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Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:29 pm
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:29 pm
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To help prepare you for Wednesday, here is a primer for the day.
Here are the basic rules:
Wednesday, February 3 is the first day that High School and Prep School players can sign their binding letter of intent to the college of their choice. All commitments made prior to signing have been verbal and non-binding. Junior College players can sign their letters of intent in December.
The NCAA has set a limit of 25 on incoming scholarship players for any one calendar year.
There is no NCAA limit to the number of players you can sign. Obviously, if you sign more than 25, then something has to give.
The SEC does have a rule in place that restricts you from signing more than 28 players on, or after National Signing Day. Players who have signed their letter of intent prior to NSD do not count towards this limit. The SEC has not stated what the enforcement of this rule will be.
That last point is the interesting one, with several SEC schools (including Bama) skating close to the conference’s self imposed limit of 28. I’m guessing that some school will push past the 28 and test the new rule, just to see what happens.
With that aside, here is where Bama stands:
Bama has eleven guys already on campus that will be new players for the football team in 2010. These players are attending classes and participating in off season workouts. They will all be eligible to participate in spring practice.
Brandon Lewis is a junior college transfer, and has already signed his letter of intent. He will count towards the NCAA limit of 25, but not towards the SEC limit of 28.
Darius McKeller, Anthony Orr, and Petey Smith were members of the 2009 signing class that deferred their enrollment until January. They will not re-sign, and will therefore not count towards the SEC limit of 28. Because Alabama had three open spaces in their 2009 class, all three guys will back-count towards that class, so they will also not count towards the NCAA limit of 25.
Cade Foster, Jalston Fowler, John Fulton, Chad Lindsay, DeMarcus Milliner, Austin Shepherd, and Phillip Sims will all sign their letters of intent on Wednesday and will count towards both the NCAA limit of 25 and the SEC limit of 28.
This post was edited on 2/1/10 at 4:34 pm
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Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:29 pm to Alahunter
cliff notes version with witty response please?
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:29 pm to Alahunter
So who are Bama’s commitments? Up first we’ll take a look at the guys already on campus.
Brandon Lewis – DL – 6-3 – 275
Brandon was a member of the class of 2008 who failed to qualify academically. He enrolled at East Mississippi Community College in nearby Scooba, MS, and has resigned with the Tide. He redshirted this past year at EMCC, so he will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Rivals.com - 4-star and the #48 player in the Junior College ranks.
Scout.com - 3-star.
ESPNU - no grade for him.
At 275 lbs., he is more likely to play DE than NG for Bama. Obviously he has time to add weight, but would need to add close to 30 lbs. to be ideal weight for the nose guard position. While his credentials might not jump off of the page, it is important to note that Alabama has signed two JuCo players under Nick Saban – Terrence Cody and James Carpenter – and both guys contributed immediately.
Lewis is a bit of a special circumstance guy, since he was a previous signee with the Tide. But I have a hard time believing that Nick Saban would use a scholarship on him if he didn’t think that he was capable of contributing. Bama has depth on the defensive line, so playing time is no guarantee. Him participating in spring drills will give him a considerable advantage towards playing time, though.
Darius McKeller – OL – 6-6 – 280
He signed with Bama in 2009 out of Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, GA. He deferred enrollment due to a knee injury. It is expected that he will be healthy enough to participate in spring practice. He will have five years to play four.
While he was not re-graded by the recruiting services, their 2009 rankings were:
Rivals.com – 3 star, #58 offensive tackle
Scout.com – 3 star, #43 offensive tackle
ESPNU – 79 grade, #29 offensive tackle
Bama is deep at the tackle position, so a redshirt will be likely. That will be an almost certainty if misses spring practice due to his injury. With his height, he projects to be a tackle at the college level, and my guess is that he will go into the mix at the right tackle spot for the Tide.
Anthony Orr – DL – 6-4 – 260
He signed with the Tide in 2009 out of Sparkman High School in Harvest, AL. His reason for deferring enrollment was never made public. Most folks guess that he agree to defer when the numbers looked tight, and by the time that they didn’t work out, his plans had been made.
His recruiting grades in 2009:
Rivals.com – 3-star, #23 strongside defensive end
Scout.com – 3-star, #28 defensive tackle
ESPNU – 76 grade, #82 defensive end
His conditioning will ultimately determine whether he’s able to participate in the fall or redshirt. The Tide loses its top two defensive ends, and a third contributor (Damion Square) will miss the spring while recovering from knee surgery. So there will be opportunities for Orr to show his skills.
Petey Smith – LB – 6-0 – 230
He signed with the Tide in 2009 out of Armwood High School in Seffner, FL. He deferred enrollment as a part of an agreement with the Tide coaching staff. That was interesting, considering Smith was committed to Auburn, and switched to the Tide late in the process.
His recruiting grades for 2009:
Rivals.com – 3-star, #32 inside linebacker
Scout.com – 3-star, #19 inside linebacker
ESPNU – 81 grade, #5 inside linebacker & #142 overall player
Obviously the ESPN folks thought more highly of him than the other two services, ranking him in their prestigious ESPN-U 150. It was a shocker when it was announced that he would be deferring, as some folks had him pegged to compete at one of the middle linebacker spots.
With Rolando McClain gone and Dont’a Hightower out for spring practice there will be significant reps available at the two middle linebacker spots. My guess is that Petey winds up at the mike spot, where his ability to stuff the run is used as an advantage.
The next seven guys will all sign letters of intent on Wednesday. Their letters should be among the first few that come in, as they simply have to sign paperwork in the Mal Moore Football Building.
Brandon Lewis – DL – 6-3 – 275
Brandon was a member of the class of 2008 who failed to qualify academically. He enrolled at East Mississippi Community College in nearby Scooba, MS, and has resigned with the Tide. He redshirted this past year at EMCC, so he will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Rivals.com - 4-star and the #48 player in the Junior College ranks.
Scout.com - 3-star.
ESPNU - no grade for him.
At 275 lbs., he is more likely to play DE than NG for Bama. Obviously he has time to add weight, but would need to add close to 30 lbs. to be ideal weight for the nose guard position. While his credentials might not jump off of the page, it is important to note that Alabama has signed two JuCo players under Nick Saban – Terrence Cody and James Carpenter – and both guys contributed immediately.
Lewis is a bit of a special circumstance guy, since he was a previous signee with the Tide. But I have a hard time believing that Nick Saban would use a scholarship on him if he didn’t think that he was capable of contributing. Bama has depth on the defensive line, so playing time is no guarantee. Him participating in spring drills will give him a considerable advantage towards playing time, though.
Darius McKeller – OL – 6-6 – 280
He signed with Bama in 2009 out of Jonesboro High School in Jonesboro, GA. He deferred enrollment due to a knee injury. It is expected that he will be healthy enough to participate in spring practice. He will have five years to play four.
While he was not re-graded by the recruiting services, their 2009 rankings were:
Rivals.com – 3 star, #58 offensive tackle
Scout.com – 3 star, #43 offensive tackle
ESPNU – 79 grade, #29 offensive tackle
Bama is deep at the tackle position, so a redshirt will be likely. That will be an almost certainty if misses spring practice due to his injury. With his height, he projects to be a tackle at the college level, and my guess is that he will go into the mix at the right tackle spot for the Tide.
Anthony Orr – DL – 6-4 – 260
He signed with the Tide in 2009 out of Sparkman High School in Harvest, AL. His reason for deferring enrollment was never made public. Most folks guess that he agree to defer when the numbers looked tight, and by the time that they didn’t work out, his plans had been made.
His recruiting grades in 2009:
Rivals.com – 3-star, #23 strongside defensive end
Scout.com – 3-star, #28 defensive tackle
ESPNU – 76 grade, #82 defensive end
His conditioning will ultimately determine whether he’s able to participate in the fall or redshirt. The Tide loses its top two defensive ends, and a third contributor (Damion Square) will miss the spring while recovering from knee surgery. So there will be opportunities for Orr to show his skills.
Petey Smith – LB – 6-0 – 230
He signed with the Tide in 2009 out of Armwood High School in Seffner, FL. He deferred enrollment as a part of an agreement with the Tide coaching staff. That was interesting, considering Smith was committed to Auburn, and switched to the Tide late in the process.
