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re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition
Posted on 4/16/18 at 8:49 am to TideSaint
Posted on 4/16/18 at 8:49 am to TideSaint
Rivals100 No. 1 Quavaris Crouch recaps his FSU visit
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Rivals100 No. 1 Quavaris Crouch has had a difficult time making to the schools in Florida but this weekend he made it to Florida State with a little help from Seminoles quarterback commit Sam Howell. Crouch, out of Charlotte (N.C.) Harding University, rode down to Tallahassee with Howell and seemed glad he took advantage of the opportunity.
IN HIS OWN WORDS…
“I went down to Florida State with Sam and I had a good time,” Crouch said. “I got to see some of the coaches and find out how they run their defense and their offense. It was great weather and the whole thing was really nice.
“Coach Bell and coach Woodie, the linebacker coach, are the ones I spent a lot of time with,” he said. “They had clips of me playing defense and it showed me how I would fit into what they are going to do. They had a clip of me doing something and then they showed a clip of one of their players doing the same thing. It made it easy to see the resemblance and seem like it was possible. I know I could play outside linebacker there.
“The game was nice,” said Crouch. “I had a chance to talk to Telvin Smith. He plays for the Jaguars and went to Florida State. We had a good conversation. The game itself was awesome. It was sold out and you could see how close they are to getting it right. They have a great recruiting class right now. I feel like it could be a good place for me.
“I liked the environment there,” he said. “I didn’t have any problems there. Sometimes you go on visits and there is something that doesn’t go right but that didn’t happen at Florida State. Everything, for the most part, was really smooth.
“I think I’m going to go down to South Carolina but I’m not sure when,” Crouch said. “I’ve been down there a lot but I know I’ll get there some time soon.”
RIVALS’ REACTION…
After a visit a player will generally say they had a great time. Sometimes they mean it and sometimes they don’t. Crouch definitely had a good time on his visit to Florida State. The coaching staff did a really good job explaining to Crouch how they plan on using him (linebacker) and how it would be an easy transition with them guiding him through the process. It was particularly smart of Willie Taggart to sic Walt Bell (Crouch's area recruiter) and Raymond Woodie (Crouch's position coach), two of his best recruiters, on Crouch.
This visit puts the Noles squarely in the mix with Clemson, Tennessee, and South Carolina in Crouch’s top tier. Expect Crouch to take his recruitment into the upcoming season because he wants to take official visits and see how these schools with new coaching staffs (Tennessee, Florida State, Florida, etc.) handle the growing pains of the season.
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Posted on 4/16/18 at 8:55 am to TideSaint
Alabama’s New Coaching Staff Is Bringing Some Fire To The Recruiting Trail.
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Nick Saban has undoubtedly built a dynasty in Tuscaloosa and everyone wants a piece of it. Every offseason, the coaching carousel goes around and it usually stops in Tuscaloosa in mid-spin to grab one of the talented assistants Saban has groomed to fit the winning tradition of Alabama football. This offseason was no different as the Crimson Tide had to deal with losing both their offensive and defensive coordinators.
This left Saban and a familiar, but an unusual place. Sure, Saban has dealt with losing coordinators in the past but never has he lost both his offensive and defensive coordinators at the same time and had two capable and willing guys to fill those spots already on the staff waiting for their opportunity. Saban did what he felt was the right choice and that was to promote then wide receiver coach, Mike Locksley, to offensive coordinator and then linebacker coach, Tosh Lupoi, to defensive coordinator. He also added Josh Gattis and Pete Golding to the staff to fill the holes the promotions left.
Many felt the coaching turnovers that Alabama went through negatively affected their 2018 recruiting class. There is some truth to that as it was very evident in the recruiting battle for 2018 LB target, J.J. Peterson. Peterson had Alabama as his top school, because of his connection with Jeremy Pruitt. Once, Pruitt departed from Alabama, he used his connection with Peterson to get him to commit to Tennessee. Alabama’s 2018 recruiting class still did pull in some big names, but finished at No. 7, ending Alabama’s streak at the top of the recruiting rankings.
