RECRUITING: Commitment/Prospect List, Comments, and Discussion (Part VII)

[Crimson Surfer]

Andre Smith Update

Elite Alabama prep named a nominee for Parade All-America High School High School Football Player of the Year

ELITE PROSPECT IS ONE OF 16 NOMINATED NATIONALLY FOR HIGH SCHOOL HEISMAN

 

[BIGBAM]

Since someone brought up facilities I'd like to know something.
Could someone do a quick rundown of the top 10 universities for facilities
and how ours rank in that list(i'm assuming ours rank in the top
10) and how ours compare quality wise/functional/what we don't have
and may need to upgrade?

 

[Crimson Surfer]

I don't know where Bama's athletic facilities would rank in a top ten. I know they are vastly improved lately and that a whole lot of recruits rave about them. I do know that Tim Tebow said in a recent interview that LSU has great facilities and maybe the best that he has seen.

 

[HITIDE]

I don't know where Bama's athletic facilities would rank in a top ten. I know they are vastly improved lately and that a whole lot of recruits rave about them. I do know that Tim Tebow said in a recent interview that LSU has great facilities and maybe the best that he has seen.

That's interesting, one of the talking heads on a sports talk radio show (630 am radio) said it was between Bama and LSU for Tebow. I didn't even think LSU was on his short list. I believe it was Donnan, Donavan or something like that.

 

[BIGBAM]

I'd really like to know specifically what he meant by that. I mean how much better could someone realistically get than ours in facilities and in what way?
If in fact that is true then I say if possible we one up everybody in upgrades of facilities until we do have the best.

 

[Proxigean Tide]

Texas probably has the best facilities in the country. I'd say more than 2/3 of NFL teams don't have facilities comparable to Texas. LSU upgraded their facilities about 3 years ago and they are top notch. I'd say Bama is in top 10, but not top 5 nationally in terms of facilities. RTR.

 

[BIGBAM]

Well what in your mind would we have to do to be better than Texas?
I'm curious ...what do they have that we don't?

 

[Love the Ping]

Well what in your mind would we have to do to be better than Texas?
I'm curious ...what do they have that we don't?

A bunch of oil tycoons for boosters. Texas has financial resources that nobody else in the nation has.

 

[ridnlow]

Rivals has some new video of Marquis Johnson.. this kid looks really good, he could be a awesome pickup..

 

[Proxigean Tide]

The Texas football facilties are truly off the scale extravagant. Of course, when you have a 45,000 plus student body, you have an army of alumni that can pretty much finance anything desired.

The Texas X Alumni Program is probably the best in the country. I don't know what the annual dues are, but if they're $40, UT is probably garnering about $20 MM a year from that alone.

Money makes anything possible and everything is bigger in Texas...even Alumni contributions. RTR.

 

[Crimson Surfer]

I guess Virginia is not considered south by Scout.com.

Bama's Offensive Lineman Prospects from Scout.com Top South Offensive Lineman

# 1--Andre Smith, 6-5, 320, 5.1, Huffman-Birmingham, Ala.

Andre Smith is the top offensive lineman in the South as well as the No. 1 offensive lineman in the country. Smith is one of 16 nominated for Parade All-America High School--High School Football Player of the Year for the high school Heisman.

The U.S. Army All-American has trimmed his list to nine schools with the Crimson Tide remaining in contention for his signature. Scout.com's five-star lineman plans to announce his decision on Countdown to Signing Day on national signing day or at the U.S. Army All-American game January 7.

Smith was in Tuscaloosa for several games this fall and said, "The crowd has been very loud at all the games. The crowd is real funny. Every time I would walk by the fans would start chanting my name. I really hated to see Alabama's undefeated season end like it did on Saturday[against LSU]."

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Five-star QB Tebow has many options

Tebow already has taken official visits to Alabama (Oct. 21) and LSU (Nov. 4).

"I really like Alabama," Tebow said. "The coaching staff is great and they are more than just coaches. I love those guys as people. I always love being around them. I respect them and really like them. They are just a great staff. Plus, Alabama has so many great things about the school, the tradition, the talent, the athletes and they (the fans) just love Alabama football.

"A lot of the same things can be said about LSU. They are very similar to Alabama. Coach (Les) Miles and Coach (Jimbo) Fisher are terrific. They have great facilities and maybe the best that I have seen. LSU is great people and I like them a lot."

 

[lazarus]

Here is my very optimistic guess or should I say hope for the final 10 Bama commitments. I would guess Bama will take about 10 more with the likelyhood of some commitments not qualifying. I tried to list them in the order of what I think the priority is based on team need. Of course McCoy, Spiller or Eason would be a top RB choices but the need for RB is less than some of the other positions. I am sure Bama would love to sign any ten of this seventeen prospects. It should be very interesting to see how this plays out.

1. Tim Tebow or Chris Smelley - QB

Most of the people I talk to, both from AL and FL, have been saying for the last four weeks that they though the Tide would be tough to beat for Tebow. Given that anything can happen between now and Dec. 14 (when Tebow is supposed to announce a school on ESPN), I think Alabama's going to get his signature.

