re: 2013 Alabama Football Recruiting Thread - DH Decommited from UGA

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Henry Poggi on visits
April, 30, 2012
By Dave Hooker | ESPN.com

BALTIMORE, Md. - Henry Poggi is taking a patient, pensive approach to recruiting.

While that might not be exactly what recruiting fans want, it's the way it's going to be. The defensive tackle from Baltimore (Md.) Gilman isn't one to willingly talk to reporters to generate news or cut down his list, only to add more schools to light up message boards. Poggi doesn't even like discussing when he'll visit schools because that causes his phone to blow up from reporters.

“Whenever it feels right, I'll commit,” Poggi said. “I might cut down the list but I probably won't though.”

Poggi's track schedule makes it tough for him to visit schools. He's often more concerned with improving his best shot put mark as opposed to evaluating colleges. For the record, his best is 48 feet.

After track practice on Friday, Poggi traveled to Tuscaloosa to check out the Crimson Tide this weekend.

“I liked my meeting with coach (Nick) Saban and I enjoyed my time with the players,” the four-star prospect said. “I really had a good time with their guys, good dudes.”

Poggi said he currently has no favorites and that he is planning more visits. He'd like to take another trip south, head west to visit Southern California and California and eventually visit Texas A&M.

Poggi has already visited Michigan. He said he's been impressed by the Wolverines' signing class, which has 11 commitments from the ESPN 150. That, however, will only help so much.

“It's nice,” he said. “I definitely want to go to a program where they have guys that are already committed, but eventually it's going to come down to what's best for me.”

Poggi's most recent visit, other than Bama, was to Ohio State.

“I like them,” he said. “I really like coach [Mike] Vrabel and coach [Luke] Fickell. And I really like coach [Urban] Meyer too. He's an intense guy.”

Poggi has also visited nearby Maryland.

“Maryland is a good program,” he said. “Coach [Randy] Edsall is a good guy. Their academics are great. I'm definitely not excluding them.”

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2013 Breakdown: Quarterbacks
April, 30, 2012
By Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com

When sophomore quarterback Phillip Sims decided to transfer from the University of Alabama over the weekend, it created a need at the position for 2013, but it also presented an opportunity for the quarterbacks in the class. The Crimson Tide had already talked about the possibility of taking two signal callers this year, and with Sims leaving, it almost becomes a necessity now. Alabama has a bevy of targets from across the country who have been invited to throw in front of the staff at the Tide’s camp in June. Some already have offers. Others are hoping to earn an offer. After the camp, UA should have a better idea of which quarterbacks they want and which quarterbacks they might get in this year’s class.

Cooper Bateman - Salt Lake City, Utah

When the Alabama’s top two quarterback targets, Max Browne and Christian Hackenberg, came off the board, Bateman seemed like the next best choice for the Crimson Tide. The ESPN 150 signal caller from Utah has good size at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, and possesses a strong, accurate throwing arm. Bateman visited Tuscaloosa in early April as part of an SEC tour that also included stops at Auburn, Florida and LSU. He plans to return to UA for the Tide’s camp in June when he can throw in front of the coaching staff.

On meeting UA offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier: “It was awesome. I had talked to him a number of times before meeting him and going to see Alabama. We had already built a little bit of a relationship prior to going down. I had the opportunity to sit through his quarterback meetings and see how he handles that, which I really enjoyed, seeing how he interacted with the quarterbacks.”

After a visit to Alabama earlier this month for A-Day, the Crimson Tide have emerged as one of the leaders for Ferguson. The ESPN 150 signal caller spent a lot of time with current UA quarterback AJ McCarron, and Ferguson sees a lot of similarities between he and McCarron. At the recent Atlanta Elite 11 camp, Ferguson showed off a strong arm and was named one of the finalists at the event. The Alabama coaching staff made a stop at Butler High School in Matthews, N.C. last week to check in on the QB target.

On having dinner with AJ McCarron: “That was great. People say me and him are a lot alike in terms of our personalities, how he plays football, how we wear the same number and stuff like that. I got along with him great. He’s like a big brother to me now that I’ve gotten to know him. It felt like we knew each other for a long time, but that’s really the first time I met him. It was a lot of fun.”

