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

quote:

---

PENSACOLA, Fla. | Mike Smith picked up the phone earlier this year, dialing up his former college coach to let him know about a player, who at the time was flying a bit under the radar. Smith wanted to make sure he did his part to help his player get the attention he deserved.

On the other end of the phone was University of Alabama assistant Lance Thompson, who once coached Smith at Georgia Tech.

'Coach, I've got a guy here you need to take a look at,' Smith told Thompson.



Darius Paige talked it over with his family before officially announcing his commitment to Alabama last week.
According to Smith, Washington High School football coach, that's really when Alabama got serious for recent 2013 Crimson Tide commitment Darius Paige. Paige became UA's 13th commitment last Friday night when he pledged his intentions to sign with the defending national champions.

Paige chose Alabama over Florida, LSU, Miami and a host of other schools, which all showed varying degrees of interest in the 6-foot-4, 282-pound defensive lineman.

He said it was a simple decision.

"Alabama's winning program and all the championships put them ahead for me," Paige told TideSports.com. "Their winning program, and it's pretty close to home. It's a car drive away instead of hopping on a plane and heading out.

"Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt told me about all the players they they've sent to the NFL, how many of their D-linemen went to the NFL. It's hard to say no to that.

"The coaches told me they wanted me to commit. It was just on my mind constantly during school and then I talked to my family and we made the decision. They said, 'Whatever makes you happy.' So I committed. It takes a lot of pressure off of me for my senior year. Now I can focus solely on school."

Paige came to Junior Day with his Washington teammate, Dejon Funderburk, and came back for A-Day. The coaches made an instant impression, as did the impressive facilities that the Crimson Tide program boasts.

"I remember him saying, 'They're so good that you would think they're cocky, but they're real nice guys. Real humble.' He felt welcome there," Smith said. "Alabama was one of the early ones that got him in there to see. He went to Florida, he went to Miami and even went to LSU, but he said there was no comparison to Alabama. He really felt good about being there. And with Trent (Richardson) and D.J. Pettway, Pensacola boys, he felt comfortable there."

Paige turned in a solid junior season at Washington, recording 86 tackles, five tackles for loss and four sacks. Much of his size is natural, he said, but he spends a fair amount of time in the weight room. He bench presses 405 pounds, squats 655 and power cleans 345.

He seems a natural fit at nose guard in Alabama's 3-4 defense. He'll also play defensive tackle and end. Smith said he can play the nose, the three and the five techniques.

"He's a man," Smith said. "He's physical. He's as advertised. He looks like Tarzan and he plays like Tarzan. He's just outstanding. It takes two of them to block him. He can run down a play. He hustles. He's got a good attitude. He's a leader. He's all that."

And with all of those attributes, Smith said one stands out above the others.

"He's so fast for his size. In every league, size is an issue and speed becomes more of an issue the higher you play, throughout college and pros. He has the entire package. He runs like a fullback at 300 pounds. His motor is, he goes and gets the ball."

---

quote:

---

Plus he has D Carter 3rd team all SEC.

---