AB"s final thoughts on Camp #1
Alabama completed its first camp of the summer on Tuesday. Several top Crimson Tide targets including quite a few who are leaning to Alabama were in town between Friday and Tuesday. Several prospects stopped in just to visit while others competed for at least one session of the camp.
Alabama remains with two commitments in the 2018 class, and three in 2019. I know most are starting to question why this is the case. I've stated many times this is a year where Alabama won't take many commitments (22). They are being patient and more selective. It doesn't mean they aren't ready for some commitments to start jumping on board.
There are likely a few players who have informed Alabama their intentions. They just have yet to announce or go public. There were a few prospects in the 2017 class who told Alabama they were coming, but decided to wait all the way until the end of their recruitment before they announced. Other schools came close to stealing those prospects away.
Alabama wants guys to go public with their decision when they are 100-percent. They don't want any guys to flip. They don't want to take guys they feel they will have to drop down the road. They are recruiting players they feel can make a difference, and not players just to fill numbers. Just be patient. The commitments will come. I may start to question what exactly is going on if Alabama is sitting with two commitments in August. I was surprised there were not any public commitments this week, but not too concerned at this point.
Key targets in Tuscaloosa
Alabama may not have added any commitments this week, but they did have a lot of top recruits in town. Alabama hosted
Zamir White, five-star running back from Scotland County High School in Lauringburg, North Carolina,
Justyn Ross, five-star wide receiver from Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama,
K.J. Henry, five-star defensive end from West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North Carolina,
JJ Peterson, Rivals100 linebacker from Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Georgia and
Quay Walker, four-star linebacker from Crisp County High School in Cordele, Georgia.
Alabama believes the visit with White went extremely well. I know there are some who think Bama has zero chance with him. That's just not the case. Bama may not get him, but to say they are not in his top 4-5 is just false. He has very high interest in Alabama. I continue to think he will end up at Ohio State or Georgia. It will surprise me if not Georgia, but Bama is definitely in it.
Ross remains a key target for Alabama. I'm not sure where some talk starting coming from that he may not be a take. That's false. I continue to believe his decision will come down to Alabama and Auburn. Alabama remains in pretty good shape with him, but it's turning into a dog fight.
Henry had another very good visit with Alabama. I will see him tomorrow in Indianapolis at the Rivals Five-Star Challenge. I will get an interview with him about the visit, and where things stand. I know Alabama feels it is in good shape, but so do a few other schools.
Alabama remains in the driver's seat for Quay Walker and JJ Peterson. Both took unofficial visits to Alabama last weekend. They did not participate in the Tide's camp.
Coynis Miller, four-star defensive tackle from Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham, and
Jalyn Armour-Davis, four-star cornerback from St. Paul's in Mobile, spent a day in Tuscaloosa. Miller worked out at Alabama's camp on Sunday. He was very impressive. Armour-Davis took a quiet trip to Alabama on Saturday. Bama continues to feel good about both of these in-state targets.
Alabama welcomed
Penei Sewell, Rivals100 offensive tackle from Desert Hills High School and
Cameron Latu, Rivals100 defensive end from Olympus High School in Salt Lake City, for a few days in Tuscaloosa. Sewell is a top target for Alabama. He is one of the few OL targets for Alabama. Alabama made a very strong impression on Sewell and his family. It will surprise me if he is not part of Alabama's class. This was Latu's second visit to Alabama. We'll have to wait and see with him right now.
Jaylen Waddle, Rivals100 wide receiver from Episcopal High School in Houston,
Asa Martin, four-star running back from Austin High School in Decatur, Alabama,
Jaycee Horn, four-star cornerback from Alpharetta High School in Georgia,
Bobby Brown, four-star defensive tackle from Lamar High School in Arlington, Texas and
Darnell Jefferies, three-star defensive tackle from Newton High School in Covington, Georgia, all worked out at the Crimson Tide's camp.