Alabama’s coaching staff has now turned their attention to the 2019 recruiting class and boy are they off to a great start. They currently have verbal commitments from 5-Star OL Pierce Quick, 4-Star QB Paul Tyson, 4-Star DL Rashad Cheney, 4-Star DB Brendan Gant, 4-Star DB Brandon Turnage and 4-Star LB King Mwikuta. Their new coaching staff definitely has something to do with this and recruits are taking notice.
“I have a great relationship with Alabama’s new coaching staff,” 5-Star linebacker, Nakobe Dean, said. “An even better relationship than I had with the old staff.”
Dean went on to add that he loved Pete Golding’s personality. However, Golding isn’t the only new coaching hire that has recruits talking. Alabama’s wide receiver coach, Josh Gattis, has also brought his connections from Penn State to Tuscaloosa.
“I have a great relationship with coach Gattis just from him being at Penn State,” 5-Star 2020 wide receiver, Julian Fleming, said.
Gattis also has relationships with some of the top wide receivers in the 2019 recruiting class.
Saban has also noticed that there is a myth around Alabama football. He believes that some guys think if they come to Alabama they can’t play. Saban expressed his feelings about this during Bama Cuts episode 1 part 2.
Alabama’s head coach has now turned this into a recruiting tool as he now tends to dispel those rumors and show that Alabama plays the players that work the hardest.
There has been in shift in recruiting for Alabama and it is starting to show. Alabama recruiting is hot at the moment and shows no sign of cooling off. Only time will tell if their efforts will boost them back to the very top of the recruiting rankings.
Posted on 4/16/18 at 9:12 am to TideSaint
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LSU’s push for Harrison Bailey
BUFORD, Ga. — LSU is looking to make a splash at quarterback over the next two recruiting classes.
Naturally, the pressure is on in 2019 after the team whiffed on 4-star Louisiana quarterback Justin Rogers to TCU and then 4-star Alabama passer James Foster to Texas A&M in the 2018 class. Coach Ed Orgeron is also doing his due diligence in regards to a loaded 2020 crop.
Harrison Bailey is in the conversation as the top quarterback in the 2020 class. The 4-star prospect from Marrietta (Ga.) High School made a visit to Baton Rouge in January along with a handful of teammates and local products on LSU’s board. In his words, he wanted to take a visit different from what he was growing accustomed to.
“I loved it,” Bailey told SEC Country at Nike’s The Opening Atlanta regional in March. “The coaches were really welcoming, and it felt like family. I wanted to go somewhere different — not around the house or the nearest state, so I decided to take a trip to LSU. It was well worth it.”
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound pro-style passer spent much of the visit alongside Orgeron, and he made acquaintances with first-year offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger.
Orgeron tried to open the Georgia prospect’s eyes to the unique culture in Baton Rouge, while Ensminger went in-depth about the offense being installed at LSU, including some run-pass options, which left a lasting impression on Bailey.
“I loved how Coach O was so interactive with the recruits,” Bailey recalled. “He didn’t talk about the football aspect. He talked more about the city and Louisiana itself. He didn’t talk about football and how I could fit in, just the family aspect and how all of his players like it. At first, I didn’t [understand], but as I got to talking with the coaching [staff], I got used to it [the culture]. It felt normal at that point.”
Since visiting in January, Bailey has remained in contact with Orgeron and Ensminger, as well as with offensive analyst Jorge Nunez and area recruiter and offensive line coach James Cregg. Each week, Nunez and Bailey speak on the phone, while Cregg checks in on the prized Georgia passer.
LSU’s consistent approach has the Tigers in the mix for Bailey, who is planning to release his list of top schools in the summer. He plans on making a decision midway through his junior season.
As far as where LSU sits in the big picture?
