šŸ“ National Signing Day - 2018

There are some intriguing trips being made this weekend on campuses whose teams are in the top 10 of the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings.

Over at Ohio State, the Buckeyes look to bolster the country’s No. 1 class as they bring in the 247Sports Composite No. 1 offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, along with in-state running back Tavion Thomas. Based on the intel I've been receiving, my gut tells me Petit-Frere will end up at Ohio State or Notre Dame, but I still can’t sleep on Florida checking many of the boxes as well and being close to home. Thomas wants to be a Buckeye.

At Georgia, the Bulldogs are bringing in Top247 linebacker Quay Walker, a long-time Alabama commit I believe is more likely to stick with the Crimson Tide or flip to Tennessee as it stands right now. Kirby Smart’s class ranks No. 2 in the country.

Miami has some big fish coming to Coral Gables and Mark Richt is putting the finishing touches on a haul that currently ranks No. 5. After hosting Moro Ojomo for a mid-week official (I believe the four-star defensive tackle stays in-state and goes to Texas), they take their swing this weekend at five-star cornerbacks Tyson Campbell and Patrick Surtain Jr., who will be joined by their Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage teammate in Top247 defensive tackle Nesta Silvera, a long-time Hurricanes pledge who seems like he’ll stick with The U. As it stands now, both Campbell and Surtain look SEC-bound; Alabama is in it for both, but the Crystal Ball favors Georgia for Campbell and LSU for Surtain. The Hurricanes would love to see another American Heritage standout in four-star defensive end Andrew Chatfield visit again. InsidetheU insider Andrew Ivins says Chatfield wasn’t sure of his plans. That’s certainly a battle with Florida. Another weekend visitor in defensive tackle Jamarcus Chatman is one I do have pegged for Miami.

Sixth-ranked Alabama has linebacker Jaylen Moody, who the Tide recently offered, coming to Tuscaloosa. I like Arkansas for Moody coming into the weekend, but if the Crimson Tide push, it's hard to imagine they don’t land the Conway (S.C.) High product.

No. 10 Auburn has a trio of official visitors expected on campus: five-star receiver JaMarr Chase, Top247 offensive tackle Richard Gouraige and defensive end Malik Langham. It's tough to imagine Chase anywhere but LSU; Gouraige seemed to be feeling Auburn late in the fall and early January, but their hasn’t been much buzz as of late regarding the Florida commit and the Tigers; and Langham is heavily favored on the Crystal Ball to pick Alabama.

Highlighting the rest of the top 25, we begin with Southern California, which has the nation’s No. 11 class. They have one official visit lined up in four-star tight end Michael Ezeike, a former Oregon commit who's still considering the Ducks, along with UCLA.

Washington is right on the heels of USC for the top class in the Pac-12 and sit at No. 12. Heading into the weekend, they're working to flip defensive tackle Tuli Letuligasenoa from the Trojans and lure Top247 defensive end Jeremiah Martin away from the likes of Texas A&M and Oklahoma.

Sitting at No. 15 heading into an exciting weekend is Florida State, as they host Top247 athlete Tre’Shaun Harrison who I’m told ā€œit’s set upā€ for the Seminoles to land this weekend. Four-star quarterback James Foster and Tennessee Top247 receiver commit Jordan Young are two more headliners coming to campus.

Florida’s visit weekend has a few key targets, led by Top247 receiver Jacob Copeland and 247Sports' top-ranked JUCO strong-side defensive end, Dorian Gerald. I still think Copeland could end up at Alabama, Florida or Tennessee. My Crystal Ball is on Texas A&M for Gerald, but whoever gets the last visit could be in prime position, and it sounds like that will indeed be the Gators.

Tennessee has the country’s No. 19 class with cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart, the No. 32 overall player in the 247Sports Composite, coming to campus this weekend. I like USC there, but perhaps the Vols can change that. Four-star running back Jashaun Corbin is also visiting. My forecast is on Texas A&M, but I’m told Tennessee has a legit shot to flip that.

Nebraska sits at No. 23 in the 247Sports Composite Team Ranking, with five officials coming to campus led by four-star running back Maurice Washington who is trending back to the Huskers.

Texas A&M could have some prominent unofficial visitors in town, per GigEm247: Top247 safety Leon O’Neal, receiver Jaylen Waddle and Alabama defensive tackle commit Bobby Brown. O’Neal seems destined to be an Aggie and Jimbo Fisher's staff will keep pushing for the other two. Top247 defensive end Javonate Jean-Baptiste is slated to take an official to College Station as well.

Other notable visits that are expected or in the works include Top247 linebacker Dax Hollifield planning to take an unofficial to Virginia Tech on Saturday night. The Hokies are in great position but Clemson and North Carolina remain in the mix. The Tigers shouldn’t be slept on.

Top247 receiver Tommy Bush could visit Baylor or Texas on Saturday with an unofficial. My Crystal Ball is still on the Bears.
 
