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

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Nowhere. Negative recruiting at it's finest.

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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.”

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ORLANDO, Fla. — Trey Sanders decided to de-commit from Alabama just a few hours before the Crimson Tide took the field against Clemson for a national title berth.

Sanders, a Class of 5-star running back from IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), had been committed to the Tide since the A-Day game back in 2016. While Sanders did take visits elsewhere after committing to the Tide, he showed no signs of actually going through with de-committing. So, why did Sanders decide that Monday was time for him to reopen his recruitment?

“I only get this chance one time to get recruited in high school,” Sanders told SEC Country. “It’s a one-time thing. I’m going to take my time and enjoy the process.

“I was thinking about it for a while and me and my family got together to talk about it. We decided that it would be best for me to open my recruitment back up.”

The nation’s No. 1 running back said there was no reasoning behind him opening his recruitment shortly before Alabama took the field against Clemson. He said that he just felt like it was the right time to go ahead and make that decision.

“It got to the point where I said I just might as well go ahead and do it and enjoy it,” Sanders said. “Alabama is still my top school.”

The coaching staff has reached out to Sanders since Monday. He remains a giant priority for the Tide in the 2019 class.

“I talked to them and they still said that they’re going to recruit me,” Sanders said. “As of now, they’re my top team. It’s not like they really went down at all. There’s still a chance I might be going there.

“I just told them that it was a family decision. It was also a business decision. You only get to be a high school recruit one time. I might as well go ahead and enjoy it.”

Does he regret committing to Alabama when he did?

“I don’t regret committing early. I feel like it was the best thing I could have done.”

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Please don't leave LSU. By all accounts your family loves baton Rouge. You are very appreciated here by Tiger fans and players. You are paid very well and in fact, your current salary set a new standard for assistant coaches. Additionally, aTm's offer will get you a generous raise and contract extension. We have always heard that you goal is to be a head coach. It has been widely speculated that within 1-2 years you would be offered a good HC job. If you feel confident in that, why would you uproot your family for 12-24 months, only to move them again? So why not take the raise and continue to build your legacy here at LSU? Everything you do will be greatly appreciated. And when you get a HCing job, we will send you off with our blessings. And who knows, you may not even have to move to take that HC job!

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VanBasten9

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AND just to see what Seanpenten will post next

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