“They’re definitely coming after me harder than some of the other schools,” Bailey admitted. “I guess we’ll see.”
LINK
Posted on 4/16/18 at 9:14 am to TideSaint
Florida recruiting: Top-50 trio from IMG Academy enjoys spring game
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IMG Academy teammates return to Florida
The Gators had IMG Academy players on campus Saturday for the second weekend in a row.
After welcoming the IMG Academy football team for the second scrimmage, Florida hosted 5-star defensive end Nolan Smith II, 5-star running back Trey Sanders and 4-star running back Noah Cain for the spring game.
All three are top-50 overall recruits in the 247Sports 2019 composite. Sanders and Smith are both in the top 10, while Cain is ranked No. 32 nationally.
They each had high praise for Mullen after the game.
Sanders: “This is my third time coming up in four weeks and Coach Mullen has changed this place all around. Ever since Coach Mullen has gotten here, I can see a whole difference in the staff and everything. I just like the vibe up here.”
Cain: “I like the energy Coach Mullen is bringing back to the school. You can tell a big difference with the new staff. They got that juice, that energy and that fire back at Florida, so I really like that.”
Smith: “Coach Mullen is real cool. He’s funny and hilarious. He’s a swag-type of guy. I gotta have a head coach with a little swag.”
Sanders enjoyed watching Florida running backs coach Greg Knox and his position group, particularly true freshman Dameon Pierce. They became close friends when both were committed to Alabama (read more).
Sanders, the top-ranked running back in the country, has spoken to Pierce and the other players at the position about Knox.
“Ever since he got here, I’ve talked to the running backs and they say he’s a great guy, best coach they’ve probably ever had,” Sanders said of Knox. “He’s very energetic and that’s what I like about him. I need a coach that’s energetic because I’m energetic.
“Coach Knox is the main guy for me. He thinks I’m an all-around player and he says I can do anything — run the ball, block, catch, run routes, all that. I talk to him about every day and it’s a pretty good relationship.”
Cain reiterated Saturday that he’s been impressed with the Gators’ new offensive scheme as well as their personnel (read more). The nation’s No. 2 tailback called Florida’s receiving corps one of the best in the country and said Mullen wants every position to be at that level.
“They’re trying to get Florida back to those glory days when they were winning and going to the SEC Championship [Game] every year,” Cain said. “Coach Mullen is heading in the right direction with that. I can see it in the players. They really like Coach Mullen a lot.”
Smith, who has been committed to Georgia for 16 months, likes Florida’s 3-4 scheme under new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. The 6-foot-2, 232-pound defender would play outside linebacker for the Gators.
“Guys are flying around and the coaches focus on the little details,” Smith said. “I was paying attention to how they rush the passer and what moves they were using. It’s more of an NFL scheme and that’s what I would really love to play in.”
Posted on 4/16/18 at 9:16 am to TideSaint
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Gators in great shape with Trey Sanders
The Gators have ground to make up with Cain and Smith, but they appear to be in the driver’s seat for Sanders following his latest trip to Gainesville.
He was also at the game Saturday with his brother, Umstead Sanders. The junior college linebacker committed to Florida last month as a preferred walk-on and will enroll this summer.
“They got my brother, so of course they’re going to try to be extra hard on me,” Sanders told SEC Country. “He’s calling every day trying to get me to commit. I’m tried to tell him I gotta to take my time. He understands, but ever since committed it’s like another coach calling my phone every day.
“I always wanted to play with my brother in college. We’ve always talked about that since we were little. I feel like when he committed to Florida, it was a big thing for me.”
Sanders said his brother surprised their family with the decision and no one knew it was coming before his Twitter announcement. Their parents “went crazy” upon learning the news, according to Sanders.
“He didn’t tell anyone he was going to commit. He just posted it,” Sanders recalled. “I was in school and I saw that he committed on Twitter. We talked on FaceTime right afterward and I was like, ‘It’s like that? You got too big time for me?’