His recruiting grades for 2009:
Rivals.com – 3-star, #32 inside linebacker
Scout.com – 3-star, #19 inside linebacker
ESPNU – 81 grade, #5 inside linebacker & #142 overall player
Obviously the ESPN folks thought more highly of him than the other two services, ranking him in their prestigious ESPN-U 150. It was a shocker when it was announced that he would be deferring, as some folks had him pegged to compete at one of the middle linebacker spots.
With Rolando McClain gone and Dont’a Hightower out for spring practice there will be significant reps available at the two middle linebacker spots. My guess is that Petey winds up at the mike spot, where his ability to stuff the run is used as an advantage.
The next seven guys will all sign letters of intent on Wednesday. Their letters should be among the first few that come in, as they simply have to sign paperwork in the Mal Moore Football Building.
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:30 pm to Alahunter
Cade Foster – K – 6-1 – 215 – Southlake, TX – Carroll High School
Rivals.com – 3-star, #10 kicker
Scout.com – 4-star, #3 kicker
ESPNU – 76 grade, #12 kicker
ESPN-U had this to say about him – “Foster is the best overall kicking athlete in the nation. He is a very explosive, strong and mature athlete.”
That line probably comes from the fact that he also starts at middle linebacker for one of the best high school programs in Texas. The fact that he has split time between linebacker and kicker has hurt his fundamental development as a kicker, but his leg is strong.
If you watch his videos on-line, you’ll see a lot of kickoffs flying out of the back of the end zone. Hopefully you will also notice that he is kicking off from the 40-yard line, and not the 30. Expectations for this guy are ridiculous at the moment, with some Bama fans believing that every kickoff he attempts will sail into the stands. Don’t count on that.
The fact that he has as strong of a leg as he does coming out of high school is a good sign. The fact that he is also a good athlete is also a very good sign. The fact that he has been working with former NFL kicker Chris Boniol is also a good sign. He still has to adjust to kicking off of the ground for his place kicks, which is an adjustment that most high school kickers have to make.
The fact that he’s here for the spring should benefit him greatly in that endeavor, as he’ll now have a full set of college practices to work on the differences in the kicking game. Make no mistake about it, though, this kid was brought in to kick in 2010, even if it is only on kickoffs. He’ll have competition for the place kicking job, but could easily be the full-time kicker in 2010. Don’t expect him to be Sebastian Janikowski, but he does have a really good leg.
Jalston Fowler – RB – 6-0 – 240 – Prichard, AL – Vigor High School
An interesting case, Fowler is did not play high school football in 2009. Due to being held back early in his school career, Fowler was six days too old to play football in the state of Alabama at the beginning of the school year. So instead of playing he worked with Vigor as a volunteer assistant coach.
Rivals.com – 4-star, #3 fullback
Scout.com – 4-star, no ranking due to not playing
ESPNU – 3-star, 77 grade, no ranking due to not playing
Don’t let the Rivals position ranking or his weight fool you, this guy is a running back. He blew the Bama coaches away with his athleticism and the quickness of his feet when he came to camps last summer. He isn’t the standard size for a college running back, but could be perfect for the fourth quarter when Nick Saban likes to pound on a defense.
Bama has two stars returning at the running back position, but a bunch of unknowns and question marks returning behind them. I know that Eddie Lacy is supposed to be the next best thing, but until he takes a snap in a game, he is still an unknown. With that being the case, Fowler will certainly have his opportunity to make a place in the rotation. If he is unable, he could also move to fullback, or even possibly linebacker. I expect him to stay at running back, though.
John Fulton – CB – 6-1 – 180 - Manning, SC – Manning High School
Rivals.com – 4-star, #5 corner & #58 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #6 corner & #69 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 83 grade, #4 corner, #36 overall player
With Bama losing every cornerback with meaningful snaps the position is absolutely wide open. And this guy is absolutely expected to compete for playing time. ESPN-U says –
“Fulton is the complete package as a cornerback prospect. He has the physical tools and skill set to excel in both man-to-man and zone coverage schemes at the next level. Very savvy with a good understanding of different coverages. Plays with good technique. Has natural coverage awareness and instincts at the position.”
That sounds like a Nick Saban corner to me. Now he has to work on getting stronger and learning the exact schemes at Alabama. The fact that he’ll participate in the 4th Quarter Program and be around for spring practice is huge. He’s got talented guys to compete against, but I would be shocked if he were not still in the conversation come August.
Chad Lindsay – OL – 6-3 – 307 – The Woodlands, TX – The Woodlands
Rivals.com – 3-star, #30 guard
Scout.com – 3-star, #13 guard
ESPNU – 4-star, 81 grade, #1 guard & #74 overall player
Obviously there is some discrepancy with the services, with ESPN loving him. The Rivals and Scout guys are a little concerned with some “bad weight” that he showed at some of the combines. The 4th Quarter Program should eliminate that pretty easily.
There is a guard spot open, but there is also a lot of competition for it. I expect we might see Lindsay take a similar path to 2009 early enrollee Chance Warmack, who impressed throughout the spring and summer, and played as a backup during the season.
ESPN says – “Exceptional when on the move and in space. A ferocious puller and trapper; comes out of his stance with proper footwork and fundamentals.”
That’s exactly how Bama loves to use its guards, and even its center. If he can factor in to the guard rotation this season, that’s where his future will likely be. If not, don’t be surprised at all to see him move to center.
DeMarcus Milliner – CB – 6-2 – 180 – Millbrook, AL – Stanhope Elmore
Rivals.com – 5-star, #2 corner & #23 overall player
Scout.com – 5-star, #1 corner & #16 overall player
ESPNU – 5-star, 84 grade, #1 corner & #16 overall player
The only question at this point is whether or not he’ll end up at corner or safety. Given Bama’s needs at the corner position, it seems almost certain that he’ll start his career at the corner spot, though his size could dictate a move to safety. He is one of the nation’s elite athletes and is universally praised for his upside potential.
He is probably the best athlete among the guys already enrolled, shows blistering speed and great hands. At this point Fulton is considered a more “ready to play” prospect, while Milliner is considered to be the guy with more potential. Like Fulton he has to beef up a bit, and also needs to learn the playbook. The opportunity is certainly there, as is a chance for him to factor in to the mix at the open kick return spot.
Even if he doesn’t factor into the corner position in 2010, expect to at least see him on special teams. The fact he played mostly at the safety position in high school could be nullified by his participation in spring practice. Expect to hear his name a lot in the spring and summer.
Austin Shepherd – OL – 6-5 – 315 – Suwanee, GA – North Gwinnett
Rivals.com – 3-star, #20 guard
Scout.com – 3-star, #25 guard
ESPNU – 3-star, 77 grade, #46 tackle
His height would certainly give him the option of playing tackle, but his athleticism makes him a prime target for guard. That versatility is likely what attracted Joe Pendry to him in the first place, as the Bama OL coach likes guys who are capable of projecting at multiple spots.
Like all offensive linemen, a redshirt is likely. That’s simply the nature of the beast at that position, where 5-star guys like Tyler Love and DJ Fluker have redshirted in recent years. Participation in the 4th Quarter Program will be the biggest thing for him, as he has a chance to demonstrate whether or not he has the early strength to go with his solid technique.
Look for him to possibly get a first look at tackle, where Bama is the most thin, before ultimately settling at guard in the fall.
Rivals.com – 3-star, #10 kicker
Scout.com – 4-star, #3 kicker
ESPNU – 76 grade, #12 kicker
ESPN-U had this to say about him – “Foster is the best overall kicking athlete in the nation. He is a very explosive, strong and mature athlete.”
That line probably comes from the fact that he also starts at middle linebacker for one of the best high school programs in Texas. The fact that he has split time between linebacker and kicker has hurt his fundamental development as a kicker, but his leg is strong.
If you watch his videos on-line, you’ll see a lot of kickoffs flying out of the back of the end zone. Hopefully you will also notice that he is kicking off from the 40-yard line, and not the 30. Expectations for this guy are ridiculous at the moment, with some Bama fans believing that every kickoff he attempts will sail into the stands. Don’t count on that.
The fact that he has as strong of a leg as he does coming out of high school is a good sign. The fact that he is also a good athlete is also a very good sign. The fact that he has been working with former NFL kicker Chris Boniol is also a good sign. He still has to adjust to kicking off of the ground for his place kicks, which is an adjustment that most high school kickers have to make.
