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re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition
Posted on 8/13/18 at 11:58 am to T Rich3
Posted on 8/13/18 at 11:58 am to T Rich3
quote:
ALABAMA DL COMMIT DJ DALE
Yessirrrr lil bro LINK — Dj Dale (@ddale44) August 13, 2018
Defensive line is a major need of Alabama's in the 2019 class and it didn't have to go far to land Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville product DJ Dale. The 4-star defensive lineman that plays his high school ball just down the road from Hewitt-Trussville joined the Tide's class in early May over offers from Auburn, Clemson and Florida State, among others. Dale has done his best to join in on the recruiting efforts visiting several times throughout the summer and getting in guys' ears to join the Tide. The 6-foot-3, 323-pounder really solidified his spot in the class at the UA's June camp putting together a dominant performance. Dale is rated the No. 13 defensive tackle and the No. 233 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings.
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Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:04 pm to Rizzy
God dang 2020 man that shite depressing lol...meaning in getting old.
This post was edited on 8/13/18 at 1:53 pm
Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:07 pm to T Rich3
Man can we do to them what we did to Florida.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:08 pm to TideSaint
quote:
My home unit denied my extension request for over here.
I'll be coming home September 7th after all.
Thank God. I'm ready to get the frick out of here.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:22 pm to T Rich3
quote:
LSU just offered Rodney Sopsher (older brother of Ishmael)
ETA: Tim Watts - "Interesting indeed. I was told heading into this season he probably wasn't SEC level. Now a lot can change with a good summer. Looking forward to seeing his film this year. He could end up with several big offers. Haven't heard UA involved at this point."
This post was edited on 8/13/18 at 1:15 pm
Posted on 8/13/18 at 12:54 pm to T Rich3
Farmer Fran is getting desperate
Posted on 8/13/18 at 1:22 pm to RammerJammer91
LINK ]Four-star CB Malachi Moore details why he chose Alabama (BamaOnLine)
quote:
Alabama added commitment No. 7 to its ever-growing 2020 class on Monday morning as Malachi Moore gave his verbal pledge to the Crimson Tide staff via a video with 247Sports.
The 4-star cornerback from Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) opted for the Capstone over Power Five offers galore, including Auburn, Florida and Tennessee.
“I feel like it was the right fit,” Moore told 247Sports’ John Garcia Jr. of why Alabama. “I have good relationships with all the coaches, especially the defensive backs coach (Karl Scott), and just the legacy they have and winning and putting my position in the league.”
Nick Saban offered Moore following a standout camp performance the in-state defensive back put on back in June. After the July Champions Cookout, Moore says his mind was made up.
“It was my dad’s first time meeting Coach Saban and first time being on campus and talking to all the coaches,” Moore said of what sealed the deal. “It just felt like we were part of the family when we were there, everybody was comfortable. I talked to them about it and they were cool with it and felt like it was the right decision.”
This post was edited on 8/13/18 at 1:40 pm
Posted on 8/13/18 at 1:22 pm to TidalSurge1
quote:
As for the timing of his commitment, Moore says he now can focus on his junior and senior seasons without recruiting getting in the way.
His commitment wasn’t just about getting recruiting out of the way, though. It’s a culmination of several things, including his relationship with the Alabama staff, especially the aforementioned defensive backs coach Karl Scott.
“He’s a very laid-back person,” Moore said. “He relates to the players well. Everything music-wise, what we do, what we say … everything. It was a lot of comfort there. I felt like I could just talk to him like I was talking to one of my boys.”
Saban gave Moore the offer personally in June doting on the 4-star cornerback’s physicality, techinque and ability to pick up on things quick.
“He’s nicer than a lot of people think he is. He’s not all about business all the time,” Moore said of Saban. “Mainly when I met with him it really wasn’t to talk about football, it was to talk about who he was and who his wife was, their identity as a family, and what their school had to offer to me other than football like the player development and the academic aspect of it.”
