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re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:33 pm to TideSaint
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:33 pm to TideSaint
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PIERCE QUICK, 5-STAR OT, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE (ALA.)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 285 pounds
Rating: No. 6 OT, No. 29 overall player
Commitment date: 4/22/2017
Quick is the longest standing 2019 commitment in Alabama’s class. The five-star tackle is also considered the class leader as he’s gotten involved in multiple recruitments that have ended with prospects committing to the Tide. Earlier this spring, Quick opted to shut down his recruitment in terms of taking visits elsewhere to focus solely on Alabama finishing with the best class possible. Shortly after Quick announced his intentions, the Tide’s recruiting efforts took off. The elite lineman plans to workout at camp on Monday as well as do some recruiting. His biggest target is five-star center and close friend Clay Webb. Quick is locked in with Alabama.
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Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:34 pm to TideSaint
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AMARI KIGHT, 4-STAR OT, ALABASTER (ALA.) THOMPSON
Height/Weight: 6-foot-6.5, 315 pounds
Rating: No. 9 OT, No. 51 overall player
Commitment date: 4/29/2018
Kight is the second part, along with Quick, of the elite in-state trio of linemen that Alabama hopes to land. The third part being the aforementioned five-star center Clay Webb. Kight landed an offer from the Crimson Tide last summer but, despite growing up a fan of Alabama, opted to take his time before making a decision this spring. The four-star tackle protects fellow Alabama commit Taulia Tagovailoa on what is a loaded Thompson Warriors roster. Like Quick, don’t expect Kight to take anymore visits as of now. The in-state lineman is locked in with the Tide. He’ll be back on campus this summer.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:34 pm to TideSaint
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ANTONIO ALFANO, 4-STAR DE, COLONIA (N.J.)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 285 pounds
Rating: No. 5 SDE, No. 56 overall player
Commitment date: 5/18/2018
Alabama is need of elite defensive linemen in the 2019 class and it got just that in Alfano. The East Coast native recently chose the Tide over Georgia and Penn State after taking a return trip to Tuscaloosa back in April. Alfano will make his case for a fifth star come the final rankings. At 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, the UA commit ran a 4.8-second 40-yard dash and jumped a 36-inch vertical. When he committed to the Tide last month, Alfano said there’s been talk about him actually playing Jack linebacker (hybrid DE/OLB). There’s no question the Tide landed special talent in Alfano.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:35 pm to TideSaint
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SHANE LEE, 4-STAR ILB, BALTIMORE (MD.) ST. FRANCES ACADEMY
Height/Weight: 6-feet, 253 pounds
Rating: No. 4 ILB, No. 70 overall player
Commitment date: 4/17/2018
Similar to defensive line, Alabama is in need of inside linebackers in its 2019 class. Lee figures to be at least one of three inside ‘backers taken in the cycle with five-star Nakobe Dean and four-star Christian Harris being the other primary targets as it stands. Lee is a former teammate of UA edge rusher Eyabi Anoma. He committed to the program upon his first-ever visit to the Capstone over several other offers from Penn State and Ohio State to name a couple. The Top100 defender says his recruitment is shut down and he no longer plans to take any other visits.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:35 pm to TideSaint
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CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS, 4-STAR CB, DAPHNE (ALA.)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 182 pounds
Rating: No. 9 CB, No. 77 overall player
Commitment date: 4/16/2018
Alabama signed a cornerbacks class for the ages in 2018 with five-star Patrick Surtain Jr., the No. 1 junior college corner Saivion Smith, and four-stars Josh Jobe, Jalyn Armour-Davis, and Eddie Smith. The Tide picked up right where it left off adding the Bama lean in April. Williams grew up a fan of Alabama, admitting early on that the program held an unspoken advantage when it came to recruiting. The in-state defensive back still plans to take visits elsewhere. Auburn, LSU, and Tennessee are a few programs to watch. As it stands, however, I would be surprised to see Williams leave the class.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:35 pm to TideSaint
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KEVIN HARRIS, 4-STAR WDE, LOGANVILLE (GA.) GRAYSON
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 218 pounds
Rating: No. 5 WDE, No. 82 overall player
Commitment date: 5/1/2018
Most would argue you can never have too many pass rushers. Harris gives the Tide yet another option off the edge to join with QB terror Eyabi Anoma come the Fall of 2019. Harris chose the Tide over Miami and LSU in a recruitment that had some back and forth over the last few days prior to a decision. Ultimately, the opportunity to be developed under Nick Saban is what won out for the Top100 prospect. Another plus for Alabama in the quest to hold on to the Peach State native, he already took official visits to both Miami and LSU, but not Alabama.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:36 pm to TideSaint