The fact that he’s here for the spring should benefit him greatly in that endeavor, as he’ll now have a full set of college practices to work on the differences in the kicking game. Make no mistake about it, though, this kid was brought in to kick in 2010, even if it is only on kickoffs. He’ll have competition for the place kicking job, but could easily be the full-time kicker in 2010. Don’t expect him to be Sebastian Janikowski, but he does have a really good leg.
Jalston Fowler – RB – 6-0 – 240 – Prichard, AL – Vigor High School
An interesting case, Fowler is did not play high school football in 2009. Due to being held back early in his school career, Fowler was six days too old to play football in the state of Alabama at the beginning of the school year. So instead of playing he worked with Vigor as a volunteer assistant coach.
Rivals.com – 4-star, #3 fullback
Scout.com – 4-star, no ranking due to not playing
ESPNU – 3-star, 77 grade, no ranking due to not playing
Don’t let the Rivals position ranking or his weight fool you, this guy is a running back. He blew the Bama coaches away with his athleticism and the quickness of his feet when he came to camps last summer. He isn’t the standard size for a college running back, but could be perfect for the fourth quarter when Nick Saban likes to pound on a defense.
Bama has two stars returning at the running back position, but a bunch of unknowns and question marks returning behind them. I know that Eddie Lacy is supposed to be the next best thing, but until he takes a snap in a game, he is still an unknown. With that being the case, Fowler will certainly have his opportunity to make a place in the rotation. If he is unable, he could also move to fullback, or even possibly linebacker. I expect him to stay at running back, though.
John Fulton – CB – 6-1 – 180 - Manning, SC – Manning High School
Rivals.com – 4-star, #5 corner & #58 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #6 corner & #69 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 83 grade, #4 corner, #36 overall player
With Bama losing every cornerback with meaningful snaps the position is absolutely wide open. And this guy is absolutely expected to compete for playing time. ESPN-U says –
“Fulton is the complete package as a cornerback prospect. He has the physical tools and skill set to excel in both man-to-man and zone coverage schemes at the next level. Very savvy with a good understanding of different coverages. Plays with good technique. Has natural coverage awareness and instincts at the position.”
That sounds like a Nick Saban corner to me. Now he has to work on getting stronger and learning the exact schemes at Alabama. The fact that he’ll participate in the 4th Quarter Program and be around for spring practice is huge. He’s got talented guys to compete against, but I would be shocked if he were not still in the conversation come August.
Chad Lindsay – OL – 6-3 – 307 – The Woodlands, TX – The Woodlands
Rivals.com – 3-star, #30 guard
Scout.com – 3-star, #13 guard
ESPNU – 4-star, 81 grade, #1 guard & #74 overall player
Obviously there is some discrepancy with the services, with ESPN loving him. The Rivals and Scout guys are a little concerned with some “bad weight” that he showed at some of the combines. The 4th Quarter Program should eliminate that pretty easily.
There is a guard spot open, but there is also a lot of competition for it. I expect we might see Lindsay take a similar path to 2009 early enrollee Chance Warmack, who impressed throughout the spring and summer, and played as a backup during the season.
ESPN says – “Exceptional when on the move and in space. A ferocious puller and trapper; comes out of his stance with proper footwork and fundamentals.”
That’s exactly how Bama loves to use its guards, and even its center. If he can factor in to the guard rotation this season, that’s where his future will likely be. If not, don’t be surprised at all to see him move to center.
DeMarcus Milliner – CB – 6-2 – 180 – Millbrook, AL – Stanhope Elmore
Rivals.com – 5-star, #2 corner & #23 overall player
Scout.com – 5-star, #1 corner & #16 overall player
ESPNU – 5-star, 84 grade, #1 corner & #16 overall player
The only question at this point is whether or not he’ll end up at corner or safety. Given Bama’s needs at the corner position, it seems almost certain that he’ll start his career at the corner spot, though his size could dictate a move to safety. He is one of the nation’s elite athletes and is universally praised for his upside potential.
He is probably the best athlete among the guys already enrolled, shows blistering speed and great hands. At this point Fulton is considered a more “ready to play” prospect, while Milliner is considered to be the guy with more potential. Like Fulton he has to beef up a bit, and also needs to learn the playbook. The opportunity is certainly there, as is a chance for him to factor in to the mix at the open kick return spot.
Even if he doesn’t factor into the corner position in 2010, expect to at least see him on special teams. The fact he played mostly at the safety position in high school could be nullified by his participation in spring practice. Expect to hear his name a lot in the spring and summer.
Austin Shepherd – OL – 6-5 – 315 – Suwanee, GA – North Gwinnett
Rivals.com – 3-star, #20 guard
Scout.com – 3-star, #25 guard
ESPNU – 3-star, 77 grade, #46 tackle
His height would certainly give him the option of playing tackle, but his athleticism makes him a prime target for guard. That versatility is likely what attracted Joe Pendry to him in the first place, as the Bama OL coach likes guys who are capable of projecting at multiple spots.
Like all offensive linemen, a redshirt is likely. That’s simply the nature of the beast at that position, where 5-star guys like Tyler Love and DJ Fluker have redshirted in recent years. Participation in the 4th Quarter Program will be the biggest thing for him, as he has a chance to demonstrate whether or not he has the early strength to go with his solid technique.
Look for him to possibly get a first look at tackle, where Bama is the most thin, before ultimately settling at guard in the fall.
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:31 pm to Alahunter
you better give credit or TigerFred will be along shortly 
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:31 pm to Alahunter
Phillip Sims – QB – 6-2 – 209 – Chesapeake, VA – Oscar Smith High School
EDITOR’S NOTE – PLEASE learn to spell his name correctly. I know that I have ranted on this a lot in recent days, but it is still frequently spelled wrong on internet message boards. Phillip Simms (two Ms) played for the New York Giants, won a Super Bowl, and commentates for CBS. Phillip Sims (one M) plays quarterback for Alabama.)
Rivals.com – 4-star, #2 quarterback & #67 overall player
Scout.com – 5-star, #2 quarterback & #23 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 83 grade, #1 quarterback & #32 overall player
This is the type of elite quarterback that Alabama that doesn’t often find his way to Alabama. I am aware that A.J. McCarron was elite quarterback prospect, as was Brodie Croyle, but both of those guys were from Alabama. Sims being from Virginia makes this the type of national recruit that raises eyebrows. Sims going on national television and winning quarterback competitions at high school all-star games gets folks even more excited.
The best news is that Sims is walking into a situation where he isn’t needed to be ready to play. Bama returns Greg McElroy, who just went 14-0, along with both of his backup quarterbacks from last year. The fact that Sims is here and ready to participate in the spring is the only reason why he has even a chance to compete for the backup spot.
And he has that realistic chance. Freshman quarterbacks don’t often earn backup spots, but A.J. McCarron had earned that spot by week 7 in 2009. The fact that Sims will get to compete in the spring gives him an advantage that McCarron did not. Of course, McCarron now has a full season in the system, and that likely keeps him ahead – for now.
The battle that McCarron and Sims will have in the spring of 2011 for the newly vacated quarterback spot will be the best at Alabama since possibly Steve Sloan and Ken Stabler battled for the position.
The remaining guys who will sign on Wednesday are either verbally committed, or have yet to announce their decision. The Tide currently has 18 such guys committed, and they are:
Deion Belue – DB – 6-0 – 175 - Tuscumbia, AL – Deshler
Rivals.com – 3-star - #82 corner
Scout.com – 3-star - #21 corner
ESPNU – 3-star, 78 grade, #39 corner
The reason for the low grade on Rivals could be the fact that he apparently has some work to do academically, and the folks there tend to take that into consideration with their evaluations.
The place where he could make the biggest impact is on special teams, where he was an amazing kick returner at the high school level. He had 9 kicks/punts returned for a touchdown in his senior season alone.
With Bama looking to replace almost the entire secondary and its primary return guy, getting him on campus soon would be a big deal.
Ronald Carswell – WR – 6-0 – 180 - Macon, GA - Westside
Rivals.com – 3-star, #71 receiver
Scout.com – 4-star, #38 receiver
ESPNU – 3-star, 78 grade, #65 receiver
The rankings here are all over the place, and there seems to be no reason other than different people seeing different things. He’s got solid speed and projects well down the road.
