Recruiting: The Final 10

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RECRUITING UPDATE:
Recruiting: The final 10
December 9, 2005
by Jess Nicholas

As of 12:01 a.m. Dec. 9, Alabama has collected 16 verbal commitments from high school prospects for the upcoming 2006 season. A 17th player, DE Jerami Holifield, is no longer being counted due to reports that he has withdrawn from junior college, thus making him ineligible to report to Tuscaloosa next fall.

Even though Alabama will be limited to a maximum of 25 initial counters, it’s a good bet that Alabama will oversign as it has done in recent years. It’s reasonable to assume Alabama will take commitments from at least 10 more college prospects this winter.

The following is a list of targets Alabama is pursuing. This is not a list of who I think Alabama will ultimately sign, it is a list, in my opinion, of the 10 most important players – in order – still available that Alabama has a good shot of landing. Remember, the players Alabama has a shot at landing and the ones the school will eventually land may be completely different.

At the end of the article, we’ll look at other names that are still on the board, and take a brief look at Alabama’s signing class to date.

#1: Andre Smith, OL, Birmingham/Huffman
Tim Tebow gets most of the press from Alabama fans, for the same reason quarterbacks get most of the national press as well – they’re spotlight players who attract a wide following of interest due to the nature of the position. But Andre Smith is Alabama’s most important recruit on the board. If Alabama struck out in the quarterback department this recruiting season, the Crimson Tide would still go to spring practice with four highly-regarded players at the position. Smith, on the other hand, can play either guard or tackle, and coupled with his natural ability, it makes him a candidate to start at either tackle slot or right guard. Only Antoine Caldwell’s job is completely safe heading into 2006. Smith has a chance to put up Chris Samuels-type numbers on the offensive line for Alabama, and he’s one of the few offensive linemen to come down the pike in the last five years that could legitimately help a team as a true freshman. It doesn’t hurt Alabama’s chances that he has a relative on the team (DT Dominic Lee) and has been an Alabama fan up to this point. But the Tide has serious competition from the likes of Texas, Southern California and Tennessee, not to mention the requisite efforts of in-state rival Auburn.

#2: Tim Tebow, QB, St. Augustine, Fla./Nease
There aren’t many quarterbacks available like Tebow. He has size (6’3”, 230), speed (4.6 forty) and decent arm strength. He can scramble, and he can find second and third receivers in the pattern. Many quarterbacks have some of those attributes; few have all of them. Perhaps the most interesting thing is the amount of publicity Tebow’s recruitment has generated. While some argue that Alabama high school product Chris Smelley could be just as good under center, no one can deny the publicity effect of signing Tebow. As to whether Tebow is good enough to play as a true freshman, that depends. He’s waffled back and forth on the idea of coming to spring practice; if he doesn’t, he probably won’t be in the mix for 2006, at least not at Alabama. If he does, all bets are off. Tebow is expected to make a decision by Dec. 14. If he prolongs the process beyond Dec. 14, it’s a good bet that he is looking for a way to tell boyhood favorite Florida “no” even though Florida has other quarterbacks ahead of him on their recruiting wish list.

#3: Tim Hawthorne, WR, Homewood/Homewood
Hawthorne is the prototypical wide receiver for Alabama’s offense. He has good size and physicality, and could easily join the wide receiver mix in 2006. He’s also another one of those “name” players whose signing would send a message about Alabama’s future. Hawthorne has other options on the table, most notably Tennessee, which is thought to be a slim leader to land him. But there are few teams that truly need him the way Alabama does, as the Crimson Tide currently lacks a physical receiver who can belly up to strong safeties and make the tough catch in traffic. Alabama is in better position with Hawthorne now than it has ever been, but Hawthorne is planning to announce his decision late in the process and Alabama still has work to do to land him.

#4: Brandon Spikes, LB, Shelby, N.C./Crest Senior
Alabama has a big hole in the middle of its defense and needs to create competition at middle linebacker as soon as possible. Enter Brandon Spikes, who wasn’t on Alabama’s radar screen a couple of months ago but who has now emerged as the Tide’s top target there. Alabama also seems to be a slim leader for his services at the moment, but is receiving stiff competition from Florida and Virginia Tech. Like Andre Smith and the offensive line, Spikes would be an instant competitor not only for playing time, but for a starting job in 2006. Alabama needs outside linebackers, but has some depth there. Depth in the middle is another matter entirely. Spikes’ recruitment figures to go down to the wire.