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BRANDON TURNAGE, 4-STAR ATH, OXFORD (MISS.)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds
Rating: No. 7 ATH, No. 111 overall player
Commitment date: 12/22/2017
Historically it’s been difficult to pull the state of Mississippi’s best out of state for college with deep allegiances rooted in Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Bama proved successful at the feat in 2016 landing Raekwon Davis, Nigel Knott, and Scott Lashley. And with 2019 a loaded year in the Magnolia State, the Tide will hope to do the same this go-round. Turnage committed to the program last December and has maintained a firm pledge despite many believing he’ll eventually bolt the class for Ole Miss seeing as he lives in the campus’ backyard. It’s fair to assume that, but the four-star athlete that will likely play safety at Alabama has said he’s locked in with the Tide and excited about where the class is headed. Time will tell.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:36 pm to TideSaint
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KING MWIKUTA, 4-STAR LB, LAGRANGE (GA.) TROUP COUNTY
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 232 pounds
Rating: No. 6 OLB, No. 120 overall player
Commitment date: 12/15/2017
Mwikuta will likely be tabbed “Best Interview” when class superlatives rolls around next February. The four-star ‘backer from Georgia is one of the most personable recruits I’ve come across in my time covering Alabama. Mwikuta chose the Tide over Miami and Florida State last December on his birthday, and recently said the Hurricanes program is actually his dream school but that he wants to go to Alabama for the development and to have the opportunity to be coached by Nick Saban. I would be very surprised to see Mwikuta flip and go elsewhere. He, like Quick, wants to be a leader of the class and help recruit others to Tuscaloosa.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:37 pm to TideSaint
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TAULIA TAGOVAILOA, 4-STAR QB, ALABASTER (ALA.) THOMPSON
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 203 pounds
Rating: No. 8 pro-style QB, No. 187 overall player
Commitment date: 4/21/2018
Tagovailoa joined Tyson as the second quarterback to commit to Alabama in a class that the Tide needed to make a splash at the position in. After not looking likely to bring in a scholarship signal caller in 2018, Alabama added three-star Arkansas native Layne Hatcher last Friday. Regardless, the position is still a priority in the 2019 cycle and Alabama had the added advantage of having two of the nation’s best quarterbacks in its backyard. Tagovailoa, the younger brother of Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, has one of the best arms in the class. He along with Tyson will shore up the quarterback position in Tuscaloosa for years to come.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:37 pm to TideSaint
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RASHAD CHENEY, 4-STAR DT, ELLENWOOD (GA.) CEDAR GROVE
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 270 pounds
Rating: No. 12 DT, No. 196 overall player
Commitment date: 4/5/2018
Cheney was the first of 11 commitments in the months of April and May. The one-time Georgia commit decided on the Tide just a few months after backing off his pledge to the Bulldogs following an unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa. As stated above with Alfano, defensive line is a major need and Cheney has the versatility to fill a lot of different roles at the position. His coach told BamaOnLine that the star defender looks and plays like a 250-pounder at 275 pounds. The Peach State native doesn’t plan to take anymore visits now that he’s made his second commitment.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:37 pm to TideSaint
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TANNER BOWLES, 4-STAR OT, GLASGOW (KY.)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 280 pounds
Rating: No. 27 OT, No. 250 overall player
Commitment date: 4/22/2018
Bowles wasn’t a prospect we talked about much along the offensive line outside of an article we ran in March with his name being one to watch. Regardless, the Tide staff thought very highly of the athletic offensive linemen from Kentucky to accept a commitment from him during his visit for A-Day. Bowles raved about the trip and his relationship with the staff. He will be back on campus June 9 to workout at camp and to visit. Bowles, along with Quick and Kight are the foundation for what could be the Tide’s best-ever offensive line class if it can ultimately land five-star center Clay Webb and the nation’s No. 1 offensive tackle in Darnell Wright.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:38 pm to TideSaint
quote:
DJ DALE, 4-STAR DT, PINSON (ALA.) CLAY-CHALKVILLE
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 323 pounds
Rating: No. 16 DT, No. 267 overall player
Commitment date: 5/2/2018
Dale is yet another example of the state of Alabama being a priority for the Tide staff. Bama offered the in-state defensive lineman in January at Junior Day and immediately began trending as the team to beat. The 6-foot-3, 323-pounder opted to take his time and look around at schools like Clemson, Florida State, and Tennessee, among others, before making a final decision. Dale doesn’t plan to take anymore visits, and, along with his fellow Tide commits Pierce Quick, Paul Tyson and 2020 receiver Dazalin Worsham just down the street in Trussville, plans to help recruit others to join the class.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:39 pm to TideSaint