He’s not flashy, but at this point appears to have solid technique. That’s sadly pretty rare coming out of high school, but could lead to earlier playing time than some more highly thought of athletes. Robby Green demonstrated what coming to camp with proper technique can do for you.
The biggest area of development at this point looks to be in strength and conditioning. That shouldn’t be a problem once he’s around Coach Cochran.
Corey Grant – ATH – 5-10 – 186 - Opelika, AL – Opelika
Rivals.com – 4-star, #5 all-purpose back & #180 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #23 running back & #265 overall player
ESPNU – 3-star, 79 grade, #23 running back
It looks like his future at Alabama is likely to be at slot receiver. The big deal with this kid is speed – and lots of it. He is the reigning Alabama 6A champion in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.51, and finished 2nd in the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.6. The kid can fly.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see him used in a variety of roles, with Bama taking every opportunity to get him the ball in space. That’s a phrase heard a lot in football, and if you’re wonder what it means, look at how Florida used Percy Harvin in 2008. The Gators wanted Grant for a similar role.
Alfy Hill – DE – 6-4 – 222 - Shallotte, NC – West Brunswick
Rivals.com – 4-star, #8 strongside end & #70 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #26 end & #185 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 81 grade, #6 strongside end & #61 overall player
Forget the label of defensive end… this kid is coming to Tuscaloosa to play the jack linebacker. Like most guys who play end and move to linebacker, he’ll have to adjust to playing some with his hand off of the ground. He’ll also have to learn to play the pass.
How quickly he does that will determine whether or not he takes a redshirt, but considering how strongly the staff went after him, he looks to have been the top target at this position.
Bama hasn’t gone to North Carolina for prospects often, and stealing one out of Butch Davis’s backyard is a bonus. There’s a lot of talent in that state if Bama can use this to gain a solid foothold, expect to see lots more guys from the Tarheel State heading to Tuscaloosa.
Adrian Hubbard – 6-7 – 227 - DE – Norcross, GA – Norcross
Rivals.com – 4-star - #8 strongside end & #189 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star - #20 end & #157 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 82 grade, #5 strongside end & #54 overall player
He blossomed on the recruiting trail late due to having not played football as a junior. He had given the sport up to concentrate on basketball, but was convinced by his coaches that he had a college future on the gridiron. Bama quickly evaluated, and was one of his first major offers.
He certainly has the frame to grow into an athletic defensive end, but could also stay slightly slimmer and play the jack linebacker spot. How much weight, and how quickly he gains it, will likely determine not only how quickly he plays, but where he ends up.
Norcross has been good to Bama in several sports over the last few years, and the Tide continues to get solid athletes from the Atlanta area school. With Hubbard and Darius Hanks on board, look for Bama to keep going to Norcross for talent.
Brandon Ivory – DT – 6-3 – 330 - Memphis, TN – Memphis East
Rivals.com – 3-star, #73 defensive tackle
Scout.com – 3-star, no ranking
ESPNU – 3-star, 77 grade, no ranking
Word out of Memphis is that his coaches didn’t do him any favors in regards to getting game film into the hangs of college coaches. After he dominated an All-Star game, the Memphis commit ended up on the radar of a lot of major programs.
It’s unclear how highly he would have been rated had the services had the opportunity to truly evaluate him, but after he jumped onto the radar late, the Bama coaches grabbed him in a hurry. He’s got talented guys in front of him, but there is no question that his size has the coaches thinking of the next Terrence Cody.
With Josh Chapman and Kerry Murphy entrenched ahead of him, don’t be surprised to see him redshirt. Don’t expect to see him slim down to 300 lbs., either. Like Cody he is athletic and has great feet. If a kid can carry that much weight and do so without sacrificing quickness, you’ve got a true nose guard.
EDITOR’S NOTE – PLEASE learn to spell his name correctly. I know that I have ranted on this a lot in recent days, but it is still frequently spelled wrong on internet message boards. Phillip Simms (two Ms) played for the New York Giants, won a Super Bowl, and commentates for CBS. Phillip Sims (one M) plays quarterback for Alabama.)
Rivals.com – 4-star, #2 quarterback & #67 overall player
Scout.com – 5-star, #2 quarterback & #23 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 83 grade, #1 quarterback & #32 overall player
This is the type of elite quarterback that Alabama that doesn’t often find his way to Alabama. I am aware that A.J. McCarron was elite quarterback prospect, as was Brodie Croyle, but both of those guys were from Alabama. Sims being from Virginia makes this the type of national recruit that raises eyebrows. Sims going on national television and winning quarterback competitions at high school all-star games gets folks even more excited.
The best news is that Sims is walking into a situation where he isn’t needed to be ready to play. Bama returns Greg McElroy, who just went 14-0, along with both of his backup quarterbacks from last year. The fact that Sims is here and ready to participate in the spring is the only reason why he has even a chance to compete for the backup spot.
And he has that realistic chance. Freshman quarterbacks don’t often earn backup spots, but A.J. McCarron had earned that spot by week 7 in 2009. The fact that Sims will get to compete in the spring gives him an advantage that McCarron did not. Of course, McCarron now has a full season in the system, and that likely keeps him ahead – for now.
The battle that McCarron and Sims will have in the spring of 2011 for the newly vacated quarterback spot will be the best at Alabama since possibly Steve Sloan and Ken Stabler battled for the position.
The remaining guys who will sign on Wednesday are either verbally committed, or have yet to announce their decision. The Tide currently has 18 such guys committed, and they are:
Deion Belue – DB – 6-0 – 175 - Tuscumbia, AL – Deshler
Rivals.com – 3-star - #82 corner
Scout.com – 3-star - #21 corner
ESPNU – 3-star, 78 grade, #39 corner
The reason for the low grade on Rivals could be the fact that he apparently has some work to do academically, and the folks there tend to take that into consideration with their evaluations.
The place where he could make the biggest impact is on special teams, where he was an amazing kick returner at the high school level. He had 9 kicks/punts returned for a touchdown in his senior season alone.
With Bama looking to replace almost the entire secondary and its primary return guy, getting him on campus soon would be a big deal.
Ronald Carswell – WR – 6-0 – 180 - Macon, GA - Westside
Rivals.com – 3-star, #71 receiver
Scout.com – 4-star, #38 receiver
ESPNU – 3-star, 78 grade, #65 receiver
The rankings here are all over the place, and there seems to be no reason other than different people seeing different things. He’s got solid speed and projects well down the road.
He’s not flashy, but at this point appears to have solid technique. That’s sadly pretty rare coming out of high school, but could lead to earlier playing time than some more highly thought of athletes. Robby Green demonstrated what coming to camp with proper technique can do for you.
The biggest area of development at this point looks to be in strength and conditioning. That shouldn’t be a problem once he’s around Coach Cochran.
Corey Grant – ATH – 5-10 – 186 - Opelika, AL – Opelika
Rivals.com – 4-star, #5 all-purpose back & #180 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #23 running back & #265 overall player
ESPNU – 3-star, 79 grade, #23 running back
It looks like his future at Alabama is likely to be at slot receiver. The big deal with this kid is speed – and lots of it. He is the reigning Alabama 6A champion in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.51, and finished 2nd in the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.6. The kid can fly.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see him used in a variety of roles, with Bama taking every opportunity to get him the ball in space. That’s a phrase heard a lot in football, and if you’re wonder what it means, look at how Florida used Percy Harvin in 2008. The Gators wanted Grant for a similar role.
Alfy Hill – DE – 6-4 – 222 - Shallotte, NC – West Brunswick
Rivals.com – 4-star, #8 strongside end & #70 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #26 end & #185 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 81 grade, #6 strongside end & #61 overall player
Forget the label of defensive end… this kid is coming to Tuscaloosa to play the jack linebacker. Like most guys who play end and move to linebacker, he’ll have to adjust to playing some with his hand off of the ground. He’ll also have to learn to play the pass.
How quickly he does that will determine whether or not he takes a redshirt, but considering how strongly the staff went after him, he looks to have been the top target at this position.