“He said he likes Gainesville because it’s close to home. My mom is a big Gator fan, so he feels like he was doing her justice, too. … This is a dream come true for her. This is her favorite school. She loves Florida.”
Despite those factors, Sanders is taking his time with the recruiting process and has other programs to consider before making a decision. He also holds offers from Auburn, Georgia, Florida State, Miami, Ohio State and Oklahoma, among others.
“I don’t have any favorite schools,” Sanders said. “I’ll narrow things down during the season.”
Cain will attend the Texas spring game next week and wants to take five official visits in the fall. Ohio State is the only trip he has locked in thus far. The early enrollee plans to make his decision in December.
“Georgia, Ohio State, Miami, Penn State, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas are some of the schools recruiting me hard,” Cain said. “I’m just going to take the process slow. Some of these could change before I make my decision and that’s why I’m just enjoying it right now. It’s a blessing to be in this position.”
Smith said the status of his Georgia commitment is “undisclosed,” but the Georgia native has been solid with the in-state Bulldogs for more than a year. However, he’s still giving consideration to schools such as Alabama, Clemson and Florida.
“My recruitment is open. I show love to schools that show love to me,” Smith said. “I’m looking at Florida. They’re building. You can’t stay the same. I see an improvement and that’s a good thing. Just keep recruiting me.”
Posted on 4/16/18 at 9:19 am to TideSaint
Recruits react to Gators spring game: ‘They got that juice back at Florida’
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Dan Mullen and his staff hosted an elite group of recruits for the spring game Saturday.
Multiple 5-star prospects and top targets were on hand as the Gators racked up 65 points and 687 total yards on offense. SEC Country caught up with several visitors to get their reactions after the game:
5-star running back Trey Sanders, Bradenton, Fla.
“Every since Coach Mullen has gotten here, I can see a whole difference in the staff and everything. I just like the vibe up here, and of course my brother committed. So I came up here to support him and my family.”
5-star defensive end Nolan Smith II, Bradenton, Fla. (Georgia commit)
“I just came and wanted to enjoy the day. It was a great spring game. We came out here and it was beautiful. Guys are flying around and the coaches focus on the little details. I was paying attention to how they rush the passer and what moves they were using. It’s more of an NFL scheme and that’s what I would really love to play in.”
5-star cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., Baton Rouge, La.
“It was a nice spring game and there was no point during the day when I was bored. I got to see everything I wanted to see. … It helps out their case really good. This is my first game here, so getting to see all that bumped them up higher.”
4-star running back Noah Cain, Bradenton, Fla.
“I like the energy Coach Mullen is bringing back to the school. You can tell a big difference with the new staff. They got that juice back at Florida. That energy and that fire back, so I really like that. They’re trying to get Florida back to those glory days when they were winning and going to the SEC championship every year. Coach Mullen is heading in the right direction with that.”
4-star wide receiver Mycah Pittman, Calabasas, Calif.
“It was an awesome visit. It was a great atmosphere. A lot of people were there. The fans are crazy and the love is real. … I felt like I could go out there and play some receiver. Coach Billy Gonzales is telling me, ‘We need you at the position.’ He thinks I can come in and make an impact at Florida.”
4-star athlete Mark-Antony Richards, West Palm Beach, Fla.
“I talked to most of the coaching staff. They just want me here as a player and a person. I just wanted to hear what they had to say and give them an opportunity like I give every other school. They took advantage of that. Florida is up there for me now.”
4-star defensive back Tyrique Stevenson, Miami
“It was pretty exciting and pretty great. I saw the vibe and I liked it. It just feels better. I got an even better vibe than I got when I was committed. It just opened my eyes up to a lot. Coach Mullen told me he wants me at safety roaming around behind C.J. [Henderson] and Marco [Wilson].”
