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re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:36 am to TideSaint
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:36 am to TideSaint
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Siaki Ika, DT, Salt Lake City (Utah) East - Ika is a rare 330+ defensive tackle that isn’t just all power but shows some surprising quickness. He’s definitely a powerful human being and had a few reps where he put an opposing guard on skates and sent them reeling towards the quarterback. He also won reps with a quick move at the line of scrimmage and shows very good feet for a big man.
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Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:36 am to TideSaint
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Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian - Through most of the one on ones, Thibodeaux was the best defensive lineman of the day. He lost his last three reps during the best on best competition but still shows a ton of upside. This was the quickest we have seen him turning the corner, he showed power when he had to engage an opposing tackle and won most of his reps more decisively then any other player.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:38 am to TideSaint
Monday's top performers from The Opening: Southeast
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FRISCO, Texas — The Opening Finals heated up Monday at The Star. Nike 7on7 competition began early in the morning and went until late in the evening, with a fierce OL vs. DL competition providing the afternoon entertainment. 247Sports was on hand to document it all. In addition to a national top performers piece and ranking of the Elite 11 quarterbacks, we’ve divided our coverage of the top performers into regional notebooks. Here is the Southeastern edition.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:38 am to TideSaint
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- Five-star center Clay Webb (Oxford, Ala./Oxford) went 3-2-1 on the day, with some intense reps against five-star defensive tackle Ishmael Sopsher (Amite, La./Amite). Sopsher went up against Webb and five-star LSU offensive guard commitment Kardell Thomas (Baton Rouge, La./Southern Lab) and won more battles than he lost.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:39 am to TideSaint
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-Four-star wide receiver and Auburn commitment George Pickens (Hoover, Ala./Hoover) may have split targets with Haselwood, but he was equally impressive on the day, making 14 catches while hauling in five touchdowns. His ability to climb the ladder for the spectacular grab rivals any receiver in the country.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:39 am to TideSaint
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-Five-star linebacker Nakobe Dean (Horn Lake, Miss./Horn Lake) made life tough for tight ends and running backs on Monday, breaking up three passes, limiting yards after the catch, and hauling in a pick-six at the end of the last game of the day. The 6-foot, 216-pound prospect rivals Pappoe in his sideline-to-sideline ability and his instincts were on display Monday, allowing him to play at a quicker speed than other linebackers in the event.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:40 am to TideSaint
Monday's top performers from The Opening: Northeast/Mid-Atlantic
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FRISCO, Texas — The Opening Finals heated up Monday at The Star. Nike 7on7 competition began early in the morning and went until late in the evening, with a fierce OL vs. DL competition providing the afternoon entertainment. 247Sports was on hand to document it all.
In addition to a national top performers piece and ranking of the Elite 11 quarterbacks, we’ve divided our coverage of the top performers into regional notebooks. Here is the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic edition.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:41 am to TideSaint
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Darnell Wright, OT, Huntington (W. Va.) High
Wright is the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 247Sports Composite, and he flashed some of that ability during the 1-on-1 session. There were times his initial punch was impressive and he used his length and athleticism to cover the edge, and there were other times he did not kick step like he should. He was quick with his hands and he competed hard. Wright is yet to trim his list, and Tennessee, Miami, Oregon, USC, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Clemson, Penn State and Ohio State are all high up there for him.
No mention of Alabama?
