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

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The 6-foot-4, 217-pound prospect told SEC Country on Monday why Alabama was high on his list. “Alabama has everything I need,” Harris said. “I can come into their system and prove myself as a player. Some things about Alabama are different than other schools.

Alabama is very business-like. Everything over there is serious, so that’s going to mature me as a person. The alumni program they have over there, the 1st & Ten club, most schools don’t have that. When you travel around and mention the name Alabama, everyone knows who you’re talking about. I can get internships after football. That’s Alabama.”

With Harris on board, the Tide are getting one of the nation’s best pass rushers with an explosive first step. He currently has the nation’s fastest agility shuttle time of 4.13 seconds out of every defensive lineman who has attended a Nike The Opening regional camp this year.

What kind of person is the winning school getting in Harris? Grayson coach Christian Hunnicutt offered up some serious praise for his star player. “He’s going to be a great ambassador,” Hunnicutt said. “I really believe that. He’s going to be a person that represents whichever institution in a first-class manner.

"I would say that if he wasn’t right here. If you just sit in the meetings and you scan the room, he’s really attentive. He processes everything. He doesn’t just sit there and listen. He tries to understand what you were saying. He’s going to be an unbelievable contributor to whichever campus has him.”

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At one time it looked like Kevin Harris would end up at LSU. The Tigers slid back to a distant third place over the last few weeks though and it came down to Alabama and Miami.

The 6-foot-4, 218 pound edge rusher out of Loganville (Ga.) Grayson was leaning one way last week, but made his final decision a few days ago. It was a grind for Harris and he breaks his commitment to Alabama down.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: "I was leaning towards Miami, but decided over the weekend that it was Alabama for me," said Harris. "I had a talk with my parents and they said it was my decision — my first grown man decision and I just did what was best for me. I feel Alabama is the best school for me.

"It was a tough decision. We narrowed down each school very well and I did a lot of research to help me make the decision. I have goals that I want to accomplish and I never want to cut myself short and I think Alabama can help get me there. They can get me where I want to be. Alabama pushes their players 100-percent and that is where I want to be.

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You really, really want to know

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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. In this edition, we talk the latest about one of Alabama’s top defensive end targets and about new offers that have been extended. 

Nathan Pickering says Alabama is definitely getting an official visit

Nathan Pickering, a 4-star defensive end from Seminary (Miss.) High School, is one of Alabama’s top defensive end targets in the 2019 class, along with 4-star Mississippi prospects Byron Young and Jaren Handy and 4-star prospect Antonio Alfano from New Jersey.

Pickering, the nation’s No. 4 strongside defensive end, told SEC Country’s Sam Spiegelman that he knows of two schools that definitely will host him on an official visit this fall.

“LSU and Alabama are definitely getting official visits,” Pickering said. “I prayed to God, and since I got my top 10, I’ve talked to my parents, my coaches and those were the two teams that’ll definitely be in it. They have great football teams, fits academically, city, fans. It’s a great environment.”

Sam Spiegelman @samspiegs
Nathan Pickering is BEASTLY today
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11:27 AM · Apr 29, 2018

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound prospect said LSU is recruiting him the hardest right now; the Tigers are texting him every day and are talking by phone with him at least twice a week. He said a lot of those conversations are with coach Ed Orgeron.

Pickering is an excellent football player wanted by schools over the country, but he’s also a gifted student with a 3.9 GPA and plans to major in mechanical engineering. When he visited Alabama the last time, academics was something that was stressed to him.

“Alabama is a great school that has a great football team, of course, but not only that, they are very interested in getting you a degree,” Pickering said. “When I went up there for the first time, I actually had a chance to meet with the engineering dean. That was great to know that they would focus on my degree and football.”

Pickering has a top 10 of Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Southern Cal and Texas. He said Florida is the school out of that group that stands out academically from the rest. He visited Gainesville earlier this month and left impressed with the school’s academic pitch to him.

Don’t plan on a decision any time soon from the Under Armour All-American, though. “I’m planning on making a decision sometime in January. I don’t plan on rushing it. I plan on weighing out all my options,” Pickering said. “I think the top 10 I have is the top 10 that I believe will be the schools I actually have a chance of going to and getting to the NFL.”

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“I think Alabama is landing one of the most athletic edge guys in the country in Kevin Harris. An explosive pass rusher off the edge that I believe has a lot of upside as he continues to get stronger. You see all the things you covet in a camp setting and on the film from a guy that can be a difference maker off the edge. In today’s game of tempo offenses and spread offenses, you need a guy that can impact the game and be disruptive. Kevin Harris is a guy that is one of the better bets in the class to be an impact pass rusher. And when you look at him athletically and from a size standpoint those traits translate well to Alabama's Jack linebacker position. 

“You put his traits in a program like Alabama’s and you like him even more. Because you feel like they’re going to get every ounce of ability out of him from a strength and conditioning standpoint. He already has that quickness that you can’t teach. In addition, he’s physical, he’s tough, he’s a high motor kid that also impacts the game against the run.

“Another great pickup for Alabama as they load up now on both sides of the ball in this 2019 recruiting class. Also, it shows you the closing ability of the Alabama staff even though it’s a long way from National Signing Day. Miami makes a charge there and Alabama holds them off.”

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