re: 2020 FB Recruiting & Roster

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...Rodney Groce, three-star linebacker from Pleasant Grove High School in Alabama. It's only May, but some consider it already late in the recruiting process. Groce has amassed close to 30 scholarship offers. He is receiving the most interest from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia Tech and Oklahoma.

He finished his junior season at 6-foot-1, 210-pounds. Most schools, early in his recruitment, were considering him an outside linebacker. He now stands 6-foot-2, and more than 230-pounds. Schools are recruiting him as inside linebacker and even the 'Jack'/rush end position.

The University of Alabama has high interest in the in-state player. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding has been to see him this spring. He talks with several members of the Crimson Tide coaching staff.

"They are just seeing where my head is as far as the recruiting process goes," Groce said. "I literally talk to everyone, but mainly Coach (Karl) Scott. Coach Golding has been to practice. I like him a lot. He's a really good coach, and I can see myself playing for him...

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...Zachary Evans, 5-star RB, Houston (Texas) North Shore The nation’s No. 1 overall player, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings, Evans plans to release his top five schools soon, and it would be a surprise to not see Alabama on that list. The Texas standout has been to Tuscaloosa more than once and is expected on campus again this summer after visiting for the Champions Cookout last June. Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Texas are all vying for Evans’ commitment.

Justin Flowe, 5-star ILB, Upland (Calif.) You could make the case for Flowe being the most important target in the 2020 class considering both the level of prospect he is and the need at the position for Alabama. The five-star ‘backer caught up with BamaOnLine earlier this week and told us the Tide has a “really big chance” to land his commitment. In the wake of Tosh Lupoi leaving the staff, new defensive coordinator Pete Golding has stepped in and kept the Tide in play for the nation’s top-ranked inside linebacker. A top five or three is expected in the coming weeks. Flowe says the Tide will “definitely” receive and official visit, so it would come as a surprise to not see Alabama on that list.

Sav’ell Smalls, 5-star OLB, Burien (Wash.) Kennedy Catholic Another position of need for the Tide staff in 2020, Smalls has long been atop the Tide’s target list, and appeared trending to Alabama last summer after taking his second visit to Tuscaloosa. Tosh Lupoi’s exit may have hurt the Tide’s standing, but not by much if you read Smalls’ latest interview with BamaOnLine. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder plans to get back on the Tide’s campus in the coming weeks, possibly more than once. Returning OC Steve Sarkisian has taken over as lead recruiter and is a coach Smalls has connected well with. With that being said, Smalls told BOL he likes to talk to coaches in person more than he does on the phone, so visits are critical for staying in the mix. One extra note: Smalls recently dropped Washington from contention.

Jordan Burch, 5-star SDE, Columbia (S.C.) Hammond School Most of the talk for Burch has centered around Clemson and South Carolina, but the five-star defensive end has yet to make a commitment to either in-state school and is expected at Georgia this weekend. The No. 1 strong-side defensive end, Burch visited the Capstone earlier this year and remains a big target for Alabama. Don’t be shocked to see him get back to Tuscaloosa in the future.

Julian Fleming, 5-star WR, Catawissa (Pa.) Southern Columbia The nation’s top wideout took his first official visit to Tuscaloosa for A-Day and left impressed. Still, though, this seems like a race more in favor of Ohio State at this point in the process. Fleming is expected to make a commitment on May 31.

Arik Gilbert, 5-star ATH, Marietta (Ga.) The No. 1 athlete in the country — recruited as a tight end — visited Tuscaloosa earlier this year and told BOL at The Opening in Atlanta that Alabama was the only official visit he knew he’d be taking at that point. Gilbert has yet to set the trip up, but his mother tells BOL they’re in the process of still looking at dates. Georgia has long trended for Gilbert, but it’s Alabama, Clemson and Tennessee that are keeping it close for the 6-foot-5.5, 245-pounder.

Darnell Washington, 5-star ATH, Las Vegas (Nev.) Desert Pines The Tide got Washington on campus last month for an unofficial visit which, by all accounts, was a successful trip. Washington isn’t planning on announcing a decision anytime soon, but, if he were today, I like where the Tide stands for the 6-foot-7.5, 248-pound tight end target. Georgia, Auburn, Miami and Oregon are also in the mix.

Desmond Evans, 5-star WDE, Sanford (N.C.) Lee County The No. 2 weak-side defensive end in the country, Evans is working on setting up a visit to Tuscaloosa after including the Tide in his top 10 recently. Tide assistant Charles Kelly was out to see Evans recently. “They put guys in the NFL consistency, and develop them into businessmen,” he said of what he likes about the program. There’s no consensus on where Evans ends up at this time.