This post was edited on 8/13/18 at 1:40 pm
Posted on 8/13/18 at 1:37 pm to TidalSurge1
quote:>>> 4* CB Malachi Moore 6-0/175 AL hudl
While landing the offer didn’t result in an immediate commitment, it was certainly a turning point in Moore’s recruitment. “It means a lot just because of their legacy and the standard they’ve set in college football,” he said.
Moore is the somewhat unprecedented fourth Alabama commitment currently at Hewitt-Trussville. He joins 5-star offensive tackle Pierce Quick, 4-star quarterback Paul Tyson and fellow 2020 recruit Dazalin Worsham. The trio helped recruit Moore to join them in the class. “We just say it’s crazy that all of us are going to Alabama,” Moore said. “We’re going to play in the Iron Bowl together.”
Like his fellow Husky Alabama pledges, Moore plans to recruit for the Tide going forward. “I plan to try get some people on board, definitely, some people I know,” Moore said. “I know somebody in California and a few people in Georgia and Florida, like Miles Brooks, Fred Davis, Elias Ricks, those guys.”
At 6-feet, 170 pounds, Moore is rated the No. 13 cornerback and the No. 148 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Ranking.
Alabama offensive line coach Brent Key is Moore’s primary recruiter. The commitment gives the Tide the No. 2 class in 2020 behind Miami, according to the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings.
This post was edited on 8/13/18 at 1:39 pm
Posted on 8/13/18 at 3:04 pm to TidalSurge1
LINK ]Mack Wilson sees potential in Alabama's newest 5-star linebacker (BOL | embedded video)
quote:
When Alabama’s most experienced inside linebacker finished a footwork drill prior to the Crimson Tide’s first scrimmage of the preseason on Saturday, he observed the team’s newest inside ‘backer as he participated in his first practice at the college level.
Former 5-star recruit Ale Kaho arrived at Alabama on Friday and joined his new teammates on the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium for the first of two fall-camp scrimmages. He was not in full pads because of NCAA acclimation rules, but he was able to run in between dummies.
In his first glimpse of Kaho, junior linebacker Mack Wilson was impressed.
“I feel like he’s got potential to be a great player,” Wilson said. “I was just watching him as we were doing individual (drills), and he seemed to have high energy. He seemed to be happy. He said he was going through a lot, and we’re just trying to make him feel at home and just trying to take him in and show him how we do things at Alabama, what the brotherhood is all about.”
A native of Reno, Nev., Kaho was released from his national letter of intent with Washington on Monday of last week, and he chose Alabama as his next landing spot Wednesday. The No. 1 inside linebacker in the 2018 class, according to the 247Sports rankings, Kaho ended up in Tuscaloosa after a brief stop in Seattle because of academic issues at Washington.
On Saturday, head coach Nick Saban explained Kaho’s journey to the Crimson Tide program.
“There are circumstances -- and I don’t know all the circumstances -- where a guy doesn’t get admitted to the school that he signed to go to, that he gets an opportunity to go somewhere else and he gets a release or he can choose to try to get eligible over time but not be able to enroll in school,” Saban said. “So, I think, as I understand it, he was unable to get into school for academic reasons because of their institutional policies, not because of NCAA rules.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 3:04 pm to TidalSurge1
quote:
“He could get into school at most other institutions. So, he had opportunities to go other places. He didn’t want to sit out and continue to take other classes so he could go to the school he signed at and we were one of the people that recruited him. It came down to the wire in terms of whether we got him or not. When he got his release, we let him know that he had an opportunity to come here. We’re glad to have him. We’ll think he’ll be a good player.”
The 6-foot-1, 218-pound prospect was a longtime BYU commit during the recruiting process before flipping his commitment to the Huskies just prior to the early signing period last December. He signed with Washington last year and arrived in Seattle this summer, but he never enrolled while wrapping up required coursework. Huskies head coach Chris Petersen cited “personal reasons” for the release of the program’s highest-rated incoming freshman.
