re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition

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Mwikuta is very close with defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi. He even had a funny quote about his relationship with Lupoi.

“That’s pops right there,” Mwikuta said. “That’s daddy. He’s family. When I first met him, I was in the ninth grade. I went to Alabama for a camp. It was just an instant connection with him. Him, coach [Nick] Saban and [former defensive backs coach Derrick] Ansley are all like family to me. I look up to those guys.”

The only thing I could see changing his mind on Alabama is if he doesn’t want to go to a school that’s further away to his grandmother, whom he lives with and loves dearly. The only two people in Mwikuta’s household are him and his grandma. When Mwikuta committed, his grandmother told me that she would like for him to choose a school that’s closer to her so it would be more convenient. Auburn is less than an hour away from where he lives while Alabama is around 200 miles away from Troup.

But Mwikuta confirmed with SEC Country on Monday that he’s locked in with Alabama and there’s nothing that’s going to change his mind on that.

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Faatui Tuitele visiting Alabama Tuesday

Faatui Tuitele, the nation’s No. 2 defensive tackle in the 2019 class from St. Louis School (Honolulu), will be on campus Tuesday, he told SEC Country. Tuitele left Hawaii on a red-eye Sunday night flight, but his plan is just to visit Tuesday; however, he’s going to be in Alabama until Thursday.

Why he’s only visiting for one day remains unclear. He said that Tuesday is just the day the staff told him to visit. I would expect Alabama to officially offer him a scholarship when he meets with Nick Saban.

Tuitele, a 5-star prospect who is former teammates with Tua Tagovailoa, said he and his family plan to have dinner with the Tagovailoa family on Tuesday night. Tuitele and Tagovailoa are distant cousins. That will certainly be an important dinner for Tuitele as he sorts out his college decision.

The 6-foot-4, 299-pound prospect said it’s possible that he also will the school on Wednesday, too. When Tagovailoa visited Alabama for the first time as a recruit, he was only expected to stay for two days but ended up being on campus for five. So, it’s possible he could visit Wednesday and part of Thursday before departing for Ohio.

Alabama will be in the mix for Tuitele when he makes his decision. Here’s what he told SEC Country about his interest in the Tide, and a lot of it has to do with the success his former teammate had in his first season.

“Seeing Tua on the biggest stage and win a national championship — it really motivated me and gives me the confidence that I can set a path for myself and go to the East Coast and make a name for myself like he did,”  Tuitele said. 

“Seeing what he did in the National Championship Game was mind-blowing. Just the year before, I was playing with him in the state championship game. The next year, he’s in the National Championship Game. He let everyone know that Hawaii players can hang with the big dogs.”

Tuitele will visit Ohio State on Friday, and there is no set timeline for a decision.

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Alabama offers 2020 tight end 

Michael Mayer, a 4-star Class of 2020 tight end from Covington Catholic School (Alexandria, Ky.), added an offer from the Crimson Tide on Monday.

Bama has two Class of 2020 commits: four-star cornerback Javier Morton and four-star linebacker Jackson Bratton.


Michael Mayer @MMayer1001
Very grateful and excited to say I have received an offer from the University of Alabama!!! #RollTide
2:44 pm - Apr 2, 2018

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New 2019 RB offer out West

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THE STORYLINE

Quavaris Crouch is the top-ranked prospect in the 2019 class, a rare five-star athlete leading the way since his future position is unclear.

It is almost certain the Charlotte (N.C.) Harding University standout will play running back or linebacker in college - and beyond - and the thinking seems to be that if he continues to develop physically that playing defense would make more sense.

There are examples of massive prospects staying at running back with Alabama’s Derrick Henry and Bo Scarbrough being two recent ones but the thinking with Crouch might be he grows out of running back and is pushed to linebacker.

That seems fine with the five-star prospect but more than anything he’s looking for coaching staffs to have a plan for his development, an idea on where they want to use him and not to just tell him the company line he can play wherever he wants. That probably won't work with Crouch.

As the five-star works through the recruiting process, will his same top programs stay high on his list regardless of position?

FIRST TAKE: ADAM FRIEDMAN, RIVALS.COM RECRUITING ANALYST

“This is a question Crouch would have a hard time answering himself. Clemson and Tennessee seem to be doing the best job so far but Michigan, Georgia, South Carolina, and a few other programs are still in the mix. He will be visiting Florida, Florida State, and possibly Georgia this week. Crouch is asking everybody he can whether they think he should play linebacker or running back in college. He is taking those answers, formulating an idea, and then hoping to hear some good plans from college coaches.

“The problem for Crouch is that nearly every college coach is telling him that he can play wherever he wants. He wants to hear a college coach have a solid plan for him that he can believe in. Crouch has good relationships with plenty of coaches but the school that has a solid plan that will lead Crouch and the team to success will really grab control of Crouch's recruitment.”

SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM NATIONAL RECRUITING DIRECTOR

“I don’t think it matters when he’s picking a school. I just can’t see him on the offensive side of the ball. As good as he is in high school, he’s just going to get so big. I know we said the same thing about Derrick Henry and Bo Scarbrough so maybe he turns into one of those guys but I just think he’s going to play on defense no matter where he goes.

“Unless he was in love with playing offense and some team used that as a recruiting gimmick and said he could play offense here and everybody else wanted him for defense, but he seems okay with wherever he plays. He’s starting to grow into the idea of being a defensive player after initially wanting to play on offense so I think he’s going to play defense no matter what school.”

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OLB Sergio Allen
Fort Valley, GA

The versatile linebacker out of Peach County has double-digit offers and he is one of the best in Georgia. He can rush the passer, he can play physically and he is as tough as they come. Auburn, Alabama and Georgia are a few of the programs he is looking at early.

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CB Malachi Moore
Trussville, AL

Moore had a strong sophomore year at Hewitt-Trussville and he has emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the South. He has good length, quick feet and his ball skills are strong too. Auburn, Florida, Oregon and Tennessee are some of his early offers.

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