🏈 This year's JR class may not be finished yet- Devonta Smith returning?

[Max]

 

[TerryP]

A friend texted me and relayed that Kirk McNair said he thinks there's a better than 50% chance Tua returns. TIFWIW.

 

[Bama News]

Alabama Could Be Reloading Instead of Rebuilding

More juniors are considering returning than first expected

www.si.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – What you are about to read may surprise you, and if you’re an Alabama supporter, surprise you pleasantly.

Sources say a larger number of draft-eligible juniors on the Crimson Tide team may elect to return to school than has been widely reported. As of today – Monday, December 9, 2019 – here is what I am hearing:

Those juniors who are planning to leave for the NFL 100 per cent include wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, running back Najee Harris, and offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. That’s a MUCH shorter list than has been discussed.

A junior who is roughly 50/50 on staying/going is safety Xavier McKinney. When the dust clears, it won’t be a surprise if he departs. The only thing keeping him in play is the money McKinney could lose by not being a top 15 pick. More on that later.

There are a LOT of names not mentioned yet who seem at this point to be leaning toward staying. Among those I’m hearing are least 75 per cent certain to remain on the Crimson Tide roster are quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Henry Ruggs III, offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood, and linebackers Dylan Moses and Terrell Lewis.

Linebacker Joshua McMillon is reportedly in very good shape to have a sixth year of eligibility added by the NCAA, though that is not yet official.

That last paragraph may seem like a too good to be true fantasy – and perhaps it is in part – but Nick Saban is emphasizing to his underclassmen, as evidenced by recent remarks by Tagovailoa, how important it is to not just be a first-round pick but to be in the top 15 players chosen when the NFL Draft takes place April 23, 2020 in Paradise, Nevada.

When asked about the possibility of players leaving early and sitting out the Citrus Bowl against Michigan, Nick Saban said on Sunday:

“I’m sure that guys are going to make individual decisions based on their circumstance and their situation, and what we want to focus on is the guys who want to look to the future and look to trying to improve themselves as players and improve our team in getting back to the standard that we want to play to. This has been something that has been a bit of an issue in the past with other programs and other teams. We haven’t experienced it for a while, but we’ll see what happens with this group.”

Saban added: "We will have those conversations, and we’ll let you know if any of those decisions are imminent to the players that we have on our team.”

The situation remains fluid, and a lot could change, but there is strong evidence that much of it may not and that Alabama’s 2020 team may be much deeper and experienced than initially thought.

UPDATE: BamaCentral is hearing conflicting information on Terrell Lewis, who did participate in Alabama's Senior Day ceremony. A source close to the situation says he's not likely to return to the Crimson Tide and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.

 

[BamaFan334]

Hell, if we just got Lewis and Moses back, that would be headliner stuff. Add back Ruggs, Smith, and Leatherwood and you have a team that very well does not miss a step no matter who is under center. Tua coming back would just be the cherry on top. You gotta hope he can read through the BS of any NFL team that may say one thing, get him to declare, only to renege on their offer and leave him in the wind. I just want him healthy for his own benefit, and if he can get that at Alabama, then that's what I would like for him.

Najee and Jeudy leaving is no surprise. I knew Najee would be gone as soon as he started turning it on midway through the season and with his bit of unhappiness with his role the last couple of years. Jeudy, just by his interactions with Antonio Brown and other highly visible NFLers last offseason, it just showed he was ready after last season. Wills, not really a surprise either as he is a mauler and road grater all at the same time. Would love to have him for one more year, but he really has no way of improving on his film as he is as high as he's gonna get in my mind, which is a solid high draft pick.

If we can get Trey Sanders going and have Keilan Robinson ready, we will have a solid backfield. I'm a fan of Brian Robinson, but he left a lot to be desired from me this season.

This departure talk is killing me, because I want the best for all of these guys, but the excitement of one more year has me really hoping they come back, especially with a solid schedule setting up for next season with USC and Georgia, on top of the normal West slate.

 

[TerryP]

Hell, if we just got Lewis

Word on Lewis is contradicting itself depending on the source. The fact he was in the Senior Day festivities is something I believe to be a huge indicator.

The article posted above has been edited with a note that Chris Walsh added to Cary's article.

 

[Tidestalker]

This departure talk is killing me, because I want the best for all of these guys, but the excitement of one more year has me really hoping they come back, especially with a solid schedule setting up for next season with USC and Georgia, on top of the normal West slate.