Connor Mitch - Raleigh, N.C.

Although Mitch has a top two of LSU and South Carolina, Alabama is still showing a lot of interest in the 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback. When news of Sims’ transfer broke, UA head coach Nick Saban reached out to Mitch to discuss the opportunity he could have at Alabama. He was originally scheduled to visit Tuscaloosa earlier this month for A-Day but wound up visiting South Carolina for its spring game instead. Still, there’s a chance he visits Alabama in June for the Tide’s camp.

On conversation with Saban: “I talked to Saban yesterday. He told me that he’s very interested, but that he has a process he goes through with quarterbacks and he wants me to come down, I think it’s June 3 or 8, and go throw for him. He told me about Phillip Sims transferring and said that was a great opportunity for quarterbacks that are in my class to come in and start right away.”

Max Staver - Brentwood, Tenn.

Of all of the quarterback targets, Staver is a little more under the radar, but he showed off his ability at the Atlanta Elite 11 recently, and he had already been on Alabama’s radar before that. The 6-foot-6, 238-pound signal caller was clearly one of the larger prospects at the Elite 11 camp, but he also proved to be one of the more consistent passers at the event. He’s been invited to the Crimson Tide’s camp in June where he’s excited to throw in front of Saban, and he believes he will earn an offer if he performs well. Staver has Alabama as one of his top two schools.

On Alabama: “It’s obvious the best (program) right now in the country. I think the depth chart is favorable right now for a 2013 quarterback to come in. I’ve always liked Alabama. If you look at the history of it, there’s nothing like it. The tradition is great, good atmosphere, big stadium, big crowd, and you have a connection with the NFL with Coach Saban.”

Mitch Trubisky - Mentor, Ohio

Trubisky is one of the more intriguing targets for 2013 because he’s the first true dual-threat quarterback on the list. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound prospect from Ohio has a strong arm, but he also has the speed and athleticism to make plays with his feet if needed. He already received an offer from Alabama, but the UA coaching staff wants to see him work out in person at its camp in June. Trubisky visited for A-Day and has Alabama, Michigan State and Ohio State at the top of his list.

Brice Ramsey - Kingsland, Ga.

Although Ramsey committed to Georgia last July and has showed no signs of wavering, that hasn’t stopped Alabama from recruiting him. He has an offer from the Crimson Tide, and the UA coaching staff is hoping to get the ESPN 150 quarterback on campus for a visit before it’s all said and done. There was rumors he may visit Alabama this past weekend, but the trip fell through. Ramsey, who was a finalist at the Atlanta Elite 11, has the ability to make every throw, especially the deep ball.

Jason Smith - Mobile, Ala.

Smith is another possible dual-threat quarterback in this class. However, even though Alabama offered him as a quarterback and told him he could start out there if he signs, most people believe he will end up as a wide receiver or defensive back at the next level. Still, Smith could bring a different dynamic to the position for the Crimson Tide. He also has offers from Auburn, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

Other options: Anthony Jennings, John O’Korn, Brayden Scott, Parker Anderson, Ryan Buchanan.

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10 things we learned during spring
May, 1, 2012
By Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com

Here are 10 things we learned from Alabama spring ball:

1. AJ McCarron is ready to lead:
The junior quarterback had a voice in the Alabama locker room in 2011, but this year he seems to have dialed up the volume. Many of the leaders from last year’s team are gone and it’s up to McCarron to keep an offense that is as inexperienced as it is talented on track. Coach Nick Saban has praised his command under center and all signs point to the tall righty taking the offense and making it his.

2. No. 4 can play:
More than a week removed from A-Day, this statement seems fairly obvious. T.J. Yeldon, the freshman tailback from Daphne, Ala., showed that he can carry the rock in Tuscaloosa. He’s truly an elite talent and a rare multi-faceted back. He’s shown that there’s not a hole in his game, whether it’s turning the corner with a burst of speed, running over defenders with his 6-foot-2, 214-pound frame, or catching the ball out of the backfield -- all with a heavy brace on his left wrist. If he can carry his progress in the spring to the fall, watch out.

