re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition

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Bama commit Christian Bell could greyshirt

INTEL does not count Daylon Charlot, wide receiver from Patterson, La., or T.D. Moton, defensive tackle Shreveport, La., as commitments at this time. Two to three spots likely remain. Though another could open up if a greyshirt were agreed upon. One player to watch is Hoover outside linebacker/defensive end Christian Bell. The 6’3 215 -pounder is a three-year starter for Josh Niblett’s Bucs, who helped lead them to three consecutive state titles (two 6A, 1 7A). He projects as a Jack Linebacker and could use the extra semester to take classes part time and add weight to his frame. As of now, Bell would be a VERY likely redshirt, so delaying enrollment until the spring of 2016 would extend his career and be beneficial to both parties. This has not happened yet, but should be monitored if the UA staff feels a prospect is too good not to take late that wants to sign with UA in February.

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Niblett, who played at the University of Alabama from 1993-95 (5 different positions), has been one of the state’s best high school coaches, with success at Oneonta (3A title in 2004), Oxford and now Hoover with a 7 year record of 96-8. His Bucs have won 4 state titles in his 7 seasons: 2009 & 2012-14. Not surprisingly, opportunities to move up to the college level have arisen. Niblett was a finalist recently for the job at Samford following the retirment of Pat Sullivan, but former Valdosta State, Georgia Southern & Murray State coach Chris Hatcher was chosen. Both Nick Saban and Gus Malzahn both offered off-the-field positions that the Demopolis native turned down as Niblett wants an on-field role to move on to the next level. The job offer from Saban was in a role very similar to the positions taken by former Hoover defensive coordinators Jeremy Pruitt, now DC at UGA & Kevin Sherrer, now DC at South Alabama, at the Capstone under Nick Saban.

Also, two UA coaches in off-field roles may look to move to other positions, with one exploring a possible quality control job in the National Football league. Also, two members of Coach Scott Cochran’s strength & conditioning staff were offered positions with UGA after Mark Hocke, an assistant since 2009 under head UA strength coach Scott Cochran, left Tuscaloosa for the head S&C position in Athens.

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Sources close to the staff now believe with Jarran Reed returning that this could be the deepest and most talented defensive line of the Nick Saban Era with the addition of Jonathan Taylor and development this spring of young players Joshua Frazier and Da’Shawn Hand. As INTEL has reported throughout the fall, the young OL to watch for one of the open offensive guard positions in the spring: redshirt freshman Josh Casher of St. Paul’s in Mobile. Hopes are also high for Grant Hill to claim a permanent place in the starting five now that off-field issues (not discipline or academics) look to be behind the rising junior who filled in well at right tackle this season when called upon.

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The two most high profile prospects at Hoover this season have been Bell and fellow linebacker Darrell Williams. Both participated in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star game with Bama Commit Bell traveling to California for the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl and Williams, the AU commit, to the Under Armour game. (Alabama had shown some interest in flipping Williams from his AU commitment, but once Adonis Thomas committed to the Crimson Tide that scenario became unlikely.) Yet neither is considered the best prospect on the football team. That honor goes to 2016 Linebacker Jeremiah Moon, who started for the first time this season. His blood lines are excellent as his uncle, Darius Gilbert of Oxford High School, played at UA from 1998-2001. At this time, he is 6-4 203 but has exceptionally long arms and the frame to add weight. The rising senior can run and was excellent last spring/summer on the combine circuit as his athleticism was put on display. Moon is another excellent young defender built to combat the HUNH offenses. The Buc Linebacker has flashed the ability to cover and tackle in space, and, yet, the man training him, Jevon Kearse (Yes, The Freak from UF, then the Titans & Eagles of the NFL) believes he can develop into a first-rate pass rusher with weight gain and coaching. Moon’s long arms (wing span) and speed (4.5-4.6) give him the tools to be a factor off the edge.

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