Andrew Bone
TideSports.com Senior Recruiting Analyst
Ben Davis
Ben Davis, five-star linebacker from Gordo High School and Lyndell Wilson, five-star linebacker from Carver High School in Montgomery, are two of the top three prospects in the state of Alabama. They are separated by only one spot in the Rivals100. Davis ranks No.13 and Wilson No.14 overall.
The two did not know each other prior to the start of the year, but since early January have formed quite a friendship. Davis and Wilson competed in the Rivals Five-Star Challenge this past weekend in Baltimore. Both were named on the first team defense for their performance.
Wilson was named the No.1 overall defensive performer of the weekend. He also earned linebacker MVP honors. It was his second year competing in the event. Davis also received high praise from the Rivals.com national recruiting staff and one of the overall top performers.
Both players may continue to see their stock rise in the coming months especially with the way they performed in Baltimore. The two are little different in their style of play and size. Davis stands 6-foot-4, 236-pounds, and Wilson is 6-foot-1, 230-pounds. They are on an elite level in terms of athleticism, speed and overall knowledge of the game.
"The Five-Star Challenge was really fun," said Davis. "I felt like I learned a lot out there. My favorite part was just competing in the 1-on-1s and 7-on-7. We were out there competing. My team won the event. We didn't get beat once in 7-on-7. That was the best part. We were all out there competing together.
"I thought the coaching was really good. I learned some new stuff on how to drop back into coverage better. Overall, I thought it was pretty good. The coaches taught up some basic stuff. It wasn't anything too complex."
"I thought the Five-Star Challenge was great," said Wilson. "I went out there and played. It was competitive. I felt like I did great. During the 1-on-1s I had the mindset to not let anyone catch a ball on me. I had three picks. I then had two more picks in 7-on-7. I stayed tight with my technique.
"I was up there last year, and I was timid and scared. This time I was comfortable. I was happy about being there. I was pumped the whole time. I feel like I have become a lot better in 1-on-1 since last year. I was covering fast guys this year and catching interceptions."
A highlight of the trip was hearing from Super Bowl winning head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. Coach Harbaugh spoke to the Five-Star Challenge participants on Friday evening.
"Coach Harbaugh is real funny," Davis said. "He gave us a nice speech. He talked about his brother (Jim Harbaugh) a little bit. He told us to enjoy ourselves and work hard.
"It was a great experience to listen to Coach Harbaugh," Wilson said. "He talked about a lot of things. "He talked about being tough and making the right choices. He talked about the Ray Rice situation. He said we need to think wisely. He was encouraging us to be the best we can be. He said before we know it we will be 35-40 years old and possibly getting ready to retire from football."
Another highlight for Davis was the opportunity to meet prospects from different parts of the country.
"I met some new people from all over the country," he said. "Some of the guys from California are really funny. A lot of guys were asking questions. A lot of guys don't know where they are going to go. It was cool listening to different guys talk about their views of different colleges. I had a lot of fun. I met some new guys, and made some great memories."
Mack Wilson
The ultra competitive in-state prospects have built a brother-like relationship.
"Ben and I met at the (Under Armour) Elite 50 in Orlando (in January)," Wilson said. "Ever since then he has been a loyal friend to me. Now it feels like he is a brother to me. It's like I have known him since I was little. I feel like he is someone I need in my life to help encourage me to always do better."
"Mack and I were roommates in Baltimore," Davis said. "That's my dude. "We are like brothers now. It doesn't matter where we go. If we are at the same place I know I am going to try to find him, or he is going to find me. That's my brother."
Davis and Wilson spent time at Alabama last week, and returned again on Tuesday.
"I flew into Montgomery and just stayed at Mack's house," Davis said. "I rode back to Tuscaloosa with them on Tuesday, and my parents came to pick me up. We just hung out over at Bama for the day. I came home last night.
"I was just visiting the campus a little bit more and seeing the coaches. I spent time with Coach Smart and Coach Davis. They are recruiting me hard. They are just telling me how they see me at Alabama, and feel like I can play a big role in the defense."
"I went down there on Tuesday and stayed the night," said Wilson. "I was just hanging out around the facilities. I got a chance to talk to Coach Saban and Coach Smart. We were just hanging out and laughing. We were watching football videos.
"They've said everything they need to say. They are just trying to let me know they need me there. They said they would love to have me at Bama. I've thought about making an earlier decision, but I am just not ready to commit."
The five-stars will remain busy this summer. Davis will compete in a 7-on-7 tournament at IMG Academy in Bradenton on June 19. He also hopes to visit Florida State, Georgia, LSU and Ohio State.
Wilson will visit Louisville in the upcoming weeks. He will compete in The Opening in Oregon in July, and plans to return to Alabama's camp on July 17. He hasn't talked much with the other in-state SEC school.
