Started By
Message
re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition
Posted on 11/3/16 at 11:25 am to TideSaint
Posted on 11/3/16 at 11:25 am to TideSaint
quote:
Dylan Moses (Alabama commit)
Position: 5-star LB
Hometown: Baton Rouge, La.
LSU take: Perhaps the most interesting name included on this list, Moses ended his recruitment by committing to Alabama on his first official visit of the fall. That puts the onus on LSU to try to change his mind with only a month before he signs his financial-aid papers to enroll early. Since committing, the 5-star linebacker has visited LSU to check in on Ed Orgeron and has received a visit from his uncle, Raymond, and Craig, LSU’s recruiting coordinator. Moses is teammates with Delpit and Jhamon Ausbon, who will lend a hand in trying to flip the all-world recruit. While the LSU staff has work to do, there is a quiet sense of confidence that Moses will wind up as a Tiger.
Alabama take: Alabama remains confident that it keeps Moses’ commitment through January, which is when he’ll enroll in school. Obviously, there was cause for concern when Moses made a surprise visit to LSU last month, less than two weeks after making his shocking commitment. It also would be a shocker to see him flip his commitment. Though there are multiple LSU commits at IMG Academy, which is where Moses plays, there are two Alabama commitments on the team, too. Long snapper Thomas Fletcher, who took an official visit to Tuscaloosa with Moses, and 2019 commit Trey Sanders, are solid with Alabama.
5
Posted on 11/3/16 at 11:25 am to TideSaint
quote:
Isaiah Buggs
Position: 4-star DL
Hometown: Ruston, La.
LSU take: Buggs has come close to committing on numerous occasions since the summer. He will make more visits before finalizing his decision. The top junior-college defensive lineman has made several visits to LSU, which is just down the road from his hometown in Northern Louisiana. Buggs’ primary recruiters are Orgeron and Peveto, who hosted the 4-star recruit for the Missouri game last month. The goal is to get Buggs back on campus and show him he can have an instant impact on LSU’s defensive line. Buggs’ ties to Louisiana and Orgeron make him a likely Tiger by Signing Day.
Alabama take: Alabama is one of Buggs’ top schools, but until he actually visits Tuscaloosa, he can’t be considered a legitimate target for the Tide. Adding quality defensive linemen is Alabama’s top priority in the Class of 2017. Buggs is one of the Tide’s top targets, but there’s about a zero percent chance he chooses Alabama because he still hasn’t visited.
Posted on 11/3/16 at 11:26 am to TideSaint
quote:
Phidarian Mathis
Position: 4-star DL
Hometown: Monroe, La.
LSU take: One of the prized defensive line recruits in the class, Mathis named LSU, Alabama and TCU as his finalists. It’s truly a two-team race between the two SEC West powers. Orgeron is handling Mathis’ recruitment, and it helps that his former Neville High teammate, Rashard Lawrence, is already on campus at LSU. Mathis hears from the LSU and ‘Bama staffs daily and will decide his future after his senior season. It’s a bit of a coin toss between LSU and Alabama because LSU has focused most of its attention on other defensive linemen like Buggs and Marvin Wilson.
Alabama take: That last portion above is key when it comes to Alabama’s chances with Mathis. Buggs and Wilson are not serious targets for the Tide now. Mathis is. He told SEC Country a few months back that Alabama was recruiting him the hardest. Napier and defensive line coach Karl Dunbar have tag-teamed Mathis’ recruitment and have made him one of the team’s top targets. He’s one of the uncommitted targets I am most confident with in projecting in the Tide’s class now.
Posted on 11/3/16 at 4:53 pm to Bama3714
I disagree with the "I do know that we're still very much in the mix for Stevens". I could be wrong, however, I live in Murfreesboro, and my kids all attended Oakland High School which is a block and a half away from the house. All the talk up here and around the area is he is committed to LSU no matter what occurs. He has a lot of family there and some of them relocated here, after the hurricane. My thought is he goes back "home". Here is a news article from our local paper from a few months back.
JaCoby Stevens
JaCoby Stevens
Posted on 11/4/16 at 9:07 am to TideSaint
Elijah Conliffe says Alabama and Louisville are tied at the top for him.
