Recruiting and the battle between UA & AU

[TomBama]

I read through a lot of the posts from recent days here, and can't get a guage on how Alabama's recruiting has gone. I know that 'Bama had a good recruiting class last year, but Auburn's success this year really scares me. I seen a lot of posts on this board that give me the indication that most folks aren't worried about Auburn dominating the rivalry in the next few years, but I for one am fearful of that happening. Alabama has had mostly sub-par seasons for a few years, and now that Tubberville has been at Auburn for a few seasons and has the Tigers undefeated and competing for a national title, my fear is that Auburn will land more and more of the prime recruits in the state and also in nearby states. (Alabama's coaching messes of recent years hasn't helped us, either.)

With all that said, how is Alabama doing with its recruiting this year, especially compared to Auburn? If we could somehow land a better, or just as good, recruiting class as Auburn, I'd be mighty pleased. I know we had a good recruiting class last year, but how did last year's class compare to Auburn's?

I hope that my worries are not going to come true, because the last thing I want to see is Auburn becoming the best program in Alabama, and extending their three-year winning streak over 'Bama to six or seven years. What a nightmare that would be!!

So -- even though I despise Tennessee, I hope that the Vols beat Auburn next weekend. I don't see it happening, but you never know.

ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Have to admit that the Barn is a very good team this year but they are senior heavy and lose their backfield on offense, a couple of OL and any number from the D. As hurt as the Tide was, they played the Barn close. Could maybe have won it if we'd gone to the 2 minute drill in the 3rd Quarter!!

As to next week, living in Orange heck, I have to put up with the smug fatness on the local news too many times a week and so hope tubs and the barn just smush him into the fake grass of the Georgia dome and to run up the score on him. The Orange D is a sieve so the Cadillac and Brown should be able to run at will. I mean giving up 30+ to Vandy and KY!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

We beat them...

soundly last year in recruiting because their "trusty" Lowder crippled Tubberville. We're ahead this year. You may be out of touch, since you're not located in state...

 

[RollTide85]

Its difficult to say right now

Neither Auburn of Alabama has a top class (compared to the classes signed by USC, LSU, and Oklahoma last year) as of this moment. I think Bama has gotten the commitments we were most in need of except RB. We have 6 OL commits, almost as many DL, and some quality guys at QB and LB. Also we have a playmaker at TE commited. Right now we have 18 commits and ive heard that we are looking to sign somewhere between 28-30 guys (obviously some will greyshirt and some might not even qualify). In the end I look for Bama to sign a class resembling last years hopefully with two top flight RBs.

In the end it doesnt really come down to Alabama vs Auburns recruiting classes. Look at Miami and FSU, they sign similar classes in terms of talent but Miami has beat FSU the last five times. The top ranked recruiting class if worthless without good coaching. Alabama vs Auburns signing classes can only be compared on paper this year, three or four years down the road you will be able to see which class was better.

I say its 1% talent and 99% coaching (that might be a little over the top in terms of percentage but im sure you get the point) ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!!!!

 

[mlh]

In reality we lose very few in state recruits to AU that we would've gotten otherwise. Most kids in state grow up pulling for one team or the other and aren't swayed by the successes or failures of the team. It would take many "down" years for one team and many "up" years for the other to make a difference. The NCAA sanctions, especially the bowl bans, hurt us some but that is past now.

I really feel like AU blew a great chance to seize the opportunity in recruiting the last few years. But Tubby struggled and had a couple of disappointing years. Then Shula came in and cleaned house in state last year. He's also doing well this year. The screwy deal with Tuberville last year cost them. And there's still fallout from that this year. Many people in state think he'll be gone soon -- maybe even after this year.

I hate to disappoint you -- since you sound SO MUCH like an Aubie bragging on his team -- but Bama is on the way back. Despite what so many of our rivals proclaimed, Shula is a great recruiter and he's bringing in the players he wants. This year the in state talent is not quite as good as last year so he's got commitments from kids in CA, GA, FL, and TN. He also has several kids from OK, PA, VA, and NE who rate Bama very high, as well as several top-quality JUCO prospects. Don't worry, it looks like another grreat recruiting class for Shula.

 

[bamaANDahalf]

We are not ahead

I hate to say it but auburn will kill us in recruiting this year. Althought we will probably land an equally good class as last year, the barn will sign probably the best in school history.