Waddle is one of Alabama's top overall targets. I've said a few times he is Alabama's top slot/speed guy. He was very impressive at camp, and Alabama is on his short list. He is not expected to make a decision any time soon. Martin had a tremendous performance at Alabama's camp. There were some questions coming in, and those questions were answered. He is a definite take for the Crimson Tide. Brown has suddenly turned into one of Alabama's key targets. I was told his performance at camp this week was "incredible." Horn had a great performance as well. He remains a top priority.
Jefferies was also very good, and he remains a top target for Alabama.
Which 2018 recruits earned offers?
Nadab Joseph, four-star safety from Catholic High School in Hialeah, Florida, earned an offer from Alabama on Tuesday. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound athlete shined working at cornerback. Joseph appears on the verge of flipping from LSU. We'll see how it shakes out in the next few months, but he is very high on Alabama.
Fabien Lovett, three-star defensive tackle from Olive Branch High School in Mississippi, was one of the top performers at camp this week. He earned an offer, but I'm told he can't commit at this point. A few others will need to commit elsewhere including Bobby Brown and Darnell Jefferies before he has a spot.
Skyler DeLong, three-star kicker from Nation Ford High School in Fort Mill, South Carolina, received an offer from Alabama, on Saturday at the special teams camp. Alabama believes it has a very good chance to flip the Tennessee commitment. He is the only punter with an offer from the Crimson Tide. This is a very key position for Alabama. DeLong is shy when it comes to the media. We will have to wait to see a possible announcement on Twitter before we know anything.
Master Teague, three-star running back from Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was certainly the talk of the camp based on his testing numbers on Sunday. Teague, however, does not have an offer from Alabama at this time. Alabama plans to take one running back, but will accept a 'special' talent like Zamir White if he wants to commit. Asa Martin can commit, and Teague would have to wait until August (after Martin makes a decision) before he knows if he has an offer. Martin did just as well as Teague at the camp.
Allen Love, three-star defensive tackle from Huffman High School in Birmingham, Alabama, came to camp with hopes of earning an offer. He performed extremely well at camp. However, he did not receive an offer. I'm hearing he likely won't get an offer at this time. It may change down the road. Alabama just has some other guys (as mentioned above) higher on the board. Bobby Brown really stole the show this week.
A few quick hitters
-I continue to be impressed with Pierce Quick, 2019 Rivals100 offensive tackle from Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama. He has been great on-and-off-the-field since his commitment. He was a big recruiter for Alabama this week, and was impressive during his one session work out in Tuscaloosa. I am eager to see him perform this week at the Five-Star Challenge.
-There isn't any movement with Jalen Cunningham, four-star defensive tackle from St. Clair County High School in Odenville, Alabama. Cunningham had a big opportunity on Sunday to show Alabama exactly what he could do. However, he injured his toe before he really did anything. Cunningham will have an another opportunity at Alabama's OL/DL camp next weekend.
-Alabama welcomed a lot of players to camp this week, but it wasn't anything close to what it was like a year ago according to many people who were in attendance. The talent at the camp in June 2016 was crazy with guys like Najee Harris, Tua Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy, Alex Leatherwood, VanDarius Cowan and many others. There were not really any Alabama QB targets in town. That's different from years past.
Harrison Bailey, 2020 quarterback from Marietta High School in Georgia, was the top QB on campus. He is a big target for Alabama. He was one of the camp stand outs.
-Alabama extended offers to several underclassmen this week. Some who were very impressive included
Tyrion Davis, 2019 running back from Southern Lab High School in Baton Rouge,
John Dixon, 2019 cornerback from Wharton High School in Tampa,
Nakobe Dean, 2019 linebacker from Horn Lake High School in Mississippi, and
Tate Ratledge, 2020 offensive tackle from Darlington School in Rome, Georgia
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King Mwikuta, 2019 linebacker from Troup County High School in LaGrange, Georgia, received an Alabama several months ago. He was a top performer at camp .
-Keep an eye on
Ray Thornton, 2019 safety from Central High School in Phenix City, Alabama. Thornton was one of the the top performers at camp on Sunday. He has an offer from Mississippi State. Thornton has a good chance to add an offer from Alabama down the road.
Recruiting - BONE: Final thoughts from Camp 1 | BamaInsider.com