That's a great way to put it.

I do know that getting a few of those studs back can absolutely be the difference. Hightower and Barron to name a couple guys...

In regards to Tua, I can't see him dropping out of the first round no matter what. Even with a redshirt year some team would be desperate enough to take him and sit him. And if he's not as mobile or flexible, or has to re learn an adjusted throwing motion as @TerryP has astutely mentioned, improving and/or staying healthy seems like a long shot.

One more thing to keep in mind - I'm so out of the recruiting loop it's not even funny... But I'm assuming our stud 5* QB was expecting Tua to be NFL bound. That would give him something to think about.... RTR

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

McKinney could lose by not being a top 15 pick......the bullshit detector on my pc went off on that statement.

 

[#80]

Word on Lewis is contradicting itself depending on the source. The fact he was in the Senior Day festivities is something I believe to be a huge indicator.

The article posted above has been edited with a note that Chris Walsh added to Cary's article.

Lewis could certainly improve his stock by returning. His output was not what I expected.

 

[TerryP]

His output was not what I expected.

Did you realize he spent a good majority of this season on a snap count?

 

[#80]

Did you realize he spent a good majority of this season on a snap count?

Yes, if it's a health issue come back.

 

[TerryP]

Yes, if it's a health issue come back.

I hear ya. I can empathize with his decision no matter which direction he chooses. I'd love to see another year from TL but my god, what a snake-bit career. His only year that he's been healthy was his freshman season.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Did you realize he spent a good majority of this season on a snap count?

and he has pretty much missed 2 out of the 3 years he has been at Bama. He looks the part for sure but he wasn't a difference maker against the barn nor LSU. I am old and wrong most of the time but I hope those players that returning to make Bama better is #1 in their mind do so. Those that are only returning to get a better slot and that is 1st for them should leave. Then again that is just me. Bama needs more we and less I.

 

[TerryP]

He looks the part for sure but he wasn't a difference maker against the barn nor LSU.

There's one thing I appreciated about the LSU offensive game plan. They had a guy chipping him on just about every down he was in the backfield.
He had quite a bit of snaps outside his traditional role in that game as well.

All that said, my opinion isn't based on anything other than him partaking in senior day activities.

 

[TerryP]

One more thing to keep in mind - I'm so out of the recruiting loop it's not even funny... But I'm assuming our stud 5* QB was expecting Tua to be NFL bound. That would give him something to think about.... RTR

Early indications are if Tua returns expect Mac to transfer...

 

[Tidestalker]

Early indications are if Tua returns expect Mac to transfer...

Understandably.... After his showing in the IB, he will have plenty of suitors.

But hey, yet another reason for Tua to come back. One less dude for little bro to beat out!

On the other hand, Mac leaving wouldn't hurt an incoming freshman's long term outlook... So a lot to sort out there.

Thanks for the info! RTR

 

[94 Grad]

It would/will be interesting to see how/if this affects recruiting. How many spots do we have open if they don't leave ?

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

There's one thing I appreciated about the LSU offensive game plan. They had a guy chipping him on just about every down he was in the backfield.
He had quite a bit of snaps outside his traditional role in that game as well.

All that said, my opinion isn't based on anything other than him partaking in senior day activities.

If he does return then Ten Bears tells me he will send the U of A the money to pay for those plastic roses they gave him.

 

[BamaFan334]

Word on Lewis is contradicting itself depending on the source. The fact he was in the Senior Day festivities is something I believe to be a huge indicator.

The article posted above has been edited with a note that Chris Walsh added to Cary's article.

True, I forgot about that. Makes 100% sense he would be leaving.

 

[TerryP]

If he does return then Ten Bears tells me he will send the U of A the money to pay for those plastic roses they gave him.

Ol' Ten Bears must be tight with Finus (not to be confused with Festus.)

 

[UAgrad93]

One more thing to keep in mind - I'm so out of the recruiting loop it's not even funny... But I'm assuming our stud 5* QB was expecting Tua to be NFL bound. That would give him something to think about

I think Young realizes that he needs a year in the weight room and he may not be too concerned about Tua. If Tua stayed and Mac did also, that MIGHT cause some concern.
The QB room next year, either way, will be pretty impressive.
Tua- senior
Mac? Redshirt Junior
Lia- Sophomore
Tyson- Redshirt Freshman
Young- True Freshman
No Tua still leaves a pretty damn good room.