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PAUL TYSON, 4-STAR QB, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE (ALA.)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4.5, 217 pounds
Rating: No. 12 QB, No. 288 overall player
Commitment date: 4/5/2018
Tyson followed Cheney’s commitment with a commitment of his own marking a run of 11 commitments over the course of the next two months. The great-grandson of Paul “Bear” Bryant has certainly stepped out of his great-grandfather’s shadow to make a name for himself. The four-star signal caller has all the tools to be a big-time college quarterback. Many programs took notice, too, after Tyson’s first season as a varsity starter last fall. He ultimately chose the Tide over schools like Clemson, LSU, and Notre Dame. Tyson will have the opportunity to display his ability on the national stage this weekend at the Elite 11 Finals alongside Taulia Tagovailoa.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:40 pm to TideSaint
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WILL REICHARD, 3-STAR K, HOOVER (ALA.)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds
Rating: No. 2 K, No. 1462 overall player
Commitment date: 5/23/2018
Reichard is Alabama’s latest pledge. The Tide has had enough woes in the kicking game over the course of the last few years to not mess around miss and on a caliber of kicker like Will Reichard in its backyard. That’s why we saw the UA staff offer the Hoover (Ala.) product back in January and not wait until this weekend’s upcoming specialist camp like they typically do (Reichard will also participate in the camp). With Joseph Bulovas seemingly finding a groove this spring along with grad transfer walk-on Austin Jones coming in this fall, adding a guy like Reichard to fold in 2019 will likely solidify the position for years to come.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:41 pm to TideSaint
Nathan Pickering was tentatively scheduled to be on campus today, but decided to visit Mississippi State instead.
It looks like he is now scheduled to be in Tuscaloosa on June 12th.
It looks like he is now scheduled to be in Tuscaloosa on June 12th.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:45 pm to TideSaint
Keith Niebuhr put in two interesting CBs earlier today for Auburn.
He predicts they will flip Trezman Marshall from Georgia and also predicts they land 5-star CB Andrew Booth.
He predicts they will flip Trezman Marshall from Georgia and also predicts they land 5-star CB Andrew Booth.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 7:59 pm to TideSaint
Tagovailoa, Tyson set to compete at Elite 11 Finals this weekend
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For the first time in recent memory, both of Alabama's quarterback commitments -- Paul Tyson and Taulia Tagovailoa -- will compete at the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles.
The Crimson Tide had both of its quarterback commits compete in the 2016 competition -- Mac Jones and Tua Tagovailoa -- however Jones had to yet to flip his commitment from Kentucky to Alabama (he did that the following week after working out in Tuscaloosa for the staff).
What is the Elite 11 Finals?
"The 2018 Elite 11 Finals will bring together top performers from the the 2018 Elite 11 Regionals to receive advanced, one-on-one quarterback instruction in a highly competitive setting. The 2018 Elite 11 Finals will span three days and include on-field drills, routes-on-air, classroom instruction and off-field development. The Elite 11 will be named at the conclusion of The Elite 11 Finals and the selected athletes will compete at The Opening Finals." -- From the Elite 11 website
Where is the Elite 11 Finals?
Rendondo Beach, Calif.
When is the Elite 11 Finals?
June 1-3
Looking back on the recent history of the Elite 11 Finals as it pertains to the Tide ... Tua Tagovailoa was named the top performer of the event in 2016 by 247Sports after he went 12 of 13 passing for five touchdowns in the 7on7 portion of the event. The rising UA sophomore would have had a sixth touchdown and perfect completion percentage, but his wide receiver dropped a pass that went through his hands. The Honolulu (Hawaii) St. Louis product went on to be named MVP at The Opening Finals, later earning a fifth star and being tabbed the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the country.
Dilfer raved about Tagovailoa at the time, and then again on The Rich Eisen Show after the Tide freshman's national title-winning touchdown pass against Georgia:
“I think he’ll win the Heisman next year,” Dilfer said. “Everyone’s going to say, ‘That’s hyperbole. Dilfer raving about an Elite 11 kid.’ I got a bunch of Elite 11 kids. Jake Fromm was an Elite 11 kid. I think this kid (Tagovailoa) is as special as any kid since Jameis Winston. Because he’s at Alabama — because he’ll have to compete this spring no matter what. Nick’s going to demand it, and he’s going to continue to get better. Because they’ll now run an offense that makes sense and threatens all parts of the field.
"The runners will be better because they’ll have lanes to run in. The offensive line will be better. They’ll convert more third downs, and their defense will be better. Alabama will be the best team in the country, and he’ll be the best player on the best team in the country.”
Mac Jones also competed in the 2016 edition of the Elite 11 Finals but, despite giving a solid performance, did not receive an invite to Oregon.