4-star safety Brendan Gant, Lakeland, Fla. (Alabama commit)
“It was a good seeing the difference with the coaches and the culture. They just want me to come. Plenty of guys from my county came here and they want to keep the tradition going. They want to get the program back to what it was with [Tim] Tebow and all those boys.”
4-star defensive end Derick Hunter, Fort Myers, Fla.
“What impressed me was just seeing the old alumni come back and support Coach Mullen and the new staff on what they’re doing at the University of Florida. They’re showing the players that this is a family, a brotherhood. To be a part of that and have the Gators logo on your helmet, it means a lot.”
4-star guard Keiondre Jones, Hogansville, Ga.
“It was good. I like the vibe up here, so I keep coming back. I really got to see the fans and talk to some of them. I’ve been comfortable with these coaches since they were at Mississippi State. I’ve known them for a long time and we have regular conversations. I’m pretty cool with all of them.”
4-star cornerback Chester Kimbrough, New Orleans
“It was a fun experience. Florida has always been in the picture for me because of their past history. They’re my leader right now. … Coach Mullen told me whenever I’m ready to jump on board, just tell him and he’s going to make it happen.”
4-star safety Cortez Andrews, Tallahassee, Fla.
“It was real good. I enjoyed the environment, the fans and the coaches. I like the safeties. They’re real aggressive and I like the coverages they’re in. I definitely see myself playing in The Swamp.”
3-star linebacker Marcus Tillman Jr., Orlando, Fla.
“It was a big crowd just for a spring game. I feel a lot better about the staff now that I’ve been up here with them. I know Florida is up there at the top, but I’m still looking at everybody.”
3-star guard Ethan White, Clearwater, Fla. (Florida commit)
“The offense looked good. They scored a lot of points. They were running it well and throwing it well. It was crazy to see over 50,000 people come for a spring game. Fans were all over the place.”
3-star linebacker Jesiah Pierre, Mount Dora, Fla. (Miami commit)
“It was amazing out here feeling the Florida vibe and how it is around the school. It was just awesome. The fan love and how much they care about football really stands out. You can see how much the coaches care about the players and the culture they’re trying to build here.”
3-star defensive tackle Renato Brown, West Palm Beach, Fla. (Miami commit)
“It was nice. The coaches have told me the atmosphere has changed and I totally saw that during the game. There’s a lot behind the coaching and tradition here. The stadium is amazing and it gets packed.”
This post was edited on 4/16/18 at 9:20 am
Posted on 4/16/18 at 9:21 am to TideSaint
Tennessee makes cut for elite Louisiana ATH Christian Harris
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Going into Louisiana and building a recruiting pipeline to Knoxville is no easy feat, but it’s exactly what the Tennessee coaching staff is trying to do.
The Vols have earned a lot of interest from top prospect The Boot and continue to make noise in the area. Tennessee received more good news on this front Saturday when Christian Harris released his Top 10.
Harris is an elite athlete who will likely end up on the defensive side of the ball in the secondary. He’s valued by pretty much every program in the country. The Vols will battle out the rest of his recruitment with Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Auburn, Georgia, Texas and Florida State.
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Harris is one of the best 15 prospects in the state of Louisiana. Those prospects typically end up going to either Alabama or LSU.
It’s a gamble how much coach Jeremy Pruitt is placing an importance on the state. Not many programs spend too much time going after the top prospects there because it is so difficult to pry them from the Tigers or Crimson Tide. Harris actually grew up wanting to play for LSU, like many other top prospects from the state.
Tennessee’s progress in the state could end up defining how high the Class of 2019 and 2020 can land.
Posted on 4/16/18 at 9:24 am to TidalSurge1
Elite OLB Kevin Harris II locks in official visit to LSU
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One of the nation’s premier pass rushers has scheduled his first official visit to LSU.
Kevin Harris II, a 4-star hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker out of Georgia high school powerhouse Grayson (Ga.), will make an official visit to LSU on April 27. Harris is expected to make a decision soon after the visit.
