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

quote:

---

Sterling Johnson (6-4/305), a rotation defensive lineman at Clemson, is also looking to take a graduate transfer. Johnson appeared in  eleven games for the Tigers this season, recording 14 tackles and two sacks in 2017. He was a high school All-American, so the talent is there. And Johnson still has time to make an impact - he's got two years of eligiblity remaining.

Jabril Robinson (6-3/265), a Clemson defensive lineman, has announced his intention to explore the grad transfer market. Robinson played in 11 games for the Tigers in 2017, seeing about 20 snaps per game. He graduated in December. With stiff competition in front of him on the depth chart, it's likely Robinson is looking for more time on the football field somewhere else.

Dylan Thompson (6-5/280), a reserve defensive lineman, is taking a graduate transfer from Ohio State. Thompson's career has been marred by injury and academic issues, and he was able to play his first game for the Buckeyes until 2017. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

---

quote:

---

Syracuse football defensive tackle Kayton Samuels will seek a transfer and use his fifth year of eligibility at another school, he announced Saturday night... As a graduate transfer, the Georgia native will be eligible to play during the 2018 season. In 34 career games, Samuels recorded 44 tackles, including 4.5 for loss.

---

quote:

---

Alabama one step closer to landing potential quarterback

Coach Nick Saban hinted last week that Alabama may potentially bring in a quarterback in the coming weeks after striking out on signing a 2018 signal caller on scholarship.

“I think that we’ll probably have a quarterback join us, some kind of way between now and then, which I don’t think I can comment about,” he said. “Look, when you have really good young players at a position, sometimes it’s hard to attract another guy at that particular position. I think you all know our circumstance at quarterback right now with the players we have here, the grade they are in and how much more eligibility they have.

“So, rather [than] reach for somebody, we would rather try to solve the issue another way. Maybe get a more experienced guy down the road, and certainly think that next year we might be in a position to get a really good player at that position who could be someone who could impact us in the future.”

The top target who has emerged as a possibility for the Crimson Tide is East Carolina graduate transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew, who threw for 2,140 yards, 16 touchdowns with 7 interceptions this past season for the Pirates.

Minshew, who was expected to be ECU’s No. 1 quarterback this spring, told SEC Country that the reason why he transferred from the program in late January was because of an emergency family situation. He sent his release out to schools “within driving distance” from his home in Brandon, Miss. Schools in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee received his release.

Alabama was one of the first schools to reach out to Minshew. He said he initially spoke to offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, but his primary communication has been with quarterbacks coach Dan Enos. He’s also had one phone conversation with Saban.

Minshew, who has one year of eligibility left and the potential for a redshirt year, said he’s leaning toward the Tide.

“Alabama 100 percent leads,” Minshew told SEC Country. “They were the first ones to hit me up. There haven’t been many schools to hit me up. I told the [Alabama] coaches that it was a situation that was favorable for me. I’m in. They told me they’re in, so I’m in on them. That’s where I’m at right now.”

The 6-foot-1, 223-pound quarterback said he plans to visit Tuscaloosa, which is roughly a 2 1/2-hour drive west on I-20 from Brandon, Miss., as soon as he can. It’s likely the school he chooses if everything goes well on his visit.

---

quote:

---

Tuesday brought an offer from Florida, as well as a phone call from Alabama head coach Nick Saban. The last-second press led to one final night of limited rest before he inked his letter, but none of it caused Ahlers to waver in his decision.

---

quote:

---

Despite a rush of interest from the very best in the nation, Ahlers stuck to his original decision to attend ECU. Georgia had offered previously, while Florida and Alabama came on late. Alabama coach Nick Saban spoke to Ahlers late Tuesday night and had wanted to speak further with him, but Ahlers told him he was signing with ECU.

---