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

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Not sure of his name but he looks like he would be our backup slash goal line QB ala Tebow when he was a freshman.

Eta: never mind, Saint to the rescue. Looks like they are going to start him out at DT (at least during media viewing periods).

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Thanks for all the hard work TS!

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Which LBs are trending toward Alabama?

As for the second part of your question, Terry, I think the following linebackers are trending toward Alabama:

5-star inside linebacker Nakobe Dean
4-star junior college linebacker Lakia Henry
4-star Jack linebacker Ani Izuchukwu

Alabama currently has a commitment from 4-star outside linebacker King Mwikuta. It should be a good haul for the Tide at the position.

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Nakobe Dean feels like priority at Alabama

BUFORD, Ga. — Nakobe Dean is one of the best 25 high school football players in the country and a 5-star prospect, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, but he’s also a 5-star student.

Dean has a 4.7 GPA at Horn Lake (Miss.) High School and hasn’t gotten a ‘B’ since middle school in a technology foundations class. Stanford, arguably the top school in the country when you combine its academic and football prestige, has offered him, as well as Notre Dame.

The nation’s No. 2 inside linebacker wants to major in engineering and has expressed interest in biomedical, mechanical and chemical engineering. On his last visit to Tuscaloosa, Dean met with the head of the engineering department at Alabama.

“His personality was different than the other engineering deans I met with,” Dean told SEC Country. “They all kind of seemed the same, but he was just more laid-back. I’m not saying he wasn’t as serious, but I could comprehend what he was saying a little bit more.”

The 6-foot, 215-pound prospect estimates he’s been to Tuscaloosa five times. Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss are the schools he’s been to the most throughout his recruitment, and it’s likely that his decision will come down to those three schools when he commits after his senior season. Stanford and Notre Dame could become major players because of their academic prestige, but he’s unsure if those schools will receive official visits.

Alabama has a great chance at landing Dean when he does make his final decision.

“I do feel like when I go there that I am a top priority,” Dean said of Alabama. “They treat me like one. Every time they text and call me, they always tell me that they want and need me. Coach [Nick] Saban himself has told me how much he needs me. He said if he could take me this year [2018 class], he would.”

The Tide only signed one inside linebacker in the 2018 class in 3-star prospect Jaylen Moody. Moody was offered in the final days leading up to National Signing Day when it was clear the team was not signing its top targets at inside linebacker. It’s now one of the team’s top positional needs in the 2019 class. However, the team’s need won’t sway Dean.

“I don’t really feel like depth charts are a factor in my recruitment,” Dean said. “I do feel like wherever I go, I’m going to have to work to start. So, it’s not going to affect my recruitment all that much.”

Dean is planning on returning to Tuscaloosa in the next few weeks for a spring practice. He hasn’t seen the team compete in practice before, so that’s something he wants to check out. Don’t expect him to return to Alabama for the A-Day game because he went last year and doesn’t need to see it again, he said. He is also looking forward to building his relationship further with inside linebackers coach Pete Golding, who Dean called a “great, crazy guy” who treats him like he’s one of the players currently on the team.

But despite his closeness to the Alabama staff, it may be Ole Miss that’s the biggest threat to the Tide. Oxford is about an hour away from Dean’s home, and his brother, Nicholas, attends the school. Dean said he frequently visits Nicholas, so there’s a lot of familiarity with the school.

When asked if there are players in the 2019 class that he wanted to play with in college, Dean’s answer tells you he has state pride.

“I do feel like if we do the Mississippi-made thing and everybody stays in-state and goes to Mississippi State or Ole Miss, I do think we could do big things with the players from Mississippi.

“I feel like most schools I go to feel like Ole Miss and Mississippi State are the teams to beat because a whole bunch of Mississippi kids stay in state. There is pressure, but it’s my decision. One thing I like is when I went to Auburn, Coach [Kevin] Steele told me that this is the one time in life where I can be selfish. It’s going to be whatever is best for me.”

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Early look at expected Auburn visitors this weekend

The state of Mississippi has as much talent as it’s had in a long time. That’s been proven this spring with several Auburn visitors coming from Alabama’s neighboring state, including Handy and Moore. Auburn won’t be letting up in its push for Mississippi prospects anytime soon, either.

Two more big Mississippi targets are expected on campus this upcoming weekend:

4-star cornerback Brandon Turnage, Oxford, Miss.
4-star outside linebacker Derick Hall, Gulfport, Miss.

Turnage last visited Auburn for its February junior day. He remains committed to Alabama, but as he said in the article linked here, Turnage expects to make a few return visits to Auburn and others. Remember, he had a strong interest in the Tigers well before his recruitment picked up, calling Auburn his “dream school” after his last visit.

As for Hall, I’m told he’s the top Buck target on Auburn’s board right now. Hall stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 215 pounds, with an athletic basketball skill set that translates well to pass rushing. He’ll be making his second visit this spring this upcoming weekend. Auburn is battling it out with Ole Miss and Mississippi State for Hall. You can read my most recent full update on Hall from last week.

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Kevin Harris II has ties to The Boot

BUFORD, Ga. — Kevin Harris II’s recruitment has taken a unique turn in the last month.

Harris, a 4-star edge-rusher out of Peach State powerhouse Grayson (Ga.) High School, added an offer from LSU on March 8. Nine days later, he made his way to Baton Rouge for the first time to see the campus and received the red-carpet treatment from the coaching staff.

Afterward, Harris named LSU to his soft top three along with Alabama and Miami, with a decision tentatively expected sometime in August.

So, how did LSU make such a strong first impression on the top-150 prospect?

“Those schools really stick out to me,” Harris told SEC Country at Nike’s The Opening regional in Atlanta. “The people [at LSU] they’re great people. I recently visited LSU and the intensity was great. I watched practice and the intensity was crazy. That was something I liked. The coaches came over to me talking. The plays were greeting me, talking trash about the offense. The defense was out there kicking butt. It was pretty cool and I had a great time.”

Harris, who measured up at 6-foot-5 and 217 pounds, was among the most dominant edge-rushers on hand at the Nike camp last weekend. He showed quickness getting around opposing tackles during 1-on-1s and showed up longer and heavier than anticipated.

LSU defensive line coach Dennis Johnson envisions Harris filling in as a Bench-linebacker much like another Atlanta area prospect Arden Key, whose now preparing for the NFL draft.

Furthering the Tigers’ case is Harris’ ties to the area. Both of his parents hail from Louisiana, primarily from Baton Rouge. His sister currently resides in the city, so visiting LSU became a family reunion of sorts.

“She [my mother] was born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge. My dad was in Baton Rouge and raised there, too. My sister lives out there and pretty much all of my cousins are out there, so it was great seeing family, eating good food,” Harris detailed. “LSU was like a dream school for me growing up, watching them all the time. It was a great opportunity seeing what it was actually like at LSU.”

Next up for Harris is a visit to Miami. He and first-year Hurricanes defensive line coach Jess Simpson have routinely spoken on the phone. There is no time frame for a visit to Alabama.

Harris’ time in Baton Rouge certainly made an impression, but insisted that his top three is subject to change. For the moment, LSU has put itself in the driver’s seat because of his ties to the area.

“You could say that,” he said, when asked if LSU has an edge because of his family’s connection to Louisiana. “I’m open to all schools.”

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