📝 Friday morning Crootin'

[yellowhammer86]

Good Friday morning guys and gals! Today is my second edition of Friday Morning Crootin', so let's get to it!

As I reported a couple days ago, Bama is really starting to turn up the heat recruiting wise. There are said to be four playeds currently privately committed to Alabama: Penei Sewell, Emory Jones, Emil Ekiyor, and 5* Jack/DE Eyabi Enoma.

With the commitment of James Cook(5* RB) to Jawja, staff feels like Zamir White's recruitment isn't over just yet. He's a longshot, but he's at the very least still listening to the Tide.

The #1 juco TE for 2018, Dominick Wood-Andersen decommitted from Texas last week, and today, the Tide lead for the biggest playmaking TE since OJ Howard. I believe Luke Ford goes to Jawja, and we take DWA.

If I had to project a class as of today, it would be:
QB- Emory Jones or Jarren Williams
WR- Xavier Williams
WR- Slade Bolden
WR- Justyn Ross or Jaylen Waddle
RB- Asa Martin or LynJ Dixon
TE- Dominick Wood-Anderson
OL- Penei Sewell
OL- Emil Ekiyor
OL- Nicholas Petit-Frere
DL- Stephon Wynn
DL- Eyabi Anoma
DL- Caleb Tremblay
DL- Coynis Miller or Christian Barmore
OLB- Cameron Latu
OLB- Jordan Davis
OLB- JJ Peterson
CB- Jaylen Armor-Davis
CB- Josh Jobe
CB- Tyson Campbell
CB/S- Kelvin Joseph
CB/S- Nadab Joseph
P- Skylar DeLong

Bobby Brown just announced for Texas A&M, but I believe it was due to tremendous pressure to stay in Texas, and think eventually he will flip to the Tide.

 

[yellowhammer86]

These are the names I would begin to familiarize myself with. A couple other DL are possibilities including Keondre Koburn and Iowa commit Dayvion Nixon, FSU commit Rober Cooper, Arkansas commit Emmett Gooden, and Mississippi DT Jeffrey Johnson.

 

[BamaMD]

Just an observation here (and based on your projections), but seems like we are going to miss on a lot of top guys this year. I don't know if the reason has been the coaching carousal at BAMA the past few years or what, but Georgia, Clemson and Ohio State seem to be the beneficiaries. Not too long ago we were talking about guys like K.J Henry being a heavy BAMA lean and now I hear Petit-Frere and Barmore. What do you believe is going with current commits Tommy Brown, Jarrett Bell and Vernon Jackson? Whats your theory on the odd recruiting year? And yes, I know Saban is in control and no this is not me hitting the panic button, but we are usually in on some top guys and at present that list is smaller than usual.

 

[TerryP]

These are the names I would begin to familiarize myself with. A couple other DL are possibilities including Keondre Koburn and Iowa commit Dayvion Nixon, FSU commit Rober Cooper, Arkansas commit Emmett Gooden, and Mississippi DT Jeffrey Johnson.

Former Iowa commit attending JUCO currently.

 

[yellowhammer86]

Thanks @TerryP youre right.

 

[yellowhammer86]

Just an observation here (and based on your projections), but seems like we are going to miss on a lot of top guys this year. I don't know if the reason has been the coaching carousal at BAMA the past few years or what, but Georgia, Clemson and Ohio State seem to be the beneficiaries. Not too long ago we were talking about guys like K.J Henry being a heavy BAMA lean and now I hear Petit-Frere and Barmore. What do you believe is going with current commits Tommy Brown, Jarrett Bell and Vernon Jackson? Whats your theory on the odd recruiting year? And yes, I know Saban is in control and no this is not me hitting the panic button, but we are usually in on some top guys and at present that list is smaller than usual.

I know it's a little redundant at this point, but over and over again I'm being told that we are being more thorough in our evaluations due to restricted class size, and also that the class of 18 top to bottom isn't as talent laden as other years. My personal opinion is we are starting to see the effects of the loss of Bo Davis. Carl Dunbar is a great coach, but from those close to the program that I speak to, he isn't regarded as being a great recruiter. Seems as though kids are really taking to heart the negative recruiting against Bama that's going on out there. That coupled with the absolute lack of in-state talent at our two biggest positions of need(DL and CB) along with losing our in-roads to Texas in Bo Davis are really hurting us now. However, if there is a man alive that can overcome these, it's Nick Saban. I firmly believe that as teams like Arkansas, LSU, and others continue to struggle, and more coaching status' become increasingly uncertain, that we will be fine in recruiting this year. I'm not ready to write off this year's class yet, and none of you should be either. I believe a top 5 class is still a definite possibility.