The Crimson Tide was heavily involved in Kaho’s recruitment last year and was considered to have finished in a runner-up position. While committed to BYU, Kaho traveled to Tuscaloosa to camp with Alabama and promptly landed a scholarship offer from Saban. Kaho returned to town for an official visit to campus the weekend of Nov. 4 and saw UA earn a victory over LSU.
Wearing No. 10 on Saturday, Kaho’s long recruiting journey ended at UA. He is immediately eligible to play, but the true freshman will have to catch up with the rest of his new teammates that have already participated in week’s worth of practice, including one scrimmage.
As someone that has already endured a freshman year at Alabama, how long did it take Wilson, another former 5-star recruit, to feel comfortable during his first season in Saban’s system?
“It’s definitely going to take a while,” Wilson said. “It took me, like, almost a year and a half to learn the playbook, so it’s going to be kind of tough on him with him coming in halfway through fall camp. But we’re going to find a way to get him comfortable and get him down to learning the stuff so that he could maybe -- if Coach Saban feels comfortable with him playing him or he continues to go along and do good, if he catches up -- come in and play, at least have a role on special teams.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 3:39 pm to TidalSurge1
WORTH READING:
LINK ]Elisha Shaw finds his purpose at Alabama (BamaOnLine)
LINK ]Elisha Shaw finds his purpose at Alabama (BamaOnLine)
This post was edited on 8/14/18 at 3:44 am
Posted on 8/13/18 at 7:01 pm to TidalSurge1
East’s Siaki Ika is Utah’s biggest recruit as Alabama, Washington, Utah and USC fight for his signature
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East’s Siaki Ika is Utah’s biggest recruit as Alabama, Washington, Utah and USC fight for his signature
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) East High's Siaki Ika is ranked No. 1 among high school football recruits by rivals in the state and 247Sports. He has offers including Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, Wisconsin and eight Pac-12 schools including Utah. The trend has been for top players to leave the state to play in college — is Ika the next?
By Tony Jones
·
Published: 3 days ago
Updated: 2 days ago
A teenager wanted by some of the most legendary names in college football wasn’t carrying himself as a highly recruited star on this hot July day. A mini-mountain of a defensive lineman standing at 6-foot-3 and 347 pounds, Siaki Ika walked through the East High hallway on a mission, not to get an extra workout in or have a snack.
It was time for a senior class retreat, and he wasn’t going to miss it for anything.
Such behavior is atypical for a recruit who has Alabama, Southern California, Washington, Ohio State and Utah all clamoring for his signature on a National Letter of Intent. But Siaki Ika is not your normal recruit. He has remained remarkably grounded throughout the recruiting process and when you pester him about all the attention and adulation, and the time demands of talking with coaches, his reply is cool and calculated.
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East’s Siaki Ika is Utah’s biggest recruit as Alabama, Washington, Utah and USC fight for his signature
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) East High's Siaki Ika is ranked No. 1 among high school football recruits by rivals in the state and 247Sports. He has offers including Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, Wisconsin and eight Pac-12 schools including Utah. The trend has been for top players to leave the state to play in college — is Ika the next?
By Tony Jones
·
Published: 3 days ago
Updated: 2 days ago
A teenager wanted by some of the most legendary names in college football wasn’t carrying himself as a highly recruited star on this hot July day. A mini-mountain of a defensive lineman standing at 6-foot-3 and 347 pounds, Siaki Ika walked through the East High hallway on a mission, not to get an extra workout in or have a snack.
It was time for a senior class retreat, and he wasn’t going to miss it for anything.
Such behavior is atypical for a recruit who has Alabama, Southern California, Washington, Ohio State and Utah all clamoring for his signature on a National Letter of Intent. But Siaki Ika is not your normal recruit. He has remained remarkably grounded throughout the recruiting process and when you pester him about all the attention and adulation, and the time demands of talking with coaches, his reply is cool and calculated.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 7:03 pm to bloodtide 39
“The offers are great to have and it’s an honor,” Ika said. “But, I have to have a plan.”
And with that, he turns his attention away from the recruiting process and to his current obsession — beating Bingham and establishing the Leopards as the best team in Class 6A.
