| RECRUIT Recruiting News: The Alabama class of 2017

[alagator]

Rashaan wasn't a flip. He was headed to Bama all along.

 

[BamaFan334]

Rashaan wasn't a flip. He was headed to Bama all along.

I guess he didn't technically flip, but he was as far as an Auburn lean as you can get. From Auburn, folks teach at Auburn, and they even felt confident enough to put him on their website as a commit.

 

[TUSKtimes]

On the other side of this...how many guys has Saban flipped in the final week that possibly could have signed elsewhere? Rueben specifically comes to mind...

There will be plenty of Reuben type players available to flip on signing day. If you recall, we got Reuben ONLY because they fired their HC and Reuben's buddy Trooper Taylor. Gene Chizik was fired November 25th, so even with the early signing period, Reuben had time to still reopen his recruiting and wait it out for the good guys.

I was chatting with a friend last night (UofSC fan) who was talking about their official visitors this weekend.

Saban is jumping around this weekend as are some of the staff ... visiting recruits for next years class. Personally, I find it noteworthy that they aren't hosting OV's this weekend in Tuscaloosa.

That makes it sound like the heavy lifting is done with all the recruits really. To be fair, I don't want any part of the summer or early fall signing they are still mulling over and Saban probably won't put himself in that situation often even if it passed. It feels like the core of the team will have it figured out by December and so will the coaching staff.

 

[18Champs]

If you recall, we got Reuben ONLY because they fired their HC and Reuben's buddy Trooper Taylor.

That's only part of the story. Remember, he was a Bama verbal, then flipped to Auburn, then came back to Bama. His recruitment with the new staff down there was a lot like Evans in that they were telling him how they'd use him in their defense and it didn't fit with his skill set or translate to the NFL.

 

[TUSKtimes]

That's only part of the story. Remember, he was a Bama verbal, then flipped to Auburn, then came back to Bama. His recruitment with the new staff down there was a lot like Evans in that they were telling him how they'd use him in their defense and it didn't fit with his skill set or translate to the NFL.

My argument wasn't whether he would flip back to the Tide, but rather, even with the earlier signing period, he still would have had time to do it. As far as his sincerity about the barners, I'm living around auburn at the time and I was totally convinced he had chosen the barners. And yes, that crappy looking tattoo was the nail in the coffin for me, among other things.

 

[JoshB]

Every year there's more than a handful of amusing stories around signing day. One that comes to mind every year happened in '08 with Julio and Lugenbill. Blantantly he was caught encouraging Julio to sign with Oklahoma. When that didn't happen Lug's response was akin to, "sleeping in the bed you made."

He entertained again yesterday when talking about Ruggs during one of ESPN's recruiting break-downs. It really didn't matter where he said Ruggs would go, FSU in this case, but it was his reasoning that made me laugh.

"Mobile is FSU territory and they feel the city is part of the state of Florida. This essentially gives them a home field advantage with Ruggs and he'll evenutally sign with FSU."

Understand, I still strongly believe Ruggs signs with Bama. However, if I may point out one thing here ...

Ruggs is from Montgomery.

Please tell me you have a link to this...

 

[TerryP]

Please tell me you have a link to this...

It was on ESPNU in the last 24...caught it yesterday. Recruiting Nation is the name of the show I believe. It may be available through their app or maybe VOD?

 

[Alabama17Tide]

Alabama's Junior Day is just finishing up so there is not any interviews today. Expect a bunch on Sunday.

Alabama commitment Jedrick Wills, five-star offensive tackle from Lafayette High School in Lexington, is visiting Kentucky, and Markail Benton, four-star linebacker from Central High School in Phenix City, is visiting Auburn. I don't think it is anything more than both prospects taking a trip to their local school.

A lot have asked how things went with Aubrey Solomon, five-star defensive tackle from Lee County High School in Leesburg, Georgia, on Thursday. I've heard the visit went really well. Bama definitely believes it has a good chance to sign him. It doesn't mean UA leads or considered the favorite. I think he knows where he wants to go. It's Alabama or Michigan.

Per Andrew Bone, Tideports.com

 

[78ChrisUA]

So, what's the latest rundown? I am so busy I'm having a hard time picturing how this class ends.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Chris Allen last night against the Canadians. It's enough to damage international relations.

Ouch!!!

 

[bama alum]

Chris Allen last night against the Canadians. It's enough to damage international relations.

Ouch!!!

?!? I guess I've missed the boat on this one. When did we get a US team? Besides Canada, are they playing anyone else?

 

[TUSKtimes]

?!? I guess I've missed the boat on this one. When did we get a US team? Besides Canada, are they playing anyone else?

I certainly didn't know anything about it. It's kinda amazing some elite players want to play in some of these obscured all-star games. I guess it's something called the North American Championship. When Tua recently went home, he mentioned there was some Polynesian all-star game being played that he couldn't participate in.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Chris Allen last night against the Canadians. It's enough to damage international relations.

Ouch!!!

Well timed blitz.

 

[18Champs]

From another site:

BONE: Ruggs, Ray. I think only 1 between Mathis and Solomon, Bama is going to get one DB. I think DeVonta Smith. I just can't figure out who. I'm leaning Todd Harris. Seems like Jarez Parks is still coming, but things have been very quiet with him.

It's hard to know if Napier leaving will have an impact on DeVonta Smith. He doesn't talk much. He didn't visit Miami this weekend. My LSU sources think he is Bama.

 

[TerryP]

I guess he didn't technically flip, but he was as far as an Auburn lean as you can get. From Auburn, folks teach at Auburn, and they even felt confident enough to put him on their website as a commit.

He wasn't an Auburn lean, 334. When he was being recruited it was a 50/50 deal until his Grandmother's party and that night it was all Bama. A lot thought he was an Auburn lean because of his parents affialiation with the Tigers.