Bama hasn’t gone to North Carolina for prospects often, and stealing one out of Butch Davis’s backyard is a bonus. There’s a lot of talent in that state if Bama can use this to gain a solid foothold, expect to see lots more guys from the Tarheel State heading to Tuscaloosa.
Adrian Hubbard – 6-7 – 227 - DE – Norcross, GA – Norcross
Rivals.com – 4-star - #8 strongside end & #189 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star - #20 end & #157 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 82 grade, #5 strongside end & #54 overall player
He blossomed on the recruiting trail late due to having not played football as a junior. He had given the sport up to concentrate on basketball, but was convinced by his coaches that he had a college future on the gridiron. Bama quickly evaluated, and was one of his first major offers.
He certainly has the frame to grow into an athletic defensive end, but could also stay slightly slimmer and play the jack linebacker spot. How much weight, and how quickly he gains it, will likely determine not only how quickly he plays, but where he ends up.
Norcross has been good to Bama in several sports over the last few years, and the Tide continues to get solid athletes from the Atlanta area school. With Hubbard and Darius Hanks on board, look for Bama to keep going to Norcross for talent.
Brandon Ivory – DT – 6-3 – 330 - Memphis, TN – Memphis East
Rivals.com – 3-star, #73 defensive tackle
Scout.com – 3-star, no ranking
ESPNU – 3-star, 77 grade, no ranking
Word out of Memphis is that his coaches didn’t do him any favors in regards to getting game film into the hangs of college coaches. After he dominated an All-Star game, the Memphis commit ended up on the radar of a lot of major programs.
It’s unclear how highly he would have been rated had the services had the opportunity to truly evaluate him, but after he jumped onto the radar late, the Bama coaches grabbed him in a hurry. He’s got talented guys in front of him, but there is no question that his size has the coaches thinking of the next Terrence Cody.
With Josh Chapman and Kerry Murphy entrenched ahead of him, don’t be surprised to see him redshirt. Don’t expect to see him slim down to 300 lbs., either. Like Cody he is athletic and has great feet. If a kid can carry that much weight and do so without sacrificing quickness, you’ve got a true nose guard.
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:32 pm to Alahunter
Harrison Jones – TE – 6-4 – 230 - Memphis, TN – Evangelical Christian
Rivals.com – 3-star, #19 tight end
Scout.com – 3-star, #24 tight end
ESPNU – 4-star, 80 grade, #9 tight end
He is the brother of starting right guard Barrett Jones and the son of former Bama basketball player Rex Jones. He committed to Bama early, and never appeared to waiver on his commitment.
He projects into the H-Back tight spot that was manned by Preston Dial and Brad Smelley in 2009. He’s got good quickness and athleticism, and has the frame to put on weight. ESPN grades him high based on technique and readiness to play.
Bama is deep at the tight end spot, but really only has two guys at the H-Back spot. If Preston Dial moves over to the Y-Tight End spot, he could slip into early playing time. A redshirt is likely, given the overall depth at the position, but Smelley demonstrated in 2008 that if he can contribute in the passing attack, he will play.
Wilson Love – DE – 6-4 – 235 - Mountain Brook, AL – Mountain Brook
Rivals.com – 3-star, #42 strongside end
Scout.com – 3-star, #62 end
ESPNU – 3-star, 79 grade, #34 strongside end
He is the brother of current backup tackle Tyler Love. The question on the elder love has always been a matter of toughness – or more specifically meanness. That’s not an issue here, as most folks list Wilson’s strength as being the mean streak that he plays with. That’s a solid quality to have in defensive end.
He broke his fibula in Mountain Brook’s final game, which could cause a delay in his enrollment. That’s an injury that heals quickly enough that he should be cleared by the beginning of summer workouts, but it could curtail his off season program to the point that he could choose to defer until he’s had a full off season to be healthy.
There is some talk that he could play tight end, or possibly even add weight and play guard, but end looks like his most likely spot. Either way, if he’s on the team in 2010, expect a redshirt – which is what you want for most linemen.
Keiwone Malone – WR – 6-1 – 165 - Memphis, TN – Mitchell
Rivals.com – 4-star, #32 receiver & #229 overall player
Scout.com – 3-star, #67 receiver
ESPNU – 4-star, 81 grade, #13 receiver & #89 overall player
He was Bama’s first commitment of the 2010 class, and as such, has been a forgotten man for a lot of fans. But he had an amazingly prolific high school career in the Memphis area. Try on for size – 204 receptions for 4,065 and 57 touchdowns in three years.
His grade from ESPN is the 5th highest of any guy in this recruiting class. The only issue at this point is strength, which at 165 lbs should be no problem. Like Kenny Bell in 2008, his speed makes him a threat to get on the field quickly. How much weight he can put on before August 1 will likely determine whether he plays or redshirts.
Dequan Menzie – CB – 5-11 – 200 – Columbus, GA – Copiah-Lincoln CC
Rivals.com – 4-star, #1 Junior College corner & #14 Junior College player overall
Scout.com – 4-star, #1 Junior College corner & #9 Junior College player overall
ESPNU – 4-star, no grade available
Menzie was the last pre-signing day commitment for the Tide, making his pledge official on this past Sunday night. If you’ll refer back up to the Brandon Lewis section, you’ll see that I talked about Nick Saban only signing Junior College guys when he thinks that they can contribute immediately. Lewis being a re-sign from his high school days means that he might an exception… Menzie is not an exception.
If he were on campus now participating in spring practice I would guess that he would likely be one of Bama’s starting corners in the fall. With him not coming in until the summer, that path will be a little more difficult. But he has more game experience above the high school level than any other player competing for time at corner. That speaks more loudly about Bama’s lack of experience at corner than it does anything else, but it does tell me that Menzie should be physically ready to contribute.
With all defensive backs under Nick Saban, though, the mental aspect will be the key. If he grasps the defensive schemes quickly then you can expect to see him at the very least as the third corner. If he struggles to grasp things quickly, then he’ll likely contribute on special teams. The fact that Nick Saban offered him a scholarship as a summer enrolling Junior College guy tells me that the Coach thinks he can grasp things mentally.
C.J. Mosley – LB – 6-2 – 212 - Theodore, AL – Theodore
Rivals.com – 4-star, #6 outside linebacker & #56 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #15 outside linebacker & #183 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 81 grade, #7 outside linebacker & #99 overall player
Alabama has just one true linebacker commitment in this class. Yes, there are some guys who will play at the jack, but he is the only guy coming in that will compete for time at any of the other three positions. Linebacker wasn’t an position of need in this year’s class, but this kid was too good to pass up on.
Bama is absolutely loaded at linebacker, so making the field as a true freshman will be extremely difficult. Remember that Bama redshirted a 2009 top 100 player in Tana Patrick this past off season. He might redshirt, but that will be much more about the guys in front of him.
Nick Perry – S – 6-2 – 195 - Prattville, AL – Prattville
Rivals.com – 4-star, #25 safety
Scout.com – 4-star, #17 safety
ESPNU – 3-star, 79 grade, #27 safety
Prattville has been very good to Bama over the course of the last 15 years. The fact that during the last five of those Prattville has become the premier program in the state has made that a big bonus for the Tide. Perry is the latest in a long string of guys from the Montgomery suburb, including Bobby Greenwood and Nick Gentry.
There is playing time available at the safety position, but it’s unlikely that a freshman will simply walk in an get that time in Nick Saban and Kirby Smart’s system. Rod Woodson demonstrated in 2009 that special teams is the quickest route to the field while you learn the system, and Perry’s size makes him a candidate for that.
Blake Sims – ATH – 6-0 – 180 - Gainesville, GA – Gainesville
Rivals.com – 4-star, #33 athlete
Scout.com – 4-star, #42 receiver
ESPNU – 3-star, 78 grade, #63 athlete
The two issues that seem to be dragging down his evaluation are grades and indecisiveness as to what position he’ll actually play. If you haven’t had a chance to watch his highlights, head on over to the recruiting site of your choice (or YouTube) and take a look. While he could end up playing defense, this kid is simply electric with the ball in his hands.
He’s played quarterback his entire career in high school, and initially it’s where he indicated that he would start his college career – even at Alabama. He later decided he wanted to play wide receiver, and there has been some recent talk of cornerback. He could realistically get a look at all three positions, though his height would make quarterback a long shot. He can throw the ball, though, so he would be a terror in the wild cat.
