Started By
Message
re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition
Posted on 10/23/14 at 2:26 pm to BuccWildBammer
Posted on 10/23/14 at 2:26 pm to BuccWildBammer
quote:
Desherrius Flowers got a nice birthday present Thursday morning.
The Alabama 2015 commit and Vigor running back received his official invitation and honorary jersey to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio in January.
"It's a blessing," said Flowers, who turned 18 Thursday. "I'm very excited about playing in the All-American Game. A lot of players wish they had this opportunity, but they don't. I just thank God every time I think about it."
RELATED: FLOWERS BLOSSOMING INTO STAR RUNNER
Flowers is one of 90 players nationwide chosen for the game and the only player from the state of Alabama. The 15th annual event will be held at the Alamodome at noon on Jan. 3 and will be televised by NBC.
"It's a humongous day," Vigor coach Ashley Johnson said. "When one of our guys gets elected to something prestigious like this - a national event - it is big for the whole school. We feel like we all have received an award. We work so closely together. We call ourselves a family here at Vigor, and it really is. It's a wonderful day."
The announcement was attended by many of Flowers' family members, fellow students and teachers as well as the football team and band. Mobile public schools superintendent Martha Peek also was in attendance.
"This is one of the biggest announcements in Vigor High School history," Principal Gerald Cunningham said. "Today is truly a great day."
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Flowers committed to Alabama prior to his junior year and has stayed firm in that pledge since. He re-iterated Thursday that he plans to graduate in December and report to Tuscaloosa in January.
"I'm very excited about going up and starting classes and workouts so I can be ready for the next football season," he said.
Flowers rushed for 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns on 136 carries as a junior. As a sophomore, he ran for 922 yards and 12 scores.
This year, he has been hampered by a nagging ankle injury all season but seems to be getting healthy at the right time. Flowers scored three TDs in a win at Faith Academy two weeks ago and ran for 47 yards and an 11-yard touchdown in a 21-6 win over Williamson last week.
"It still bothers me," he said. "I hurt it in practice sometimes but when it comes to game time I always feel 100 percent. I'll be ready to go Friday."
Flowers and his Vigor teammates will take on Class 5A No. 1 St. Paul's in the AL.com Coastal Game of the Week on Friday.
Johnson said Flowers' potential is untapped.
"He is still a very young individual, a kid really," Johnson said. "He might look like a man, but he is still just a kid. He has a lot of growing to do. There is no telling what he could become at Alabama, but we also very proud of what he has going on now. He deserves it. He is going to go and get a free education. Wherever it takes him - whether it is the NFL or not - he will be very prepared to live a fruitful life."
Flowers is ranked No. 10 on AL.com's updated A-list of the top senior players in the state.
LINK
1
Posted on 10/23/14 at 2:29 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Lester Cotton was named the preseason No. 1 player on the AL.com A-List and the Central-Tuscaloosa offensive lineman and Alabama commit has done everything to keep that lofty ranking.
Cotton has been dominant at his left tackle position and his play has helped the Falcons clinch a playoff berth out of Class 5A, Region 4. Central (5-3, 4-2 region) plays at Helena on Friday in its final region game and is at Parker next Thursday to finish the regular season.
According to stats provided by Central coaches, Cotton has 169 pancake blocks - mostly at left tackle, but some on kickoff return. He has played defense sparingly on short yardage situations and had two sacks in a game earlier this season.
"He listens very well," Central offensive line coach Joseph Taylor said.
"He executes very well. He's very dominant in what he does. He's very physical. That fits in very well with our scheme and I know it'll fit in well with Alabama's scheme. He has that 'don't quit' attitude and is a great leader for us."
Taylor has coached the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Cotton since he arrived in Tuscaloosa midway through his freshman year. He said Cotton's transformation has been "night and day" since he was younger and while the size and strength have always been there, once he got in the right mental frame, he dominated.
"When he came here, he was a big kid and we thought he was going to do something because he had to, he's just too big," Taylor said. "Him learning the plays, being very physical, his abilities, but him actually finally realizing that he could do this is what's been the biggest thing for him."
Cotton committed to Alabama on Feb. 1 of this year. He's been to every Alabama home game so far and won't take any visits to other schools. He mentioned how he recently talked with fellow offensive line commits Dallas Warmack and Brandon Kennedy and how they were ready to work hard at Alabama and earn a rotation spot early in their careers.
Cotton is listed as a guard by the national recruiting services, but may stay at tackle when he gets to Alabama.
"Coach (Nick) Saban and Coach (Mario) Cristobal told me to stay at tackle," Cotton said. "I think they're going to keep me out there, but I'll move in (to guard) if I need to."
Cotton said he anticipates getting a chance to play as a true freshman in 2015. He'll play in the Under Armour All-America game in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Jan. 2.
"It feels good being presented (the jersey)," Cotton said. "I can go there and show my talents off and come back home and get to 'Bama and put all that talent together."
Taylor feels that Cotton's only scratching the surface with his talent.
"I could see him getting better," Taylor said. "I played at Alabama (1999-03) and I would hate to line up against him if he gets any better than he does now and I know he's going to get better."
LINK
Page 1 of 1
Latest Alabama News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News