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

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Alabama finished seventh in the 2018 class recruiting rankings, but expect the Crimson Tide to be back on top in 2019. SEC Country’s Chris Kirschner will answer the Recruiting Question of the Day each weekday. You can ask him your questions on  Twitter or on  Facebook. Find our previous questions and answers  here.

What’s the word on Kevin Harris? I have seen a lot of crystal balls pointing the Tide’s way. - @Jays_in_closet

Kevin Harris, a 4-star weakside defensive end from Grayson High School (Loganville, Ga.), is expected to announce his commitment on May 1. Harris told SEC Country last week that he was more than likely going to announce his choice at the same time as his teammates, 5-star linebacker Owen Pappoe and 4-star tackle Wanya Morris.

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Harris was one of the most impressive players at Nike’s The Opening Atlanta regional camp in March, which was loaded with top prospects. At The Opening camp, he was named one of the top-5 defensive linemen in attendance. He also ran a 4.76-second 40-yard dash and had a 36.4-inch vertical. His 4.13-second short-shuttle time was the fastest among defensive linemen and the fourth-fastest overall.

His testing numbers and performance in 1-on-1s earned him an invite to arguably the most prestigious camp for high school football players — The Opening Finals, which will be held in Frisco, Texas, at the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility this summer.

I see LSU as the Tide’s top challenger for Harris’ commitment. He said last month LSU had the edge, but that is only because he hadn’t visited Tuscaloosa yet, which he did earlier this month. But Harris’ family is from Baton Rouge, La., and he still has several members of his extended family living there.

We’ll see what happens. I think it’s too early to give a prediction either way with two visits coming up in the next two weekends and a visit to Tuscaloosa this Monday.

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Welcome to SEC Country’s daily Auburn Tigers football recruiting notebook with Auburn recruiting beat writer Benjamin Wolk. It’s Thursday, and SEC Country gets an update from in-state linebacker Vonta Bentley. Also, the Tigers passed out a key 2020 offer. And what’s the latest Owen Pappoe buzz?

In-state LB clarifies Auburn’s standing among top schools

When Vonta Bentley spoke with SEC Country last month, his main message wasn’t great news for Auburn. Bentley called Clemson his leader. That hasn’t changed. But what was unnerving to the Auburn side was how Bentley considered the Tigers to be far on the outside compared to Clemson and Alabama.

Based on his comments, however, it seemed like the Auburn staff wasn’t making as much of a push for the Jackson-Olin (Ala.) linebacker as a few other prospects in the 2019 class. That wasn’t Auburn’s intent, several sources have made clear.

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Bentley is among the Tigers’ favorite linebackers in that class, and they made sure to correct the record in short order. After a Clemson visit earlier this month, Bentley drove through Auburn with a few of his teammates to drop off defensive tackle signee Coynis Miller who was set for a multi-day stay. On that trip — his second this spring — Bentley noticed an increase level of attention and interest from the Tigers.

“I’d say most of the coaching staff are writing letters to me now after that little visit I took up there,” Bentley told SEC Country. “All the coaches, they be communicating with me. They’re always pumped up, excited, loud. I’ll say that. They’re always screaming. T-Will [linebackers coach Travis Williams] was all shouting, ‘Vonta’s here, Vonta’s here,’ when I got there. That was funny.”

It has caused a shift for Bentley. Auburn is no longer on the outside looking in. He still refers to Clemson as his leader and admits other programs are going to have to show him something more to top Dabo Swinney and Co.

But Auburn is in the conversation now with Bentley telling SEC Country that Auburn has moved into the No. 2 spot above Alabama (the Crimson Tide are expected to bring in a star-studded linebacker class and Bentley isn’t feeling as much love).

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Bentley’s process isn’t close to complete. He wants to take his time with his commitment, perhaps looking toward an end-of-season decision. Bentley wouldn’t mind waiting until National Signing Day, but he mentioned the uncertainty of being able to wait that long because of numbers restrictions his top schools might have at linebacker.

In other words, he wouldn’t want to wait so long his school of choice didn’t have an open scholarship for him Still, Bentley hopes to check out a few more schools, namely LSU, Tennessee and Ole Miss.

As he closes in on his decision, the relationship between Auburn and Jackson-Olin will be the key. TD Moultry and Miller have started that pipeline the last two recruiting classes. Bentley confirmed that can only help Auburn come decision time.

“I’d say as far as Auburn, it does help. We can catch up with the players that are down there. We can hear how Auburn really is and what they like about it. We’re in touch with TD and Coynis, so that’s going to help with other players from J-O,” Bentley said.

“It’s always going to be an advantage when you can talk to one of the players who’s already down there. You can learn why they like it, which I can tell why they like it because those coaches are pumped up and have fun while still handling their business.”

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Amari Kight, 4-star tackle, Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)

Amari Kight is my likeliest candidate to commit to Alabama this weekend. He’s a big part of the Tide’s plan on the offensive line in the 2019 class, which possibly could include 5-star tackles Pierce Quick and Darnell Wright, 5-star center Clay Webb and Kight. He has been to Tuscaloosa numerous times since becoming a national recruit and was back in town last Wednesday.

Alabama is in excellent position to land his commitment. “I want to go somewhere that I can compete against the top competition and where I think I can get better,” Kight said. It should be noted that Kight is also teammates with 4-star quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who is a strong lean to Alabama.

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Jerrion Ealy, 4-star running back, Jackson Prep (Flowood, Miss.)

If Jerrion Ealy makes it back to Tuscaloosa, which he is expected to, this will be his second trip to Alabama in a few weeks. The Ole Miss commit is considered one of the Tide’s top running back targets.

Ealy’s recruitment is still open as he has taken visits elsewhere since committing to Ole Miss, so this one bears watching. I do know that he way very impressed on his Tuscaloosa visit earlier this month.

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