re: 2018 Football Recruiting Thread -- Final OP Update Edition

CB
5* Patrick Surtain Jr - FSU/LSU battle, AU not a factor (FWIW I think he's a bit overrated meaning I don't think he's a 5* but he's a top 4*)
4* Isaac Taylor-Stuart - USC lean
4* Josh Jobe - MIA commit with Bama pushing
4* Tyson Campbell - MIA/LSU/CLEM/OHST battle, AU not involved
4* Al Blades Jr - MIA commit
4* Jalyn Armour-Davis - BAMA commit
4* Asante Samuel Jr - FSU commit
4* Myles Sims - MICH commit
4* Christian Tutt - NEB trending
4* Isaiah Bolden - ORE commit with FSU pushing
4* Corione Harris - KAN commit but LSU still a factor
4* Jordan Miner - PSU lean, AU no longer a factor (committing soon)
3* DJ Ivey - MIA commit
3* Miguel Edwards - OK commit
3* Chris Smith - UGA commit
4* Sevyn Banks - OHST commit
3* Jonathan Gipson - not much AU-Gipson chatter (wouldn't mind seeing us push for this kid, like his tape)
4* Jaycee Horn - SCAR trending big
3* Stanley Garner - not a top AU target right now but name to remember
3* Kedrick Torain - UNC probably the favorite
3* Juanyeh Thomas - AU/GT/UF battle with most seeing AU as clear favorite
4* Kyler McMichael - CLEM commit
4* D'Shawn Jamison - TEX heavy favorite
3* DJ Crossen - VT commit
3* JaKorey Hawkins - If Tigers push they have excellent shot
3* Charles McClelland - recent AU offer who might become a top target after recent misses

FTR - pretty impressive how much work you put into this thread on a daily basis, and I for one and really enjoying reading everything (mostly - sometimes I get lost in the long articles :) ). Thanks for your contributions to this board from someone who hasn't been a member here forever.

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FTR - pretty impressive how much work you put into this thread on a daily basis, and I for one and really enjoying reading everything (mostly - sometimes I get lost in the long articles :) ). Thanks for your contributions to this board from someone who hasn't been a member here forever.

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Working on bolding more of the interesting stuff in those long articles. I know sometimes I get carried away

Highly recruited underclassmen Kris Draine, D.J. James lead a new generation at Spanish Fort (AL.com)

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Spanish Fort defensive coordinator Tony Stonicher is in his 36th year as a high school football coach.

He has seen few athletes like Toro underclassmen Kris Draine and D.J. James.

Stonicher said James, a junior, is one of the best cover cornerbacks he’s ever coached. His praise for Draine, a sophomore wide receiver, may be even more impressive.

“I’ve told everyone who will listen to me that the two best athletes I’ve ever coached against were Kadarius Toney and David Palmer,” Stonicher said. “Draine reminds me a lot of David Palmer. A lot.”

Draine (5-foot-11, 160) and James (5-10, 175) are expected to be cornerstones for Ben Blackmon’s third Spanish Fort team. Gone are longtime stars like Logan Morgan, Thomas Johnston, Justin Thomas and Colt Steiner.

If the Toros are to make a run at a fourth state title either this fall or in 2018 – or both – Draine and James are likely to lead the charge.

“We try to treat those guys just like anyone else on the team,” Blackmon said. “We probably expect more out of them than some others because of their God-given ability, but they both know they have to keep working to get better.”

College offers are already starting to mount for both players. Draine, who was limited by a hamstring injury as a freshman, has offers from Florida, Florida Atlantic, South Alabama and UAB. James, who was dynamic in his first year as a starter as a sophomore, has offers from Ole Miss, Florida, UAB and Florida Atlantic.

“I’m just going to take it all in stride,” said Draine, who helped the Spanish Fort basketball team to the Class 6A semifinals this past winter. “The offers just make me work harder.”

Draine is expected to be the go-to receiver for senior quarterback Jack Samsel. He’s an elusive player with great hands. He may also see time at cornerback on defense in long-yardage situations.

“You just have to put the ball in his area, and he’ll go get it,” Samsel said of Draine. “He’ll catch it every time and, when he does, he has a shot to take it to the house.”