The 6-foot-5, 217-pound Harris is the No. 68-ranked prospect in the Class of 2019. He is the No. 4 weak-side defensive end and a top-10 prospect inside the Peach State, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Harris most recently made an unofficial visit to Baton Rouge in March for the Tigers’ junior day function. Both of his parents hail from Louisiana and his sister currently resides in the city. During the Nike Opening regional camp in Atlanta, Harris indicated his ties to the Bayou State give LSU a slight edge.
LSU joins Alabama and Miami as the top schools for the 4-star pass-rusher. Harris made an unofficial visit to Alabama last weekend.
Posted on 4/16/18 at 9:31 am to TideSaint
Nation's top ranked recruit calls FSU visit "one of the best" (Noles247 - Josh Newberg)
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The Nation’s No. 1 overall player, five-star defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, made his first visit to Florida State over the weekend and came away impressed.
“This is probably one of the best trips I’ve been on, I love it,” Thibodeaux told Noles247. “It’s a family feel and I caught the feeling, I caught the wave of it and I see great things going on with coach Taggart.”
“I didn’t think it was going to be this fun. Like I knew it was going to be fun, it’s Florida State, they got the history, but it was real fun just being able to experience everything.”
The atmosphere around the program is what really stood out to Thibodeaux. “They’ve built a family and a brotherhood within the players, the staff and the team. Everyone loves each other, they’re all so welcoming, it’s great," he said.
Thibodeaux was accompanied on the visit by his mother and coach. His mother spoke to Noles247 after the visit ended. “I liked the visit, the visit was awesome. Everyone was great. I love the school, I love the spirit. We had a nice visit,” she said.
There was also some familiarity at FSU. Thibodeaux was able to spend time with fellow California native and current FSU safety Jaiden Woodbey. “He’s a real L.A. guy. He was able to give me insight, we’ve known each other for a long time. He was able to share with me some information that you cant just get from anywhere. He gave me insight on everything,” he said.
Thibodeaux also enjoyed watching the ‘Noles in action during the spring game. “They were intense, they rushed the passer which is my specialty and they get after it,” he added. “Usually when I go to games I don’t cheer, but I was cheering. They had me doing the ‘Nole chop, it was perfect.”
The trip to Tallahassee won’t be his last. Thibodeaux is already planning a return visit. “I will be back for the first game against Virginia Tech. This is locked. I’ll also go back to Alabama, those two are locked.”
Posted on 4/16/18 at 9:37 am to TidalSurge1
Defensive end target Jaren Handy updates Auburn’s status among leaders
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Jaren Handy wants to stay patient with decision
Jaren Handy wants to take a step back.
It’s been a busy few months for the defensive end from Mississippi. Handy committed and de-committed from LSU earlier this spring, wishing to slow down the process. After his Auburn visit, he labeled those Tigers as his No. 1 school. But he’s started taking more visits to places such as Ole Miss and Alabama, and he realizes he doesn’t want to name leaders on a regular basis throughout his recruitment.
“I don’t want to change it every time I visit a different school, so I don’t want to name a leader. Everyone is equal. This is my first time experiencing all of this, so everything is going to look pretty good,” Handy told SEC Country.
That doesn’t take away from the love he has for Auburn.
His relationship with area recruiter Marcus Woodson is still one of the strongest in the country.
He has several close connections at Ole Miss, too, and the in-state pull is there. Handy also takes this step back coming off his Alabama visit. The Crimson Tide impressed the 6-foot-5, 290-pound defensive end. Along with potentially Florida, Handy said those three programs are the likeliest to receive official visits.
His decision to eliminate leaders from his recruitment isn’t meant to be a knock on the Tigers, simply a different approach to his process.
“I just had to think on it some more. I don’t want to put a team over another team and then go to another school and feel better about them than I did with Auburn. I’m just going to wait it out now,” Handy said.
