BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
One of the Deep South's top-rated defensive lineman has transferred to Foley High, but not without sparking controversy. Darius Paige -- a 6-foot-3, 275-pound Alabama commitment who previously played at Washington High in Pensacola -- completed his transfer to Foley on Tuesday and watched the Lions' evening practice.
It's unclear if Paige will immediately meet eligibility requirements to play this season, said Foley coach Todd Watson. He said he contacted the AHSAA office and asked them to investigate the move and authorize whether Paige will be cleared to play this fall.
"I know 100 percent that we did nothing wrong," Watson said.
"We have not recruited the kid in any form or fashion."
Under AHSAA rules, Paige would be allowed to play immediately if his entire family leaves its Pensacola residence and moves to the Foley school district and he was a student in good standing at Washington.
Washington High assistant coach George Schellang accused Alabama assistant coach Jeremy Pruitt of steering Paige to transfer to Foley, according to the Pensacola News-Journal.
"Darius came in the office one day during the summer after (former head) coach (Mike) Smith left and sat down and told me coach Pruitt, who is the Alabama coach who was recruiting him, wanted him to go to Foley High School," Schellang told the Pensacola News-Journal.
"Basically, he said (Foley High) could take care of him academically.
"My reaction was shock and dismay that a Division I coach would tell a high school athlete that he needed to transfer, that they had people there to help."
Watson said the accusation "insinuated that we just give away grades, (and) that's obviously not the case." He strongly denied that Foley acted improperly.
"I am not going to play anyone illegally," Watson said. "We're not going to do anything to circumvent the rules."
Alabama spokesman Jeff Purinton declined to comment on the allegations regarding Pruitt, citing NCAA rules prohibiting schools from commenting on prospects.
Several high-profile Foley players, including receiver Julio Jones, defensive back Robert Lester and lineman D.J. Fluker, have signed with Alabama in recent years.
Pruitt and Watson served on the same staff at Hoover High in the early 2000s, and the PNJ story implied that relationship led to Paige being steered to Foley.
"That's all nonsense," Watson said.
Watson noted numerous Foley players have signed with other schools during his seven seasons there and that the first major prospect he coached in high school, Brandon Johnson, signed with Auburn.
Washington High recently went through a coaching change, but Watson indicated Paige's family sought Foley in an effort to help him reach NCAA academic requirements.
Baldwin County Public Schools operate on a block schedule, which allows a student to earn up to eight credits in a school year. At Washington, Paige could earn only six credits.
Watson said Paige's family initially approached him in June about the possibility of transferring.
"He said he was moving to Foley," Watson said. "I said, 'If you do, that's fine.'"
Watson said he heard nothing more about a possible transfer for weeks, although rumors of the move circulated wildly. The Press-Register contacted Watson last week to inquire whether Paige had transferred, and Watson said he had not.
On Monday -- the first day of fall practice for AHSAA schools -- Watson said Paige showed up again, voiced his intention to transfer and watched practice. Watson then told him and his family that he must withdraw from Washington and enroll at Foley to play for the Lions.
Paige apparently withdrew from Washington on Tuesday and immediately went to Foley to enroll.
Schellang told the Pensacola newspaper that Washington officials reported the transfer to the NCAA, but it appears there is no NCAA rule prohibiting a college coach from recommending that a prospect switch high schools.
Rivals rates Paige, who committed to Alabama in May, as a three-star prospect.
It's unclear if Paige will immediately meet eligibility requirements to play this season, said Foley coach Todd Watson. He said he contacted the AHSAA office and asked them to investigate the move and authorize whether Paige will be cleared to play this fall.
"I know 100 percent that we did nothing wrong," Watson said.
"We have not recruited the kid in any form or fashion."
Under AHSAA rules, Paige would be allowed to play immediately if his entire family leaves its Pensacola residence and moves to the Foley school district and he was a student in good standing at Washington.
Washington High assistant coach George Schellang accused Alabama assistant coach Jeremy Pruitt of steering Paige to transfer to Foley, according to the Pensacola News-Journal.
"Darius came in the office one day during the summer after (former head) coach (Mike) Smith left and sat down and told me coach Pruitt, who is the Alabama coach who was recruiting him, wanted him to go to Foley High School," Schellang told the Pensacola News-Journal.
"Basically, he said (Foley High) could take care of him academically.
"My reaction was shock and dismay that a Division I coach would tell a high school athlete that he needed to transfer, that they had people there to help."
Watson said the accusation "insinuated that we just give away grades, (and) that's obviously not the case." He strongly denied that Foley acted improperly.
"I am not going to play anyone illegally," Watson said. "We're not going to do anything to circumvent the rules."
Alabama spokesman Jeff Purinton declined to comment on the allegations regarding Pruitt, citing NCAA rules prohibiting schools from commenting on prospects.
Several high-profile Foley players, including receiver Julio Jones, defensive back Robert Lester and lineman D.J. Fluker, have signed with Alabama in recent years.
Pruitt and Watson served on the same staff at Hoover High in the early 2000s, and the PNJ story implied that relationship led to Paige being steered to Foley.
"That's all nonsense," Watson said.
Watson noted numerous Foley players have signed with other schools during his seven seasons there and that the first major prospect he coached in high school, Brandon Johnson, signed with Auburn.
Washington High recently went through a coaching change, but Watson indicated Paige's family sought Foley in an effort to help him reach NCAA academic requirements.
Baldwin County Public Schools operate on a block schedule, which allows a student to earn up to eight credits in a school year. At Washington, Paige could earn only six credits.
Watson said Paige's family initially approached him in June about the possibility of transferring.
"He said he was moving to Foley," Watson said. "I said, 'If you do, that's fine.'"
Watson said he heard nothing more about a possible transfer for weeks, although rumors of the move circulated wildly. The Press-Register contacted Watson last week to inquire whether Paige had transferred, and Watson said he had not.
On Monday -- the first day of fall practice for AHSAA schools -- Watson said Paige showed up again, voiced his intention to transfer and watched practice. Watson then told him and his family that he must withdraw from Washington and enroll at Foley to play for the Lions.
Paige apparently withdrew from Washington on Tuesday and immediately went to Foley to enroll.
Schellang told the Pensacola newspaper that Washington officials reported the transfer to the NCAA, but it appears there is no NCAA rule prohibiting a college coach from recommending that a prospect switch high schools.
Rivals rates Paige, who committed to Alabama in May, as a three-star prospect.