But this is who Ika is off the field — a quiet and humble kid who is aware of his talent, but aware that a misstep can take away everything in an instant. Instead of basking in the attention, his stardom makes him work harder. And while he embraces football as his ticket to bigger and better things, he’s worked even harder at being a well-rounded student.
“The thing with Siaki, he’s had an excellent supporting cast around him,” East coach Brandon Matich said. “They say that it takes a village to raise a kid, and Siaki’s literally been raised by an Ika village. If he steps out of his lane academically, his whole family is at the school meeting with counselors, trying to figure out how to get him back on track. It’s all kept him humble and on the right path.”
Ika’s talent on the field was apparent early on. Four years ago, Matich watched Ika during a sweltering July workout, and he simply knew. By the end of the day, he sat Ika down and “told him he was going to be the highest recruited kid I’ve ever had,” Matich said.
That’s exactly where Ika’s story has gone in four years. To look at him on the football field is to marvel at his physicality. He’s often too big for his jersey. Vertically, he towers over teammates, with the muscle mass that suggests he is always one of the best players on the field.
It often takes two offensive linemen to block him, which unlocks Matich’s beloved 4-2-5 alignment. In an era where the spread offense reigns, East can often commit more defensive backs to coverage because Ika soaks up blockers like a sponge. The Leopards’ defensive ends often have only one blocker to beat on their way to opposing quarterbacks thanks to Ika’s presence, and East linebackers are often free to roam and stuff the run game.
And with that, he turns his attention away from the recruiting process and to his current obsession — beating Bingham and establishing the Leopards as the best team in Class 6A.
But this is who Ika is off the field — a quiet and humble kid who is aware of his talent, but aware that a misstep can take away everything in an instant. Instead of basking in the attention, his stardom makes him work harder. And while he embraces football as his ticket to bigger and better things, he’s worked even harder at being a well-rounded student.
“The thing with Siaki, he’s had an excellent supporting cast around him,” East coach Brandon Matich said. “They say that it takes a village to raise a kid, and Siaki’s literally been raised by an Ika village. If he steps out of his lane academically, his whole family is at the school meeting with counselors, trying to figure out how to get him back on track. It’s all kept him humble and on the right path.”
Ika’s talent on the field was apparent early on. Four years ago, Matich watched Ika during a sweltering July workout, and he simply knew. By the end of the day, he sat Ika down and “told him he was going to be the highest recruited kid I’ve ever had,” Matich said.
That’s exactly where Ika’s story has gone in four years. To look at him on the football field is to marvel at his physicality. He’s often too big for his jersey. Vertically, he towers over teammates, with the muscle mass that suggests he is always one of the best players on the field.
It often takes two offensive linemen to block him, which unlocks Matich’s beloved 4-2-5 alignment. In an era where the spread offense reigns, East can often commit more defensive backs to coverage because Ika soaks up blockers like a sponge. The Leopards’ defensive ends often have only one blocker to beat on their way to opposing quarterbacks thanks to Ika’s presence, and East linebackers are often free to roam and stuff the run game.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 7:04 pm to bloodtide 39
Ika is more advanced than other recruits because of his nimble feet. See, here’s the thing: Many defensive linemen are big, and with some strength mixed in can be run stuffers. But Ika’s not just big and strong. Because of his footwork, he can attack an offensive lineman with a bullrush, or spin past him and dance on his way to sacking a quarterback. His quickness off the ball creates advantages many his size don’t get.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
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Concentration of talent: Select high schools collect the bulk of Utah’s best college football recruits
Concentration of talent: Select high schools collect the bulk of Utah’s best college football recruits
Because of these attributes, Ika has been compared to some of the great defensive tackles to come through the Utah high school football scene: Think of players such as Star Lotulelei and Haloti Ngata who have gone on to NFL fame and fortunes. Think of recent greats still in college football, such as USC redshirt freshman Jay Tufele.