Posted on 4/16/18 at 9:38 am to TidalSurge1
Newberg and one of the other Florida State mods just CB'd Thibodeaux to the Seminoles.
Posted on 4/16/18 at 9:58 am to TideSaint
Top-50 DL Nathan Pickering sets up return visit to LSU
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LSU’s spring game visitor list is laden with the talent and another top-50 prospect has joined the party.
Nathan Pickering, a 4-star defensive lineman from Seminary (Miss.) High School, is expected to attend the Tigers’ spring game this weekend.
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound strong-side end ranks as the No. 49 overall prospect in the Class of 2019. Pickering sits at the No. 4 defensive end and No. 2-rated recruit from Mississippi in this year’s loaded crop of talent.
Pickering made an unofficial visit to LSU back in March along with fellow blue-chip wide receiver Dannis Jackson. The Tigers are putting themselves in a strong position to host the 2019 Under Armour All-American for an official visit later in the year.
Posted on 4/16/18 at 10:01 am to TideSaint
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Newberg and one of the other Florida State mods just CB'd Thibodeaux to the Seminoles.
Homers. Moar clicks! My homer CB says Bama.
This post was edited on 4/16/18 at 10:06 am
Posted on 4/16/18 at 10:05 am to TideSaint
Alabama Football Recruiting: Crimson Tide Turning Up the Heat
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It may seem early to talk about Crimson Tide recruiting for future classes a little over two months removed from NSD18. However, the Early Signing Period (ESP) has changed everything. Nick Saban will not get caught flat-footed this go-around. As scary good as Bama recruiting has been in the recent past, just imagine what motivated, ultra-aggressive Bama recruiting is like. The Tide received two new key commitments a week ago Thursday to bring the 2019 total up to six. Saban and staff are looking to lock down commitments earlier than ever, and could be receiving to new pledges in the coming weeks. This new strategy would preface to a vast majority of the coming class signing during the December ESP.
LAST WEEKEND
Alabama held their first scrimmage of the spring last weekend with several high profile recruits on hand. The list included the top ranked overall player for 2019 Kayvon Thibodeaux. The 5-star defensive end is made his trek from Thousand Oaks, California. By all accounts, he had a good time and Tweeted that he would return in the fall for an official visit. Bama is in the running but my gut tells me his heart lies on the west coast.
THE RAEKWON TRAIN
The emergence of Bama DL Raekwon Davis out of Meridian, MS has caught the attention of many other defenders from the Magnolia state.
On campus last weekend were a trio of Mississippi natives in Nakobe Dean, Jaren Handy, Jarrian Jones. The Tide is in good position to sign all three. Dean is a 5-star ILB from Horn Lake outside of Memphis. He is the top recruit in the state. Handy is a 4-star defensive end from the Hattiesburg area who considers Davis a “role model”. Jones is a 4-star safety from a Jackson suburb.
Another 4-star Mississippi DE Byron Young out of Laurel, MS named Alabama his favorite in February after a Junior Day visit. The Tide is also pursuing 4-star defensive end Nathan Pickering from Seminary, MS.
THIS WEEKEND
More prospects are visiting this weekend and took in the second scrimmage.
Clay Webb is a 5-star offensive lineman out of Oxford, AL who could be slotted as the next Tide center should he commit. He has become close friends with Tide commits Pierce Quick and Paul Tyson. Andrew Bone reported those three players went on Spring Break together. Webb could be the next to commit.
Antonio Alfano from Colonia, NJ is making his second visit to Tuscaloosa. The DT is a high 4-star and ranked 58th in the nation by the 247 Comp. Penn State is the team to beat but Saban won’t make it easy for the Nittany Lions. Look for an official visit from him in the fall.
Nolan Smith is making his third trip to T-town. The Savannah native is a UGA commit ... for now. He is a high 4-star who would fit in nicely as a Jack linebacker. He is currently enrolled at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL whose further distance from Athens, GA could work in the Tide’s favor.
