re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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Alabama offered one of the nation’s top players in the 2020 class on Saturday in four-star, weak-side defensive end Sergio Allen during his unofficial visit for the Mercer game.

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Skyler DeLong

School: Nation Ford (Fort Mill, S.C.)

Position: Punter

Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 180 pounds

Also considered: Tennessee

247Sports composite ranking: DeLong is a two-star recruit, rated as the No. 1,503 prospect nationally, the No. 2 punter and No. 28 prospect from South Carolina.

How he fits into Alabama's plans: This one is fairly straight forward. Four-year starter (and two-time Ray Guy Award finalist) JK Scott is graduating and Alabama needs a new punter. The recruiting rankings for punters and kickers are traditionally hard to judge since the No. 2 punter in the country just missed the top 1,500 players overall.

Projection for 2018: He'll be the only scholarship punter on the roster, so it's his job to lose. The last three punters started from Day 1 and played four years starting with P.J. Fitzgerald (2006-09), Cody Mandell (2010-13) and Scott (2014-present). Each had big careers so DeLong would be only the fourth punter of the Saban era. Joseph Bulovas, who'll be a redshirt freshman kicker, also has experience as a punter.

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USA Today High Schools Sports unveiled the 2017 ALL-USA Alabama team on Wednesday. Several Tide targets and commits made the cut.

Offensive Player of the Year: RB Asa Martin, Decatur (Ala.) Austin -- Auburn commit

First Team Offense

QB Taulia Tagovailoa (2o19), Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson

WR George Pickens (2019), Hoover (Ala.) -- Auburn commit

WR Justyn Ross, Phenix City (Ala.)

TE Michael Parker, Huntsville (Ala.) Westminster Christian -- Alabama commit

OL Amari Kight (2019), Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson

OL Pierce Quick (2019), Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) -- Alabama commit

OL Clay Webb (2019), Oxford (Ala.)

Second Team Offense

QB Paul Tyson (2019), Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.)

Defensive Player of the Year: DB Jalyn Armour-Davis, Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul's Episcopal -- Alabama signee

First Team Defense

DL Coynis Miller, Birmingham (Ala.) Jackson-Olin -- Auburn commit

LB Mohamoud Diabate (2019), Auburn (Ala.)

LB Ja'len Sims (2019), Birmingham (Ala.) Fultondale

DB DJ James (2019), Spanish Fort (Ala.)

Second Team Defense

DL Malik Langham, Huntsville (Ala.) Lee

LB Kevontae' Ruggs, Montgomery (Ala.) Lee

DB Trikweze Bridge (2019), Lanett (Ala.)

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