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

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4-star offensive lineman John Campbell considered Auburn during the spring, even visiting for a junior day. But the Orlando-based lineman has gravitated toward two in-state schools — Florida and Miami. I’m a firm believer in the “follow-the-visits” theory, and Campbell has made it to Miami with regularity; hence, my Hurricanes selection.

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I’ve also placed three 2019 predictions in the last few weeks — a big one to Auburn and two to Georgia:

5-star wide receiver Dominick Blaylock: Georgia
4-star linebacker J.D. Bertrand: Georgia
4-star quarterback Bo Nix: Auburn

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The Crystal Ball...gives fans an easy way to gauge where prospects will end up.

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The good news for Jalen Cunningham is that he is losing the weight college coaches want him to drop. Cunningham now stands at 6-foot-5 and 338 pounds, down from more than 360 this spring.

The bad news is that a toe injury will cost him a portion of his senior season.

Just moments into Alabama's camp earlier in June, Cunningham suffered what he thought was a turf toe on his left foot during agility drills. An MRI revealed torn ligaments and a disclocation. Cunningham had surgery and will miss St. Clair County's first two games of the season.

"Luckily, those first two games, they're not going to count against our (region) record, really," Cunningham said. "I'll be back for our first region game."

Cunningham said he wants to get his commitment done before then, though. A decision will likely come in July and Alabama, Auburn and Ole Miss are equal.

"I think I've got my decision ready," Cunningham said. "I'm just waiting to get it out there."

Here is what Cunningham said about his finalists.

ALABAMA: "They're all good and fine with me with the injury and everything. They're still on me. It was only about five minutes into the camp that I messed it up. I didn't get enough time to show them, but they are still high on me."

OLE MISS: "Coaching staff and Coach (Hugh) Freeze, just the environment that they have."

AUBURN: "Really, everything about Auburn. I love them to the depth. Coach (Gus) Malzahn, that's my favorite coach. Coach (Herb) Hand, I just love him. Coach (Rodney) Garner knows all of my family so we have a good relationship."

Cunningham is a three-star recruit in the 247Sports composite.

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Four-star receiver Seth Williams, one of the top recruits this summer in the state of Alabama, garners attention everywhere he runs on the football field. Even at a non-contact, 7-on-7 football tournament.

On Thursday morning, Williams earned the attention of the Central-Phenix City defense. A cornerback, with the help of a safety over the top, tried to smother Williams, who is ranked No. 5 on the 247Sports Composite Rating of Alabama's top players in the Class of 2018. Never mind that defenders at the ALFCA Regional Championships in Montgomery were not allowed to utilize their hands; Williams collected his share of hands-on defense.

While Williams, a rising senior at Paul Bryant, likely appreciated the hustle of his smaller defender, he was visibly irked after a number of physical encounters.

In response, Williams lined up wide to the right side, sprinted 10 yards down the field, took one step inside then shifted his hips to the outside, the final move of a post-corner route. Problem was, Williams did not sell the inside move.

"I know. I got out my route too fast," Williams said later. "I wasn't patient with it."

The play marked one of the few times Williams (6-3, 210 pounds) may have been knocked off his game. More often, he knocks opponents around on both sides of the football.

Part of his Thursday frustration: Williams wanted to respond in kind with the type of physical play which has attracted interest from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida State and plenty of college football suitors. But, again, this was non-contact football.

Problem was, the bull's eye on his back and chest don't disappear.

"We've told him you're a national so recruit; people are going to come and try to take your lunch," said Paul Bryant coach Eldrick Hill. "They want to get a chance to try and shine against you. If they do good against you, people will think that maybe, they should be on that level.

"So he understands that he's going to get everybody's best, even if that kid isn't very good. That kid may play at a higher level (against him) because he believes he's going against better talent. He feels it's his time to shine."

Last season, few top recruits in the state of Alabama shinned like Williams, who earned his four stars by playing both ways for Paul Bryant. At receiver, his primary position, Williams 51 passes for 667 yards and 13 touchdowns. At free safety, he also recorded nearly 40 tackles with five interceptions and two forced fumbles.

During one of his best outings of 2016, Williams caught five passes for 88 yards and three TDs, scored on a 17-yard run and on defense, collected one interception.

Wait. He also booted a 35-yard field goal, three extra points and three punts (43.3-yard average), according to the Tuscaloosa News.

Expect Williams to learn from Thursday's 7on7 experience. Stay chill. Relax. And dominate, hands on or hands off.

"Game time is game time," he said. "Once you get on the field, everybody is the same. Whether you have (recruiting) stars are not, everybody is the same. It's about who wins the battle on each play.

"Win the battles, win the game."

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I'm good with the Michael Parker kid from Huntsville. I really like his potential.

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