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

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Anyone else hear about the Texas A&M Rivals.com reporter that's been missing since Saturday?

Her name is Courtney Roland. They found her car, which doesn't sound good...

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BULL MARKET

This goes to the player who raised his stock the most during the week and that goes to Michigan signee Aidan Hutchinson, who sits outside the Rivals250. The four-star prospect was incredibly effective all week in practice, showed a physical and athletic side and then had an impressive performance in the Army Bowl with four tackles (2.5 for loss) and two sacks. Hutchinson was tough, persistent and aggressive all week and really made a statement in San Antonio.

Honorable mention: There are plenty of names who could make this list but Notre Dame signee Jayson Ademilola stands out most. Over numerous practices, the four-star showed great closing ability and aggressiveness along the defensive line. Four-star Miami pledge Nesta Silvera had his standout moments as did Ohio State signee Tommy Togiai, who showed an excellent mix of speed and physical domination up the middle. Four-star CB Tyson Campbell from Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage will be in the five-star talk as well.

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THE SNUGGIE

This is for the player who provided the best coverage on defense during the week and five-star Oklahoma commit Brendan Radley-Hiles wins out here. In the game, he helped cause an interception and had a few other pass deflections, something he has done for his entire career and why he’s considered one of the best in the class. Radley-Hiles can be as physical as any corner in the class, he has tremendous athleticism and his timing is superb.

Honorable mention: Surtain and Campbell were solid all week, if not spectacular only because not many quarterbacks tested them. Four-star Alabama signee Josh Jobe had his moments and four-star Texas signee Jalen Green will be in the discussion as the top corner in the state of Texas. At safety, Jaiden Woodbey, Caden Sterns and Kelvin Joseph definitely had strong performances.

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STAR GAZER

This award goes to the player entering the game that was in prime position to earn that extra star, whether it was a fifth or fourth star, but didn't meet those expectations. This is always a close call but while Ohio State running back signee Jaelen Gill had his moments during the week he didn’t completely dominate at any point. Rated No. 28 overall, Gill was right on the cusp of a five-star ranking but there will be a debate as to whether he deserves one after Army week.

HONORABLE MENTION: Four-star offensive lineman Penei Sewell from St. George (Utah) Desert Hills could have been in the running but he didn’t participate all week. Top-end athlete Talanoa Hufanga, who could play safety or linebacker at USC, was also one to watch especially since he hasn’t been to many national events but he didn’t reach five-star status during the Army week.

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STOCK UP

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Jaylen Waddle

From the very first day of practice until the final quarter of Saturday’s game, Waddle was one of the brightest stars of the 2018 Army Bowl. His lack of size is more than compensated for by speed that was eye-popping even among the elite talent in San Antonio last week. Waddle is such a threat with the football in his hands that the West coaches used him at running back when their numbers in the backfield started getting low.

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Tyson Campbell

Campbell possesses excellent physical tools and could be a cornerback or a safety at the next level. The Georgia, Alabama, Clemson and Miami target has good footwork and can run with pretty much any receiver, but doing everything he does while standing at about 6-foot-3 is what makes him a special prospect. Campbell was good throughout the week of practice and showed off his physicality in the game.

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Josh Jobe

Alabama is getting a very solid player in Jobe. He is a Miami native, but finished his high school career in Connecticut. With that in mind, it didn’t look like Jobe was too familiar with how fast some of the wide receivers were going to be when he showed up in San Antonio. He got beat his fair share in practice and in the game, but he also won his fair share and even came up with a couple interceptions in practice.

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Michael Thompson to visit

Alabama signed two defensive linemen during the early signing period in 4-star prospects Stephon Wynn Jr. and Christian Barmore. The Crimson Tide also have a commitment from 4-star prospect Bobby Brown. The team would like to add at least one more defensive lineman to its 2018 class, and one name to watch in these final few weeks is Michael Thompson.

Thompson, the nation’s No. 2 defensive tackle from Parkway North High School (St. Louis), told SEC Country at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio that he will take an official visit to Tuscaloosa this month. The date for that trip isn’t set just yet.

“They’re recruiting me very hard,” Thompson told SEC Country. “They don’t lie to me. They keep it 100 [percent] with me. They don’t feed me [expletive] like other coaches do.”

The Army All-American has already taken official visits to Southern California and Missouri. He’ll visit Miami on Jan. 26. Thompson isn’t sure if he’ll use his fifth and final official visit.

How is Thompson going to ultimately choose his college destination?

“How comfortable I am,” Thompson said. “That’s going to be the factor for me.”

Thompson will sign with his school of choice on National Signing Day on Feb. 7. Outside of Thompson, the Tide are recruiting 4-star defensive tackle Tyler Friday and 3-star defensive end Malik Langham.

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New QB target to watch?

SEC Country was informed over the weekend that James Foster, a 4-star quarterback from Sidney Lanier High School (Montgomery, Ala.), is still being evaluated and doesn’t have a committable offer yet. Foster is down to Alabama, Florida State, LSU and Texas A&M. He grew up a Crimson Tide fan and Alabama is his dream school.

But a name Alabama fans should keep in the back of their pockets is Brock Purdy, a 3-star quarterback, according to 247Sports, from Perry High School (Gilbert, Ariz.).

The 6-foot-1, 197-pound prospect led his school to the state championship while throwing for 57 touchdown passes and 4,410 passing yards. He also rushed for 1,016 yards and had 10 touchdowns. Purdy was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Arizona.

Purdy’s recruitment is still in its infant stages. The only FBS offers he claims are Boise State and Kansas. Expect Alabama coaches to evaluate Purdy further after the National Championship Game.

Purdy was offered a preferred walk-on spot by the Tide in December and he’s expected to visit Tuscaloosa on Jan. 26.

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