Draine could remind fans of former Spanish Fort standout Javon Brown, who accumulated more than 1,700 yards receiving in helping the Toros to the 2015 state title.

“I hope he has a big year,” Blackmon said. “He certainly has a lot of potential. I’m really excited about what he does and the ability he has.”

James already has proven his worth on the varsity level. He intercepted six passes during the Toros’ 10-3 season a year ago, returning four for touchdowns.

“Right place, right time I guess,” he joked.

Stonicher said luck doesn’t play a role for James.

“He’s one of the best cover corners I’ve ever had, and he’s put on some weight,” he said. “His ball skills are second to none. He’s the fastest guy on the team. He’s got several big-time offers already, and he’s starting to get a lot of SEC interest with two more years left.”

Does James have the size needed to play defensive back in the rugged SEC?

“He will,” Stonicher said. “He’s probably gained 10 pounds this offseason. He needs to gain 10 more, but he’s just a junior so that likely will happen.”

Both Draine and James said that, while the early college offers are flattering, they aren’t focused on recruiting right now.

“That will happen when it’s time,” James said. “Right now, I’m working on being a leader for my team and trying to improve my craft.”

The Toros open 2017 at home on Aug. 25 against Class 7A power McGill-Toolen.

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FWIW I REALLY like DJ James. Very good cover corner though he might need to grow a bit more for us to offer but definitely a name to keep in mind

Saraland's 2017 opener against Heard County (Ga.) to be televised on ESPNU (AL.com)

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As expected, Saraland’s 2017 football season opener will be nationally televised.

ESPN announced Wednesday that the Spartans’ Aug. 26 game against Heard County (Ga.) in Cartersville (Ga.) would be televised by ESPNU.

The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CST.

It’s part of a doubleheader. The second game starts at 6:30 p.m. and will feature Auburn quarterback commit Joey Gatewood and Bartram Trail (Fla.) against Clemson QB commit Trevor Lawrence and homestanding Cartersville. That game will be televised by ESPN2. Cartersville has won 30 games in a row and two straight state titles.

“We are honored to be included in the ESPN kickoff weekend,” Saraland coach Jeff Kelly said. “It should be a great experience for our kids and a chance to represent our city and fans. We know we will be playing a very good football team with a lot of people watching so we better be ready to go.”

The doubleheader highlights four of the top quarterbacks in the nation for 2017. In addition to Gatewood and Lawrence, Stanford commit Jack West will lead Saraland against Ohio State commit Emory Jones and Heard County.

Those are two of the seven high school games to be televised by one of the ESPN family of networks during the weekend of Aug. 25-27. The Geico High School Football Kickoff will feature 10 states, six 2016 state champions and 29 players who are ranked in the ESPN 300.

The weekend starts Aug. 25 with St. John Bosco (Calif.) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) at 6 p.m. Aug. 25 on ESPNU. Dematha (Md.) will play Bishop Gorman (Nev.) at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

In addition to the two games in Cartersville on Saturday, Tulsa Union (Okla.) will take on Broken Arrow (Okla.) at 11 a.m. on ESPN and IMG Academy (Fla.) vs. Chandler (Ariz.) at 9:30 p.m. on ESPNU. The weekend will conclude with Wayne (Ohio) vs. Pine-Richland (Pa.) at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN on Aug. 27.

“We haven’t talked about it much with the kids, but I know they are looking forward to kicking this season off in that arena,” Kelly said.

It will be the second straight year Saraland has played a game on one of the ESPN networks. The Spartans lost at Spanish Fort last October in a game televised by ESPN2.

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Something interesting is Wilftong says he things UGA is recruiting Corral harder than Fields. I don't think that's true based off what UGA guys have said but still interesting

4* WR Tommy Bush still seems like a Baylor lean to Wiltfong. Also says that TEX, OM & FSU along with "others" made an impression. Hopefully we are one of the "others"

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Also 4* WR Kearis Jackson is apparently going to announce in August. Looks all Dawg right now but if we can land Fields I think that will change

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It seems like our WR position is filling up pretty quickly. With Mathew Hill being a heavy lean and Ross expected to sign with us, I doubt we would have room for him, unless the staff feels like he is so elite that we would take him regardless of need at other positions.