 

[TerryP]

. Carl Dunbar is a great coach, but from those close to the program that I speak to, he isn't regarded as being a great recruiter

Ray, Buggs, Mathis from last year and he's snagged Slade out of Louisiana for this class. He isn't the primary on Wynn but he's been very involved with him. He's no Tosh but few are at his level.

 

[yellowhammer86]

Ray, Buggs, Mathis from last year and he's snagged Slade out of Louisiana for this class. He isn't the primary on Wynn but he's been very involved with him. He's no Tosh but few are at his level.

Ray was an instate 5* didn't matter who his recruiter was. He was always Bama. Buggs and Mathis were already being recruited by Bama. I like Dunbar as a coach, but recruiting isn't his strength. Give me one elite kid that he was personally responsible for their commitment. Right now he's missed more fish than he's caught. Great guy, great coach, average recruiter.

 

[yellowhammer86]

I'm just saying he's not an elite recruiter.

 

[TerryP]

Ray was an instate 5* didn't matter who his recruiter was. He was always Bama. Buggs and Mathis were already being recruited by Bama. I like Dunbar as a coach, but recruiting isn't his strength. Give me one elite kid that he was personally responsible for their commitment. Right now he's missed more fish than he's caught. Great guy, great coach, average recruiter.

You and I remember this completely differently. As example, in the form of a question, why did Ray take his last official to FSU following his visit from Bama? Why did he say he hadn't made up his mind in interviews right before signing day?

I recall him showing out in camp in the summer of '15. That was when the staff first noticed him. He didn't receive his offer until a year before NSD '17. It was just after NSD '16 as I recall. He camped again in '16 and spent a lot of time with Dunbar.

In the end it was my opinion Bama would land Ray. However, it was far from over according to many I've spoken with about that class.

 

[BamaFan334]

You and I remember this completely differently. As example, in the form of a question, why did Ray take his last official to FSU following his visit from Bama? Why did he say he hadn't made up his mind in interviews right before signing day?

I recall him showing out in camp in the summer of '15. That was when the staff first noticed him. He didn't receive his offer until a year before NSD '17. It was just after NSD '16 as I recall. He camped again in '16 and spent a lot of time with Dunbar.

In the end it was my opinion Bama would land Ray. However, it was far from over according to many I've spoken with about that class.

A lot probably had to do with Aubrey Solomon and his decision. Weren't we close on numbers as it was, hence why Parks had to grey shirt?

 

[TerryP]

A lot probably had to do with Aubrey Solomon and his decision. Weren't we close on numbers as it was, hence why Parks had to grey shirt?

One of many moving parts in February.

 

[yellowhammer86]

A lot probably had to do with Aubrey Solomon and his decision. Weren't we close on numbers as it was, hence why Parks had to grey shirt?

Same reason many instate kids say the same. To build suspense and drama around their recruitment and get the free OV.

 

[alagator]

Same reason many instate kids say the same. To build suspense and drama around their recruitment and get the free OV.

Are you suggesting the Bama staff is in the habit of giving away free official visits because in-state kids want attention?

 

[yellowhammer86]

Are you suggesting the Bama staff is in the habit of giving away free official visits because in-state kids want attention?

Reading comprehension? 5 star in-State kids suggest interest in other programs for free trips. Not really sure how you got hat mixed up?

 

[TerryP]

A lot probably had to do with Aubrey Solomon and his decision. Weren't we close on numbers as it was, hence why Parks had to grey shirt?

Same reason many instate kids say the same. To build suspense and drama around their recruitment and get the free OV.

Are you suggesting the Bama staff is in the habit of giving away free official visits because in-state kids want attention?

Reading comprehension? 5 star in-State kids suggest interest in other programs for free trips. Not really sure how you got hat mixed up?

Things can be read differently, ya know? Your comment, in a conversation that was leaning towards Ray, Dunbar, and recruiting, could be read as if it's being suggested Ray's other visits were just a kid taking a ride to check it out.

If so, you've got him confused with another player.

 

[Tidestalker]

Is Parks coming in at semester? Or next class? He will be a nice addition to the DE position

 

[UAgrad93]

Is Parks coming in at semester? Or next class? He will be a nice addition to the DE position

I believe he can enroll in January, but is counted toward this '18 class.

 

[TerryP]

Is Parks coming in at semester? Or next class? He will be a nice addition to the DE position

I believe he can enroll in January, but is counted toward this '18 class.

If the rules remain the same he's the last Grayshirt we'll see at Bama.

I don't know if he has been taking part time classes like a lot of Grayshirt's do. He's full time in January like @uagrad93 has mentioned.