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

Posted on 4/25/17 at 10:42 am to TideSaint

Posted by TideSaint

Hill Country

Member since Sep 2008

75903 posts

Posted on 4/25/17 at 10:42 am to TideSaint

Rush Probst on JJ Peterson:

quote:
“I think he’s like what everybody is looking for against spread offenses,” Propst said. “He’s a tweener guy. He can play inside or outside. He’s a guy that you can hopefully develop into an every down guy. He’s a tremendous pass rusher. He’s got great athletic skills. He’s sort of the mold you look for. He’s going to be a 6-2 plus, 225 guy that runs a 4.5, that’s athletic and has long reach. He’s a lengthier guy that plays with a thicker body than he actually has. We’ve played him outside, but we’re going to play him more inside. You don’t want a guy like him to play in coverage, but he can play in coverage because he can run with backs and tight ends and all that kind of stuff. He’s a guy that’ll probably have 25-30 receptions next year as a receiver. What people don’t understand about JJ Peterson is he could be an SEC wide receiver. He’s a unique. I don’t know if I’ve ever coached one that can do everything like he can do. He can be a wide receiver in the SEC, he can return kickoffs in the SEC, he can return punts in the SEC, and he can play in the box and play linebacker. Go figure that.

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by TideSaint

Hill Country

Member since Sep 2008

75903 posts

Posted on 4/25/17 at 10:44 am to TideSaint

quote:
Asa Martin is one of the top players in the state, but had gone more than a year without hearing from Alabama.

Turns out, the new offensive coordinator likes the Austin standout much more than the previous one.

Alabama offered the 6-foot, 195-pound Martin on Saturday when he took a trip to the A-Day game. He dedicated the offer to his late grandmother, a big Alabama fan, when he announced it.

New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has been in contact with Martin on a regular basis over the last couple of months. Prior to that, Martin had not heard from Alabama since the end of his sophomore year.

"He's a cool guy," Martin said about Daboll. "He's real serious about football. He knows a lot about the game, so I like him."

Martin was a key member of the Austin backfield as a sophomore, leading the Black Bears to a 6A semifinal berth. He played at the IMG Academy last fall, but transferred back to Austin in November. Martin is a four-star recruit ranked as the No. 5 in-state prospect.

But Alabama may like Martin on defense. He said he wasn't sure which position, but Martin plays safety for Austin.

"It really doesn't matter to me," Martin said of his future position. "I know that safeties play a little longer than running backs, so that may come into the decision. I'll come up with all that."

This one for you ma !![?]Blessed to receive an offer from The University of Alabama #RollTide pic.twitter.com/XASpjWbACa
-- 2[?]0[?] (@TheAsaMartin_) April 22, 2017

Florida remains Martin's No. 1 school and Auburn is No. 2. Both are recruiting him as a running back. Martin said his talk with Alabama head coach Nick Saban was "a pretty good talk about a lot of stuff."

"It was surprising," Martin said. "Alabama's the best of the best in college football and getting an offer from that, they're one of the better teams every year. It was a pretty good feeling.

"They're getting the ball to the backs in the passing game a little more, which I like. They're changing it up and not just going downhill every play, so I like that."

Martin said that Alabama is "definitely one of my top schools now, being an in-state and high-caliber team."

Martin went to Auburn for its A-Day game. The Tigers' coaching staff offered Martin in February.

"The quarterback play is coming up from last year (stood out), so that was one of the things I was impressed with," Martin said. "I think they can use me and I can go in and make an early impact as well in the backfield and catch the ball out of the backfield as well."

Florida is Martin's current leader.

"My relationship with (assistant) Coach (JaJuan) Seider," Martin said. "I've been down there. I really liked it and really like the campus. I feel like I can go in and make an impact early. They're a top-level program and they've been in the SEC championship game the last couple of years."

Martin said he plans to visit all of his top schools again before making a decision, which could come before his senior season.

He mentioned Texas as one school he's trying to get to, and Texas A&M if the Aggies show more interest.

Martin was third on IMG Academy's team last fall in rushing, earning 372 yards and four touchdowns on the ground per MaxPreps. He caught 17 passes for 235 yards.

As a sophomore at Austin, Martin ran for 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also started at safety and was a special teams ace with five blocked kicks.