G
Google News
Breaking down Alabama's big official visitors weekend
You would think it was a mid-January weekend with the number of official visitors expected at Alabama over the next two days.
Up until this month, we hadnāt seen the Crimson Tide staff utilize the new official visit calendar, which allows prospects to take their allotted five trips in the spring and summer. Last weekend, the Tide hosted a pair of four-star safeties in Nick Cross and DeMarcco Hellams on official visits and landed a commitment from the latter.
Starting today, Alabama will play host to at least five official visitors. Here, BamaOnLine takes a look at each of them.
Daxton Hill, 5-star S, Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington
The nationās No. 1 safety is making his second trip back to Tuscaloosa after attending A-Day in April. Hill, the younger brother of Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill, is trending to Oklahoma on the 247Sports Crystal Ball, but itās clear the Tide has him thinking. UA head coach Nick Saban contacted Hill from the NFL Draft, and the elite defensive back has made it known he wishes to play at a program that can develop him for the NFL. The trip this weekend marks Hillās first official visit. He has mentioned wanting to make a commitment in the summer. Alabama could certainly take a big step forward, more so than it already has, for Hill this weekend.
Nakobe Dean, 5-star ILB, Horn Lake (Miss.)
The nationās No. 1 inside linebacker is arguably the Tideās biggest priority on defense. Dean is coming off a pair of unofficial visits to Texas A&M and Georgia in the last week. Like Hill, the official visit to Tuscaloosa is his first of his allotted five. UGA has been a hot pick as of late after he visited campus with his mother last month. Deanās mom recently told BOL she has no favorites and that she sees good situations everywhere she goes. This weekend will allow Deanās mother to see more of the academic side of Alabama, something sheās expressed she wishes to do. The family is very tight with inside linebackers coach Pete Golding. Right now it looks like Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M are the three main contenders talking with people close to the recruitment. Dean, however, is nowhere near ready to make a decision.
DeMarvin Leal, 4-star DT, Converse (Texas) Judson ā Texas A&M commit
Alabama and Texas A&M had a notable recruiting battle for a four-star defensive lineman last cycle in Bobby Brown, who ultimately chose the Aggies. We havenāt heard too much about Leal up until the last few weeks, but itās clear thereās mutual interest here. Rated the No. 4 defensive tackle and the No. 52 overall player in the country, Leal committed to Texas A&M in April but has continued listening to other programs, notably Alabama and Texas. Could the Tide get the ball rolling in its favor for the 6-foot-4, 280-pounder?
John Metchie, 4-star WR, Hagerstown (Md.) St. James School ā
Alabama and Penn State look to be in the best shape for Metchie at this stage in his recruitment. Rated the No. 42 wide receiver in the nation, Metchie is trending to the Nittany Lions on the 247Sports Crystal Ball, but the Tide has picked up a prediction in the last month. If any of the five recruits taking official visits this weekend were on ācommit watch,ā it would be Metchie.
Jahleel Billingsley, 4-star TE, Chicago (Ill.) Phillips Academy ā
Florida looked on the verge of landing the four-star tight end last month after a visit to Gainesville when he named UF his leader. Prior to that Illinois looked like it held an advantage. However, Billingsley has decided to continue looking at options, with Alabama coming up next. The Tide offered last month and does not yet hold a commitment from a tight end, which is a position where UA will likely take two prospects.
Continue reading...
You would think it was a mid-January weekend with the number of official visitors expected at Alabama over the next two days.
Up until this month, we hadnāt seen the Crimson Tide staff utilize the new official visit calendar, which allows prospects to take their allotted five trips in the spring and summer. Last weekend, the Tide hosted a pair of four-star safeties in Nick Cross and DeMarcco Hellams on official visits and landed a commitment from the latter.
Starting today, Alabama will play host to at least five official visitors. Here, BamaOnLine takes a look at each of them.
Daxton Hill, 5-star S, Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington
The nationās No. 1 safety is making his second trip back to Tuscaloosa after attending A-Day in April. Hill, the younger brother of Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill, is trending to Oklahoma on the 247Sports Crystal Ball, but itās clear the Tide has him thinking. UA head coach Nick Saban contacted Hill from the NFL Draft, and the elite defensive back has made it known he wishes to play at a program that can develop him for the NFL. The trip this weekend marks Hillās first official visit. He has mentioned wanting to make a commitment in the summer. Alabama could certainly take a big step forward, more so than it already has, for Hill this weekend.
Nakobe Dean, 5-star ILB, Horn Lake (Miss.)
The nationās No. 1 inside linebacker is arguably the Tideās biggest priority on defense. Dean is coming off a pair of unofficial visits to Texas A&M and Georgia in the last week. Like Hill, the official visit to Tuscaloosa is his first of his allotted five. UGA has been a hot pick as of late after he visited campus with his mother last month. Deanās mom recently told BOL she has no favorites and that she sees good situations everywhere she goes. This weekend will allow Deanās mother to see more of the academic side of Alabama, something sheās expressed she wishes to do. The family is very tight with inside linebackers coach Pete Golding. Right now it looks like Alabama, Georgia, and Texas A&M are the three main contenders talking with people close to the recruitment. Dean, however, is nowhere near ready to make a decision.
DeMarvin Leal, 4-star DT, Converse (Texas) Judson ā Texas A&M commit
Alabama and Texas A&M had a notable recruiting battle for a four-star defensive lineman last cycle in Bobby Brown, who ultimately chose the Aggies. We havenāt heard too much about Leal up until the last few weeks, but itās clear thereās mutual interest here. Rated the No. 4 defensive tackle and the No. 52 overall player in the country, Leal committed to Texas A&M in April but has continued listening to other programs, notably Alabama and Texas. Could the Tide get the ball rolling in its favor for the 6-foot-4, 280-pounder?
John Metchie, 4-star WR, Hagerstown (Md.) St. James School ā
Alabama and Penn State look to be in the best shape for Metchie at this stage in his recruitment. Rated the No. 42 wide receiver in the nation, Metchie is trending to the Nittany Lions on the 247Sports Crystal Ball, but the Tide has picked up a prediction in the last month. If any of the five recruits taking official visits this weekend were on ācommit watch,ā it would be Metchie.
Jahleel Billingsley, 4-star TE, Chicago (Ill.) Phillips Academy ā
Florida looked on the verge of landing the four-star tight end last month after a visit to Gainesville when he named UF his leader. Prior to that Illinois looked like it held an advantage. However, Billingsley has decided to continue looking at options, with Alabama coming up next. The Tide offered last month and does not yet hold a commitment from a tight end, which is a position where UA will likely take two prospects.
Continue reading...