Kendall Milton, 5-star RB, Clovis (Calif.) Buchanan Bama appears to be positioning itself to land a five-star back, whether it be the aforementioned Evans or Kendall Milton. After the latter’s unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa last month and hearing what his camp had to say about the trip, it’s hard not to like the Tide’s chances there, but at the same time schools like LSU, Ohio State and Georgia are keeping it competitive. Milton’s recruitment will likely head into the fall. Alabama looks to have as good a shot as any right now. top 4 named last night with Bama making the cut

Reggie Grimes, 5-star WDE, Mount Juliet (Tenn.) Alabama has been after the five-star Tide legacy hard since offering Grimes at camp last summer. The nation’s No. 3 weak-side defensive end has never named the Tide his leader, but that’s where we believe he ultimately opts for when he makes a decision. Others schools he’s considering include Florida State, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

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Milton’s recruitment will likely head into the fall. Alabama looks to have as good a shot as any right now. top 4 named last night with Bama making the cut

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Class of 2020 prospect Zykevious Walker is the No. 74 player in the nation and the No. 4 weakside defensive end in the country. The fact that he lives in the Peach State all but assures a constant pilgrimage for Georgia Bulldog coaches down to Schley County High School. In fact, during the recent state track meet, where Walker was competing in the discus, Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning was in attendance. Many other SEC coaches have been coming through to check out Walker’s spring practices as well. He receives a barrage of texts and emails on a daily basis.

The volume of communication is impressive especially considering Walker has trimmed his list to five schools.

“As of right now, I’ve got my top five, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee,” Walker told UGASports. “I’m just trying to see what separates each of these schools from each other, trying to see where I fit in. and what’s the best relationship.”

ALABAMA: “I really love Alabama, when I go to Alabama I always have a good time. They treat me like I’m family, they want to get to talk to my mother, they want to get to know my family, and over there I feel like it’s more than just football. Football’s important over there, but I feel like family—being tight and being close to one another is more important than just football.

AUBURN: “I like Coach [Rodney] Garner over there. I can tell he’s going to be the type of coach who can get you to the next level. He’s going to work you hard, he’s going to make sure you’re on time, of course, he may dog-cuss you a couple of times, but that’s only going to make you better.

He’s telling me if I come to Auburn I’ll start early because they’ve got four defensive linemen that are probably going to go out in the draft this coming year. I know if I go to Auburn, I know I can start quick.”

GEORGIA: “See, I’ve really got the closest relationship with Georgia. I’ve been to Georgia at least five or six times. Georgia supports me in everything I do. I had a coach from Georgia, Dan Lanning, he came and watched me throw discus today, so you know I really have a tight relationship with Georgia. I’m from Georgia, so that makes it even better.

“It would mean a lot (to play for Georgia) but it is what it is, and I’m just trying to see where I can get the best education, where my family’s going to be happy with me being, and where I’m going to get playing time.

...“I really love Kirby Smart. To be honest with you Kirby Smart’s probably the best recruiter out there right now. All the 2020/2021 guys, he got a lot of them coming in. Kirby Smart did a lot for Georgia, he changed the program around big time over there. I feel like Kirby Smart could get two or three titles before he retires from Georgia. The way he coaches and the way he’s got those players moving around and stuff, I feel like he’s got a good chance of getting Georgia where they need to be.”

TENNESSEE: “Coach [Kevin] Sherrer is over there. I know they’re in the rebuilding process, but I also know that if I go to Tennessee I could start early there too, easy. Coach Sherrer, he really loves me I can tell, he comes and watches me work out. He always calls me, we always talk on the phone about personal stuff, and he asks about my family. When a guy asks about your family all the time, you know they really care about being family over there, so that means a lot to me.”

FLORIDA: “I love Dan Mullen. I talked to Coach David Turner over there, the defensive line coach, the most. I like him too, and he texts me every morning. He is always on me, always sending me something, making sure I’m going to hit him back. If I don’t hit him back, he’s going to double text me. He’s on me, I really love Coach David Turner over there, our relationship’s going to continue strong. I’m actually supposed to go over there May 18th for a cookout.
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...All five schools have time to get Walker on campus as he plans to take all of his official visits before deciding “either mid-season or after the season,” as he tries to catch some of the “big games.”

Georgia is recruiting Walker as a defensive end or outside linebacker. One of his coaches at Schley County even thinks he can play offensive tackle if he adds 30 pounds to his 6-foot-4, 260-pound frame. In the meantime. Walker is playing on the defensive line and at fullback, leading the way for Zamon Ross
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“Ross is going to be big time,” Walker said. “He’s still young right now, but he’s going to be big time. I feel like this year is going to be a really good year. I don’t think anyone in our region right now could stop him at running back. He’s just unbelievable, breaking out, killing people. I play fullback. We’re running, we’re running.”

Ross is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound tailback running behind the 6-4 Walker. It is a potent attack, especially as Walker likes to clear the way for his tailback.

“I like to hit people. I feel like if I can go up and put my helmet on somebody. I do it for the team. See, I love my running back, and I want him to get the yards, and the only way he can get yards is if he’s got good blockers. I can be the type of blocker who can open the hole and kill somebody, and he can break out.”

MORE: Walker plans to major in business and is weighing his top five accordingly. He has a 3.4 GPA.

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