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

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LSU mess

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Would be odd to have a dud of a LB class. But I’m afraid that’s about to happen.

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SAN ANTONIO – Tuesday at the Army Bowl was one of the most action-packed practice days in the history of the game. Both the East and the West spent one hour each going through one-on-ones, 7on7s, and scrimmage periods and then the two squads merged to give us a taste of what’s to come on Saturday with some intersquad competition.

A lot of guys flashed but we’ve got to identify the best. The prospects that made the top performers piece from Tuesday are the grown men. If you’re good enough to make this list, you’re pretty unique.

ALPHA DOG

We want our five-stars to perform like Xavier Thomas performed on Tuesday. The Clemson signee and No. 3 player in the 247Sports Composite showed up every play to compete and win, did it in dominating fashion and never saw his play dip in any period or any session. His edge speed was ridiculous but what makes him special is that he adds to that power and technique to the position too. Thomas had numerous sacks in the scrimmage period and regularly won his 1on1s.

THE NEXT 11

1. Micah Parsons, DE/LB – The Penn State signee would be the alpha dog had he competed in the intersquad portion of the practice. He made the most of his one-hour session against his East teammates, though. In fact, Parsons had the most impressive play of the day with a sack on Phil Jurkovec that caused a fumble which he recovered. It was the second sack fumble/recovery that Parsons created on the day. He was unreal as an edge rusher with bend and he may not even start at that position in State College. He may play inside linebacker first.

2. Jamaree Salyer, OG – Frankly it’s not close between Salyer and the second best offensive lineman. Against an East defensive line that was dominant, Salyer was the one guy that dished it out. He almost never loses a rep and he opens up huge holes in the run game.

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR – The football barely touched the ground when the West offense competed against the West defense in the morning and St. Brown’s play at wide receiver was a big reason why. He’s just so polished and fluid, and was open all day. St. Brown was the Alpha Dog from the West squad on Monday.

4. Nesta Silvera, DT – The Miami commit is maybe the most physical interior defender in San Antonio. He has size limitations but his demeanor and nastiness at the line of scrimmage is unmatched. Offensive linemen wanted nothing to do with his bullrush on Tuesday.

5. Tyson Campbell, CB – I really believe that Campbell is making a strong case to be the No. 1 cornerback in the country. Through two days, he looks like the top cornerback. He had an interception in one-on-ones, a few pass breakups and he locks down his side of the field in 7on7s.

6. Josh Jobe, DB – Whether he’s a safety or cornerback, Jobe is just a football player. He doesn’t say much but he makes plays. His physicality sets him apart and he had a few breakups thanks to his instincts too. He looks like a candidate to contribute right away at Alabama.

7. Brian Hightower, WR – After trending down some in the rankings following the season, Hightower looks like he may be heading right back up. He had an awesome day on Tuesday as a deep threat down the field and was consistently getting behind the defense. He also had the catch of the day by stabbing a football with one hand on a deep out thrown behind him.

8. Brey Walker, OT – Walker looks like he’s from a different planet than everyone else. His frame is just massive and we saw it put to work on Tuesday with his ability to just engulf edge pass rushers. The Oklahoma commit looks like he’ll fit in well with the way the Sooners have produced offensive line talent.

9. Dallas Gant, LB - Not many are going to look better than Gant walking in the door and he showed up when it counted, too. Gant was good in run support, being physical in that A-to-B gap region and he showed some ability in coverage, pulling in an interception and flashing good change of direction.

10. Chris Murray, OG – Murray is one of the least impressive offensive linemen at the event from a physical standpoint but he’s one of the most effective. He is extremely physical, has great athleticism in space as a pulling guard or as a he gets to the second level and he’s a finisher.

11. Jaylen Waddle, WR – Though he didn’t do much in the intersquad portion of the day, Waddle was too tough to handle in the morning session to leave off this list. He is a nightmare for nickels, safeties and linebackers, just an impossible guy to check in man coverage particularly on vertical routes because of his speed.

NOTES

- Rasheed Walker has a ton of upside at offensive tackle and is probably the best tackle at the event aside from Brey Walker. From an athletic standpoint he’s the best outside guy here.

- Clemson signee Derion Kendrick could have easily made the top performers list. He’s just all over the field offensively and he’s the type of player that appears to really enjoy competing. His motor is always running.

- While Gant had the best day on Tuesday, Georgia signee Channing Tindall continues to shine as probably the best linebacker prospect here. He looked the part once again on Tuesday. So too did Shayne Simon who will step into a perfect role as a rover in Notre Dame’s defense.

- One of the things that sets Brendan Radley-Hiles apart as an undersized cornerback is his physicality. In the red zone, he really disrupted George Takacs with a jam at the line of scrimmage that forced an incompletion.

- Caden Sterns made one of the plays of the day with a diving interception. The group of Texas defensive back commits is a really good group but through two days, I like where our rankings have Jalen Green relative to the others. That kid is one of the best corners in the country and the best defensive back in Texas.

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Jaylen Waddle says coaching change made significant difference

Dec. 1, 2017, was an important date for Alabama recruiting. It was likely the day that the Tide started to lose its grip on one of the most electrifying wide receivers in the country in Jaylen Waddle.

That was the day Texas A&M lured away Jimbo Fisher from Florida State. Waddle, a 4-star prospect, played his high school ball at Episcopal High School (Bellaire, Texas), which is roughly 100 miles from Texas A&M.

Up until Fisher was hired by the Aggies, Alabama was seen as the favorite to land Waddle. He had given a strong indication to the Tide staff that he was going to choose Alabama when he made his commitment. Fisher to College Station changed things.

“It was a game changer,” Waddle told SEC Country’s Sam Spiegelman. “Me and Jimbo have always had a good relationship. As soon as he got the job, I think he called or texted me that night. He told me about everything he could provide and what they plan on doing there for the future of A&M.”

The Army All-American said Texas A&M was always high on his list, even before Fisher took the job. Waddle said he’s close to wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead, but he’s always been tight with Fisher, who was strongly recruiting Waddle at Florida State.

But Waddle also has a strong relationship with the Alabama staff. He took numerous visits to Tuscaloosa since last summer and attended the team’s game against Florida State in the opener. Waddle became a giant priority for the Tide after his astounding performance at camp in the summer where one source in attendance said the receiver may have been the best prospect there.

Waddle officially visited for the LSU game, and there was some thought he could publicly commit there. He decided not to. Where does Alabama stand for him now?

“They’re still high. They’re definitely high on my list,” Waddle said. “I am impressed with [their playoff] game. They played really well. There was a little trash talking going on [with other recruits]. It was fun to hang out with some of these commits who are going to these places.”

He also thinks Alabama is going to win the championship, which will certainly help the Tide when it comes to recruiting. He also sees that the Tide need at least one more receiver in this class to go along with 4-star prospect Xavier Williams and 3-star athlete Slade Bolden.

“I have an opportunity there,” Waddle said. “They have like three receivers leaving. [Calvin] Ridley is most likely going to the league. I can come in and play there.”

There has definitely been lots of buzz since last month that Waddle is now likely going to choose Texas A&M when he makes his decision, which can come at any time, he said. His decision will likely come down to Alabama and TAMU.

“It’s pretty even,” Waddle said. “I think with A&M, it’s more about the location. It really sells me.”

If Waddle does decide to go to the Aggies, Alabama is still recruiting 4-star prospects Justyn Ross, Justin Watkins and Jacob Copeland.

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