He de-committed from Bama the day after the BCS Championship Game after spending seven hours with Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron. He re-committed the following Saturday after a fifteen minute conversation with Nick Saban. If his grades are in order, expect him to find a way onto the field in 2010.
Also, please note that there is only one ‘m’ in his last name.
Rivals.com – 3-star, #19 tight end
Scout.com – 3-star, #24 tight end
ESPNU – 4-star, 80 grade, #9 tight end
He is the brother of starting right guard Barrett Jones and the son of former Bama basketball player Rex Jones. He committed to Bama early, and never appeared to waiver on his commitment.
He projects into the H-Back tight spot that was manned by Preston Dial and Brad Smelley in 2009. He’s got good quickness and athleticism, and has the frame to put on weight. ESPN grades him high based on technique and readiness to play.
Bama is deep at the tight end spot, but really only has two guys at the H-Back spot. If Preston Dial moves over to the Y-Tight End spot, he could slip into early playing time. A redshirt is likely, given the overall depth at the position, but Smelley demonstrated in 2008 that if he can contribute in the passing attack, he will play.
Wilson Love – DE – 6-4 – 235 - Mountain Brook, AL – Mountain Brook
Rivals.com – 3-star, #42 strongside end
Scout.com – 3-star, #62 end
ESPNU – 3-star, 79 grade, #34 strongside end
He is the brother of current backup tackle Tyler Love. The question on the elder love has always been a matter of toughness – or more specifically meanness. That’s not an issue here, as most folks list Wilson’s strength as being the mean streak that he plays with. That’s a solid quality to have in defensive end.
He broke his fibula in Mountain Brook’s final game, which could cause a delay in his enrollment. That’s an injury that heals quickly enough that he should be cleared by the beginning of summer workouts, but it could curtail his off season program to the point that he could choose to defer until he’s had a full off season to be healthy.
There is some talk that he could play tight end, or possibly even add weight and play guard, but end looks like his most likely spot. Either way, if he’s on the team in 2010, expect a redshirt – which is what you want for most linemen.
Keiwone Malone – WR – 6-1 – 165 - Memphis, TN – Mitchell
Rivals.com – 4-star, #32 receiver & #229 overall player
Scout.com – 3-star, #67 receiver
ESPNU – 4-star, 81 grade, #13 receiver & #89 overall player
He was Bama’s first commitment of the 2010 class, and as such, has been a forgotten man for a lot of fans. But he had an amazingly prolific high school career in the Memphis area. Try on for size – 204 receptions for 4,065 and 57 touchdowns in three years.
His grade from ESPN is the 5th highest of any guy in this recruiting class. The only issue at this point is strength, which at 165 lbs should be no problem. Like Kenny Bell in 2008, his speed makes him a threat to get on the field quickly. How much weight he can put on before August 1 will likely determine whether he plays or redshirts.
Dequan Menzie – CB – 5-11 – 200 – Columbus, GA – Copiah-Lincoln CC
Rivals.com – 4-star, #1 Junior College corner & #14 Junior College player overall
Scout.com – 4-star, #1 Junior College corner & #9 Junior College player overall
ESPNU – 4-star, no grade available
Menzie was the last pre-signing day commitment for the Tide, making his pledge official on this past Sunday night. If you’ll refer back up to the Brandon Lewis section, you’ll see that I talked about Nick Saban only signing Junior College guys when he thinks that they can contribute immediately. Lewis being a re-sign from his high school days means that he might an exception… Menzie is not an exception.
If he were on campus now participating in spring practice I would guess that he would likely be one of Bama’s starting corners in the fall. With him not coming in until the summer, that path will be a little more difficult. But he has more game experience above the high school level than any other player competing for time at corner. That speaks more loudly about Bama’s lack of experience at corner than it does anything else, but it does tell me that Menzie should be physically ready to contribute.
With all defensive backs under Nick Saban, though, the mental aspect will be the key. If he grasps the defensive schemes quickly then you can expect to see him at the very least as the third corner. If he struggles to grasp things quickly, then he’ll likely contribute on special teams. The fact that Nick Saban offered him a scholarship as a summer enrolling Junior College guy tells me that the Coach thinks he can grasp things mentally.
C.J. Mosley – LB – 6-2 – 212 - Theodore, AL – Theodore
Rivals.com – 4-star, #6 outside linebacker & #56 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #15 outside linebacker & #183 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 81 grade, #7 outside linebacker & #99 overall player
Alabama has just one true linebacker commitment in this class. Yes, there are some guys who will play at the jack, but he is the only guy coming in that will compete for time at any of the other three positions. Linebacker wasn’t an position of need in this year’s class, but this kid was too good to pass up on.
Bama is absolutely loaded at linebacker, so making the field as a true freshman will be extremely difficult. Remember that Bama redshirted a 2009 top 100 player in Tana Patrick this past off season. He might redshirt, but that will be much more about the guys in front of him.
Nick Perry – S – 6-2 – 195 - Prattville, AL – Prattville
Rivals.com – 4-star, #25 safety
Scout.com – 4-star, #17 safety
ESPNU – 3-star, 79 grade, #27 safety
Prattville has been very good to Bama over the course of the last 15 years. The fact that during the last five of those Prattville has become the premier program in the state has made that a big bonus for the Tide. Perry is the latest in a long string of guys from the Montgomery suburb, including Bobby Greenwood and Nick Gentry.
There is playing time available at the safety position, but it’s unlikely that a freshman will simply walk in an get that time in Nick Saban and Kirby Smart’s system. Rod Woodson demonstrated in 2009 that special teams is the quickest route to the field while you learn the system, and Perry’s size makes him a candidate for that.
Blake Sims – ATH – 6-0 – 180 - Gainesville, GA – Gainesville
Rivals.com – 4-star, #33 athlete
Scout.com – 4-star, #42 receiver
ESPNU – 3-star, 78 grade, #63 athlete
The two issues that seem to be dragging down his evaluation are grades and indecisiveness as to what position he’ll actually play. If you haven’t had a chance to watch his highlights, head on over to the recruiting site of your choice (or YouTube) and take a look. While he could end up playing defense, this kid is simply electric with the ball in his hands.
He’s played quarterback his entire career in high school, and initially it’s where he indicated that he would start his college career – even at Alabama. He later decided he wanted to play wide receiver, and there has been some recent talk of cornerback. He could realistically get a look at all three positions, though his height would make quarterback a long shot. He can throw the ball, though, so he would be a terror in the wild cat.
He de-committed from Bama the day after the BCS Championship Game after spending seven hours with Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron. He re-committed the following Saturday after a fifteen minute conversation with Nick Saban. If his grades are in order, expect him to find a way onto the field in 2010.
Also, please note that there is only one ‘m’ in his last name.
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:32 pm to Alahunter
Brian Vogler – TE – 6-7 – 248 - Columbus, GA – Brookstone School
Rivals.com – 4-star, #9 tight end & #213 overall player
Scout.com – 3-star, #13 tight end
ESPNU – 4-star, 81 grade, #7 tight end & #132 overall player
With Colin Peek in 2009 Bama fans were reminded of just what a weapon the tight end can be. With his size and wingspan this kid is absolute horror of a match up for a linebacker or a safety, which makes him a quarterback’s dream.
Bama is deep at the tight end position, but only Michael Williams carries a similar skill-set. How much more weight he puts on and how quickly he demonstrates the ability to block consistently will determine whether he sees the field in 2010.
He hinted at one time that he might also attempt to play basketball at Alabama, though talk of that has died down recently. The Tide could certainly use an athletic big man or two on the hardwood.
DeAndrew White – WR – 6-0 – 170 - Galena Park, TX – North Shore
Rivals.com – 4-star, #7 receiver & #73 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #13 receiver & #73 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 80 grade, #26 receiver
He was the Texas state 200 meter champion in 2009 with a time of 21.18. He finished 3rd in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet 8 ½ inches. He also finished 2nd in the triple jump with a leap of 45 feet. In case you aren’t aware, they have some serious track and field talent in the state of Texas. Accomplishing these things as a junior is astounding.
What this means is that this kid is not only fast, but he’s a hell of an athlete. He will likely run track for Harvey Glance at Alabama, as his totals in those three events would have placed him among the three best at Alabama in 2009 – when he was junior in high school.