Listen we have been negative recruited on all year. We have lost our OC's and Dc's every year for the last couple of years and they have been recruiting these kids. So I would be upset but not surprised if they end up somewhere else. I would hate it for them.. as no other team has proven able to consistently get worthy players into the league like Bama. If they are duped into going for an "off Brand team" and end up getting overlooked.. I hate the millions of dollars that they have cost themselves because some guy sold them on early playing time or that Saban may retire..

NFL teams know that Saban players are smart, prepared and tough. This gets them drafted higher.. makes their second contract worth more and gets their families taken care of better. Unfortunately, if the player is so dumb as to follow an assistant with no head coaching experience, or listen to a guy who has never consistently put guys in the league.. then they kind of get what the deserve but I feel sorry for them because they are kids being duped by grown men who are taking advantage of them.
 
Brevin White has had one of the most interesting recruitment stories in the Class of 2018 as the 4-star quarterback out of Paraclete High School (Lancaster, Calif.) committed to Princeton this past summer, despite having offers to play in the FBS.

White took an official visit to Alabama last weekend and was strongly considering flipping to the Crimson Tide; however, he has decided to stick with his commitment to Princeton, according to Paraclete coach Dean Herrington.

With White sticking with Princeton, Alabama now turns its attention to 3-star quarterback Brock Purdy, who is taking an official visit to Texas A&M this weekend. Purdy also visited Tuscaloosa last weekend. After the visit, Purdy told SEC Country that he was down to Alabama, Iowa State and UCF. One would imagine that Texas A&M is also going to be in the picture after this weekend.

Purdy was the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Arizona after throwing for 57 touchdown passes, 4,410 passing yards and rushing for 1,016 yards to go along with 10 touchdowns.

Purdy spoke with SEC Country after his official visit to Alabama to describe what he liked about Tuscaloosa.

ā€œThe trip was amazing,ā€ Purdy told SEC Country. ā€œCoach [Nick] Saban and his coaching staff are the real deal. They pay attention to detail on everything they do. It felt like a dream being on campus and there’s a feeling of a winning culture everywhere I went.ā€

The main thing Purdy was looking for going into his visit was to see if Tuscaloosa was a great college town. It exceeded his expectations.

ā€œEverything revolves around Alabama athletics,ā€ Purdy said. ā€œThe fan base is amazing as well. It’s a great college town.ā€

If Purdy decides to go elsewhere, 4-star quarterback James Foster remains an option, but it’s unlikely Alabama strongly pursues him at this point.
 
Here's a status report on some Alabama's top targets.
We'll start with Bellaire-Episcopal, TX wide receiver/kick returner Jaylen Waddle. As expected, A&M has turned up the pressure to stay home. Some close to Waddle feel the Aggies have regained the momentum. Others think Alabama is still in good position. Earlier this week, I felt Alabama had the edge (and they might), but as of this afternoon it sounds like this one could go either way.
TI still thinks Alabama is in very good position with Phenix City-Central wide receiver Justyn Ross. Auburn and Clemson are also in the mix.
Alabama visited versatile Pensacola-Escambia wide receiver Jacob Copeland on Thursday evening. It's "probably" Alabama or Florida, but Tennessee has been in the mix as well. He visits Florida this weekend.
The feeling in Tuscaloosa the last two weeks on Tampa-Berekely Prep OT Nicholas Petit-Frere has been pretty optimistic. I think that's because Petit-Frere has given Bama a real strong reason to feel good. With that said, Florida is very confident as well. He visits Ohio State this weekend. Notre Dame is in the mix. I've been siding with Alabama here. But right now I'm not ruling out any of these schools. The guess is that it might come down to Alabama and Florida.
Bama had hoped to host defensive line commit Bobby Brown of Arlington, TX on an unofficial visit this weekend. But Brown and his family just made an unofficial to Tuscaloosa two weeks ago. At this point, it looks like Brown will instead make an unofficial to A&M this weekend. We know that the Tide staff remains in daily (including today) contact with Brown. He has indicated that he still plans to sign with Alabama next Wednesday. Still, if he visits A&M, that would make Bama fans nervous.
Huntsville-Lee DL Malik Langham will visit Auburn this weekend. Alabama is still very much in the mix here.
Alabama seems intent on taking an inside linebacker. The Tide is still in communication with Moultrie-Colquitt County, GA star J.J. Peterson. Nick Saban visited Peterson earlier this week. That meeting went well. Peterson remains committed to Tennessee.
Conway, SC inside backer Jaylen Moody is slated for an official visit to Alabama this weekend. Arkansas is heavily in the mix here.
TI thinks Alabama is in very good position to land cornerback Eddie Smith of Slidell-Salmen, LA on NSD.
While many predict that Plantation-American Heritage corner Patrick Surtain will pick LSU, we still think Alabama has a very good shot at pulling off the upset here. Tide staff members Tosh Lupoi, Joe Pannunzio and Karl Scott met with Surtain on Thursday. That visit went very well. Surtain visits Miami this weeekend.
The Tide coaches also met with Surtain's highly-regarded corner teammate, Tyson Campbell, on Thursday. We're told that visit also went well. TI has said numerous times over the past two weeks that we felt that Bama was in it with Campbell deeper thank some have thought. We still think Bama is nip and tuck with Georgia. If pressed, I'd give Georgia the edge. Miami could make a major impression on his visit this weekend.
 
