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re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:41 am to TideSaint
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:41 am to TideSaint
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Jalen Green, CB (Fast 7v7)
Green was the tournament’s overall top performer after a dominant showing on the afternoon. The 4-star corner from Houston showed that he could be physical at the point of attack, wrestling with elite wide receivers across from him and winning said battles. Green also displayed how stout he could be in coverage, jumping a pass 25 yards downfield and nabbing an interception. Keep in mind this one-on-one battle came against Louisiana’s No. 2-ranked receiver.
Green was an integral part of Fast 7v7’s championship run, proving he is one of the elite cornerbacks in the 2018 recruiting class.
Recruiting skinny: Green’s recruitment remains open, with schools such as LSU, TCU and Texas all very much in the mix. The 6-foot-1, 171-pounder has maintained a long, solid relationship with Tigers defensive backs coach Corey Raymond, but this decision is still far off. He has maintained he wants to announce a commitment on National Signing Day, so fall visits and officials will be a major part.
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Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:41 am to TideSaint
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Malik Heath, WR (Mississippi Grind)
The Mississippi State pledge is an absolute mismatch for opposing cornerbacks. Heath was in New Orleans for “The Opening” regional a month ago, but couldn’t display his full potential as he dealt with an injury. At full strength on Sunday, Heath’s size (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) and speed (4.43 40 time) were quite noticeable. Heath was winning jump-ball battles and taking the ball away from defensive backs, and did so against some elite competition — like The Bootleggers in the semifinals match. Heath very nearly won that game for Grind by his own power. He translates to a top-tier receiver at the next level and is deserving of a boost in the rankings.
Recruiting skinny: Heath has maintained his verbal commitment to Mississippi State over the past year, but there are varying factors in his decision. LSU has made a strong push for the Magnolia State product. As has Florida State. He has also made visits to Alabama and Tennessee, and it would not be surprising to see Heath reopen his recruitment at some point. Consider LSU and FSU as two teams to watch.
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:42 am to TideSaint
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Devonta Jason, WR (Coastline Stars)
Jason would be the first to admit that he has battled injuries since basketball season ended a few weeks ago, but on Sunday the 4-star Kansas commit played at the level most have become accustomed to seeing him. “Whop” broke loose for three touchdowns in one of Coastline Stars’ playoff games, displaying three of the best attributes of his game. That includes his ability to get vertical over defensive backs, his deceptive speed, his strong hands and his toughness at the line of scrimmage.
In other words, this was a reminder that Jason is still one of the elite prospects in the state of Louisiana. He is just a natural football player.
Recruiting skinny: It’s been three months since Jason gave a verbal commitment to Tony Hull at Kansas. He still hears from LSU, Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and he has visits planned out to Alabama and Miami coming up. LSU remains very interested in the one-time commit, and Jason is still giving Mickey Joseph a chance. He is an early enrollee, so he plans on visiting all of the aforementioned schools to take closer looks. Jason is in the process of narrowing down a final set of schools to decide from with a final decision set for later this fall.
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:42 am to TideSaint
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Lawrence Keys III, WR (Coastline Stars)
Keys is arguably Louisiana’s most explosive recruit in the 2018 recruiting class, but the 4-star receiver showed up another aspect to his game during the 7-on-7 tournament. The 5-foot-11, 162-pounder made an unworldly behind-the-back grab over a defensive back for a touchdown in Coastline Stars’ playoff run to the semifinals.
Keys’ vertical ability paired with strong hands making him an ideal option in the slot. He can not only quickly get by defenders, but has the ability to take the top of defenses, too. The soft-spoken New Orleans prospect is so versatile.
Recruiting skinny: Keys has well over 30 offers at his disposal, but is narrowing down the field to a few schools. LSU, Texas, Notre Dame, TCU and Arkansas are among some of those schools, with Mickey Joseph leading the charge for the Tigers. LSU coaches remain in contact with Keys on a daily basis, and a visit may be in store at some point this month. Keys will likely visit along with his mother to check on the team’s new offense. He is being courted as a slot receiver, a role is very comfortable in and should excel at.
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:43 am to TideSaint
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators will host one of their top targets on campus Monday.
Channing Tindall, a 4-star linebacker from Columbia, S.C., is visiting UF. The 6-foot-2, 213-pound prospect received an offer from Florida on Feb. 20.
Tindall is ranked the nation’s No. 21 outside linebacker and the fourth-best recruit in the state of South Carolina, according to the 247Sports Composite.
