

"I feel they have made me a priority by communicating with me a lot and spending time with me while I was on the visit. The coaches message to me is that I am a corner that can fit their system well.

"Some things that stood out during the visit was watching how the coaches are involved in preparing the players before the game, and also getting to talk to Coach Saban.

"I spent time with coach [Nick] Saban after the game and we talked about the game and how the defense stepped up in the second half after making some adjustments. We also discussed how my high school season is going and he asked if I enjoyed the game.

"I am still high on Alabama and I feel that they are consistently a top program and I enjoyed witnessing that first hand on this visit."

RIVALS REACTION: This is a hot, tight race for Perry, one of the top juniors in the state of Georgia. He is set to visit Ohio State for the Penn State game Saturday and he is eyeing a couple more games in November, but no visits have been schedule for that month yet. He is a junior who has been focused on the recruiting process for months now and he hopes to make a decision at some time during his junior year. Perry is really doing his homework on his top four schools — Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and South Carolina. At this time, it looks like he will choose from one of those schools. Alabama has been high on his list from the beginning. He loves their style of play, how Saban knows so much about his position and how they continue to win at an unbelievable level.

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Was GREAT at Rutgers,

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He's a much better HC candidate than Kiffin was,

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