#5: A.J. Jones, LB, Tampa, Fla./Middleton
Jones is probably the longest shot on this board. He’s an outside linebacker with pure speed and playmaking ability who would be an instant depth chart addition if he decides to cast his lot with Alabama. Unfortunately for Alabama, Florida is thought to be a solid leader for his services, even though Jones has to this point kept his preferences close to the vest. Jones ideally needs to add some weight – he weighs around 190 right now – before becoming an SEC starter, but he’s got the frame for it. However, it’s a bit telling that Alabama has already taken a commitment from a similar player (LaBronski Hutchins). That may mean nothing, but it could also mean Alabama isn’t taking any undue risks.

#6: Deantwan Whitehead, DE, Birmingham/West End
Whitehead’s recruitment has most resembled the old children’s game show, “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?”. Whitehead’s preferences have been all over the map, and at one time, he was committed to Clemson. He is thought to be an Alabama fan at heart, but he has yet to schedule a visit to Alabama – and is, however, visiting Auburn. Whitehead’s stock has soared this fall, due mainly to his ability to play either strongside or weakside end. He could even move to tackle one day. He reminds a lot of observers of former Tide star Eric Curry. With Holifield dropping off Alabama’s map, it’s imperative Alabama sign an impact end this recruiting cycle, and Whitehead could be the guy. But he could also be the guy at Auburn, Clemson or Georgia, and his academic status is unclear.

#7: Derrick Odom, LB, Jackson, Miss./Callaway Senior
Odom’s stock has risen from solid player to perhaps one of the top players in the Southeast, and has done so only in recent weeks. It’s a good thing, then, that Alabama is thought to be his favorite. Alabama’s chief competition is thought to be coming from Ole Miss and, oddly, Southern Miss, where Odom has family connections. He has offers to most of the SEC schools, however. He’s an outside LB prospect, but with his size and toughness, could move to the middle some time down the road. Odom is a physical specimen and is one of the most intriguing players on this board. He figures to be an early contributor no matter where he signs.

#8: Chris Smelley, QB, Tuscaloosa/American Christian Academy
At first blush, you wouldn’t think Alabama would take two quarterbacks in this class, but it’s been done before. And in this day of grayshirting and other manipulations of a prospect’s entry date, it’s more than just a careless thought. Chris Smelley’s stock has been going up sharply this fall, and may be approaching that of Auburn commitment Neil Caudle, who was considered firmly the top QB prospect in the state before the 2005 high school season started. Unfortunately for Smelley, a huge Alabama fan, he happens to be in the same class as Tim Tebow. It’s also unclear of exactly where Smelley falls in Alabama’s pecking order, but if Alabama were to miss on Tebow, it’s hard to imagine that Tide coaches would pass up on a talent like this who could literally ride a bicycle from his home to the stadium. In the end, Smelley could wind up being Alabama’s top QB priority, a recruiting class throw-in, or not even on this list at all.

#9: Earl Alexander, QB/WR, Phenix City/Central
Alabama jumped on Earl Alexander early, before he was even known as a legitimate prospect to many observers. But once Alexander’s camp numbers started being made public, it was easy to see why Alabama offered so early. In addition to having great size (6’4”, 210 pounds), Alexander runs a 4.5 forty and can play multiple positions. He wants a shot at quarterback, which he might either have no chance of getting at Alabama or a very good chance, depending on what Tebow and Smelley do in the end. Alexander’s most likely collegiate position will be wide receiver, though, and Alabama (his childhood favorite) is battling Auburn and Georgia for his signature. Alexander’s recruitment was predicted to be over by now, but he’s back and forth between Alabama and Auburn and it could go down to the final couple of weeks. Whoever gets Alexander will get a guy that most likely won’t be a major contributor until at least his second year, but he has tremendous upside.