Top commitments for Auburn

1). Rex Sharpe **** LB
2). Alonzo Horton **** LB
3). Praechae Rodriguez **** WR(JC)
4). Montez Billings **** WR
5). Partrick Trahan *** DB
6). Mike Harness *** OL


Barn Leans

1). Jerell Powe ***** DT (#2 prospect in the country)
2). Tray Blackmon ***** LB (# 20 prospect in the country)
3). Gabe McKenzie DE or TE ****
4). Ryan Stamper Inside LB ****
5). Eugene Hayes LB ****



Alabama Top Commitments
1). Lorenzo Washington DL ****(Prep school)
2). Brandon Fanney DL ****( prep school)
3). Chris Felder CB **** (JC)
4). Charles Hoke TE ***
5). Jimmy Barnes QB ***
6). Prince Hall LB ***
7) Cole Harvey OL ***


Alabama Leans

Zach Schreiber DE ***
Michael Ricks CB *** (This guy is underrated i hope we get him)
Desmond Jennings *** Athlete



Key recruiting battles

1). Tommy Trott AU vs. UA
2). Careg Bonner AU vs UA
3). Jerraud Powers AU vs UA
4). Mikell Simpson UA vs. couple of other schools(UCLA, UNC, UWV, MICH ST)
5). Roy Upchurch UA vs AU vs Fla vs FSU
6) Fred Rouse UA vs. all major schools(if we get this guy it will be biggest recruiting coup in bama history)

With that being said, there are several reasons to be optimistic if your a bama fan

1). Many of AUs top recruits are not expected to qualify (powe correct me if im wrong)
2). there are lots of good prospects out there that have yet to show any tendencies(mike davis, julius mcclellan, richard gordon, briceton wilson)
3). Next year, Alabama is loaded with prospects
- QB- Chris smelley, neil caudle
WR- Terrel zachery
OL- Andre Smith

 

[TomBama]

mlh, no way I am an "Aubie" -- I hate Auburn with a passion!!! I'm a 1983 grad of the great U of Alabama, and proud to have crimson blood running through my veins.

I agree with you that Auburn blew a great chance during the past few years to take advantage of Alabama's problems. If it were the other way around, we'd have put a foot on Auburn's neck and taken firm hold of the rivalry. It's actually been amazing at how both programs have, at times, had chances to dominate the rivalry for years but didn't take advantage. We had our chances when Gene Stallings started winning big, then Auburn had their chance when Buster Brown had his unbeaten season, then we had a chance with DuBose when we won the SEC title, and then Auburn had their chance when we had the coaching and probation debacles.

Auburn's won three straight against us, so we HAVE to end the winning streak next year. It boils my blood to know that we still haven't beaten them in Tuscaloosa, so I hope we pound them in Auburn next fall and then finally beat them -- handily -- in T-town in 2006. Roll Tide.

 

[JessN]

I look for both Alabama and Auburn to finish ranked somewhere in the 10-17 range at the end of the year.

The key is filling needs with quality players. If you sign the top 25 quarterbacks in the country, you're going to have a great star ranking, but you did a lousy job filling needs.

Alabama needed five OL -- Alabama will get six or seven. Alabama needed four DL -- Alabama will get four or five. Alabama looks like it will get four DB, three LB, two QB, two RB and two TE, plus a couple of other players sprinkled throughout. That's good recruiting.

The post above about the Auburn commitments/leans doesn't take into account qualifying issues that Billings and Powe have. Billings might make it, but I doubt it. If Powe makes it, it's time to call an investigator. Auburn seems to have had more qualifying issues than Alabama in recent years. As for Alabama's '04-05 class, I don't see any qualifying problems yet, although Ray Upchurch, a RB that Alabama is battling FSU for, is going to have a long road.

Also, I don't see Bonner signing with an in-state school now. I think he'll end up at Louisville. Jennings likely won't qualify, but Alabama was backing off. Alabama had an equal-odds shot at Billings, too, before the Tide backed off. I think the coaches know their depth situation at WR for the next couple of years will be good enough to skip signing a WR this year if they can add extra linemen or linebackers.