That's cute.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:41 am to TideSaint
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Bryan Bresee, DE, Damascus (Md.) High
For the first time in a camp setting, Bresee did not have his way with basically every rep. The No. 1 player in the 2020 class’ 247Sports Composite was still very good and impressive, but it also forced him to break out a few new moves. In addition to the spin move, he used a rip and also feigned outside before moving inside. He won his share of reps and the speed he plays at is always fast. He has trips to Florida and Oklahoma coming in late July, and also has Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Georgia, Florida State, Alabama, Clemson, Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, LSU and USC in his top 15.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:42 am to TideSaint
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Mekhail Sherman, LB, Washington (D.C.) St. John’s
Sherman has great size and moves really well in space with it. His length and ability to change direction and then close on a receiver or tight end in the middle of the field make him an interesting option in coverage. He was instinctual and had a good feel for where the tight end would be without getting lost with his depth. The No. 2 outside linebacker in the 247Sports Composite class of 2020 released a top 10 of Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Auburn, Notre Dame, Clemson, Penn State, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Michigan.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:42 am to TideSaint
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DeMarcco Hellams, S, Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha
Hellams, who is committed to Alabama and is the No. 5 safety in the 247Sports Composite, had a pair of interceptions and is growing into the safety position. He was recruited for a while at receiver by schools, but he recently embraced the safety spot and he is growing comfortable. He at his best driving on balls thrown in front of him, but his ability to open his hips to turn and run in coverage is developing. He got better as a long day went on.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:43 am to TideSaint
The Opening Finals: Top skill performers from Monday
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FRISCO, Texas – With every day at The Opening, the challenge intensifies and the stakes get higher. From throwing on air on Saturday to 1on1s on Sunday to Monday’s 7on7 pool play, we are starting to find out who is up to the growing challenges. The most important action will begin Monday night and carry into Tuesday with the 7on7 knock-out tournament but first it’s time to take a look at the standouts from Monday’s pool play and first round tournament games.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:44 am to TideSaint
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Next five offense
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Auburn WR George Pickens – The highlight man continued to be a menace for defenders on Monday. Because of his catch radius and ability to high-point the football, there are very few cornerbacks that have much of a chance on fade routes and even slants have become easy money for his quarterback Bo Nix. Pickens had one of the most productive days of any receiver with 10 catches and four touchdowns in pool play. He added four more and a touchdown in his tournament game.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:44 am to TideSaint
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Top Five Defense
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CB Elias Ricks – Though he’s an underclassman and he’s still developing on the physical side, Ricks was one of the guys that really stepped up and challenged the top opposing receivers. In fact, when Kyle Ford was putting together monster performances, Ricks was the guy that had the physicality and mentality to match up and give him a challenge. On the day, Ricks had five pass breakups and was constantly a factor.
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:48 am to Cobrasize
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Cobrasize
who is the girl you posted on page 432?
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:51 am to TideSaint
Could Alabama still land Trey Sanders, the nation's No. 1 RB?
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Running back Trey Sanders committed to Alabama in May 2016, but de-committed just hours before the Crimson Tide defeated Clemson in last season's Sugar Bowl.
But that doesn't mean Alabama has no chance to land the nation's No. 1 running back prospect.
At The Opening recruiting showcase in Frisco, Texas, Sanders said he will likely visit Miami (Fla.) and praised the Texas coaching staff, but also made it clear Alabama remains a major player in his recruitment.
"Alabama has great tradition," Sanders said. "They run their team like a business. Just trust the process. I've always wanted to go to the league, that's my dream. I feel like if you go there, it's guaranteed."
Count Alabama quarterback commit Taulia Tagovailoa among the future Alabama players trying to sway Sanders this week.
"Taulia is always coming at me. We're on the same team," Sanders said, referring to The Opening's 7on7 tournament, "and he said this could be the future."
Alabama currently has one running back commitment -- Keilan Robinson, a 5-foot-9, 184-pounder from St. John's College High in Washington, D.C.
The 6-foot, 216-pound Sanders fits the physical profile of recent Alabama running backs, including T.J. Yeldon, Najee Harris, Damien Harris and Kenyan Drake.
Sanders said he may release a list of five finalists in the next month or so, but Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Miami (Fla.) appear to be among his top possibilities.
Sanders plays at IMG Academy (Fla.) fellow five-star running back Noah Cain, another uncommitted player who has Texas, LSU and Ohio State among his top suitors.
"Me and Noah talk about it every day, we always talk about playing together in college," he said.