In the threads where we were discussing where Evans ended up you had cited JC Shurbertt saying he was all Auburn in Bill King's show. In those same series of threads I mentioned the 50/50 deal until I heard the pitch that both sides were playing.

AUBURN: We're going to design our defense around you.
ALABAMA: This is how you will fit in our current defense, this is what the NFL is looking for, and this is how we'll help you get there.​

After that Friday night, I had NO doubts about where he'd end up. Hell, he had Foster with him the entire night. (Reminds me of @Birdman37 theory we wouldn't get Elam or Evans. I couldn't see how on earth Elam would choose UK. Now, we all know.)

**Looking back I'm amused thinking about Auburn telling Rashaan how much of an impact he'd make and how he'd be a local hero. Geez, where would he be today?**

 

[TerryP]

So, what's the latest rundown? I am so busy I'm having a hard time picturing how this class ends.

It's a wait and see mode, Chris, when it comes to a few guys like Solomon, Mathis, Harris, et. al.

I'll say this. It's been one of the most interesting weekends I've seen in a few years when it comes to the remaining targets. If you think about it, we've seen...

• Ruggs to FSU
• Smith to LSU
• Solomon to Michigan
• Ray to Tennessee
• Harris to LSU

There's more than a handful of people I know that I trust their opinions based on their track record. It's fascinating to see their thoughts and emotions run the gambit this weekend: one minute they're really confident, the next they're wondering.

It's recruiting. We don't know how it's going to end up. It's my opinion that Bama needs to land one of these two--Mathis or Solomon. One of those two, to go along with a possibility of Parks, Ray (whom I feel pretty comfortable with signing with the Tide,) and of course Buggs.

One thing teams don't appear to be dealing with is the "recruiting style" of Ole Miss this season. Teams are dealing with Orge and K. Goff recruiting in ways that aren't against the rules, but in my opinion push the boundaries a bit of what I consider to be "the usual" when it comes to recruiting in the southeast.

 

[Bobby Kunz]

 

[TUSKtimes]

From 8 a.m.-12 p.m. ET, scheduled announcements will be made on ESPNU before coverage shifts over to ESPN2 until 5 p.m. The final two hours (5-7 p.m.) will conclude on ESPNU.


Live on-air commitments schedule, listed by the hour (recruits and times subject to change)

All times are Eastern.
8 a.m.: 4-star OLB Levi Jones
Final schools: Florida, Florida State, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC
8 a.m.: 4-star OT Stephan Zabie
Final schools: Oklahoma, Texas, USC
10 a.m.: 4-star S Todd Harris
Final schools: LSU, Alabama, TCU
10 a.m.: 5-star DT Aubrey Solomon
Final schools: Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, USC
10 a.m.: 4-star WR Jeff Thomas
Final schools: Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Oregon
11 a.m.: 4-star CB Chevin Calloway
Final schools: Arkansas, Texas, Ole Miss
11 a.m.: 3-star DT Damion Daniels
Final schools: Colorado, Nebraska, Texas-San Antonio
1 p.m.: 4-star WR James Robinson
Final schools: Clemson, Florida, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon
1 p.m.: 4-star RB A.J. Davis
Final schools: North Carolina, Louisville, Pittsburgh
4 p.m.: 4-star ATH Greg Johnson
Final schools: USC, Nebraska, Oregon
4 p.m.: 5-star WR Joseph Lewis
Final schools: USC, Nebraska, Oregon
4 p.m.: 5-star DT Marvin Wilson
Final schools: Florida State, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USF

 

[TUSKtimes]

The majority of Alabama’s uncommitted targets are taking their decisions to National Signing Day.
Here’s a tentative announcement schedule for Alabama targets:
*** Times are subject to change. Names will be added as we confirm. ***

Aubrey Solomon, 5-star DT, Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County – 9 a.m. CT on ESPNU
Devonta Smith, 4-star WR, Amite (La.) – 9 a.m. CT
Todd Harris, 4-star S, Plaquemine (La.) – 9 a.m. CT on ESPNU
Jarez Parks, 4-star DE, Sebastian (Fla.) River – 9 a.m. CT
Henry Ruggs III, 4-star WR, Montgomery (Ala.) Lee – 11 a.m. CT
LaBryan Ray, 5-star DE, Madison (Ala.) James Clemens – 11:40 a.m. CT
Alabama commit signing times:
Mac Jones, 4-star QB, Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles – 9 a.m. CT if he decides to sign at school, but he may sign on the evening news at 6 p.m. CT
Kedrick James, 3-star TE, Waco (Texas) La Vega – 9 a.m. CT
Brian Robinson, 4-star RB, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Hillcrest -- 9:30 a.m. CT
Markail Benton, 4-star LB, Phenix City (Ala.) Central – 10 a.m. CT
Akial Byers, 4-star DT, Fayetteville (Ark.) – 11:45 a.m. CT
Kendall Randolph, 4-star OT, Madison (Ala.) Bob Jones – 1:15 p.m. CT
Jedrick Wills, 4-star OT, Lexington (Ky.) Lafayette – 2:45 p.m. CT
VanDarius Cowan, 4-star LB, Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) – 4 p.m. CT

Link

 

[TUSKtimes]

This time last year we had a ton of ground to make up to get our 6th straight recruiting title. Wednesday doesn't have that feel to me but it's still been a strange year with our defensive line and with a couple of homegrown elite players in the state.

Not sure what we did to alienate Nico Collins, from Pinson Valley, but we seem more like an afterthought than a surprise pick. Ray and Ruggs don't exactly leave me with the impression they're feeling it for the Tide. Doesn't mean I'm not hopeful, unlike Collins, but they have Bama nation holding their breath.