Here's a status report on some Alabama's top targets.
We'll start with Bellaire-Episcopal, TX wide receiver/kick returner Jaylen Waddle. As expected, A&M has turned up the pressure to stay home. Some close to Waddle feel the Aggies have regained the momentum. Others think Alabama is still in good position. Earlier this week, I felt Alabama had the edge (and they might), but as of this afternoon it sounds like this one could go either way.
TI still thinks Alabama is in very good position with Phenix City-Central wide receiver Justyn Ross. Auburn and Clemson are also in the mix.
Alabama visited versatile Pensacola-Escambia wide receiver Jacob Copeland on Thursday evening. It's "probably" Alabama or Florida, but Tennessee has been in the mix as well. He visits Florida this weekend.
The feeling in Tuscaloosa the last two weeks on Tampa-Berekely Prep OT Nicholas Petit-Frere has been pretty optimistic. I think that's because Petit-Frere has given Bama a real strong reason to feel good. With that said, Florida is very confident as well. He visits Ohio State this weekend. Notre Dame is in the mix. I've been siding with Alabama here. But right now I'm not ruling out any of these schools. The guess is that it might come down to Alabama and Florida.
Bama had hoped to host defensive line commit Bobby Brown of Arlington, TX on an unofficial visit this weekend. But Brown and his family just made an unofficial to Tuscaloosa two weeks ago. At this point, it looks like Brown will instead make an unofficial to A&M this weekend. We know that the Tide staff remains in daily (including today) contact with Brown. He has indicated that he still plans to sign with Alabama next Wednesday. Still, if he visits A&M, that would make Bama fans nervous.
Huntsville-Lee DL Malik Langham will visit Auburn this weekend. Alabama is still very much in the mix here.
Alabama seems intent on taking an inside linebacker. The Tide is still in communication with Moultrie-Colquitt County, GA star J.J. Peterson. Nick Saban visited Peterson earlier this week. That meeting went well. Peterson remains committed to Tennessee.
Conway, SC inside backer Jaylen Moody is slated for an official visit to Alabama this weekend. Arkansas is heavily in the mix here.
TI thinks Alabama is in very good position to land cornerback Eddie Smith of Slidell-Salmen, LA on NSD.
While many predict that Plantation-American Heritage corner Patrick Surtain will pick LSU, we still think Alabama has a very good shot at pulling off the upset here. Tide staff members Tosh Lupoi, Joe Pannunzio and Karl Scott met with Surtain on Thursday. That visit went very well. Surtain visits Miami this weeekend.
The Tide coaches also met with Surtain's highly-regarded corner teammate, Tyson Campbell, on Thursday. We're told that visit also went well. TI has said numerous times over the past two weeks that we felt that Bama was in it with Campbell deeper thank some have thought. We still think Bama is nip and tuck with Georgia. If pressed, I'd give Georgia the edge. Miami could make a major impression on his visit this weekend.
I like our chances with surtain and Campbell but so much can happen between now and Wednesday.
 
Rarely does Saban not close the deal in a situation like White's... But honestly, I like Purdy more. Seems like a better fit for us.

I'm expecting him to commit this weekend! Also expecting him to never see the field... lol.

The good news about this QB cycle is that the lack of a "big name" recruit will help seal the deal on next year's stud.

RTR
 
Courtesy of TigerPaw:

AUBURN | Brandon Turnage is committed to Alabama, but his recruitment is far from over.

Turnage, a four-star cornerback from Lafayette High in Oxford, Miss., visited Auburn on Saturday. It was a visit Turnage had been wanting to take.

ā€œI loved it,ā€ Turnage said. ā€œI grew up an Auburn fan. It’s always been my dream to come here and visit.ā€

Turnage was one of approximately 70 recruits in Auburn for the Tigers’ first big Junior Day for the 2019 class. He spent a lot of time with new assistant Marcus Woodson.

ā€œThe coaching staff, you can tell it’s a bond here. It’s a family,ā€ Turnage said. ā€œI spent the most time with Coach Woodson. They see me at cornerback, and I like it.ā€

Woodson and Auburn visited Turnage three times during the January evaluation period. The attention from Auburn will result in another visit from Turnage.

ā€œIt means they actually want me to come play and give me an opportunity to make an impact,ā€ Turnage said. ā€œI’ll be back. I’ll probably be back in the spring.ā€

Turnage said he’s also considering Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State and Ole Miss, but the biggest threat to Alabama?

ā€œProbably Auburn,ā€ Turnage said.

Rivals ranks Turnage the No. 6 player in Mississippi and the No. 19 cornerback.
 
Wo

Wouldn't be surprised. When he elected to take final visit on final weekend before NSD Part2 I think the writing was on the wall. Plus, he already flipped once so obviously he has a different interpretation of the definition of commit.


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