Posted on 11/4/16 at 9:19 am to TideSaint
quote:
Top Alabama targets visiting LSU this weekend
Whenever Alabama and LSU square off, it attracts big-time recruits. This matchup is no different.
Several of Alabama’s top targets in the Class of 2017 and 2018 are expected to be on the sidelines Saturday night in Death Valley. Here are some of the top players Tide fans should look out for this weekend in Baton Rouge:
Alabama 5-star OT commit Alex Leatherwood (Pensacola, Fla.)
5-star RB Cam Akers (Clinton, Miss.)
5-star DT Marvin Wilson (Bellaire, Texas)
4-star WR DeVonta Smith (Amite, La.)
4-star DT Phidarian Mathis (Neville, La.)
4-star DB Todd Harris (Plaquemine, La.)
4-star LB Christopher Allen (Baton Rouge, La.)
2018 5-star WR Terrace Marshall (Bossier City, La.)
The main names on this list are Smith, Mathis, Harris, Allen and Marshall, as those are the prospects Alabama and LSU are battling each other over. SEC Country’s LSU recruiting reporter Sam Spigelman and I went in-depth on those battles here, in case you missed it. Marshall’s recruitment is too early to call at this point, but he has visited Tuscaloosa several times since he’s become a national recruit.
Outcomes of games usually don’t play a factor in recruits’ decisions on which schools they’ll choose, but this one holds a little more meaning because of the uncertainty of LSU coach Ed Orgeron’s future. A win over Alabama might be enough for him to have the interim label removed, which would cause several of these recruits to be more sure of the Tigers’ future.
Posted on 11/4/16 at 9:20 am to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama 2017 class snapshot
Alabama has a good chance to have the nation’s No. 1 class for the seventh straight year, but it’s going to be tough. Ohio State is in the running for several more 5-star prospects while Alabama is not. However, on paper, this might actually be Alabama’s best class because it has commitments from a top-class running back, two future play-making quarterbacks, a bookend left tackle and more.
Where it ranks?
Alabamas 2017 class ranks second overall and first in the SEC. It trails only Ohio State for the top spot.
For context purposes, the Tide have 21 pledges, including four 5-stars (Najee Harris, Alex Leatherwood, Dylan Moses and Jerry Jeudy), 10 4-stars and seven 3-stars.
Top recruits
As is standard in the Nick Saban era, the majority of Alabama’s commitments are of the blue-chip variety meaning they are either rated 4- or 5-star prospects. Here’s a look at the top Alabama commits:
Najee Harris, 5-star RB (Antioch, Calif.)
Alex Leatherwood, 5-star OT (Pensacola, Fla.)
Dylan Moses, 5-star LB (Bradenton, Fla.)
Jerry Jeudy, 5-star WR (Pompano Beach, Fla.)
Tua Tagovailoa, 4-star QB (Honolulu)
VanDarius Cowan, 4-star LB (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)
New commitments
There’s still plenty of time to go until National Signing Day, but most of Alabama’s class is already full.
Alabama’s newest commitment is 3-star tight end Major Tennison. He took an official visit to Tuscaloosa for the Texas A&M game and ended up committing the day after the Tide rolled over the Aggies. His recruitment is over, as he is no longer taking visits elsewhere.
Who could be next? Two defensive linemen could be Alabama’s next commits as 4-star defensive tackle Elijah Conliffe could decide to announce his decision this month and 4-star defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis is expected to make his decision at some point after his high school season.
The rest of the top targets Alabama is seeking are expected to either make a decision in January or on National Signing Day.
Breakdown by position
QB: 2 of 2
RB: 2 of 2
WR: 2 of 4
TE: 2 of 2
OL: 4 of 4 OR 5
DL: 1 of 4
LB: 3 of 3
JACK: 0 of 1 OR 2
CB: 2 of 2 OR 3
S: 0 of 1
ATH: 1 of 1
K: 1 of 1
LS: 1 of 1
Geographical breakdown
Florida (6): Leatherwood, Moses, Jeudy, Cowan, Jones, Fletcher
Alabama (6): Benton, Robinson, Randolph, Townsend, McDonald, Brannon
Texas (4): Shavers, Tennison, James, Dean
California (2): Harris, Baker
Hawaii (1): Tagovailoa
Arkansas (1): Byers
Arizona (1): Ruiz
Posted on 11/4/16 at 9:21 am to TideSaint
quote:
5-star recruits are worth HOW MUCH to programs?!