"I really don't know what's been going on with them," Wilson said of Auburn. "I haven't heard from Auburn since the last time I visited them. It's probably been about a month and a half. I haven't talked to them in a while."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1773800#sthash.tDGiYj7m.dpuf
TideSports.com Senior Recruiting Analyst
Ben Davis
Ben Davis, five-star linebacker from Gordo High School and Lyndell Wilson, five-star linebacker from Carver High School in Montgomery, are two of the top three prospects in the state of Alabama. They are separated by only one spot in the Rivals100. Davis ranks No.13 and Wilson No.14 overall.
The two did not know each other prior to the start of the year, but since early January have formed quite a friendship. Davis and Wilson competed in the Rivals Five-Star Challenge this past weekend in Baltimore. Both were named on the first team defense for their performance.
Wilson was named the No.1 overall defensive performer of the weekend. He also earned linebacker MVP honors. It was his second year competing in the event. Davis also received high praise from the Rivals.com national recruiting staff and one of the overall top performers.
Both players may continue to see their stock rise in the coming months especially with the way they performed in Baltimore. The two are little different in their style of play and size. Davis stands 6-foot-4, 236-pounds, and Wilson is 6-foot-1, 230-pounds. They are on an elite level in terms of athleticism, speed and overall knowledge of the game.
"The Five-Star Challenge was really fun," said Davis. "I felt like I learned a lot out there. My favorite part was just competing in the 1-on-1s and 7-on-7. We were out there competing. My team won the event. We didn't get beat once in 7-on-7. That was the best part. We were all out there competing together.
"I thought the coaching was really good. I learned some new stuff on how to drop back into coverage better. Overall, I thought it was pretty good. The coaches taught up some basic stuff. It wasn't anything too complex."
"I thought the Five-Star Challenge was great," said Wilson. "I went out there and played. It was competitive. I felt like I did great. During the 1-on-1s I had the mindset to not let anyone catch a ball on me. I had three picks. I then had two more picks in 7-on-7. I stayed tight with my technique.
"I was up there last year, and I was timid and scared. This time I was comfortable. I was happy about being there. I was pumped the whole time. I feel like I have become a lot better in 1-on-1 since last year. I was covering fast guys this year and catching interceptions."
A highlight of the trip was hearing from Super Bowl winning head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. Coach Harbaugh spoke to the Five-Star Challenge participants on Friday evening.
"Coach Harbaugh is real funny," Davis said. "He gave us a nice speech. He talked about his brother (Jim Harbaugh) a little bit. He told us to enjoy ourselves and work hard.
"It was a great experience to listen to Coach Harbaugh," Wilson said. "He talked about a lot of things. "He talked about being tough and making the right choices. He talked about the Ray Rice situation. He said we need to think wisely. He was encouraging us to be the best we can be. He said before we know it we will be 35-40 years old and possibly getting ready to retire from football."
Another highlight for Davis was the opportunity to meet prospects from different parts of the country.
"I met some new people from all over the country," he said. "Some of the guys from California are really funny. A lot of guys were asking questions. A lot of guys don't know where they are going to go. It was cool listening to different guys talk about their views of different colleges. I had a lot of fun. I met some new guys, and made some great memories."
Mack Wilson
The ultra competitive in-state prospects have built a brother-like relationship.
"Ben and I met at the (Under Armour) Elite 50 in Orlando (in January)," Wilson said. "Ever since then he has been a loyal friend to me. Now it feels like he is a brother to me. It's like I have known him since I was little. I feel like he is someone I need in my life to help encourage me to always do better."
"Mack and I were roommates in Baltimore," Davis said. "That's my dude. "We are like brothers now. It doesn't matter where we go. If we are at the same place I know I am going to try to find him, or he is going to find me. That's my brother."
Davis and Wilson spent time at Alabama last week, and returned again on Tuesday.
"I flew into Montgomery and just stayed at Mack's house," Davis said. "I rode back to Tuscaloosa with them on Tuesday, and my parents came to pick me up. We just hung out over at Bama for the day. I came home last night.
"I was just visiting the campus a little bit more and seeing the coaches. I spent time with Coach Smart and Coach Davis. They are recruiting me hard. They are just telling me how they see me at Alabama, and feel like I can play a big role in the defense."
"I went down there on Tuesday and stayed the night," said Wilson. "I was just hanging out around the facilities. I got a chance to talk to Coach Saban and Coach Smart. We were just hanging out and laughing. We were watching football videos.
"They've said everything they need to say. They are just trying to let me know they need me there. They said they would love to have me at Bama. I've thought about making an earlier decision, but I am just not ready to commit."
The five-stars will remain busy this summer. Davis will compete in a 7-on-7 tournament at IMG Academy in Bradenton on June 19. He also hopes to visit Florida State, Georgia, LSU and Ohio State.
Wilson will visit Louisville in the upcoming weeks. He will compete in The Opening in Oregon in July, and plans to return to Alabama's camp on July 17. He hasn't talked much with the other in-state SEC school.
"I really don't know what's been going on with them," Wilson said of Auburn. "I haven't heard from Auburn since the last time I visited them. It's probably been about a month and a half. I haven't talked to them in a while."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1773800#sthash.tDGiYj7m.dpuf
