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

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Naturally, the Tide’s success recruiting Tangipahoah Parish and in particular, Amite (La.) High School, gets LSU fans very worried. Understandably so, if I may add.

Nick Saban and his staff poached 4-star defensive back Shyheim Carter out of Kentwood (La.) High in 2016. They followed suit in 2017 with 4-star receiver DeVonta Smith, who was the hero in the national championship game. In 2019, there’s a trio of prospects from the area that the Tigers are hopeful of landing, including Sospher as well as 4-star wideouts Trey Palmer and Devonta Lee.

While Sopsher made his way to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for A-Day, it was his first time back on campus in almost a year. He has been to Baton Rouge several more times during that same span, which should not be overlooked because he opted not to attend the LSU spring game.

It’s also worth noting that Sopsher is a family-first person. He is extremely close with his parents and his older brother Rodney, who’s currently at community college nearby. Wherever Sopsher chooses to play his college football, it will be close enough so that his family can be there on Saturdays, which naturally gives LSU a unique advantage.

With that said, he isn’t honing in on one school at the moment. LSU has its edges in several different departments, but Sopsher is just beginning take visits elsewhere. When the time comes to make a decision in February, I still feel confident he winds up sticking with the Tigers.

Sam Spiegelman

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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 the nation’s No. 1 defensive tackle.

Ishmael Sopsher talks recent Alabama visit 

Ishmael Sopsher, the nation’s No. 1 defensive tackle from Amite (La.) High School, has been to Tuscaloosa numerous times since his recruitment began more than a year ago. When DeVonta Smith, his former teammate at Amite, went through his recruitment and visited Alabama, Sopsher usually tagged along.

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Sopsher brought along his mom, dad, brother and girlfriend on his visit to Tuscaloosa on Saturday. He said all of them had a great time and couldn’t pinpoint one moment as being the best because it was that good of a trip for the family.

LSU is seen as the favorite by many recruiting experts because of its close proximity to Amite. It’s about an hour away from the high school, but Sopsher was clear that distance to his family isn’t a big deal.

“I will say that any school can get me at the moment. My recruitment is completely open,” Sopsher said. “I also don’t care how close the school is to home. That doesn’t matter. If this school is going to prepare me for the NFL and get me a good education and I feel very comfortable there, that’s the school I’m going to be at no matter where it is.”

It sounds as if Sopsher believes that Alabama is one of those schools that fits what he’s looking for.

“Alabama is always going to treat you right,” he said. “The hospitality is always great when you go there. Every time I go there, I just feel very comfortable. It didn’t feel any different this time.

“With Alabama, it’s all about competing. It doesn’t matter where you go, but you’re going to have to compete. That’s just the way it goes. They told me that Isaiah Buggs is leaving after this year and Raekwon Davis may leave early. There are definitely spots open, but it doesn’t matter to me. They can put me anywhere and I’m going to compete.”

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Coach Golding is not only recruiting Sopsher from Amite but also 4-star wide receiver Devonta Lee. Lee is one of the Tide’s top receiver targets in the 2019 class. Sopsher said he has talked about the possibility of playing with Lee in college, but it’s not a certainty that it happens.

“We have been talking about that since the eighth grade,” Sopsher said. “I met him in the seventh grade, and we have always been talking together about playing with each other in college. But you know there may be things that I like about a school that he may not like, so we have to make the best decisions for both of us. I just want him to pick the best option for him.”

The recruitment of both Sopsher and Lee could come down to another classic Alabama-LSU recruiting war. Their former teammate, Smith, chose the Tide over the Tigers and the trio could certainly reunite in Tuscaloosa next season.

The nation’s No. 4 overall player broke down what he feels is the difference between the SEC foes.

“Alabama is a championship-caliber team, and I feel like LSU is also a championship-caliber team, too,” Sopsher said. “But, it’s all about the physicality and the work they put in on and off the field at Alabama. I’m not saying LSU isn’t dedicated to themselves, but Alabama always outworks its opponent every week.”

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One of those staff members that is in communication with Sopsher is assistant director of player personnel Sam Petitto. Petitto got his coaching start at Amite High School and was a big reason why DeVonta Smith ended up choosing the Tide. Smith has said he considers Petitto a father figure in his life. While Sopsher isn’t as close with Petitto as Smith is, there is some history there.

“He’s my dad’s friend,” Sopsher said of Petitto. “I didn’t really know him as well as DeVonta [Smith] did. DeVonta is really close with Coach Petitto. My dad grew up with Coach Petitto, though. They played on the same high school team together.

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Sam Spiegelman

"When the time comes to make a decision in February, I still feel confident he winds up sticking with the Tigers."

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Alabama appears to be losing a member of its staff. According to Matt Zenitz of AL.com, UAB is expected to hire Crimson Tide director of player personnel Jody Wright, who has been in his current role since 2015. Wright will be the offensive line coach, assistant coach and run game coordinator for the Blazers.

Wright was the running backs coach, assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator at UAB in 2014. He served under Bill Clark, who is still the Blazers’ coach. Wright also coached under Clark at Jacksonville State in 2013.

Wright was a graduate assistant at Alabama in 2010, then he was an offensive analyst from 2011-12. He returned to the Crimson Tide in January 2015 as director of player personnel. Wright also served as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State, where he also became director of football operations, spending five seasons there.

In his current role, Wright has helped organize all of Alabama’s recruiting efforts. He helped the Crimson Tide bring in the top recruiting class in the nation in 2015 and 2016. Wright has also helped Alabama with coaching clinics, camps and on-campus events.

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