The fact that Bama is bringing in two players with the speed of White and Corey Grant in the same recruiting class is ridiculous. These two guys will immediately become the fastest two guys on the team. The key for both will be translating that into football speed.
White is a solid receiver, who needs to add a little bulk before he hits the football field. My guess is that he won’t add much weight during the spring because he’ll continue to keep slim for track. That might hurt him when it comes to playing time in 2010, but when a kid is this fast, you never know.
Jarrick Williams – S – 6-2 – 210 - Eight Mile, AL – Blount
Rivals.com – 4-star, #5 safety & #83 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #8 safety & #97 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 79 grade, #15 safety
The question at this point with Williams is whether he’ll stay at safety or move to outside linebacker. He’s similar in size to both Mark Barron and Justin Woodall, so it wouldn’t shock me at all to see him stay in the defensive backfield. But there are reports that indicate that he might actually be closer to 230 at this point. If that’s the case, then he’ll likely move to linebacker.
If he stays at safety, he’ll be in the mix quickly. Bama is looking to replace both a starting safety and the starter in the dime’s “star” position. The fact that he is somewhere between a safety and a linebacker makes him seem a natural fit for the star slot, so he could compete for time there. If he makes the move to linebacker, expect him to redshirt to learn the position.
Jay Williams – P – 6-4 – 220 - Thomasville, AL – Thomasville
Rivals.com – 2-star, #19 kicker
Scout.com – 3-star, #6 punter
ESPNU – 3-star, #9 kicker
Alabama lost both P.J. Fitzgerald and his backup Heath Thomas at the end up the 2009 season. So the punter spot is up for grabs. If he were going to be here during the spring, it would be his job to win. As it is, someone will have claimed the job in the spring and Williams will have to win it from him in the fall.
The problem for the Tide is that there aren’t many candidates at this point. Word out of Tuscaloosa is that Sam Buckingham will be joining the squad as a walk-on, after he had to leave the team just prior to the 2009 season due to a family issue. So despite not being here for the spring, Williams might not fall too far behind on the depth chart.
Regardless of how it shakes out, Bama will have a new punter in 2010. It’s doubtful that the coaching staff would have used a scholarship on Williams if they didn’t expect him to be the guy this fall.
Rivals.com – 4-star, #9 tight end & #213 overall player
Scout.com – 3-star, #13 tight end
ESPNU – 4-star, 81 grade, #7 tight end & #132 overall player
With Colin Peek in 2009 Bama fans were reminded of just what a weapon the tight end can be. With his size and wingspan this kid is absolute horror of a match up for a linebacker or a safety, which makes him a quarterback’s dream.
Bama is deep at the tight end position, but only Michael Williams carries a similar skill-set. How much more weight he puts on and how quickly he demonstrates the ability to block consistently will determine whether he sees the field in 2010.
He hinted at one time that he might also attempt to play basketball at Alabama, though talk of that has died down recently. The Tide could certainly use an athletic big man or two on the hardwood.
DeAndrew White – WR – 6-0 – 170 - Galena Park, TX – North Shore
Rivals.com – 4-star, #7 receiver & #73 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #13 receiver & #73 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 80 grade, #26 receiver
He was the Texas state 200 meter champion in 2009 with a time of 21.18. He finished 3rd in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet 8 ½ inches. He also finished 2nd in the triple jump with a leap of 45 feet. In case you aren’t aware, they have some serious track and field talent in the state of Texas. Accomplishing these things as a junior is astounding.
What this means is that this kid is not only fast, but he’s a hell of an athlete. He will likely run track for Harvey Glance at Alabama, as his totals in those three events would have placed him among the three best at Alabama in 2009 – when he was junior in high school.
The fact that Bama is bringing in two players with the speed of White and Corey Grant in the same recruiting class is ridiculous. These two guys will immediately become the fastest two guys on the team. The key for both will be translating that into football speed.
White is a solid receiver, who needs to add a little bulk before he hits the football field. My guess is that he won’t add much weight during the spring because he’ll continue to keep slim for track. That might hurt him when it comes to playing time in 2010, but when a kid is this fast, you never know.
Jarrick Williams – S – 6-2 – 210 - Eight Mile, AL – Blount
Rivals.com – 4-star, #5 safety & #83 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #8 safety & #97 overall player
ESPNU – 4-star, 79 grade, #15 safety
The question at this point with Williams is whether he’ll stay at safety or move to outside linebacker. He’s similar in size to both Mark Barron and Justin Woodall, so it wouldn’t shock me at all to see him stay in the defensive backfield. But there are reports that indicate that he might actually be closer to 230 at this point. If that’s the case, then he’ll likely move to linebacker.
If he stays at safety, he’ll be in the mix quickly. Bama is looking to replace both a starting safety and the starter in the dime’s “star” position. The fact that he is somewhere between a safety and a linebacker makes him seem a natural fit for the star slot, so he could compete for time there. If he makes the move to linebacker, expect him to redshirt to learn the position.
Jay Williams – P – 6-4 – 220 - Thomasville, AL – Thomasville
Rivals.com – 2-star, #19 kicker
Scout.com – 3-star, #6 punter
ESPNU – 3-star, #9 kicker
Alabama lost both P.J. Fitzgerald and his backup Heath Thomas at the end up the 2009 season. So the punter spot is up for grabs. If he were going to be here during the spring, it would be his job to win. As it is, someone will have claimed the job in the spring and Williams will have to win it from him in the fall.
The problem for the Tide is that there aren’t many candidates at this point. Word out of Tuscaloosa is that Sam Buckingham will be joining the squad as a walk-on, after he had to leave the team just prior to the 2009 season due to a family issue. So despite not being here for the spring, Williams might not fall too far behind on the depth chart.
Regardless of how it shakes out, Bama will have a new punter in 2010. It’s doubtful that the coaching staff would have used a scholarship on Williams if they didn’t expect him to be the guy this fall.
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:33 pm to Alahunter
Keenan Allen – ATH – 6-3 – 195 - Greensboro, NC – North Guilford
Rivals.com – 5-star, #1 safety & #5 overall player
Scout.com – 5-star, #1 safety & #5 overall player
ESPN-U – 4-star, 83 grade, #5 athlete & #33 overall player.
He’s still listed as a commitment, though it would be safe to call it “soft” at this point. His half-brother Zach Maynard was the starting quarterback for Buffalo in 2009, but has decided to transfer. Buffalo would not give him a release to follow coach Turner Gill to Kansas, so Maynard is looking to move back south. He and Keenan would like to play together, which is the reason why Keenan appears to be wavering in his commitment.
Indications are that Bama has offered a scholarship to Zach, so the Tide is still in the mix here. Note that Zach would be a transfer, so he would not count against either the 25 or 28 limits, despite what the folks at EA Sports have happen on their college football video games. He would, however, count towards the 85 limit as soon as he enrolled in classes and began receiving grant-in-aid. As a transfer he would also have to sit out the 2010 season.
Both guys are supposed to let everyone know for sure at 8 a.m., at a press conference at a local restaurant, so they will be the first big announcement of the day.
Keenan is one of the nation’s elite players, so getting him would be a big deal. If things don’t go Bama’s way, it won’t ruin the day, though. The Tide will still bring in a great group of players. If things do go Bama’s way, then this announcement should be the beginning of an exciting day.
The guys who have not committed to Alabama that we’ll be keeping an eye on, other than Allen, are:
Shon Coleman – OL – 6-7 – 285 - Olive Branch, MS – Olive Branch
Rivals.com – 5-star, #3 tackle, #22 player overall
Scout.com – 4-star, #7 tackle, #72 player overall
ESPNU – 3-star, 78 grade, #31 tackle
He is currently committed to Auburn, but has been publicly shopping for months. Bama appeared to be his early leader, but then the Tide cooled on him, which led to the commit to Auburn. Bama jumped back in with both feet about two weeks ago, and it looks like he might switch to the Tide at the last minute.
He has not set his commitment time yet, but when he does, we’ll add it here. Check back in this article later on Monday for an update.