The summary to this is that Auburn isn't going to "kill" Alabama in recruiting. Both schools should have good years. Anything in the top 25, if done consistently, is enough to get good results on the field in the fall.

 

[runtheoption22]

don't expect Careg Bonner to go to UA or AU. He's looking out of state at Louisville and others who are saying he can play WR and not TE. Don't expect Desmond Jennings at the Capstone either. Even if we did swing him, he might opt for a baseball career.

Overall, I think our classes will be similar. They are after some high ranked talent at WR and LB. Bama is after solidifying depth and some big uglies up front on both sides. From that point of view, Bama is done and dominating. Bama's class will finish out with some more big uglies on the DL and hopefully 1 or 2 top notch RBs. I think Mikell Simpson, Roy Upchurch, and Ali Sharrief are our top targets at the moment at RB. Simpson said that if signing day was last weekend, he would have signed with Bama. Upchurch looks like it will be a Bama/FSU battle, but his grades aren't up at the moment.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Good contributions...

Jess and Option...

 

[TiderinVA]

It's just too early to really tell what kind of class this will be

I have followed recruiting closely for years and I wish I had a dollar for every suprise or player that suddenly switched schools. Furthermore, even though a class may look good on paper, it's really hard to get a real feel for exactly how good that class was for at least 2-3 years down the road. That being said, regardless of who signs, check back in few years and then we'll talk about how good (or maybe not so good) this incoming class was. As of right now, I'd say this incoming class looks pretty good, about as good as last year but the staff needs to fininsh strong and REALLY needs 2 good RBs.

 

[RollTider82]

From what I've heard, Powe might be making a repeat appearance in the 11th grade.

 

[TomBama]

Thanks, everybody

Jess and others, I really appreciate your responses to my original posting. Sounds like Auburn isn't dominating like I feared they might with the recruiting.

ROLL TIDE

 

[Bama18]

great updates. With the removal of the recruiting board I feel sometimes I miss out. Thanks

 

[bamaslammer]

I'm a little curious as to why Shula two years in a row has more early committments than most other schools, I'm not sure if this is a good sign or bad sign. Last year because of the limited numbers I could see it more, but with a full class coming in (thank god) I'm a little surprised.

Anyone in the know care to comment on this being a good or bad thing.

 

[TiderinVA]

It's hard to say but the Tide isn't the only one

I know that Virginia last year and this year have had VERY early commitments. LSU had quite a few so far this recruiting year and last. Both of those schools had good, maybe great recruiting classes last year.

It's kind of a "glass half full or half empty" kind of thing. On the one hand, with a lot of early commitments, you might have recruits seeing a really good class shaping up and wanting to be a part of that special class. On the other hand, they may be intimidated by the competition. It's hard to say in a general sense.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

A lot...

of us have wondered the same. It does seem to be a deliberate strategy. They are basing most offers on how kids look at the clinics, which means that a kid with an irresolvable conflict in attending won't get looked at. It's the old "I hope they know what they're doing" thing. I'm betting they do...

 

[GulfCoastTider]

I'm a little curious as to why Shula two years in a row has more early committments than most other schools, I'm not sure if this is a good sign or bad sign. Last year because of the limited numbers I could see it more, but with a full class coming in (thank god) I'm a little surprised.

Anyone in the know care to comment on this being a good or bad thing.

One thing about good recruiters is that they're able to close the deal early. Saban does this well, and it's one of the reasons why his classes are so highly rated.

I've always considered it a good thing. It means the coaching staff has already sold the prospect on coming here, and sold him and his family on the idea of committing early and enjoying the rest of his Senior year in High School. A highly recruited prospect is absolutely inundated with phone calls, letters, interview requests, etc. While the attention is flattering early on, lots of young men have a few prettier, shinier and more fun things to spend their time on before graduation day.

 

[Tider33]

Speed!

The one thing that I have noticed with Mike Shula's style of recruiting is, that he concentrates on the speed of the recruit. The players that he recruits all have speed regardless of the position that they play. The class looks pretty good despite our 6-5 record. I believe Shula is doing a great job in regards to recruiting. I do wish though, that we get the services of Upchurch and Simpson at RB this year.

 

[mlh]

Look for big news out of the northeast part of the state. Bama is about pick up a couple who had previously committed to rivals (AU and LSU).