re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition

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Welcome to SEC Country’s daily Roll Tide-ings, a rundown of everything happening in Alabama Crimson Tide recruiting with Chris Kirschner. Today, we talk the latest with one of the nation’s top defensive backs.

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The 6-foot-2, 195-pound McCollough keeps in touch with those guys. Chubb came to Hillgrove the day after his performance at the NFL combine last month. Ingram was at the school a few days ago and McCollough keeps in touch with Drake. He listens to every word those guys have to say about what it takes to get to their level.

“I’m following in some big footsteps, but I’m going to continue to play my game and listen to the coaches,” McCollough said. “I just need to do everything they say. That’s how the guys before me got there [to the NFL], and that’s how I plan on getting there. They told me that it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of listening to the coaches. I look at those guys as my big brothers.”

He doesn’t talk much recruiting with them. He’s not planning on making a commitment until the fall. As of now, he believes Alabama and Georgia will get official visits. Auburn and South Carolina will likely get visits, too.

Georgia will be a factor for McCollough because he’s very close with 5-star defensive end commit Nolan Smith and 5-star linebacker Owen Pappoe, who likely will commit to the Bulldogs on May 5. He also said a lot of his friends go to UGA and they’re recruiting him, too.

But there’s a reason why McCollough hasn’t visited Athens more than Tuscaloosa. His coach believes Alabama is the pinnacle of college football. “Alabama doesn’t go after everybody,” Ironside said. “If you get an Alabama offer, what else is there? That covers all the bases and you’re pretty much set.”

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Kevin Rose has coached numerous future college players during his nine years at Bob Jones. He feels Jaydon Hill could end up being among the best produced by the Madison school.

Hill, a 2019 cornerback, is rated three stars and holds 25 FBS offers. Ole Miss and Mississippi State were the first to offer last summer. The 6-foot, 163-pound Hill's recruiting has exploded since the end of the season, with the likes of South Carolina, Louisville, Vanderbilt, TCU, Nebraska, West Virginia and Iowa offering.

"He's as good a prospect as we've had here since Reggie Ragland," Rose said. "I think he's definitely an SEC player. Jaydon makes a bunch of plays. I would feel very comfortable recommending Jaydon to any school in the Southeastern Conference, or any school in America, as far as that's concerned. If you're out looking for a cover corner, he's it."

Though Alabama and Auburn have yet to offer, each has shown interest. Hill attended junior day at both schools in February.

"When I went down to Auburn, the coaches showed love to me," Hill said. "I talked with (running backs) coach (Tim) Horton and (secondary) coach (Marcus) Woodson. They want me to come back. Alabama said the same, basically. They're both coming during spring practice. Coach (Nick) Saban said he wants to see me in person."

Hill said he hopes to trim his list of prospective schools within the next month.

"I'll be committing before the season," he said.

Hill will take part in Nike's The Opening regional camp in Atlanta on Sunday. He said that he may visit Georgia Tech while on the trip.

Hill was a Class 7A first-team All-State selection last season after breaking up 26 passes and picking off five others. Despite his coverage prowess, teams continually threw in Hill's direction.

"I was surprised a little bit, but I wish I was thrown at more," Hill said with a laugh.

Rose pointed out that most teams didn't have a choice when it came to staying away from Hill.

"We typically put him on their best player, so it's hard to avoid him," Rose said. "If you want to get the ball to your best player, you're going to have to go through ours."

As a sophomore, Hill worked his way from deep on the depth chart and into a starting role. He finished that season five breakups. A solid offseason led to his breakout junior campaign.

"My size increased," Hill said. "And I got better at DB technique, footwork and stuff. I improved all around in my defensive back game."

Added Rose: "I think he improved all year long. He's a really good cover guy. He's got great ball skills. His tall enough and long enough; he meets all the measurables and runs good."

Part of Hill's offseason between his sophomore and junior years involved working out with two recently-retired NFL defensive backs from Alabama - Jerraud Powers (Decatur) and Rashad Johnson (Sulligent). Hill plans to work more with Powers in the coming months.

"It was a good experience because they know what they're talking about," Hill said. "They've been there and done that, and they're teaching it to me."

Hill has kept busy this offseason playing for the Bob Jones basketball team and for the Southern Xpress 7-on-7 travel team. He also took part in the U.S. Army All-American Combine in January. Hill's work with his 7-on-7 team gave him the opportunity to face some top-tier receivers, including four-star Trey Knox of Blackman, Tenn.

"You pay man mostly and it helps playing the ball; it helps you, technique-wise," Hill said.

Hill is likely to see more action on offense this season, according to Rose. Bob Jones' top receiver from a year ago, Demontrez Brown, signed with Troy after totaling 1,179 yards and 13 touchdowns. Hill was used some on offense in last season's first-round playoff loss to Mountain Brook and he caught a 55-yard slant that set up a touchdown.

In addition to Hill's on-the-field talents, Rose praised his star player's demeanor.

"He's real quiet. He's not very demonstrative, loud or a big talker," Rose said. "He's very mild-mannered and just goes out there and plays. As a coach, those are the kind of guys you really enjoy coaching; you get the good play without the baggage."

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Owen Pappoe has been a major Alabama target for over a year. At one point, it looked as if the Crimson Tide would be the team to beat for the 5-star, Class of 2019 prospect from Grayson High School (Loganville, Ga.).

Well, as we all know by now, the Tide had a major overhaul to their coaching staff and a coach whom Pappoe was very close to, Jeremy Pruitt, left for Knoxville. That hurt Alabama’s chances to land Pappoe. He told SEC Country earlier this year that ‘Bama was trying to get back in the mix.

“They’ve turned the recruiting up hard,” Pappoe told SEC Country. “[Outside linebackers] Coach Tosh [Lupoi] and before Coach [Jeremy] Pruitt left, they have just been on me hard.”

Even with the Tide turning up the heat on Pappoe, he has not made his way back to Tuscaloosa and recently told us that Georgia and Auburn are his top schools. Pappoe is set to commit on May 5, and he said he doesn’t have any plans to make it back to Alabama.

“That top 3 is gone. I’d say Georgia and Auburn are my top 2. … Right now Georgia is my top school,” Pappoe said. “I said Auburn and Georgia are my top 2, but I would say Georgia is my number 1 right now.

“They really do have a good chance of landing me,” Pappoe said. “Clemson, I haven’t really been in contact with them. I wouldn’t say they’re out of the picture, but we haven’t really been communicating that much.”

The nation’s No. 1 outside linebacker is planning on visiting LSU, Ohio State, Penn State and Texas this spring before his commitment date. It’s looking as if Pappoe is a longshot at best for the Tide.

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