If Cain and Sanders go to college together, it likely won't be at Alabama. Again, though, don't count out the Crimson Tide.
"Alabama, they've been recruiting me a little bit harder. I've been talked to Coach Locks," said Sanders, referring to new offensive coordinator, Mike Locksley. "I built that relationship with him. It's a real close relationship."
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:53 am to TideSaint
Bama's best 2019 prospect talks December commitment plan
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Unlike many of the nation's best 2019 prospects, Oxford 5-star offensive lineman Clay Webb hasn't narrowed his list of potential college destinations.
Webb, an All-State tackle at Oxford and projected to play center in college, wasn't giving any hints about which schools he plans to take official visits to this fall. Asked if he has a leader, even if he's not ready to state it publicly, Webb answered, "They all stick out, just different ways."
While offering few hints about where he might play in college, Webb knows when he'll make his decision: December. He plans to commit and enroll in college in January.
Why December? "I want to finish my (high school) football season," he said at The Opening on Sunday. "I don't there to be any distractions. I don't want to get caught up in too much stuff."
Webb is ranked as the state's No. 1 prospect, according to the 247sports Composite rankings, and sits at No. 11 nationally. He's also a standout wrestler who won the Class 6A heavyweight title last season.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Webb has offers from a dozen Power 5 schools, including Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State and Michigan. His roommate at The Opening is Hewitt-Trussville's Pierce Quick, a five-star Alabama commitment.
Interestingly, Webb said Auburn coach Gus Malzahn is the only head coach who regularly communicates with him.
"Malzahn is really the only head coach I really talk to," Webb said. "We talk a little bit. It's just nice to say, 'Hey.' I know he's really busy. It means a lot.
"If the head coach is involved with the players, to some degree, yeah, it's going to be important. They're working a bunch of other stuff."
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:56 am to TideSaint
Why 4-star DB Demarcco Hellams picked Alabama
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Alabama commit Demarcco Hellams plans to work with receivers and defensive backs this week at The Opening, mirroring the varied roles he plays for his high school team in Maryland.
Hellams knows things will change when he gets to Alabama.
"I'll be playing safety," he said with finality.
Hellums chose Alabama over Clemson, Ohio State and Notre Dame on an offer list that stretched to more than 20 Power 5 programs. He's currently rated as a four-star prospect, according to the 247sports Composite rankings.
"I picked Alabama because they have a tradition of producing great DBs -- that's what I'm going there for -- and great players," Hellams said. "They have a great culture down there, (with) accountability and guys holding themselves to a higher standard.
"Overall, it just stood out to me the school that we wanted me more and (it's) the school that I felt more comfortable with that's going to get me to the next level."
Alabama boasts having at least one defensive back drafted in nine of the last 10 NFL drafts, including Marlon Humphrey in the first round in 2017 and Minkah Fitzpatrick earlier this year. Other first-round picks include Dre Kirkpatrick, Dee Milliner and HaHa Clinton-Dix.
Hellums said the success of players from Washington, D.C. and New Jersey, including former All-American defensive end Jonathan Allen, from Ashburn, Va.; Fitzpatrick, from Jersey City, New Jersey; and offensive linemen Cyrus and Arie Kouandjio, from DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Maryland, the same high school Hellams attends, helped him pick Alabama.
All four of those players made it to the NFL, with Allen and Fitzpatrick being first-round picks in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
"It's a drawing card to my decision," he said of players from his area going to the NFL after attending Alabama. "When guys from the Northern states go down to the South and go to Alabama and have a great career and go on the NFL, it just shows you that it's possible."
At The Opening in Frisco, Texas -- a four-day showcase for about 150 of the nation's top recruits -- Hellams will work with receivers and defensive backs. Most prospects work with only one position group, so Hellams is an outlier in a group of elite players.
What are his expectations for The Opening, which ends Tuesday?
