Since these guys are enrolled and no longer being recruited, I thought this might fit in our regular football forum. If any of the staff disagrees, please feel free to move it. It doesn't upset / offend me at all for anyone to correct my blunders. Bamabww
Andrew Bone
TideSports.com Senior Recruiting Analyst
Seven players have enrolled early at the University of Alabama to jumpstart their college careers. Six are coming from high school while one signed with the Tide in the 2014 class. There is a possibility of another player or two joining the group in the next few days. This is a look at the players who went through freshmen orientation in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday, and the kind of impact projected for the Tide.
Blake Barnett, five-star quarterback from Santiago High School in Corona, Calif.
Recruitment: Barnett committed to Notre Dame in the spring, but opted to decommit in June. Oregon was the heavy favorite until a last minute decision to visit Alabama after the Rivals Five-Star Challenge in Baltimore. Barnett was recruited by Lane Kiffin, and he and his family liked the future in Tuscaloosa. He has been instrumental in helping recruit other players to join his class.
What he brings to the table: Barnett is a dynamic quarterback who will push for playing time early in his career. Alabama fans can get used to a quarterback with mobility after watching Blake Sims dazzle during the 2014 season. Barnett has excellent speed, and really excels when rolling out of the pocket. He plays with confidence and swagger needed in a championship caliber signal caller.
Deionte Thompson, five-star safety from West-Orange Stark High School in Orange, Texas
Recruitment: Thompson was the first commitment in Alabama's 2015 class. He committed to the Tide shortly after his sophomore season. Many in the state of Texas didn't think Thompson's commitment would hold especially at the time of his decision. He remained very solid throughout the next two years, and his commitment grew stronger after each visit.
What he brings to the table: Thompson is a very athletic and smart player. He is a tall, lanky prospect who will benefit greatly with strength coach, Scott Cochran. Thompson has great range, length and can cover a lot of ground. He is ball hawk in the secondary. He can compare to someone like HaHa Clinton-DIx once he adds some more strength and weight.
Desherrius Flowers, Rivals100 running back from Vigor High School in Prichard, Ala.
Recruitment: Flowers committed to Alabama during the spring of his sophomore year. He grew up an Alabama fan, and was offered shortly after his sophomore season. He did not visit any other schools after he committed.
What he brings to the table: Flowers drew a lot of comparisons to Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon earlier in his career. An ankle injury slowed him down for most of his senior season. The 6-foot, 212-pound back has great speed and a thick upper body. He will start his career at running back, but it will not come as a surprise if he tests a few other positions including safety.
Ronnie Harrison, four-star safety from Florida High School in Tallahassee, Fla.
Recruitment Harrison was the first commitment in North Carolina's recruiting class. He committed in July prior to his junior season. His recruitment started to heat up the following spring. He attended Alabama's camp in June and earned an offer. He returned for another visit in July and committed a few weeks later. He was recruited by Lance Thompson.
What he brings to the table: Harrison is possibly the most-ready to play among the group of high school players who are enrolling early, and it is much needed position with Alabama losing senior Nick Perry and likely early draft entry Landon Collins at the safety position.
Dallas Warmack, four-star offensive guard from Mays High School in Atlanta, Ga.
Recruitment: Warmack collected several offers prior to receiving one from Alabama at the Tide's OL/DL camp after his sophomore year. There wasn't much of a question as to where Warmack was going to school with older brother, Chance, a former Crimson Tide All-American. Warmack committed in July prior to his junior year. He flirted with a few other schools including Auburn and Georgia.
What he brings to the table: Warmack is rated higher than his older brother coming out of high school. It is up to him if he lives up to those expectations. He plays with a mean streak and very competitive. Certainly a trait passed down from his older brother. He has great technique. He may need a year to add more strength and power.
Brandon Kennedy, four-star center from Wetumpka High School in Ala.
Recruitment: Kennedy received several small school offers after his junior season. He attended the Rivals Camp in Hoover and proved he was an elite player as well as one of the best players in the state. Major offers started to arrive from the SEC. Alabama and Auburn offered in June after he participated in camp. Kennedy announced his commitment to Alabama in July. He was recruited by Kirby Smart.
What he brings to the table: Kennedy is a very intelligent and technically sound lineman. He has a thick lower body and has great hand placement.
Bo Scarbrough, five-star running back from Tuscaloosa, Ala. (2014 signee)
Recruitment Scarbrough committed to Alabama early in his junior season. He remained solid with his commitment throughout the process despite trips to schools such as Ole Miss, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Miami and UCLA. Scarbrough transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. for his senior season. He needed to take an additional class before enrolling at Alabama. He took the class this fall and received clearance from the NCAA. He participated in bowl practices with the Alabama team.