3. Health, though, is an issue:
It’s not something you want to see in the spring: braces and bruises. But take one look at the running back corps and it’s hard to look past the litany of injuries. Eddie Lacy couldn’t play all spring while recovering from surgery, Jalston Fowler had a banged up shoulder that -- given his physical style of play -- is cause for concern, Dee Hart is still on his way back from knee surgery last year and even Yeldon couldn’t last the spring without needing a brace on his left wrist.

4. The secondary is loaded:
Yes, three-fourths of the secondary is gone. But make no mistake, the 2012 version of the Crimson Tide secondary will not lack for talent. Having Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix and Vinnie Sunseri duke it out for the second spot at safety is proof. Sunseri made plays all spring and has proven he’s an SEC talent, and Clinton-Dix has the skills to make an impact in the secondary. Combined with Robert Lester, Dee Milliner, Deion Belue and Travell Dixon, there’s plenty of guys from which to choose. That doesn’t include the guys coming in this fall, namely the top safety in the county, Landon Collins, and the No. 2 cornerback overall in Geno Smith.

5. Young wide receivers are worth the hype:
Chris Black and Amari Cooper came to the Capstone in January in something of an unenviable position. Alabama lost its top four pass catchers from a year ago, and Duron Carter appeared no closer to putting on a uniform With Saban seeking more playmakers on offense, the burden fell on the shoulders of the two freshmen from Florida, and this spring they both proved why the hype was there to begin with. Black showed excellent body control and good hands. Cooper flashed good hands and above-average physicality at the position, something missing at Alabama since the departure of Julio Jones.

6. Adrian Hubbard will make an impact:
All you have to do with Hubbard is look at the numbers: 6-foot-6, 248 pounds, three sacks. He not only has the size at linebacker, he can play, too. The sophomore from Georgia pulled down three sacks and six tackles at A-Day. His emergence at linebacker will go a long way in rebuilding a unit that lost two potential first-round picks.

7. There’s no replacement for Brad Smelley -- yet:
Brent Calloway is getting there, Michael Williams has shown flashes and Brian Vogler is capable but unproven. While there’s talent at H-back and tight end, there hasn’t been anyone step up to fill the hole left behind by Brad Smelley. Calloway is new to the position and has the speed and toughness you’d like, but knowing the ins and outs is something not easily picked up in a couple of weeks time. Williams and Vogler are familiar with the position and have a leg up in terms of athleticism.

8. The special teams will take a step forward:
Incoming freshman placekicker Adam Griffith hasn’t made his way to campus yet and already the special teams look improved. Cody Mandell had a great A-Day, placing four punts inside the 20. Cade Foster and Jeremy Shelley didn’t get the opportunity to do much at A-Day but in scrimmages, their numbers have been good, combining to go 11-15 in three scrimmages.

9. We haven’t seen the Alabama offense yet:
Alabama threw the ball around a lot in the final scrimmage of the spring, with the passing game accounting for more than 500 yards and four touchdowns. There appeared to be more pop in the offense as well with a wealth of playmakers on both sidelines. But while the offense looked different than a year ago, the scheme didn’t change much. With a new offensive coordinator, Saban wasn’t ready to tip his hand yet. The real change will come over the summer and in the fall.

10. This team is not the same as it was in 2010:
It was arguably the most prevalent theme of the entire spring: don’t repeat 2010. Every player spoke about the need to learn from the mistakes of the team two years ago that basked in the glow of a national championship to the tune of three losses. To this year’s squad, 2011 might as well have never happened. It’s over. Time to move on. When Carson Tinker’s father shattered the trophy, it was as if the metaphor carried over into real life

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Off topic, but...

Did you hear about the JETS calling the Seahawks and cussing them out for taking Bruce Irvin? I wonder if he would've been the pick for NY had he still been there, instead of Quinton Coples..

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Manish Mehta pretty much debunked it, wasn't true.

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