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

The chat will probably stay open through tonight. TideSaint and I usually post any chat nuggets that provide new information.

quote:

---

Your sure on JJ Peterson. The word is he will join their team for fall camp. Yesterday they were excited that he showed up on their media roster for the fall.

---

Pruitt commented on this briefly today at SEC Media Days and I would say he did not seem terribly confident that Peterson would be there.

A reporter asked something along the lines of, "With JJ Peterson and some of your other recruits last year, how much do you expect them to contribute this year?" Pruitt's answer was just that they were waiting to see what was going to happen with some guys (in regards to eligibility).

Seemed easier to just paraphrase. Plus that article doesn't reflect what he said in the interview in I saw.

Maybe.

A week or two ago, Hank said our cookout is on the 27th, which is a Friday. UTs is on the 28th. I suppose Darnell Wright could make stops at UT, UGA and Clemson while traveling south.
Wright said months ago that he'd like to visit Clemson and UGA, but he still hasn't done it.

I think Rivals' UT guys' confidence stems from distance and Wright's HS coach being a Vol. But it's not his HS coach's future or decision to make. OSU landing Nicholas Petit-Frere for 2018 and Paris Johnson for 2020 probably doesn't bode well for their chances. Clemson worries me a bit if he visits there, because they need a top OT. But UGA is pretty stacked with young OT talent.

It'd seem to be a very good sign if he only visits Bama on this trip and stays for a couple days. Hank and BOL insiders sound pretty confident lately about Bama's chances of landing Wright.

LINK ]Alabama LB Keith Holcombe will not be a part of 2018 team (BamaOnLine)

quote:

---

ATLANTA -- Alabama will have one less linebacker this fall. At SEC Media Days on Wednesday, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban confirmed why Keith Holcombe was left off Alabama’s 2018 roster in its latest media guide, as he announced the redshirt senior will focus on baseball and will not be a part of the football this fall.

“Keith Holcombe has done an outstanding job for us,” Saban said at the College Football Hall of Fame. “He’s been a great contributor not only on the field but a human being, outstanding student. Been a really, really good leader for us. And I would love for him to come back and be a part of our team, but I understand that he wanted to play baseball.

“He’s always wanted to play baseball. He’s had an opportunity to play baseball. We decided to give him the opportunity to go full-time with baseball this year and then he’d make a decision about whether he wanted to continue that year of eligibility of football. … And he has made that decision to play baseball and not be a part of our team.”

Holcombe opted to focus solely on baseball this spring instead of pulling double duty by going through spring practice with the football team and playing left field for coach Brad Bohannon.

The Tide’s everyday left fielder for most of the season, Holcombe played in 47 games with 45 starts. He ranked third on the team in hits (51) and finished baseball season tied for third with 11 multi-hit games, including three of UA’s six four-hit performances in 2018. In those games, he has finished a perfect 4-for-4 each time and reached base safely in every plate appearance.

On the gridiron last year, the Tuscaloosa, Ala., native provided depth for a linebacking corps that saw several players suffer injuries throughout the season. Making one start against Mississippi State, Holcombe totaled 38 tackles, including a team-high 11 on special teams.

With Holcombe choosing to continue only playing baseball for Alabama, the Tide football team is left without much experienced inside linebacker depth for the upcoming 2018 season. Mack Wilson and Dylan Moses are slated to be the starters at Mike and Will, but besides the pair of former 5-star recruits, no returning player has as much game experience as Holcombe.

The recent dismissal of VanDarius Cowan for violating team rules and injury to Terrell Lewis also adds to the lack of depth for the Crimson Tide’s 2018 linebacking corps ahead of fall camp.

“I’m not comfortable at any position on our team relative to the depth that we have,” Saban said. “I wish we had more depth, I wish we had more players, I wish more guys could contribute. But regardless of that circumstance, we will try to develop and create whatever we have to do to try to develop the depth at any position on our team. So, if it involves moving players, if it involves trying to enhance the development of younger players, then that’s what we’ll do.”

Alabama opens the 2018 football season on Sept. 1 against Louisville in Orlando, Fla.

---

Note: Holcombe's exit puts UA's 2018 roster at 82 players on scholarship.

quote:

---

Tidal, if a transfer came in for 2018 and was able to graduate in December, would they still count against the number of players we could take for 2019.

---

Yes.

Any player, including any transfer, who goes on an initial FB scholly counts against signing and initial counter limits.

He would count against our currently unused 2018 signing and initial counter spot that we could use for a 2019 class early enrollee.

The NCAA Bylaws midyear replacement rule (15.5.6.3.5) is what allows for counting early enrollees against unused prior cycle spots.

See next post.

(no message)

Can he play ILB? (Not asking you... just wondering what the coaches think... I haven't heard)

If not, probably only if Thibodeaux doesn't come our way.

quote:

---

With Cowan being kicked off the team, does Bama take an additional LB in this class? Really hoping it opens a spot for Diabate. -- remaster916

---

quote:

---

Can he play ILB? (Not asking you... just wondering what the coaches think... I haven't heard) -- Bama3714

---

According to Hank and others, the staff likes Diabate at ILB and OLB. I suspect they might also like Mwikuta at any/all LB positions.

If that's true for Miwkuta, it reduces the need to take another pure ILB in addition to Shane Lee and Dean.

Bama might try to land To'oto'o in addition to Dean, but idk if he'd come if Shane Lee and Dean are already on board in December.

I've been thinking Devonta Lee is likely to be in this class, thinking he projects pretty well at ILB, in addition to safety and WR. However, I haven't seen any indications that Bama views him as an ILB prospect. Also, Christian Harris could end up in the class if needed.

ETA: I've seen some good insider chatter about how well Moody is doing so far. He was vary underrated due to grade concerns. After his December grades looked good, Clemson went after him too.