A few weeks back, Business Insider put out a study that showed what the average football player is worth to that college program. According to that study, the average Alabama football player is worth $536,485, which was second to Texas’ average player’s worth at $671,173.
So just how much are 5-star recruits worth to programs?
According to a Journal of Sports Economics study titled “The Effect of Recruit Quality on College Football Team Performance,” 5-stars are “worth more than $150,000 in expected BCS bowl proceeds to an individual school.”
That might seem high considering recruits have not played a down, but that’s not even the craziest part.
The authors of the study believe the dollar figure they came up with might be too low when you factor in the increased television revenue schools receive.
“Our research suggests some of these five-star recruits could be worth more than $500,000 a year to a program,” Steve Bergman, who is one of the authors, told SB Nation’s Bud Elliot.
If that’s the case, that means Alabama, with its four 5-star commitments, would have $2 million of value wrapped up in those players. There’s only one way to put that: insanity. There’s a less likely chance for 5-star prospects to flame out than those ranked lower, but the $500,000 valuation of these recruits is also crazy to think about when you realize that only three programs — Texas, Alabama and Tennessee — have their average player worth more than $500K, and again, these recruits haven’t played yet.
Now you can understand why it’s a big deal for the future of programs to bring in the highest-rated recruits they possibly can sign because it equals a greater chance at winning championships — which then leads to more money for the schools.
Posted on 11/4/16 at 9:23 am to TideSaint
Posted on 11/4/16 at 10:23 am to TideSaint
quote:
By this point, you know Najee Harris is the top-rated running back in the 2017 class, according to Scout. But what you didn't know, is that Najee is also a beast on the defensive side of the ball.
Don't miss Bleacher Report's Facebook Live broadcast of Harris and Antioch (California) High School taking on Pittsburg High School on Saturday, November 5, at 4:30 p.m. ET.
LINK with Video
Posted on 11/4/16 at 10:57 am to TideSaint
quote:
We updated our AL.com A-List at the end of the regular season.
Here is where to watch the prospects in the playoffs. Players' commitment status, if applicable, is in parentheses.
Games are on Friday at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
1. LaBryan Ray, DE, James Clemens
Ray and the Jets host Spain Park in the 7A playoffs.
2. Henry Ruggs III, WR, Lee-Montgomery
Ruggs and Lee did not make the playoffs
3. Tadarian "T.D." Moultry, LB, Jackson-Olin
Moultry (Auburn) and the Mustangs host Pinson Valley in the 6A playoffs
4. Nico Collins, WR, Clay-Chalkville
Collins and the Cougars play Ramsay at Legion Field
5. Markail Benton, LB, Central-Phenix City
Benton (Alabama) and the Red Devils host Murphy in the 7A playoffs
6. Kendall Randolph, OL, Bob Jones
Randolph (Alabama) and the Patriots are at Hoover at the Hoover Met in the 7A playoffs
7. Brian Robinson, RB, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
Robinson (Alabama) and the Patriots host Benjamin Russell in the 6A playoffs.
8. Ryan Johnson, DE, St. Paul's
Johnson and the Saints host Charles Henderson in the 5A playoffs
9. Austin Troxell, OL, Madison Academy
Troxell (Auburn) is injured, but the Mustangs host Central-Florence in the 4A playoffs.
10. Kenney "K.J." Britt, LB, Oxford
Britt (Auburn) and the Yellow Jackets host Muscle Shoals in the 6A playoffs.
11. Alaric Williams, RB/ATH, Southside-Gadsden
Williams (Auburn) and Southside didn't make the playoffs.
12. Malcolm Askew, ATH, McAdory
Askew (Auburn) and the Yellow Jackets host Wetumpka in the 6A playoffs.