He holds offers from more than a dozen schools, including Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and South Carolina.
LINK
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:44 am to TideSaint
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Joyner sets Bama visit
Four-star quarterback Dakereon Joyner announced on Sunday that he’s scheduled a visit to Alabama. Joyner, who’s ranked by the 247Sports composite as the No. 9 dual-threat quarterback in the country, lists Alabama, Georgia, N.C. State and Oregon as his finalists alongside South Carolina.
Joyner (North Charleston, S.C.) is planing to visit Alabama and Oregon before announcing his commitment on Father’s Day.
LINK
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:44 am to TideSaint
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Seven for Horn
Three-star cornerback Jayce Horn (Alpharetta, Ga.) released a top 7 video on Sunday night, which included South Carolina, along with Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Ohio State and Wake Forest.
Horn, who’s ranked as the No. 59 cornerback in the country, is close friends with Harris and the two have talked about playing together at the next level.
The Gamecocks and Vols are the only two teams found on their respective lists.
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:46 am to TideSaint
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There’s no good way to slice it for South Carolina. Missing out on 5-star defensive end Xavier Thomas stings.
Not only did Thomas commit to in-state rival Clemson, which is bad enough, but he plays a premium position where the Gamecocks need help.
Senior Dante Sawyer is projected to start at defensive end in 2017, with redshirt sophomore Shameik Blackshear and freshman M.J. Webb jockeying for time behind him.
Webb, who enrolled at South Carolina in January as a 4-star recruit, will be joined later this summer by 2017 classmate Aaron Sterling, the No. 17-ranked strongside defensive end in the country, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. Three-star prospect Tyreek Johnson, the Gamecocks’ first defensive end commitment in 2017, deferred his enrollment until January 2018.
While Thomas would have boosted the defensive end talent on South Carolina’s roster, there are a number of other 2018 prospects who could do the same.
Five-star K.J. Henry, who’s rated behind Thomas as the No. 2 weakside defensive end in the country, is at the top of that list. Henry (Clemmons, N.C.) recently released a top 10 that included South Carolina. And he visited Columbia earlier this month for the Garnet & Black spring game. However, Alabama, Clemson and Georgia are pegged as his primary options.
The Gamecocks are also in the mix for 4-star DE Stephon Wynn Jr., Thomas’ teammate at IMG Academy and originally from Anderson, S.C. Wynn, the No. 4 strongside defensive end, lists offers from several of the country’s top programs. He has visited South Carolina several times, even though his dad played college ball for Clemson.
Dorian Gerald, a junior college target at College of the Canyons in Valencia, Calif., might be the most viable option. Gerald, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound prospect originally from West Florence (S.C.) High School, will have three years to play two after his JUCO run is over. His offer sheet also includes Arizona State, Syracuse, Tennessee and Washington State.
Minnesota grad transfer Gaelin Elmore begins his official visit on Sunday, though he would likely play his final season of eligibility in 2017, even though he still has a redshirt season available.
I didn't know Wynn's father played at Clemson. We'll probably miss out on him, but that would give Clemson three DEs. That has to help us with KJ Henry.
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:48 am to TideSaint
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Orange & Blue Debut produced a big recruiting night for Florida coach Jim McElwain and his staff.
The Gators had more than 30 recruits in attendance and they landed commitments from four visitors. McElwain was happy with the turnout.
“Second year in a row,” he said. “I just think it’s really good. It hit some guys spring breaks so we were able to get even a bigger crowd with some of this stuff. It’s a great atmosphere for them and they love it.”
Here are some reactions from recruits who attended the spring game:
LINK
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:48 am to TideSaint
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5-star cornerback Tyreke Johnson, Jacksonville, Fla.
“I loved it. I love what I saw from the defense. They played a lot of press man … seems like they want the long corners inside the dude’s face to challenge the receivers at the line. That’s something very exciting. I also like how the defense was flying around and hitting people. I know it’s your own team, you don’t want to hurt nobody. But they put it all on the field and gave 110 percent.”
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:51 am to TideSaint
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Glendora, Calif. – There is no higher honor for a football player than to earn the respect of his follow competitors. So we asked some of the participants at Sunday’s Rivals 3 Stripe Camp presented by adidas in Los Angeles to talk about which players impressed them most that they battled all day.
LINK
There's not a lot of kids we are after in California this year (at least not yet), but there are a couple I thought I'd share.
