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

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There was one point last year where it looked very likely that 4-star wide receiver Mark Pope was going to commit to Alabama. He had named the Crimson Tide his leader, and it looked like Alabama wasn’t going to relinquish its lead.

Then the coaching changes happened.

Lane Kiffin. Mario Cristobal. Steve Sarkisian. Billy Napier. Mike Locksley. Brian Daboll.

Pope’s primary recruiter at Alabama was Cristobal, but since the offensive line coach left for Oregon, the Miami Southridge High School wide receiver hasn’t heard a word from anyone in Tuscaloosa.

“I would love to hear from Alabama, but it is what it is,” Pope told SEC Country.

Miami is now Pope’s leader. The Hurricanes have all of the momentum for the nation’s No. 21 wide receiver. The Hurricanes hired Pope’s former offensive coordinator at Southridge to be an offensive analyst.

That was a big reason why Miami has seized the top spot for Pope.

“It helped them a lot because he’s someone I can trust. I would be all right with him.

“I’m loving Miami. Playing for the home city and putting on for Miami — and private education — you can’t really beat that.”

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect is also strongly considering Florida, Tennessee and Utah, but it’s really Miami and everyone else at this point. Pope said he’s planning on committing in late spring. Barring a major change in his recruitment, he’ll likely pick the Hurricanes.

Wide receiver is not a major need for Alabama in the Class of 2018 because the team hit a grand slam in the Class of 2017, signing 5-star prospect Jerry Jeudy and 4-star prospects Tyrell Shavers, Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith. The Tide will likely only sign two or three receivers.

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