re: 2020 FB Recruiting & Roster

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Alabama hasn’t signed a high school recruit from the state of Illinois since 1997. That changed when Jahleel Billingsley sent in his letter of intent in December as a part of the Crimson Tide’s No. 1 class.

The 4-star tight end from Chicago -- Phillips Academy, to be exact -- cannot wait to enroll and move to Tuscaloosa later this month. And Alabama feels the same way about the 6-foot-4, 216-pound freshman.

“Coach (Jeff) Banks, he keeps me updated on what I should be doing as far as workouts,” Billingsley told BamaOnLine in an exclusive interview. “They give me stuff that I need to do just to be ready and prepared for when I get there.”

Billingsley said he will leave home on May 24 and will officially move in on May 27. The nation’s No. 11 tight end prospect, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite, is looking forward to getting an even better feel for a campus he grew to love during the recruiting process. That was one of the things about Alabama that stood out to the No. 3-ranked player in the state of Illinois.

“Just the vibe that I got on campus from the players,” Billingsley said. “Not just really the football things but just the all-around campus feel, I like how it is. It’s not closed off, but the campus will keep me away from a lot of stuff that I don’t need to be in.

“Just the way everything is set up, there’s no way that I can fail.” continued at the link...

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Clovis (Calif.) Buchanan running back Kendal Milton recently locked in his first official visit and has a good idea where three more of his visits will be as well.

Milton was one of the top players in attendance at the NorCal Opening Regional Camp Saturday. He’s a big back and measured in at a rock solid 6-2, 220 pounds. He tested well with a 116.13 Rating, good enough for top 10 in the camp and looked very good in the drills and one on ones as well.

“That kid is special,” former Washington Husky/Oakland Raider RB and lead RB coach at the Opening,” Napoleon Kaufman said. “He’s a big back but he can move. I really like him a lot, he’s a monster and is only going to get better. You don’t see many backs with that size and frame be able to cut and and play with his kind of quickness, I liked him a lot.”

Milton, rated the No. 21 player nationally in the 247Sports Composite, received a well deserved invite to The Opening Finals after the event.

1st visit to LSU, then mentions UGA and tOSU...
Milton said Alabama is another school that looks good for an official visit.

“Yeh, Bama is likely to get one as well,” Milton said. “I visited there recently and really liked it a lot. They’re program speaks for itself and it was great sitting down and talking with coach Saban. I was really impressed with what he had to say and how they would like to develop me there so there’s a very good chance I’ll be back there.

Others in consideration - USC, OU, Utexas, and Oregon

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Alabama hosted 2021 four-star cornerback Latrell McCutchin back in March on an unofficial visit, and on Monday the rising junior from Austin (Texas) LBJ got some good news from the Crimson Tide in the form of an offer.

“It’s something I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little kid,” McCutchin told BamaOnLine. “For it to actually happen, it’s real crazy to me. I’m still trying to come to my senses about the whole thing.”

The four-star DB got the news from Nick Saban himself. McCutchin says the Tide head coach likes a lot about him both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Saban also credited McCutchin’s character as a reason he is interested.

The Lone Star State native looked back on his visit to Tuscaloosa earlier this spring.

“I really liked it,” McCutchin, who plans to return to campus in the summer, said. “I still to this day haven’t seen a facility like theirs. It was crazy.”

Why was Alabama the dream school for McCutchin growing up?

“Anybody who knows me knows that I hate losing,” he said. “Just the way that they win and things like that excited me. Then I started realizing how many guys they put in the league and I thought that’s a place I’d like to be.”

With the dream offer in his pocket, did he consider making a commitment?

“Of course it crossed my mind, but I’m probably going to take my recruiting process pretty slow, make sure I’m making the right decision,” McCutchin said. “But them being my dream school, they’re definitely at the top of my list.”

The leader?

“Yes, I would say that,” McCutchin said.

At just over 6-feet tall and 176 pounds, McCutchin ranks as the No. 7 cornerback and the No. 117 overall player in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings.

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Arrival Date to Tuscaloosa May 27, 2019
Height & Weight 6-foot-2, 237 pounds
Projected Position at Alabama Will Linebacker (Inside)
Superior Athleticism

To think that Harris played at over 225 pounds in high school is incredible when you watch his film. He returned numerous kickoffs for touchdowns and displayed great speed and athleticism throughout his prep career. Harris sees the field extremely well and has great peripheral vision.

Big Hitter

Combine Harris' speed and size with the fact that he loves contact, you have a prospect that can clearly bring the boom. During Harris' high school career, he played a lot of corner and along with delivering big hits, he's also shown on film that he is a very good tackler in open space.

Physicality

There is no position on the field that requires a player to be more physical than at inside linebacker. You have to crave the contact and be a heat-seeking missile. Harris has those attributes.

Playmaker

Harris brings to Alabama a great ability to simply make the big play. Talk about someone who shines when the lights turn bright, Harris projects as that guy. The inside linebacker position requires a player that can change the momentum with a big hit, an interception, a quarterback sack, and Harris will provide that dynamic once on campus.

Final Comments

Harris has some of the most entertaining highlights you'll see. He's got enough athleticism to play receiver or corner, but he's built to create collisions across the middle of the field. While Alabama has some very promising returners at the inside linebacker position, Harris' ability to create plays should allow him to climb Pete Golding's the depth chart sooner than later.

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...Both players were suspended in the spring for unspecified team rules violations and were not around the team to learn a new defense being installed.

That's not good, though it's not an insurmountable hurdle.

I don't know the details of either suspension, but suspensions can be an indicator that guy's head's not in the right place.

If Ruggs or Clarke were distracted by their circumstances the suspensions put them at a crossroads, and you can see the paths they chose.

In their brief Ole Miss careers neither got on the field enough to impact games, but there's lost potential here for Ole Miss. Depth too. Luke was excited to report on his Rebel Road Trip stops that the team, after working through NCAA sanctions, was back to 85 scholarships. Now it's at 83.

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