13. Chadarius Townsend, ATH, Tanner
Townsend (Alabama) and the Rattlers host Sulligent in the 2A playoffs.
14. Neil Farrell, DL, Murphy
Farrell (LSU) and Murphy travel to Central-Phenix City in the 7A playoffs
15. Thomas Johnston, LB, Spanish Fort
Johnston and the Toros host Carver-Montgomery in the 6A playoffs
ALABAMA in-state commits
* Kyriq McDonald, DB, James Clemens - The Jets host Spain Park in the 7A playoffs
* Hunter Brannon, OL, Cullman - The Bearcats are at Decatur in the 6A playoffs
LINK
Posted on 11/4/16 at 11:09 am to TideSaint
quote:
Asa Martin is apparently returning to Austin High in Decatur.
The running back played this fall at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, but he tweeted earlier tonight that he plans to return to Austin, where he emerged as a star as sophomore in 2015. He will presumably be eligible to play for the Black Bears in 2017.
Martin thanked IMG and said it was an "unforgettable experience,
"There is nothing like home, playing football and making memories with the people you love the most," he wrote on Twitter, "so I am transferring back to Austin High School."
Martin becomes the second Alabama player to have a short stay at IMG.
Buckhorn linebacker Will Ignont transferred to IMG in January – at the same time as Martin – but stayed only a few months and then returned to Buckhorn, where he played his senior season.
Martin, a 6-foot, 190-pounder, is a four-star prospect, according to 247sports Composite, and is the 11th-best running back nationally in the Class of 2018.
It's unclear if Martin will finish the season with IMG (9-0), which is scheduled to play Chaminade-Madonna on Saturday. IMG has three more games on its schedule. Immediate efforts to reach Martin failed, and Austin is playing Pell City tonight in the first round of the 2016 Class 6A playoffs.
"We love Asa to death. He's a great young man. He's a great athlete," Austin coach Jeremy Perkins after tonight's 41-19 victory over Pell City. "It'll be great to see him wearing orange and black again. However, I do want to point out my focus right now is the current football team and what they're doing and making a strong playoff run."
Martin is the second leading rusher for IMG with 372 yards and four touchdowns on 49 carries in eight games. He also has 17 catches for 325 yards.
As a sophomore at Austin, Martin ran for 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns while helping the Black Bears reach the Class 6A semifinals. He also started at safety and was a special teams ace with five blocked kicks.
LINK
He doesn't hold an Alabama offer yet, but he might get one before it's all said and done.
Asa Martin Highlights
Posted on 11/4/16 at 11:20 am to TideSaint
quote:
Opelika’s Jake Bentley appeared the odds-on Mr. Football favorite after the 2015 season, but he then opted to leave high school a year early and sign with South Carolina. He’s now throwing TDs for the Gamecocks.
With Bentley now in college, who are the top candidates this year? Let’s take a look at a dozen of the top candidates -- as the playoffs start tonight -- and then your vote in fan poll at the bottom (poll ends Saturday at 11 p.m.).
1) Henry Ruggs, WR, Lee-Montgomery
One of the state’s top uncommitted players, Ruggs caught 38 passes for 664 yard and 10 TDs and also played quarterback in several games this season. As a quarterback, he completed 11-of-22 passes for 184 yards and three TDs and also finished the season with 35 carries fro 422 yarsd and six touchdowns. That’s 19 TDs accounted for on 95 touches. Ruggs’ season is finished, as the Generals missed the playoffs after having to forfeit six wins for using an ineligible player.
2) JaTarvious Whitlow, LaFayette
Whitlow, an uncommitted small-school star, has put up video-game numbers this season for Lafayette – 114 rushes for 1,672 rushing and 27 TDs; 77-of-124 passing for 1,916 yards and 25 TDs vs. five interceptions; 12 2-point conversion runs; 10 punts for a 42.7-yard average; 8 touchbacks on 36 kickoffs; 4-of-5 on PATs; nine punt returns for 298 yards for 33.1-yard average; two kick return TDs; on defense, six tackles, one sack, one interception and two caused fumbles.
