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

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When asked who he was close to CBing to Alabama next, Hank South said these three names: Devonta Lee Darnell Wright Nnamdi Adim-Madumere

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I LOL'ed when I read the article here yesterday that said utk should be considered in the driver's seat for Wright. Unless he suddenly gets spooked by the depth chart, he's going to Bama.

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COLONIA, N.J. -- Antonio Alfano acknowledges there is a lot less stress in his life these days, and the heavy burden of an intense recruiting process is nearly lifted.

The No. 1 player in New Jersey and the No. 5 strong side defensive end in the 247Sports Composite knows which school he will pick -- Georgia, Alabama and Penn State are the finalists -- and the only thing left is Friday's 3 p.m. (EDT) announcement at Colonia High.

"I've had other schools come by and try to get back into the process but it's too late," the 6-foot-4 285-pound Alfano said. "I've known my decision for a while now."

Alfano holds dozens of offers, but narrowed it down to three last month. And as he waded through the offers and where he would fit best, he made unofficial visits to each of them in April.

"It was tough," Alfano said. "I thought in the beginning it was going to come a whole lot easier. I am finally ready to make a decision and a weight has been lifted off my shoulders."

Alfano played his first two seasons at Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic, spent the fall at Rahway (N.J.) High and he will spend the 2018 season at Colonia High.

He is set to graduate in December and enroll at his college of choice in January, and his high school path led to what he wanted in a college.

"I wanted a Bergen Catholic feel in college, like a brotherhood type of thing," he said. "I really searched for that in schools. I think having that, and my teammates, my brothers, essentially have my back when I am out there because I am not going to have my parents there, will be cool."

Alfano was involved with Penn State early in his recruitment, and the bond with the coaching staff developed over time.

"Penn State is awesome. I love Penn State," he said. "I think they are an awesome program, and up-and-coming program and I wouldn't be surprised if they are playing for a national title pretty soon. Their recruiting class for 2018 and 2019 is ridiculous."

Alabama always intrigued Alfano because of its success on the field, and the hiring of assistant coach Josh Gattis away from Penn State brought familiarity.

"The way the coaches embraced me when I went down there, it had a family feel," Alfano said. "I like the climate, too. Every other school has great football, but 'Bama is the top of the top. The players, with the way they watched out for each other, that was good. It opened my eyes."

Meanwhile, Alfano's interest in Georgia started at young age, and for a youthful reason, but then turned into something else.

"I love red and black. They are so cool to me and basically (most of) the teams I played for, we were red and black," he said. "The defensive line coach is really upbeat. I like the way he coaches. He's going to get after it with the guys, and his guys are going to grind through stuff.

"Also, they finished No. 2 in the country. Having the top two teams in the country in your top three is kind of crazy. People were telling me it is absurd."

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Downvote if you must, but dismissing Tennessee in this recruiting battle at this point is absurd.

Wright's HS coach is a lifelong Vol from Morristown...

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Downvote if you must, but dismissing Tennessee in this recruiting battle at this point is absurd.


Wright's HS coach is a lifelong Vol from Morristown. Wright loves Pruitt and Will Friend. This isn't Lyle recruiting him.

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IN HIS OWN WORDS...

"I’ve been keeping in contact with Penn State, Virginia Tech, USC, and Clemson," Hellams said. "What position I play will have an effect on which school I choose. I don’t have a preference. Some schools I like offense more and others I like defense more.

"Penn State offered me pretty early in the process and I’ve been up there probably around five times," he said. "It’s not close to home but it’s not too far to where traveling for a family event is too far out of the way. I’ve built a relationship with the coaches. Coach Banks, coach Smith, and coach Franklin have done a good job keeping in touch throughout the process.

"I had a good visit to Clemson," said Hellams. "It was the spring game and that was my first game-like experience down there. A lot of people showed up, they were supportive, and you got a feel for what game day is like.

"I’m not sure if I’ll any spring official visits," he said. "I’m trying to commit before our season starts. I’d like to take an unofficial visit to USC at some point this offseason.

"There is no leader right now but there are a lot of schools on the same level as far as standing out," Hellams said. "No school has made that move to the leader."

On his new offer from Nebraska: "It’s a program I know has a great tradition as a powerhouse program," he said. "They have a loyal fan base and I think that how their seasons have been recently won’t be that way for too long. Coach Frost will change that program around in a hurry like what was done at UCF in my opinion."

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