Arie Kouandjio – OL – 6-6 – 314 – Hyattsville, MD – DeMatha
Rivals.com – 4-star, #15 tackle, #117 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #29 tackle
ESPNU – 3-star, 79 grade, #14 guard
He’s narrowed his choices to Alabama and California, with Tennessee a possible late candidate. At this point he looks likely to be headed to Alabama. Not only would he be a huge pickup for Bama in 2010, but his younger brother Cyrus is expected to be among the nation’s top players in 2011.
He is expected to announce as a part of his school’s signing day press conference, which is set to begin at 8:00 a.m. There will be several other players at his school who are announcing, so it might be closer to 8:30 before he makes his announcement.
James Stone – OL – 6-5 – 297 – Nashville, TN - Maplewood
Rivals.com – 4-star, #7 tackle
Scout.com – 3-star, #32 tackle
ESPNU – 4-star, 81 grade, #9 tackle & #100 player overall
It looked for quite a while as though Bama was a lock to get Stone’s signature. His two favorites early in the process were Alabama and Tennessee, but after a visit to Knoxville, he quickly soured on Lane Kiffin. That took the Vols out of the running, and made it seem that he was headed to Tuscaloosa.
After a recent meeting with new Tennessee coach Derrick Dooley, Tennessee quickly jumped back into the game. At this time it looks as though the Vols probably have a lead, though Bama and Auburn are both still in the mix.
He is expected to announce at his high school at a 10:30 a.m. press conference. It is thought that ESPNU will cover his announcement.
So it looks as though the big announcement times will be 8:00 a.m. for Keenan Allen, shortly after 8:00 a.m. for Arie Kouandjio, and 10:30 a.m. for James Stone. We’ll update the time of Shon Coleman’s announcement once he has set one.
It is possible that there could be a signing day surprise, as well. The rumblings of Kenny Bell switching to Bama in 2009 didn’t start until Tuesday night, so things can still happen. Some of the names that have been thrown around recently include Christian Jones, Brandon Jackson, and Calvin Smith. If any of these look like they might become 2010’s surprise, we’ll let you know in our recruiting chat.
Otherwise, feel free to make a stack of questions to have at the ready for the chat. I know that Ell and I both plan to be here all day, and we look forward to chatting with you. As a reminder, we expect to be up and going at around 7:45 central time on Wednesday morning.
Rivals.com – 5-star, #1 safety & #5 overall player
Scout.com – 5-star, #1 safety & #5 overall player
ESPN-U – 4-star, 83 grade, #5 athlete & #33 overall player.
He’s still listed as a commitment, though it would be safe to call it “soft” at this point. His half-brother Zach Maynard was the starting quarterback for Buffalo in 2009, but has decided to transfer. Buffalo would not give him a release to follow coach Turner Gill to Kansas, so Maynard is looking to move back south. He and Keenan would like to play together, which is the reason why Keenan appears to be wavering in his commitment.
Indications are that Bama has offered a scholarship to Zach, so the Tide is still in the mix here. Note that Zach would be a transfer, so he would not count against either the 25 or 28 limits, despite what the folks at EA Sports have happen on their college football video games. He would, however, count towards the 85 limit as soon as he enrolled in classes and began receiving grant-in-aid. As a transfer he would also have to sit out the 2010 season.
Both guys are supposed to let everyone know for sure at 8 a.m., at a press conference at a local restaurant, so they will be the first big announcement of the day.
Keenan is one of the nation’s elite players, so getting him would be a big deal. If things don’t go Bama’s way, it won’t ruin the day, though. The Tide will still bring in a great group of players. If things do go Bama’s way, then this announcement should be the beginning of an exciting day.
The guys who have not committed to Alabama that we’ll be keeping an eye on, other than Allen, are:
Shon Coleman – OL – 6-7 – 285 - Olive Branch, MS – Olive Branch
Rivals.com – 5-star, #3 tackle, #22 player overall
Scout.com – 4-star, #7 tackle, #72 player overall
ESPNU – 3-star, 78 grade, #31 tackle
He is currently committed to Auburn, but has been publicly shopping for months. Bama appeared to be his early leader, but then the Tide cooled on him, which led to the commit to Auburn. Bama jumped back in with both feet about two weeks ago, and it looks like he might switch to the Tide at the last minute.
He has not set his commitment time yet, but when he does, we’ll add it here. Check back in this article later on Monday for an update.
Arie Kouandjio – OL – 6-6 – 314 – Hyattsville, MD – DeMatha
Rivals.com – 4-star, #15 tackle, #117 overall player
Scout.com – 4-star, #29 tackle
ESPNU – 3-star, 79 grade, #14 guard
He’s narrowed his choices to Alabama and California, with Tennessee a possible late candidate. At this point he looks likely to be headed to Alabama. Not only would he be a huge pickup for Bama in 2010, but his younger brother Cyrus is expected to be among the nation’s top players in 2011.
He is expected to announce as a part of his school’s signing day press conference, which is set to begin at 8:00 a.m. There will be several other players at his school who are announcing, so it might be closer to 8:30 before he makes his announcement.
James Stone – OL – 6-5 – 297 – Nashville, TN - Maplewood
Rivals.com – 4-star, #7 tackle
Scout.com – 3-star, #32 tackle
ESPNU – 4-star, 81 grade, #9 tackle & #100 player overall
It looked for quite a while as though Bama was a lock to get Stone’s signature. His two favorites early in the process were Alabama and Tennessee, but after a visit to Knoxville, he quickly soured on Lane Kiffin. That took the Vols out of the running, and made it seem that he was headed to Tuscaloosa.
After a recent meeting with new Tennessee coach Derrick Dooley, Tennessee quickly jumped back into the game. At this time it looks as though the Vols probably have a lead, though Bama and Auburn are both still in the mix.
He is expected to announce at his high school at a 10:30 a.m. press conference. It is thought that ESPNU will cover his announcement.
So it looks as though the big announcement times will be 8:00 a.m. for Keenan Allen, shortly after 8:00 a.m. for Arie Kouandjio, and 10:30 a.m. for James Stone. We’ll update the time of Shon Coleman’s announcement once he has set one.
It is possible that there could be a signing day surprise, as well. The rumblings of Kenny Bell switching to Bama in 2009 didn’t start until Tuesday night, so things can still happen. Some of the names that have been thrown around recently include Christian Jones, Brandon Jackson, and Calvin Smith. If any of these look like they might become 2010’s surprise, we’ll let you know in our recruiting chat.
Otherwise, feel free to make a stack of questions to have at the ready for the chat. I know that Ell and I both plan to be here all day, and we look forward to chatting with you. As a reminder, we expect to be up and going at around 7:45 central time on Wednesday morning.
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:33 pm to Alahunter
What.
The.
frick.
The.
frick.
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:34 pm to sorantable
its actually a pretty good read for bama fans
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:36 pm to Alahunter
quote:
That was interesting, considering Smith was committed to Auburn, and switched to the Tide late in the process.
That is FALSE.
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:37 pm to lowspark12
explain
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:37 pm to Alahunter
Alahunter
If you are not getting paid for this than you are short changing yourself. Apply with Bama's media relations department or local newspaper.
I wonder what starting pay would be like?
If you are not getting paid for this than you are short changing yourself. Apply with Bama's media relations department or local newspaper.
I wonder what starting pay would be like?
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:38 pm to bamaatlsu
What's there to explain?... Petey Smith was never committed to Auburn.
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:40 pm to MoreOrLes
I didn't research and type all that. Just passing along info gathered by others on a free site and bringing it to Bama fans here. It gets tedious trying to find good info sometimes and most of the good Bama fans post here, so I figure it'd make it easier for folks to not have to go searching everywhere.
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:42 pm to lowspark12
quote:
Petey Smith was never committed to Auburn
Gotcha. I must've been reading too many of CPA's threads at the time. I also thought he was once committed to Auburn.
Posted on 2/1/10 at 4:55 pm to bamaatlsu
He was widely considered to be going to AU for a while because a relative of his was at AU, but he never officially committed.
Posted on 2/1/10 at 5:05 pm to tuck
quote:
He was widely considered to be going to AU for a while because a relative of his was at AU, but he never officially committed.
I'll add that once Chizik and Roof took over (and Willis left for T-Town) Auburn did not actively recruit Smith.
With that being said, he just doesn't fit our defense... he's a much better fit for the inside LB in a 3-4.
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