📝 Stephon Wynn commits to Bama

[BamaFan334]

Do we think Weinke had any infkuence here? I feel like this is the first IMG recruit we've hit on as far back as I can remember.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Do we think Weinke had any infkuence here? I feel like this is the first IMG recruit we've hit on as far back as I can remember.

I know Bo was there a few years ago, as well as Moses last season.

 

[Max]

On Saturday afternoon, IMG Academy defensive end Stephon Wynn committed to Alabama over Georgia and South Carolina.

According to Wynn’s father, Stephen Sr., the Tide landed a fighter in his son on Saturday.

“How I knew it as a father, when I held him in my arms he was long and had big ol’ hands, and my wife had complications throughout the pregnancy with him, and that’s the way we knew he was a fighter,” Wynn Sr. told 247Sports’ Jake Rowe.

Wynn Sr., who played tight end for Clemson in the 90s, has long been a major influence in his son’s football career, providing him the support and education the now four-star defensive end needed to make it in the spotlight.

“I shared that with him at a time in his life he needed to hear something like that,” Wynn Sr. said of when he told his son how he knew he had a fighter. “He was telling me he really realized, ‘Hey daddy, I’m good. I’m competing against the best. I’m whipping everybody I go against.’” I didn’t go to one practice. I had parents come back and tell me how he was doing in practice, because I had drilled him and trained him up, had him ready for the big stage.”

It’s been noted that Wynn is very much a team-first prospect. He learned what that meant at a young age when he had hoped to play running back despite his size.

“It came easy for him because I had instilled that in him,” Wynn Sr. said of his son’s commitment to the team-first mentality. “I just told him, ‘Son the team needs you more at center or offensive line than you need to be at running back.’ I said, ‘Take one for the team, I promise you at the end of the day it’s going to work out for you.’”

So what kind of guy is Alabama getting in its latest commit?

“I told them they got a superb, great young man,” Wynn Sr. said. “All the way across the board, he’s going to give everything he’s got. I said if he’s not giving 110 percent, call me and I’ll come put my foot in his rear end. They know what they’re getting.”

247Sports’ Jake Rowe conducted this interview on-site.

 

[planomateo]

I know Bo was there a few years ago, as well as Moses last season.

+ LS Thomas Fletcher

 

[TerryP]

There are a few more they are looking at for the '18 class including an offensive lineman scheduled to visit this month. He's got an odd last name...spelled Uijie or something along those lines.

 

[BamaFan334]

I know Bo was there a few years ago, as well as Moses last season.

True, good point. Guess I always felt Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa for them, but remember them at IMG as seniors.

 

[Alabama17Tide]

The commitment

Stephon Wynn, Rivals100 defensive end from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida (by way of Anderson, South Carolina), announced his commitment on Saturday to the University of Alabama. Wynn recently released a top three of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Many considered the Bulldogs the long-time favorite with the Gamecocks No. 2 on the list.

Wynn took a trip to Tuscaloosa in early June. He toured the campus, and also was put through a mini work-out with the Alabama coaches including Karl Dunbar. He remained in close contact with Alabama since the visit, and the Crimson Tide pulled ahead in the race for his commitment.

The player

"Big, athletic kid who has added size without losing quickness in the last year. Good use of hands. He can play outside or inside as he continues to grow and fits in many schemes. He is still raw in many aspects especially off contact, but has a great motor and wants to be great."- Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell.

The numbers

Alabama is now up to six commitments in the 2018 class, and it took a while just to hit that number. Alabama has one interior defensive line commitment. Jordan Davis, although ranked as a defensive end, is recruited more as an outside linebacker or Jack.

Alabama is still heavily in the mix for several defensive line targets. The plan is to take at least four players who can play defensive end or defensive tackle. Alabama also wants to add one nose tackle in 2018.

I still expect Alabama to add at least one JuCo defensive lineman. Caleb Tremblay, four-star defensive end from American River in Sacramento, is high on Alabama's board after he earned an offer a few weeks ago. He is probably at the top of list. Teair Tart-Spencer, four-star defensive end from East Mississippi in Scooba, is also one Alabama really likes. The Tide staff is still monitoring his grades.

Alabama remains in very good shape for and Bobby Brown, four-star defensive tackle from Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas and Coynis Miller, four-star defensive tackle from Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham. It's definitely a battle with the other in-state SEC school. Alabama is in the top five for Tyreke Smith, Rivals100 defensive end from Cleveland Heights High School in Ohio. Alabama should receive an official visit from FSU commitment Robert Cooper. I don't see him flipping though.

Jeffery Johnson, three-star defensive tackle from Brookhaven High School in Mississippi and Jalen Cunningham, four-star defensive tackle from St. Clair County High School in Odenville, Alabama, are high on the board at nose tackle. Johnson is the only one of the two who can commit right now, but Cunningham will receive an offer if he can show out early in the fall. Micah Parsons, five-star defensive end from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, will visit in July. Andres Fox, three-star defensive end from Mobile Christian, has Alabama in his top three. I consider Parsons and Fox more in the OLB/DE category.

Recruiting - What it means: Wynn to Alabama | BamaInsider.com

 

[Tidestalker]

Good pick up! Has that inside/outside versatility for our different fronts. Extra bonus to keep him from Clemson. RTR

 

[Max]

Extra bonus to keep him from Clemson

From what I've read it was a numbers issue with Clemson.

 

[rammerjammer]

“I told them they got a superb, great young man,” Wynn Sr. said. “All the way across the board, he’s going to give everything he’s got. I said if he’s not giving 110 percent, call me and I’ll come put my foot in his rear end. They know what they’re getting.”

That tells me everything I need to know. Can't wait to see what this kid turns in to.