Give us a quick rundown for today and weekend ... Who's the new names etc.
Quick Rundown for the weekend. Lots of stuff happens and shit moves quick with the portal. Ross was considered Bama lock before he visited LSU and got a take it or leave it deal. Shows how things can be day to day with this portal.
UNA Punter - Adam Watford - Committed to Alabama today. An underrated portal grab here. Field position is SO important, remember when JK Scott would trot out there and flip the entire field for us? This kid has that kind of leg and ability. This will be a weapon for us, IMO.
DJ Chester - Just wrapped up his visit here, Bama as we thought, sees him as an IOL piece (His natural position) LSU was using him as a OT and C option. I think Bama would like to put him as a C/G depending on Riker's decision (More in a moment on Riker). Words pretty good from a friend I talked to in the department. He liked his trip and felt a move back to his normal position and a chance to take starting reps this year is what he's looking for. This one will move quick...I expect a decision before end of day Sunday will come down. My guess - Bama
Carmelo O'Neal - Visited yesterday also, similar to Chester I think we're looking good here but I'm not as optimistic. He'd likely fill Deshaun Jones' role at DB for us being more of a situational option or depth piece. He is likely to be offered starting time at CAL/UCLA who he will also visit and Auburn/LSU are looking for visits here as well. I guess it will depend on how his visits go, he doesn't seem to be in a rush so likely a decision next week will be made, perhaps early in the week.
Lorcan Quinn - (Kicker) - Marshall transfer, went over him already and some information so far is that he hasn't OFFICIALLY entered the portal, though some communication is already going on he is expected to give Bama a look. Bama really wants him, I think we'll get this done barring something crazy coming up.
Jimothy Lewis - Will make his decision this weekend, BOL seems to believe he's Bama bound and I'm inclined to agree here. I know he visited CAL but he has equal opportunity to start here as there, better NIL deal, and closer to home...I actually thought he wasn't going to visit CAL at all but Bama felt comfortable to let him have his fun before making a decision. We see him as flex OT/OG option similar to another name coming up.
Ty Haywood - Another big interesting one here. Bama and him were always on good terms (Despite what fans believed) he committed to us, then decommitted about 2 weeks before signing day and flipped to Michigan because they offered a HUGE NIL package. He officially entered the portal today, almost immediately reached out to Bama and Bama to him. This is EXPECTED as of now to be a race to get him on Campus ASAP and lock him up. He's projecting as a OT/OG flex option also...I REALLY wanted this kid out of high school. If you go back and look during his recruitment I watched tape on his camps, games, and other things and spoke with people who were in the know. The kid is a stud, he was pushing for starting time this year at Michigan as a true freshman but they put him as their 6-7th option. This is purely a deal where he wants a place he can win a starting role at. $$ isn't expected to be that much of a factor here.
Tony Diaz - UT Rio Grande WR is expected to arrive Saturday or Sunday for a visit. I posted about him earlier and his highlight video. Good kid, hard worker. Seems to have felt disrespected out of high school and really put together some muscle and solid tape. It's still up in the air if he will for sure visit, another one that is taking multiple visits and someone may try to get him to sign before he leaves. He has interest from a few schools. He visited Iowa and Kentucky earlier this week and is visiting Virginia Tech today and so far is expected to visit Baylor Sunday. Bama is hoping to either take the Baylor visit spot or bring him in Saturday if possible...we'll see what happens over the next 12-15 hours on that front.
Thatcher Miller - D-2 West Chester Tight end - Alabama offered him today. Don't know much about the kid yet. I do know he's a man. He'll be one of the oldest on the roster if he does come. Mostly blocking TE option, we'll see what happens there.
Javeon Campbell - D-line from Kentucky - Bama is interested and the interest in mutual, expected to get a visit sometime in the future...(BOL Andrew Bone) Don't know much on this kid except I do remember on the recruiting side we were interested out of High School in the 2025 cycle but had other options/priorities.
Brock Riker - Center from Texas State - Highly coveted guy in the portal. RS Freshman that will command a lot of attention. He's already got half the SEC asking for visits and more teams. Bama is involved. This might be the wildest and craziest one of all because NOBODY seems to know what he's going to do and who he is going to visit. I'm honestly impressed, the kid doesn't have a leak anywhere on what he's got planned. Even the experts are just guessing right now. HE hasn't officially locked in visits yet or shown interest anywhere in particular. I know Bama is hopeful they will get a visit but as I said with the portal climate it's possible things change minute by minute.
Evan Chieca - TE from New Haven will visit LSU today and then is supposed to be in Alabama on the 11th. Another possible TE option..once again another one that could change from day to day with teams trying to lock him down before the Bama visit. So far I think we'll get a visit here but we shall see.
Cam Coleman - THE BIG FISH - So far, positive news to report. He wasn't THAT impressed with the other schools from the people I know. He feels like they see him as a great opportunity and will give him playing time. I'm told TTU wasn't a great visit and TAMU/Texas would be the biggest factors vs Bama here. As I've stated with
@Brandon Van de Graaff has also pointed out. Things are looking positive on the Bama front so far with this one. There' a TON of ties to Alabama for Coleman including friends, previous teammates, previous recruiter, and coach (Nix). Bama plans to factor him as WR1A and RW as WR1B with Lotzier Brooks factoring in the slot more it looks like. He's already stated through his agent that he will wrap up here and will make a decision near the end of the weekend. So we should know soon where he wants to finish his career. I know one factor for him has been "Veteran QB" this is the ONLY place that Alabama is failing to meet his expectations, so I guess it depends on how he feels about Keelon and Mack. I expect Bama will try to get them to throw him the ball and showcase their arm talent.
IMO - I think Texas is the real team to beat here, Manning staying another year gives him a solid option, the NIL is a good offer, and he'd be featured. I think though, if QB were a huge factor he'd have cut Bama once Ty declared for the draft....so if he's coming to Bama...I have a inkling that this will be a shocker for people. Still not super confident but my opinion is Bama wins this one.