Three years today, Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts flew to Los Angeles and committed to the Tide upon his arrival. The Channelview (Texas) native, however, was not invited to the The Opening Finals.
Former Tide quarterback Blake Barnett competed in the 2014 edition of the Elite 11 Finals and earned MVP honors at the competition.
Other quarterbacks competing against Tagovailoa and Tyson this weekend at the Elite 11 Finals:
Zach Calzada
Brendon Clark
Jacob Conover
Jayden Daniels
Max Duggan
Ty Evans
Grant Gunnell
Ryan Hilinski
Sam Howell
Roschon Johnson
Michael Johnson Jr.
Dwan Mathis
Brian Maurer
Cade McNamara
Graham Mertz
Cale Millen
Dylan Morris
Bo Nix
Spencer Rattler
Shae Suiaunoa
Isaiah Williams
Jacob Zeno
Posted on 6/1/18 at 8:01 pm to TideSaint
Alabama, Georgia attending FAU's satellite camp
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Both Alabama and Georgia are set to attend Florida Atlantic's camp on Saturday, June 2, the Owls' Director of Player Personnel Landon Salem announced on Friday.
This is the second camp in South Florida the Crimson Tide is expected at after Florida International announced earlier this week that the Crimson Tide would be represented at its camp on June 12.
Alabama's expected attendance in Boca Raton this weekend is arguably the most notable satellite camp pairing this summer considering former UA offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin's history with the Crimson Tide.
Kiffin served as offensive coordinator for Alabama for three seasons before Saban parted ways with him following the Tide's College Football Playoff semifinal victory over Washington during the 2016-17 season.
The former Tide OC found early success with the Owls posting an 11-3 record last season, included an 8-0 run in Conference USA. FAU is included in multiple preseason Top 25 polls ahead of Kiffin's second season in the Sunshine State.
With new satellite camp rules, coaching staffs can have recruiting conversations with prospects in attendance at the camp as long as the coaches in attendance at the camp work the event.
The Tide ended up landing two prospects from South Florida that it spoke with at FIU's satellite camp last summer in five-star cornerback Patrick Surtain Jr. and four-star cornerback Josh Jobe.
Back in 2016, Saban voiced displeasure with the idea of satellite camps before the change in rules that forced camps back onto college campuses or facilities in 2017:
“I mean, this is the Wild Wild West at its best," Saban said in May of '16. "There’s been no specific guidelines relative to how we’re managing and controlling this stuff. It’s happening outside our normal evaluation window, which means we’re taking time away from our players.
“I don’t know how much it benefits anybody, aight. Because all the people that say this is creating opportunities for kids, this is all about recruiting. That’s what it’s about, aight. … And what’s amazing to me is somebody didn’t stand up and say, ‘Here’s gonna be the unintended consequences of what y’all are doing.’”
South Florida has been good to the Tide in recent years behind the efforts of former ace recruiter Mario Cristobal and now running backs coach Joe Pannunzio. Last cycle along with Jobe and Surtain Jr., Alabama landed four-star receiver Xavier Williams. The year before, UA added five-star receiver and Calvin Ridley-clone Jerry Jeudy.
Some of UA's top targets in South Florida in the 2019 cycle include five-star cornerback and Florida State commit Akeem Dent, four-star cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, four-star Jack linebacker Khris Bogle, among others.
Alabama will host its specialist camp on Saturday as well, but with three-star kicker Will Reichard already a part of the class, there's not much to watch there in terms of the 2019 class. The Tide's first prospect camp begins on Sunday.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 8:03 pm to TideSaint
Quotes from that 2020 QB we offered yesterday:
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"I've known Jeff Banks at Alabama for a long time," Diamont said. "He was recruiting me at Texas A&M when I was a freshman. He's a great guy and has maintained contact with me even when I missed my sophomore year. A few weeks ago, he came out to watch me at a practice and told me he was going to go back and talk with the rest of the coaching staff about me.
"I started talking with Dan Enos, the QB coach and he told me they really wanted me to come and camp with them this summer. I said I didn't want to do too many camps because I wanted to focus on Venice football and not miss too much time away. Then earlier today, I got the call from coach Banks and he told me they were offering so that was a pretty great feeling."
With the offer now in hand, Diamont said he will likely visit Bama over the summer to tour the campus and get to know the coaches better.
Posted on 6/1/18 at 8:04 pm to TideSaint
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Five-star rising senior offensive tackle Darnell Wright of Huntington (W.Va.) High School, one of the Vols' longtime top targets, is scheduled to visit Tennessee again this weekend, sources confirmed to GoVols247 on Friday.
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