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

KN has an interesting update this morning. Says someone associated with another non SEC Power 5 school says his program is struggling to find good DB talent. The early signing period has resulted in a much smaller pool & teams are having to compromise on some of their final spots. This is part of problem AU is having right now if they can't steal someone like Griffin, Campbell or Joseph which seem unlikely right now

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Paw- Still feeling good about Quay Walker? Are we still getting the final visit? SEC recruiting board seems to think it is a Tennessee/UGA battle.

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Unfortunately UGA gets final visit & I think he ends up there because he's a kid that gets visit highs. Big reason why Tennessee is trending now is because he just visited. He will be at AU in 2 weekends & unless AU can land him then & convince him not to visit Athens I think he picks the Dawgs

Definitely still in the race tho

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I think NCM's problem is actually Stidham. Stidham doesn't throw guys open often & he doesn't throw contested passes often unless it's deep. That's not a bad trait in a QB because means he probably doesn't throw a lot of picks. But it also helped lead to a higher number of sacks and maybe some missed conversions because he didn't trust his wideouts to make a play

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I agree on this too.

JS seemed to wait wait wait until he SAW the WR open. (unfortunately he did that on the pick 6 in the bowl game).

JS needed to come back bc he needed so much more QB teaching. He has the arm, mobility, but holding the ball too long or only throwing deep to Slayton, it seemed was part of his weaknesses.
I do hope as you write, that our QB/OC coach is/will coach JS on the back shoulder throws and rely on his stronger WRs to just trust your WR on balls they have to fight for.

I also hope that CL DOES use the TE more in the passing game to help JS on his checkdowns or calls for passes to the TE that continually give offenses first downs or large gains of plus 5 yards that make it easier on 2nd and 3rd down calls (just like the bubble screen helped.

I expect better QB and a passing offense (if we can protect him with an all new line)...

Alright for fun of it here's my guess at the 3 tiers for AU's recruiting currently & what names to watch

Automatic Takes

These are guys that AU would take in a heartbeat regardless of position or need

5* CB Tyson Campbell --> aint happening, all Dawg
4* CB Olaijah Griffin --> trending USC, supposed to visit AU but trip in jeapardy
4* WR Justyn Ross --> turning into BAMA/CLEM battle but will OV to AU next weekend
4* CB Kelvin Joseph --> LSU commit & visiting there this week, good chance they get him to cancel his Feb OV to AU
4* WR JaMarr Chase --> visiting this weekend, major LSU lean but his recruitment has been all over the place
4* OT Richard Gouraige --> CLEM trending but I personally believe he ends up at AU
4* OL William Barnes --> UNC trending but AU/UF both still threats
4* OT Dylan Wonnum --> SCAR probably leads with AU trailing
4* LB Quay Walker --> very soft Bama commit. Vols/UGA trending. My fear is he goes to team he visits last (UGA) ala Big Kat last year

Possible Takes

These are guys I think AU really likes but not 100% sure if they have a spot right now or not. Could come down to need & what happens with group above

4* DL Caleb Tannor --> NEB trending but will OV to AU. If Tigers push I think they can snag him but unsure if they will push
4* OL Tank Jenkins --> AU staff just not super high on him & KN has hinted that some stuff off field might be the cause. Trending OK right now
3* DL Caleb Johnson --> guy that a lot of teams like but aren't sure if they have a spot. Will OV to AU
3* TE Matt Alaimo --> it's not 100% certain AU will take a TE with Joiner now on board, if they do this will be the guy
3* DB Joseph Foucha --> missed chance to commit as S in summer now being evaluated as a CB but unclear if he's a clear take. Will OV this weekend & has AU #1
3* DB Roger McCreary --> appears to be the name at top of DB board behind the guys in the other tier. Will take OVs to Bama & TEN but has AU #1 right now

Backups

These are guys that like AU & would jump on board if offered but not certain if they will get one or not. AU would probably have to miss on guys in 1st tier AND need to fill a need that guys in 2nd tier can't

3* ATH Nathaniel Watson --> might need to be in tier above this one just not sure where he is on AU's board or what position AU really likes him at. I think it would be on defense ala Montavius Atkinson
3* ATH Cam Taylor --> dying for AU offer but AU is gonna have to have a few guys say no. I think McCreary ahead of him as well
3* CB CD Daniels --> former Memphis commit who is hoping for AU commit. Will take an OV at some point
3* LB La'Dedric Jackson --> If AU wants another LB & can't get Walker this is probably the guy they take
3* RB Kavosiey Smoke --> ship has sailed now that AU has Joiner. If Joiner were to flip (don't think he will) then AU would go all in for Smoke. Trending UNC right now
3* OG Ed Montilus --> my guess is if they think they can pull of package deal with Barnes they take Montilus, otherwise probably pass


Let me know if you think I missed a name. Also this isn't 100% guaranteed just my guess at where things stand

So Gouraige ain't happening now.... Hand leaving for Texas

God damn it

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Gouraige said back in the spring. “Coach Davis just brings that new style, just that new swag. He’s going to tell you if he really wants you or not. He’s just investing all his time in me.”

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Didn’t Florida give up more sacks than we did this year?

He coached the 2017 UF OL. He just just hired by Mizzou in December

In 2017, UF ranked 123rd in the country in sacks allowed. 37 sacks in 11 games. Granted they had injuries and suspensions on the OL this year, but that's not exactly a ringing endorsement