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:52 am to TideSaint
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BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
"Jonah Tauanuu moves pretty fast and has good hands." – Rivals250 OL Steven Jones, Temecula (Calif.) Chaparral
"Syr Riley is able to move with his big body." – Jones
“Penei Sewell. For sure. He definitely impressed.” – Rivals250 OL Justin Dedich, Temecula (Calif.) Chaparral
“Penei Sewell of course and Kekani Gonzalez, he doesn’t have any offers yet, he’s still underrated, but he did well today,” – three-star OL Chris Murray, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
“Chris Murray. He’s clamps.” – Rivals100 OL Penei Sewell, St. Georgia (Utah) Desert Hills
“Chris Murray. Because he’s just all around good; for him to be not a typical offensive line size, he's good with his hands and his quickness and has good feet.” - 2019 DE Stephon Wright, Los Angeles Cathedral
“Chris Murray. I just like his technique and his hands and his very patient and doesn’t rush it.” – 2019 DE Terence Simon, Los Angeles (Calif.) Cathedral
“Tommy Brown. He’s strong. He’s patient and he has good technique,” three-star LB Craig Francois, Los Angeles Cathedral
“Syr Riley. He has a good get off, he makes it hard for you to get around him.” – 2020 DE Jonathan Pickett, Las Vegas (Nev.) Desert Pines
“Tommy Brown. He has some pretty good feet and he’s pretty balanced. It’s hard to get inside or outside against him.” – 2018 OL Matt Merrit, Clovis, Calif.
“Justin Dedich for sure. He’s got a strong punch and a strong center of gravity. He stays big in the middle and he doesn’t let you get around him.” Two-star DE Kamakani Crosby, Newbury Park, Calif.
Tommy Brown is an Alabama legacy.
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:53 am to TideSaint
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Isaac Taylor-Stuart was one of three players ranked in the top 30 of the Rivals100 who was in attendance at Sunday’s Rivals 3 Stripe Camp in Los Angeles. One of our Players to Watch heading into the camp, Taylor-Stuart may have been able to challenge for an MVP award had he taken more reps. He looked like the Rivals100 prospect he is rated as in the reps he did take, but spent much of his time watching from the sidelines.
LINK
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:54 am to TideSaint
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GLENDORA, Calif. - The Rivals 3 Stripe Camp Series presented by adidas rolled into California on Sunday as some of West region’s top prospects turned out to compete at Citrus College for the Los Angeles stop of the tour. With so many stars in attendance there was plenty of notable recruiting news to report. Here’s a roundup of some of the day's notable nuggets.
LINK
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:55 am to TideSaint
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OT Tommy Brown
Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei four-star offensive tackle Tommy Brown, the son of a former Alabama track athlete, grew up wanting to play football for the Crimson Tide. He will make a visit there April 17 with teammates Solomon Tuliaupupu and JT Daniels and is hoping for an offer. “I’ve been talking to them for awhile now and hopefully when they realize I am coming out there for a second time, I am serious about my interest in them.” Brown will also visit Auburn on that trip, and the Tigers have already offered. Brown just returned for a visit to Washington, where he was impressed with the facilities and offensive line coach Scott Huff, with his next visit planned to Oregon April 29 for their spring game.
Posted on 4/10/17 at 9:56 am to TideSaint
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ILB Solomon Tuliaupupu
The athletic Rivals100 linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu is planning three upcoming visits to Alabama, Auburn and Ohio State. Those visits will be his first to each program and all three programs should have a role for the type of player he’s looking to be at the next level.
“I like playing inside,” he said. “Then it’s just you and the running back and you meet him in the hole. A lot of people are looking at me on the outside, but I can do either one.”
Posted on 4/10/17 at 10:30 am to TideSaint
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Four-star Jack Carman was the offensive line MVP at Sunday's Cleveland Opening Regional, earning an invitation to The Opening in Oregon this coming July.
Carman, the nation's number-31 player, holds offers from nearly every top Power Five program in America. He has two schools sticking out to him at this time.
"I would say that right now Clemson is 1-A, and Ohio State is 1-B," Carman stated. "I was at Clemson recently, and it was great. Everyone knows the facilities and the people are great there, but what stood out to me were the players and the recruits. I like who they're recruiting, and how they recruit."
"Coach (Dabo) Swinney has never recruited a JUCO player, and they're very upfront about everything," he added. "I just think I fit in there and I just felt at home when I was there. I probably talk to the O-line coach (Robbie Caldwell) almost every day, and I can tell he cares about his players."