“He has a chance to make it to the highest level of the game,” Matich said of Ika. “And I think he has a chance to be just as good or better than they are, which is humbling to think about. You simply can’t teach his size. He’s a big, giant kid. He has great footwork and he’s so explosive. He’s a sweet, humble, beautiful kid on the street. But, when he puts that helmet on, he’s a competitive, nasty kid. He has as good a chance as any to get to the highest level.”
Because Ika — who was once committed to BYU but then de-committed — is so highly recruited, one question comes up: Will he stay close to home for college? It’s been a big issue with heralded recruits in the past; they seldom stay local. Since 2008, the top-rated recruit by 247Sports.com in the state of Utah has gone out of state all but two times.
When Tufele was one of the most sought-after high school players in the country, USC signed him with relative ease. The No. 2 recruit in Tufele’s class was Salem Hills linebacker Porter Gustin; he also signed with USC and has become a standout linebacker with the Trojans, although he recently suffered a knee injury.
The University of Utah eagerly welcomed Gary Andersen back to its staff with the goal of protecting its recruiting home base. Andersen — a close friend of Matich — is widely regarded as one of the premier recruiters in the western United States. But while the Utes remain firmly in the chase for Ika, it will be difficult for them to beat out Washington, USC and Alabama.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
RELATED ARTICLE
Concentration of talent: Select high schools collect the bulk of Utah’s best college football recruits
Concentration of talent: Select high schools collect the bulk of Utah’s best college football recruits
Because of these attributes, Ika has been compared to some of the great defensive tackles to come through the Utah high school football scene: Think of players such as Star Lotulelei and Haloti Ngata who have gone on to NFL fame and fortunes. Think of recent greats still in college football, such as USC redshirt freshman Jay Tufele.
“He has a chance to make it to the highest level of the game,” Matich said of Ika. “And I think he has a chance to be just as good or better than they are, which is humbling to think about. You simply can’t teach his size. He’s a big, giant kid. He has great footwork and he’s so explosive. He’s a sweet, humble, beautiful kid on the street. But, when he puts that helmet on, he’s a competitive, nasty kid. He has as good a chance as any to get to the highest level.”
Because Ika — who was once committed to BYU but then de-committed — is so highly recruited, one question comes up: Will he stay close to home for college? It’s been a big issue with heralded recruits in the past; they seldom stay local. Since 2008, the top-rated recruit by 247Sports.com in the state of Utah has gone out of state all but two times.
When Tufele was one of the most sought-after high school players in the country, USC signed him with relative ease. The No. 2 recruit in Tufele’s class was Salem Hills linebacker Porter Gustin; he also signed with USC and has become a standout linebacker with the Trojans, although he recently suffered a knee injury.
The University of Utah eagerly welcomed Gary Andersen back to its staff with the goal of protecting its recruiting home base. Andersen — a close friend of Matich — is widely regarded as one of the premier recruiters in the western United States. But while the Utes remain firmly in the chase for Ika, it will be difficult for them to beat out Washington, USC and Alabama.
Posted on 8/13/18 at 7:06 pm to bloodtide 39
“It’s tough, just like it’s tough for California schools to fend off other schools [coming to] California,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said when asked about protecting the state from outside schools. “Nobody just absolutely puts a fence around their state or area and gets everybody. That just doesn’t happen. The talent level in Utah is such that it’s attracting more quote-unquote big-time programs.”
For his part, Ika said he likes each school on his list for differing reasons. One of his best friends plays at Washington. He and Tufele have formed a big brother-little brother relationship, although the East-Bingham rivalry gets a lot of attention whenever the two talk. Alabama is simply “Bama” to Ika, the blue-blood school every kid dreams of attending. Utah has close proximity, and Andersen’s already made an impression. And that’s even before an offer from Ohio State arrived last week.
Whichever school ultimately lands Ika is getting a well-rounded person. He’s a singer, and two years ago performed the national anthem in full uniform before an East game. His parents moved back to Tonga to run a family business, so Ika’s been raised by his siblings.