#10: Jermarcus Ricks, DT, Leighton/Colbert County
In most years, Ricks wouldn’t be so high up everyone’s boards, but there is a dearth of quality defensive tackles in this region in 2005-06. In fact, Ricks projects as an offensive lineman on many teams’ boards. On Alabama’s, though, he’s a DT, and could battle for significant playing time as a true freshman due to depth, injury and graduation concerns at the Capstone. Ricks was on the verge of committing to Alabama before the Crimson Tide’s loss to Auburn, which seemed to weigh heavily on both him and Earl Alexander. Now, it’s a toss-up, and could go very late in the process before he reaches a decision. Ricks will need to pay particular attention to his conditioning in college, and would benefit from a redshirt season to refine his physique no matter where he goes or what position he ends up playing.

A dozen others who are possibilities

1. Mike McCoy, WR: Actually looks to be a probability for this class rather than just a possibility. Alabama has seen something they really like about him and would welcome a commitment. He’s another tall, physical receiver with good hands that flew under the radar in Mississippi this year.

2. Jacques McClendon, OL: Alabama would fall all over itself if it could get McClendon to switch his commitment from Tennessee. Auburn is also in it.

3. Ugo Chinasa, DE: Oklahoma appears to be pulling away as the favorite in this largely two-team race. Chinasa would be an instant hit as a weakside defensive end at Alabama, though.

4. Courtney Smith, WR: He doesn’t have a lot of statistics, but he has size, decent speed and great hands. If Alabama strikes out on McCoy or Hawthorne, look for the Tide to push Smith for a commitment.

5. Marcus Udell, CB: Alabama should be done at CB, but if a talent like Udell wanted to commit, Alabama would probably take him.

6. Ryan Hill, CB: Like Udell, Hill is simply too talented to pass up. But the Miami Hurricanes are thought to be solid leaders for his services.

7. Roshaad Byrd, LB: He’s big and has the frame to add weight, but speed is a question, as is why he’s only getting cursory interest from in-state schools in Mississippi.

8. Marcus Sims, RB/LB: Depending on who you ask, Sims is either on the verge of committing to Alabama or he’s barely considering the Tide. He wants to remain at running back in college, even though linebacker is probably his best position. If Alabama signs Sims, it calls into question the chances of Mike Ford qualifying.

9. Jeremy Beal, DT/MLB: Beal’s stock has been racing upwards, but he’s still seen as somewhat of a gamble. He’s a big guy, and Alabama is recruiting him as a middle linebacker rather than a defensive lineman, which is where most other schools like him. If the Tide pushes for a commitment, they’re likely to get it.

10. Kentrell Lockett, DE: Alabama could snatch Lockett right out of LSU’s backyard. He’s cut straight from the Mark Anderson mold – lean, fast and versatile. With Chinasa looking more and more like a Sooner, look for Alabama to push for Lockett.

11. Craig Stevens, LB/DE: Opinions vary on whether Stevens is an end or a linebacker, and over just how good he is. He appears to be ahead of Byrd but behind Odom and Jones on Alabama’s OLB wish list. His stock has risen lately with in-state schools, however, and if he has in-state options, he’ll probably take them over an Alabama offer.

12. Justin Woodall, S: Alabama already has several safety commitments, but Woodall’s stock has risen sharply and Alabama appears to be taking a closer look. Safety will be a position of concern for Alabama in 2006.

Others who could also get in the mix: Jake Jones, CB; Markee Drummer, DE; Ryan Broadhead, OL; Darian Stewart, S; Akeem Dent, LB; Jacobi Graves, DT; Anthony Gray, DT; Jon Bell, DE; Hunter Haynes, LB; Mon Williams, RB; C.J. Spiller, RB; Cordera Eason, RB; Terry Grant, RB; Corey Patterson, FB; Jared White, WR; Anthony Summers, WR; Markeith Summers, WR; Duke Calhoun, WR; Michael Goggans, DE; Seddrick Holloway, FB; Heath Batchelor, OL; Matt Malouf, QB

ALABAMA’S RECRUITING TO DATE

Alabama has 16 commitments. Instead of ranking them individually now – we’ll do that at the end of the recruiting process – here’s a breakdown of Alabama’s recruiting by position group.