What he brings to the table: Scarbrough immediately becomes one of the premier athletes for the Tide. The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder got reps at running back during bowl practices. He is a gifted player with excellent speed. He wants to prove doubters wrong by showing he can play running back despite his size, and possibly another Derrick Henry-type player for the Tide. He is faster than Henry and should have some sort of role next season. - See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1722549#sthash.OYfh7X8L.dpuf
Andrew Bone
TideSports.com Senior Recruiting Analyst
Seven players have enrolled early at the University of Alabama to jumpstart their college careers. Six are coming from high school while one signed with the Tide in the 2014 class. There is a possibility of another player or two joining the group in the next few days. This is a look at the players who went through freshmen orientation in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday, and the kind of impact projected for the Tide.
Blake Barnett, five-star quarterback from Santiago High School in Corona, Calif.
Recruitment: Barnett committed to Notre Dame in the spring, but opted to decommit in June. Oregon was the heavy favorite until a last minute decision to visit Alabama after the Rivals Five-Star Challenge in Baltimore. Barnett was recruited by Lane Kiffin, and he and his family liked the future in Tuscaloosa. He has been instrumental in helping recruit other players to join his class.
What he brings to the table: Barnett is a dynamic quarterback who will push for playing time early in his career. Alabama fans can get used to a quarterback with mobility after watching Blake Sims dazzle during the 2014 season. Barnett has excellent speed, and really excels when rolling out of the pocket. He plays with confidence and swagger needed in a championship caliber signal caller.
Deionte Thompson, five-star safety from West-Orange Stark High School in Orange, Texas
Recruitment: Thompson was the first commitment in Alabama's 2015 class. He committed to the Tide shortly after his sophomore season. Many in the state of Texas didn't think Thompson's commitment would hold especially at the time of his decision. He remained very solid throughout the next two years, and his commitment grew stronger after each visit.
What he brings to the table: Thompson is a very athletic and smart player. He is a tall, lanky prospect who will benefit greatly with strength coach, Scott Cochran. Thompson has great range, length and can cover a lot of ground. He is ball hawk in the secondary. He can compare to someone like HaHa Clinton-DIx once he adds some more strength and weight.
Desherrius Flowers, Rivals100 running back from Vigor High School in Prichard, Ala.
Recruitment: Flowers committed to Alabama during the spring of his sophomore year. He grew up an Alabama fan, and was offered shortly after his sophomore season. He did not visit any other schools after he committed.
What he brings to the table: Flowers drew a lot of comparisons to Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon earlier in his career. An ankle injury slowed him down for most of his senior season. The 6-foot, 212-pound back has great speed and a thick upper body. He will start his career at running back, but it will not come as a surprise if he tests a few other positions including safety.
Ronnie Harrison, four-star safety from Florida High School in Tallahassee, Fla.
Recruitment Harrison was the first commitment in North Carolina's recruiting class. He committed in July prior to his junior season. His recruitment started to heat up the following spring. He attended Alabama's camp in June and earned an offer. He returned for another visit in July and committed a few weeks later. He was recruited by Lance Thompson.
What he brings to the table: Harrison is possibly the most-ready to play among the group of high school players who are enrolling early, and it is much needed position with Alabama losing senior Nick Perry and likely early draft entry Landon Collins at the safety position.
Dallas Warmack, four-star offensive guard from Mays High School in Atlanta, Ga.
Recruitment: Warmack collected several offers prior to receiving one from Alabama at the Tide's OL/DL camp after his sophomore year. There wasn't much of a question as to where Warmack was going to school with older brother, Chance, a former Crimson Tide All-American. Warmack committed in July prior to his junior year. He flirted with a few other schools including Auburn and Georgia.
What he brings to the table: Warmack is rated higher than his older brother coming out of high school. It is up to him if he lives up to those expectations. He plays with a mean streak and very competitive. Certainly a trait passed down from his older brother. He has great technique. He may need a year to add more strength and power.
Brandon Kennedy, four-star center from Wetumpka High School in Ala.
Recruitment: Kennedy received several small school offers after his junior season. He attended the Rivals Camp in Hoover and proved he was an elite player as well as one of the best players in the state. Major offers started to arrive from the SEC. Alabama and Auburn offered in June after he participated in camp. Kennedy announced his commitment to Alabama in July. He was recruited by Kirby Smart.
What he brings to the table: Kennedy is a very intelligent and technically sound lineman. He has a thick lower body and has great hand placement.
Bo Scarbrough, five-star running back from Tuscaloosa, Ala. (2014 signee)
Recruitment Scarbrough committed to Alabama early in his junior season. He remained solid with his commitment throughout the process despite trips to schools such as Ole Miss, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Miami and UCLA. Scarbrough transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. for his senior season. He needed to take an additional class before enrolling at Alabama. He took the class this fall and received clearance from the NCAA. He participated in bowl practices with the Alabama team.
What he brings to the table: Scarbrough immediately becomes one of the premier athletes for the Tide. The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder got reps at running back during bowl practices. He is a gifted player with excellent speed. He wants to prove doubters wrong by showing he can play running back despite his size, and possibly another Derrick Henry-type player for the Tide. He is faster than Henry and should have some sort of role next season. - See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1722549#sthash.OYfh7X8L.dpuf