"Coach Swinney and I had some long conversations in his office, and he's a great guy," he continued. "I could definitely see myself being there the next four years."
The home-state Buckeyes are right up there with the national champs for Carman, and he will be in Columbus next weekend for the Ohio State spring game.
"I'm looking forward to being at Ohio State next weekend, and I'm going up there Friday night to spend time with the players," Carman explained. "They know I had a good time at Clemson, and Coach (Urban) Meyer told me he's just going to recruit me harder."
"I talk to Coach Meyer and Coach Stud (offensive line coach Greg Studrawa) all the time, and we have a great relationship," he said. "I'm not sure if my mom will go with me this weekend or not, so I might just be going up there by myself."
Clemson and Ohio State aren't the only schools Carman is interested in, and he has plans to take more unofficial visits in the coming months.
"I would say the next group of schools I'm high on would be Florida State, LSU, Alabama, Wisconsin and USC, and I would like to see each one," he admitted. "I want to take all five official visits, and decide after my senior season is over, probably in December."
LINK
He's going to Ohio State.
Posted on 4/10/17 at 10:32 am to TideSaint
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Corvallis (Ore.) Crescent Valley athlete Talanoa Hufanga (6-1, 195), is the No. 1 athlete nationally in the 2018 class.
"I feel honored top be ranked this high in the nation and I just give credit to my coaches and my teammates for pushing me," said Hufanga. "But I also have to keep working on getting bigger faster and stronger for the next upcoming season."
He's also the top athlete on his own high school campus, so his offseason from football has had him focus on basketball and now track.
That has had recruiting take a bit of a backseat.
But schools haven't slowed their pursuit of Hufanga.
Programs from coast to coast have offered the four-star and the top prospect in Oregon, but he's not close to narrowing his list.
"I currently have 20 offers but all of the schools stand out because I haven't narrowed down my list," said Hufanga. "I do plan on trimming down my list but I'm not sure to how many yet and it will be around August."
Hufanga said a number of schools are recruiting him hard and he talks often with coaches from a handful of schools that have offered.
"I talk a lot with a few coaches from Nebraska, USC, UCLA, Oregon, Oregon State, Tennessee, Michigan, Notre Dame and California," said Hufanga.
And a few other schools that haven't offered are talking to Hufanga and could join that list.
"I'm hearing from LSU, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Mississippi and Virginia," said Hufanga.
While Hufanga didn't have a dream school growing up, he did say there was one school in particular he watched.
"Growing up, I guess my favorite school was USC, but I never did have a dream school," said Hufanga.
Hufanga has visited hometown Oregon State already this spring.
"I went over not too long ago before the spring game and visited the coaches and was also able to see the spring game," said Hufanga, who's coach, Scott Sanders, played for the Beavers.
He also has a couple of other schools in mind for visits.
"I'm planning on visiting Oregon and Nebraska, but I may take another visit somewhere else, I just have to discuss it with my family," said Hufanga.
Though listed as an athlete by Scout, and able to play a number of positions, Hufanga said that safety has been the spot most coaches have emphasized with him.
In fact, Hufanga is often compared by his coach to another former All-Pro and All-American safety, Eric Turner, who played with Sanders at Ventura (Calif.) HS.
"We're going to have to give that one to the great Eric Turner," said Hufanga.
While trying to balance three sports and recruiting, Hufanga is hoping to attend The Opening Oakland regional but track could interfere.
Hufanga won't be making a decision for some time.
"I'll probably commit around December or January," said Hufanga.
LINK
Posted on 4/10/17 at 10:47 am to TideSaint
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Alabama hosted one of Georgia's up-and-comers from the 2020 class in Deondre Jackson last week.
"I enjoyed the facility," Jackson told BamaOnLine. "It just seems like a natural bond. All around I liked the environment, it seems like everybody was working towards something big. The vibe was good."
The 6-foot, 195-pound running back, who already held a Tennessee offer coming into the visit, says the Tide offered on the trip.
"I was shocked for words," Jackson said. "It was a very exciting moment. Alabama has always been my dream. I'm still lost for words."
Jackson's primary recruiter is defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley.
"He liked my size and film," Jackson said.
Jackson plans to return to Tuscaloosa soon, if not for camp this summer.
Deondre Jackson Highlights
This post was edited on 4/10/17 at 10:48 am
Posted on 4/10/17 at 12:58 pm to TideSaint
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