3) Bubba Thompson, QB, McGill-Toolen
Thompson, an Auburn baseball commit recently picked up football offers from Ole Miss and Tennessee, thanks to completing 150-of-204 passes for 2,212 yards and 30 touchdowns. He’s throw just two interceptions while running 25 times for 287 yards and three TDs.
4) Jaylond Adams, ATH, Minor
Adams, an uncommitted senior, has 50 receptions for 1,109 yards and 16 touchdowns and 52 carries for 560 yards and 12 touchdowns. That’s 28 TDs on 102 touches for the Tenacious Tigers (9-1).
5) Malik Cunningham, QB, Park Crossing
Cunningham, a senior and Louisville commit, has completed 125-of-194 for 1,935 yards and 18 TDs, with seven interceptions. He’s thrown TDs to seven different receivers, while also running 119 times for 741 yardsd and 15 touchdowns.
6) LaBryan Ray, James Clemens
The state’s No. 1 prospect, Ray has 99 tackles, including 19 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, to go with 13 QB hurries, four pass deflections and a blocked punt that he scooped for a touchdown. He is uncommitted.
7) Kadarius Toney, QB, Blount
Toney, a senior and Florida commit has completed 121-for-178 passes for 1,842 yards and 21 TDs, with nine interceptions. He’s also run 52 times for 637 yards and nine touchdowns.
8) Thomas Johnston, LB, Spanish Fort
Johnston, an uncommitted senior, has recorded 142 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a sack, a blocked punt, and three pass break-ups this season. He needs four tackles this week to break the AHSAA career tackle record currently held by 1998 Mr. Football DeMarco McNeil.
9) Terence Dunlap, Maplesville
Dunlap is the best offensive weapon for the two-time defending Class 1A champ Red Devils (9-0) and has 111 carries for 1,946 yards and 30 touchdowns this season, despite sitting for much of the second half in a number of blowout victories. Dunlap was selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic.
10) Kyriq McDonald, DB, James Clemens
McDonald, a senior and Alabama commit has 58 tackles, including nine tackles for loss, to go with nine pass break-ups and three interceptions. On special teams, he has eight returns for 273 yards and TDs and a blocked punt. He’s also seen spot duty late in the season as a running back and receiver.
11) Nico Collins, WR, Clay-Chalkville
The Cougars struggled to a a 6-4 season, but the 6-foot-5 Collins has 43 catches for 865 yard and nine touchdowns against defenses often designed to stop him. He also had two rushes for 36 yards. He remains uncommitted.
12) Brian Robinson, RB, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
Robinson, a senior and Alabama commit, has 990 yards and 18 touchdowns on 161 carries for the Patriots (10-0). He also has 24 catches for 302 yards and two more TDs, as well as four kickoff returns for 68 yards.
LINK with Voting Options
Go vote for who you think deserves to win.
Posted on 11/4/16 at 1:00 pm to TideSaint
Michigan mods believe they have flipped Najee. Getting him on campus for the Barn game is 100% critical now. It's not looking good at this moment, but things will probably change again several times between now and February.
Posted on 11/4/16 at 1:03 pm to Bama3714
I know this is recruiting, but 3714, what are your sources hearing about Ridley's injury?
Posted on 11/4/16 at 1:56 pm to Bama3714
quote:
Michigan mods believe they have flipped Najee. Getting him on campus for the Barn game is 100% critical now. It's not looking good at this moment, but things will probably change again several times between now and February.
Which mods?
Posted on 11/4/16 at 2:30 pm to Bama3714
I thought Harris was an early enrollee?
Posted on 11/4/16 at 2:31 pm to BAMAinMS
quote:
I thought Harris was an early enrollee?
He is.
Posted on 11/4/16 at 2:36 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Welcome to the Alabama recruiting mailbag, I am your letter-opener, Chris Kirschner.
Questions for the mailbag were submitted to me via my Twitter account, which you can follow here, and our Alabama SEC Country Facebook page. If you didn’t get a chance to submit your question for this edition of the mailbag, you still can send me questions for future editions by tweeting me or emailing me at chriskajc@gmail.com.
There were A LOT of good questions this week, so let’s dig in.
LINK
Page 424 of 864
Latest Alabama News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News