"I'm just here to work and to compete against the top guys in the nation, top guys at my position," he said. "I'm here to build relationships. Years from now, I might be playing with some of these guys in college. I may be in the (NFL) draft with these guys. This is a great time to see how you match up against the best in the nation."
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:58 am to TideSaint
'Brothers' in arms: Bama QB commit Paul Tyson talks Taulia Tagovailoa, T-town future
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It's the year of the quarterback in the Birmingham area.
Pinson Valley's Bo Nix is committed to Auburn.
Thompson's Taulia Tagovailoa and Hewitt-Trussville's Paul Tyson are headed to Alabama.
Tyson, in Baldwin County with many of his teammates this weekend for the Foley 7-on-7 Showdown, said the competition should only raise the level of play for each of the seniors.
"It just brings more competition to the table, and it helps each of us get better," the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Tyson said. "We're all good friends. We know each other really well. It will push us to be the best quarterbacks we can be."
The dynamic is particularly interesting for Tagovailoa and Tyson.
Thompson and Hewitt will both compete in Class 7A, Region 3 this fall along with two-time defending state champion Hoover. Then the two standout quarterbacks will compete against each other in Tuscaloosa to be the future Tide QB.
"When it comes to the football field, we are going to compete," Tyson said. "I know Taulia would say the same thing. Off the field, though, we are brothers. We roomed together in the Elite 11, so we've become good friends. We are super cool. It's really a fun dynamic."
Tyson, the great grandson of legendary Alabama head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, committed to the Crimson Tide on April 5. When asked Friday if his decision was a foregone conclusion, he had to be honest.
"I was trying to keep my eyes wide open throughout the (recruiting) process," he said. "That's what I told myself anyway. But when it came down to it, Alabama is just really where I wanted to be."
In 2017, Tyson led Hewitt to 11 straight wins before the Huskies lost to Hoover in the second round of the playoffs. He completed 238 of 336 passes for 3,392 yards and 36 touchdowns. He was intercepted just four times.
His coach said there is obviously a lot to like about Tyson.
"First of all, he is a leader," Josh Floyd said. "He's a guy who does things right on and off the field. He obviously has a big arm. He is a guy who can make every throw. He does a lot of things well, but one thing he really does well is throw the deep ball. He's very accurate. A lot of people have a strong arm, but he separates himself a bit with that deep ball."
Floyd expects to give Tyson even more freedom in the Huskies' offense this fall. That could be dangerous for opponents. Hewitt averaged 44.5 points a game last season and scored 49 or more five times.
"He has really gotten comfortable in our scheme and understands defenses really well," Floyd said. "I definitely gave him some freedom last year, but we will give him more and more this year."
Tyson isn't necessarily aiming for big individual statistics this year.
He's looking for the elusive big Blue Map.
"I don't have a lot of personal goals this year," he said. "I just want to try to win a state title, and I think we have a chance to do that. I think that is everyone's goal on the team. We want that Blue Map.
"We were close to making a run last year, but we need to change our mentality a bit. We have to realize that the regular season really means nothing as long as we make the playoffs. When you get to that stage, it's a different story. We have to be ready to play, know what tasks are ahead of us and just prepare even more."
Floyd said he doesn't think Tyson's family name adds pressure to the young quarterback.
"It's not anything he really ever talks about," he said. "I think the fact that he grew up in that family, he's just used to it. I don't think it phases him. He's proud of it and he should be. It's certainly not a bad thing. I just don't think he looks at is as that big a deal. He's his own man."
Posted on 7/3/18 at 9:59 am to TideSaint
The Opening Finals 2018: Day Two OL/DL 1-on-1 video
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FRISCO, Texas -- More than 150 of the top college football prospects gathered at The Star for The Opening Finals beginning this weekend. The competition portion for the trench prospects began Sunday with just helmets, but Monday signalled a new week and in this setting it means shoulder pads come on and the intensity typically follows. It was no different this time around and 247Sports has video of well over 100 one-on-one reps between top talent.
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