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

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Class of 2014 defensive end Da'Shawn Hand is a freak.

The 6-foot-4, 237-pound defender from Woodbridge Senior High School in Virginia runs a 4.6 40-time and has already drawn comparisons to the No. 1 player in the class of 2013, Robert Nkemdiche.

Alabama coaches have certainly noticed Hand's potential and have already began recruiting him hard.

"I know Lance Thompson has come in several times," Hand's head coach Kevin Smith said. "We've talked, and he has emailed me several times, and Da'Shawn stays on a very good level with him."

Hand recently talked with UA coaches, who told him if were to commit to Alabama, they would look to unleash his potential at the next level.

"All the coaches are cool guys," Hand said. "They want me at either as an outside linebacker or defensive end. They said they want to push my limits."

The talented defender said he does not really care what position he is assigned to at the college level, so long as he gets to do one of his favorite things ­- manhandle opposing quarterbacks.

"I like how aggressive they are (at Alabama)," Hand said. "I like being aggressive. The lineman, they are just amazing. They just have a very nasty attitude, and that's the kind of defense that I like."

High school athletes like Hand do not come around too often. Smith said it is hard to recall a recruit as gifted as Hand during his time both playing and coaching football.

"I played at Garfield High School with Ahmad Brooks who is with the 49ers right now," Smith said. "He covered sideline to sideline pretty much like Hand does. He is not as freakish of an athlete as Da'Shawn Hand is. In my time in this area here, he is probably the best athletic kid equipped as a specimen that I've seen."

On top of being a force on the field, Hand is a leader off of it as well. Despite being only a sophomore, Hand has served as a leader by example for his teammates.

"He's actually our best leader," Smith said. "He's at every weight-room session, we have a coach that comes around 4:00 in the afternoon, and he stays late and does ladder and agility drills with him. He tries to go to every camp to try to improve and keep working."

Hand plans to visit Tuscaloosa in July for one of Alabama's summer camps and would also like to come back to visit again during the season to get a feel of the University. Hand said he is already well familiar with all of Alabama's football traditions, but would like to see the academic side of the school to better evaluate it.

Alabama recently received a commitment from Ashburn, Va., defensive end Jonathan Allen Monday. Hand has played the fellow Virginia athlete on the field and has bumped into him a few times off of it as well.

"We have scrimmaged them every year, so I talk to him then," Hand said. "He's a real cool guy. I heard he committed, but I haven't got a chance to talk with him yet."

Hand said he will most likely talk to Allen again in the near future to find out more about Alabama.

Hand said it is too early in the recruiting process to name a list of leaders, but he is working on evaluating schools and should have a group together by the end of the year. On top of his visit to Alabama in July, he also plans to visit the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech over the summer.

"In two years, if Alabama is still on top, they will definitely be high on the list, I would say." Smith said.

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