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

Posted on 4/24/17 at 5:15 pm to TideSaint

Posted by TideSaint

Hill Country

Member since Sep 2008

75905 posts

Posted on 4/24/17 at 5:15 pm to TideSaint

quote:
Alabama was Sidney Lanier quarterback James Foster's dream offer, but the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Foster knew his best future opportunity was at Missouri.

Foster, a three-star recruit in the 247Sports composite, announced his commitment to the Tigers last Wednesday. He told head coach Barry Odom and offensive coordinator Josh Heupel last Tuesday and said the response "felt like every coach was jumping up on chairs."

Foster was offered by Missouri as a sophomore and has built a bond with Heupel ever since. He rewarded the Tigers' efforts with his pledge, and he's the first Missouri commitment for the class of 2018.

"I didn't know too much (about Missouri when they first offered), but I had watched them play," Foster said. "It never crossed my mind that this was where I'd be committing to."

Foster made his first trip to Missouri in March.

"It's a family atmosphere," Foster said. "Family is supposed to be important to you off the field, too. It's bigger than just being on the field. That's really why I liked it a lot. A lot of people are there for you off the field."

The quarterback situation is a good one for Foster at Missouri as rising junior Drew Lock will have either declared for the NFL Draft or have just one more year when Foster arrives.

"I like their offense a lot," Foster said. "They chunk it around a lot, and that's something I like to do. That's why I feel like it could be a great fit for me."

Foster knows Jamal Brooks, a Missouri signee from Bessemer City in the 2017 class. Missouri is making Montgomery an area of priority, and he'll be after several teammates and friends to join him.

Foster mentioned the Park Crossing duo of offensive lineman Tank Jenkins and quarterback/athlete Cam Taylor, Lee-Montgomery defensive back Jakorey Hawkins and Lanier teammates La'Dedric Jackson, a linebacker and defensive end Albert Thomas.

Foster said he didn't know if Alabama would still evaluate him or not, but he is expecting Florida State to see him throw this week. FSU has not yet offered. Other offers included Georgia, Illinois, Tennessee, UNC and South Carolina.

It would be hard to see Foster change his commitment again. He was once committed to North Carolina, but backed off seeing that he did that too early in his high school career.

"I'm solid," Foster said. "I was relieved. I feel like I made the right decision."

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Posted by TideSaint

Hill Country

Member since Sep 2008

75905 posts

Posted on 4/24/17 at 5:17 pm to TideSaint

quote:
When Nick Saban took to the podium on National Signing Day this past February to discuss Alabama’s seventh straight No. 1 recruiting class, there was one position group that he wasn’t pleased with. That was cornerback. The Crimson Tide signed zero corners in the Class of 2017 and missed on some of their top targets.

Enter Anthony Lytton.

Lytton is the nation’s No. 3 cornerback, according to the 247Sports Composite, from Dr. Henry Wise High School (Upper Marlboro, Md.). He released his top 5 schools last week and Alabama along with Clemson, Florida State, Maryland and Penn State made the cut.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect told our Land of 10 reporter Corey Masisak over the weekend at Nike’s Opening regional in Washington, D.C. why the Crimson Tide are strongly in the mix for him.

“Alabama has one of the best programs and one of the best coaches,” Lytton said. “They also have some of the best facilities. The school has a lot of history, too.”

Lytton, who was clocked at 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and posted a 37-inch vertical on Sunday, hasn’t been to Tuscaloosa before. That’s changing this summer. He said he’s planning on visiting Alabama in a few months and will definitely take an official visit this fall.

The Tide have some catching up to do with Lytton, though. He grew up a Florida State fan and models his game after one of the best cornerbacks to ever play football, former Seminoles great Deion Sanders.

Like Sanders, Lytton is certainly confident in his abilities. During the interview with Masisak, he said he’s been “good since little league.” That boastful personality matches up with what Sanders had when he played. Lytton calls Sanders’ alma mater a “dream school.”

“They have a tradition there with their DBs,” Lytton said. “I just liked how they played when I was little. I always looked at them.”

It wouldn’t be the first time Alabama has changed a recruit’s mind on attending their dream school. Just last year, Tua Tagovailoa grew up a Southern California fan and frequently called that school his dream school. That quickly changed after he made it to campus for the first time last spring.

Lytton said he’s in frequent contact with Tide defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley and wide receivers coach Mike Locksley, who is his primary recruiter. Locksley is one of the best recruiters in the Northeast, especially Maryland, so Alabama has that working in its favor.

The coaches have told him over and over again that the team signed zero corners in the Class of 2017, and there’s a good chance for early playing time in the secondary next season. But more importantly than that, he’s looking for comfortability when he makes it to Tuscaloosa for his first time.

“I just hope the coaches make me feel comfortable,” Lytton said. “I want to be able to go their office and come to them whenever I have a problem. I want them to keep it real with me.”