Offensive line: Brian Motley, Taylor Pharr, David Ross, Alex Stadler, Cole Harvey
A lot hinges on what Alabama decides to do with Motley and Harvey. Harvey is rumored to be moving to fullback, while Motley is a possibility at defensive tackle. Those moves would cut Alabama’s OL class down to three and make signing Andre Smith and/or Jacques McClendon a necessity. If Alabama strikes out on both, Ryan Broadhead would probably be next in line to get a look. Heath Batchelor, currently a Georgia Tech commitment, could be another possibility.

Wide receiver/tight end: Nikita Stover, Preston Dial, Travis Sikes
Dial has the look of a truly top-flight tight end. He played through pain as a HS senior and could end up at defensive end if numbers make it necessary. Stover’s stock dropped a bit while he was in junior college, but he’s expected to challenge for a starting job early on once he gets to Tuscaloosa. Both are very physical players with a lot of natural skills. Alabama doesn’t need anymore tight ends, although the Tide continues to recruit Michael Goggans, but Alabama needs at least two more wide receivers. Alabama is in on many good ones and one way or another, will fill out its allotment. Travis Sikes, a safety commitment, could play wide receiver as well.

Quarterbacks: None
It’s not a necessity that Alabama signs a quarterback in this class, but it would certainly be nice. And considering both Tim Tebow and Chris Smelley are on the board, striking out with both would be a disaster. Matt Malouf is a new name in the mix lately. He’s similar in skills to Smelley, although he scrambles a little better. Look for Ole Miss to sign either Smelley or Malouf. Alabama could get Tebow and Smelley both.

Running backs: Mike Ford, Cole Harvey
Cole Harvey starting out at fullback means something didn’t go as planned. Alabama signed him with designs on Harvey being its center of the future, but difficulty in adding weight may get him shipped here. He’s a good athlete, but we’ll have to wait and see whether he can play fullback in the SEC. There’s no doubting Mike Ford can play running back at this level, but grades continue to be an issue. He’s at Hargrave Military Academy now because of grade trouble in high school, and just learned he won’t be able to join Alabama for spring practice. Alabama has since turned up the heat on a few prep running backs. The safe money is on Alabama taking at least one other player at this position, perhaps one at each position.

Defensive line: Brian Motley
Technically, Alabama has no defensive line commitments at the moment. Motley will likely get his first look at offensive guard. Alabama had Jerami Holifield in this spot, but TiderInsider.com reported this week that Holifield had withdrawn from junior college. Alabama must sign at least four defensive linemen, preferably two tackles and two ends. If Motley is one of them, Jermarcus Ricks could fill the other tackle slot. Alabama has its pick of about a dozen defensive end prospects. Preston Dial is an outside possibility to play DE.

Linebackers: Charlie Higgenbotham, Charlie Kirschman, LaBronski Hutchins, Sam Burnthall
There are a lot of bodies here, but no bona fide stud players. Higgenbotham was a high school tackling machine, but he injured his knee early in his senior season and is still rehabbing the injury. Kirschman seems to be a candidate to move to defensive end. Hutchins looks like a speed outside linebacker in the mold of Brooks Daniels or Juwan Simpson, but he is wavering on his commitment and could have grade issues ahead. Sam Burnthall, a 2005 grayshirt, will probably start out at strong safety. Even if all four stay at linebacker, Alabama has no middle linebacker in this class yet and the Tide needs one badly. Expect Alabama to take at least two more linebackers before February.

Defensive backs: Andy Davis, Tremayne Coger, Marquis Johnson, Sam Burnthall, Travis Sikes
Coger and Johnson are a talented pair of shutdown corners, and Coger especially looks like a game-changer. He can also return kicks. Davis was an early commitment and largely unknown at the time, but as film has circulated, he has proven to be an intriguing prospect. Burnthall and Sikes were talented high school safeties who both might end up at other positions (Burnthall at linebacker, Sikes at wide receiver). Sikes looks to be the better of the two, judging from prior accomplishments. Alabama would probably like to get one more big-time safety in this class, and if either Ryan Hill or Marcus Udell would like to commit at cornerback, Alabama would gladly take either or both and deal with the consequences later.