4-star ILB Shane Lee and 4-star OT Darrian Dalcourt from Baltimore, MD arrived on Thursday and are scheduled to leave on Sunday making a good long stopover in Tuscaloosa. They are teammates with Bama 5-star signee Eyabi Anoma.
North Forest (Texas) High School teammates Javonne Shepherd, a 4-star tackle, and 2020 4-star wide receiver Demond Demas arrived on Friday and are staying through Sunday. A visit to Texas by Nick Saban and Jeff Banks to see this pair during NSD18 crunch time in January should be a good indication that he wants them on future teams.
Vonta Bentley was back for a second Capstone visit. The 4-star ILB hales from Birmingham (Jackson-Olin).
The top receiver and possibly top overall player for 2020 Julian Fleming was in town on Thursday. Bama WR coach Josh Gattis has a long-standing relationship with Fleming starting with his days at Penn State. He is from a small Pennsylvania town 90 miles from State College.
NEXT WEEKEND
April 21 is Alabama A-Day. A plethora of prospects from 2019 and beyond are expected to be on hand.
- It would be beyond surprising if Taulia Tagovailoa and family were not on hand to watch big brother Tua. There is a good chance that Taulia’s high school teammate 4-star offensive tackle Amari Kight. These two were on campus for a midweek visit this past week.
- Christian Harris has taken four visits to Alabama since the start of the year and is likely to return for the A-Day game. He attends Tim Williams alma mater University Lab in Baton Rouge, LA. Harris is a 4-star Athlete who would likely play linebacker at Alabama. He is a big fan of fellow Red Stick native Dylan Moses.
- Jaylen McCollough 4-star safety from Kenyan Drake’s high school Hillgrove in Powder Springs, GA will be on campus.
- 5-star OL Darnell Wright is scheduled to be at A-Day. He is from Huntington, WV.
ETC.
High 4-star DE/OLB Kevin Harris was in town two weekends ago and may be making a commitment soon. The Loganville, GA (Grayson) native is down to Alabama, Miami and LSU. He is friendly with recent Tide commit Rashad Cheney.
Posted on 4/16/18 at 10:06 am to TideSaint
Kevin Harris:
Posted on 4/16/18 at 10:07 am to TideSaint
Antonio Alfano:
Posted on 4/16/18 at 10:41 am to TideSaint
Top100 DL Antonio Alfano talks return visit to Alabama (BamaOnLine-VIP)
4-star DE Antonio Alfano 6-4/255 (NJ) hudl
Antonio Alfano's weekend visit with his dad, was his first trip back since last June. He got plenty of quality time with Gattis, Kugliowski, Lupoi, Saban and the players. “It was awesome. I had a great time. The coaches really want me... think I can play early as a freshman. I got to spend time with the players... got a feel about how they acted around each other... the brotherhood they have...” He said Bama is "definitely" one of his top schools that he'll officially visit.
ETA: VIP restriction was removed, but I'll leave the post as is in case it goes back.
4-star DE Antonio Alfano 6-4/255 (NJ) hudl
Antonio Alfano's weekend visit with his dad, was his first trip back since last June. He got plenty of quality time with Gattis, Kugliowski, Lupoi, Saban and the players. “It was awesome. I had a great time. The coaches really want me... think I can play early as a freshman. I got to spend time with the players... got a feel about how they acted around each other... the brotherhood they have...” He said Bama is "definitely" one of his top schools that he'll officially visit.
ETA: VIP restriction was removed, but I'll leave the post as is in case it goes back.
This post was edited on 4/17/18 at 1:10 pm
Posted on 4/16/18 at 11:02 am to TidalSurge1
quote:
Newberg and one of the other Florida State mods just CB'd Thibodeaux to the Seminoles.
Cumming a little fast I see
Posted on 4/16/18 at 11:05 am to seanpendleton10
Cordale Flott says Florida is his leader.
Posted on 4/16/18 at 11:07 am to TideSaint
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