When will Ika decide to commit? He didn’t give a timetable for making a choice. What he really wants is for the season to start, and for the Leopards to make a run at a state title. If that can happen, Ika says, everything else falls into place.
“We’re young this year but we’re going to be really talented,” Ika said. “I think this year is going to be great. It’s my last year with my friends and I want to make the best of it. There’s no better way than to end it with a state title.”
Heading Elsewhere
Where the No. 1 ranked recruit in Utah according to 247Sports.com’s annual rankings went to school
2018 • Penei Sewell, OL, Desert Hills: Oregon
2017 • Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham: Southern Cal
2016 • Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton: Stanford
2015 • Osa Masina, LB, Bingham: Southern Cal
2014 • Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham: Stanford
2013 • Cooper Bateman, QB, Cottonwood: Alabama
2012 • Troy Hinds, RB, Davis: BYU
2011 • Harvey Langi, LB, Bingham: Utah (transferred to BYU after freshman season)
2010 • Ricky Heimuli, DT, Brighton: Oregon
2009 • Xavier Su’a-Filo, OL, Timpview: UCLA
2008 • Lynn Katoa, WR, Cottonwood: Colorado
For his part, Ika said he likes each school on his list for differing reasons. One of his best friends plays at Washington. He and Tufele have formed a big brother-little brother relationship, although the East-Bingham rivalry gets a lot of attention whenever the two talk. Alabama is simply “Bama” to Ika, the blue-blood school every kid dreams of attending. Utah has close proximity, and Andersen’s already made an impression. And that’s even before an offer from Ohio State arrived last week.
Whichever school ultimately lands Ika is getting a well-rounded person. He’s a singer, and two years ago performed the national anthem in full uniform before an East game. His parents moved back to Tonga to run a family business, so Ika’s been raised by his siblings.
When will Ika decide to commit? He didn’t give a timetable for making a choice. What he really wants is for the season to start, and for the Leopards to make a run at a state title. If that can happen, Ika says, everything else falls into place.
“We’re young this year but we’re going to be really talented,” Ika said. “I think this year is going to be great. It’s my last year with my friends and I want to make the best of it. There’s no better way than to end it with a state title.”
Heading Elsewhere
Where the No. 1 ranked recruit in Utah according to 247Sports.com’s annual rankings went to school
2018 • Penei Sewell, OL, Desert Hills: Oregon
2017 • Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham: Southern Cal
2016 • Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton: Stanford
2015 • Osa Masina, LB, Bingham: Southern Cal
2014 • Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham: Stanford
2013 • Cooper Bateman, QB, Cottonwood: Alabama
2012 • Troy Hinds, RB, Davis: BYU
2011 • Harvey Langi, LB, Bingham: Utah (transferred to BYU after freshman season)
2010 • Ricky Heimuli, DT, Brighton: Oregon
2009 • Xavier Su’a-Filo, OL, Timpview: UCLA
2008 • Lynn Katoa, WR, Cottonwood: Colorado
Posted on 8/13/18 at 7:07 pm to bloodtide 39
Man I sure hope we don’t miss on this guy! Sorry it’s so long but some good reading . Peace!!
Posted on 8/13/18 at 7:26 pm to TidalSurge1
Tidal was there ever a hint given by Bone as to who the unexpected D-Line commit my be? Ika perhaps LINK
Posted on 8/13/18 at 7:28 pm to bloodtide 39
quote:
Tidal was there ever a hint given by Bone as to who the unexpected D-Line commit my be? Ika perhaps LINK
My guess is Sorrells. We need someone with a Rivals subscription. ETA: From the USCrb
quote:
SOSFAN · 8/12/18 · 6:01 pm
My understanding is that Sorrells has become a USC/Bama battle with the good guys still ahead. What are you hearing?
Carolina_Girl · 8/12/18 · 7:18 pm
Rumor remains he's a silent commit. Bama's making a push but can't guarantee early playing time like we can. I'd say at this point we're pretty safe but as we all know, that can change in the blink of an eye.
This post was edited on 8/13/18 at 7:56 pm
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