In fact, the last "hold out" that I usually share thoughts with (and who's been in the Tebow to UF camp from the beginning), stated today, for the very first time, that his FL contacts are now saying "Tebow's headed to the Tide".

I do think Smelley puts off his decision until Tebow makes his (which is only wise), and I do think it was smart not to alienate him, but I do think Tim Tebow's likely a Tider.

2. Andre Smith - OT

I wish I could say more that I'm about to, because it would certainly put you at ease, but I'm confident that Alabama is the leader for Andre. We need him, badly, in this class.

3. Jarred Fayson - Ath/WR

I was more confident about Fayson a couple of weeks ago, but I still believe he and Tim Tebow want to play together. And I think Jerred was very impressed on his trip up here.

4. Earl Alexander – Ath/WR

At first, I thought the offer to Courtney Smith might be a signal that we were losing Hawthorne or Alexander, but I while I was concerned a couple of weeks ago, I now believe (again) that Alexander is coming to the Capstone.

5. Deantwan Whitehead or Ugo Chinasa - DE

I know many people are concerned about Whitehead's recent interviews with fan baords of rival programs, but (A) he likes Alabama, (B) Alabama is closer to home and his family and (C) he's the top SDE on Alabama's board.

Ugo Chinasa will be a tough pull, but I do believe we can get him in from the midwest. He's a WDE, and I believe the top one on Bama's board.

6. AJ Jones or Derrick Odom - OLB

Both are excellent, and I'd love to have either or both. Right now, I'm pulling for AJ, simply because we've recruited him for so long.

7. Brandon Spikes or Toryan Smith - MLB

Right now, I think we have a very good shot at Spikes. I've always liked Smith, but I'm wondering if he waited too long. And I hate to say this, but I think Spikes is the better athlete.

8. LeSean McCoy, CJ Spiller or Cordera Eason - RB

McCoy = Penn State; Spiller = USC or FSU; Eason = Ole Miss or MSU, with AU having an outside shot.

9. Tim Hawthorne or Courtney Smith - WR

If we can land both, take both.

10. Jemarcus Ricks - DT

Right now, I like our chances. I know he has family ties to AU, but my understanding is that he favors the Tide pretty heavily.

 

[lazarus]

I dont think Hornsby is going to qualify academically, so I don't think Tebow choses Florida because Hornsby committed, but we will see...

I don't think Hornsby was ever that enamoured of the Tide, and personally, regardless of Tebow's decision either way, was going to take the UF offer. In an interview, Hornsby said he decided to commit to UF after a phone call from Tebow, which got some folks worried, but I think that Tebow simply agreed with Hornsby's HC and told him it was better not to wait until all slots were filled. Realistically, Tebow could wait. Hornsby pretty much couldn't.

If he qualifies, after he heals up, he'll be a subperb player for the Gators, and I wish we could have swayed him. But I don't think his decision was based on what Tim does or doesn't do.

 

[lazarus]

RTO,

I'm pretty sure I read that Chris Brown removed us from his list and it is going to be Oklahoma or Arkansas.

Also, on our LB situation. Is there any way that Higgenbotham can play outside? We have Prince Hall redshirting this year who looks like a MLB all the way, and we have commits from Higg and Kirschman. I am just wondering with us looking pretty good for Spikes as of now if Higg can play outside if we get Brandon. Also, does Kirschman make the move to DL? It just doesn't make much sense to have all these guys on board if they're all tied into MLB.

Hall and Spikes would vie for MLB. Higg will likely play outside, once he heals. Kirschman will be groomed to be a rush end.

 

[lazarus]

I agree about it being mutual. It appears to me, we aren't going to take another RB just to take one. It's going to have to be a special player (ie: McCoy, Spiller, or Eason).

You are correct. Unless LeSean McCoy (unlikely), CJ Spiller (more likely that LM, but not all THAT likely) or Eason (not impossible, but I'm hearing he wants to stay in-state MS) pitches in with the Tide, our sole RB signee will be Mike Ford.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. :biggrin2:

 

[lazarus]

If possible, I would like to hear more about Prince Hall and the confidence in him to take over the MLB spot. I watched video of him, but they were only at the RB position. He looked pudgey in the videos, and then reported out of shape this fall. Compared to Jimmy Johns, you have to wonder about the young man's commitment to conditioning. I know he was fighting to pass high school, but it makes me wonder if we have another Curtis Dawson on our hands. I don't know much about how he is currently carrying his weight, and can't recall what his 40 time is. I would like to have the same confidence as others here in his ability to step into the position, so help me out. I believe I recall him winning a practice award this fall, so that says something, but I haven't heard/read any coaches speak of him specifically.

Practice observers state that Hall is doing quite well, this fall, after falling behind due to the late entry. He moves fluidly, has lost some of the pudge, and can bring some serious lumber when he hits. If we do sign Spikes, these two will be holy terrors in the middle for the next few years.

 

[lazarus]

The decision to move Dawson was not immediate. He was seen as a tweener, but a very effective run stuffer at the MLB position with 4.75 speed. He basically made the decision for the staff by eating his way out of the position.

Doc, not trying to be argumentative, but I not only live and work in Tuscaloosa, I have contacts all over the school. Dawson was always slated for the DL.

Even Hoover boosters were telling me long before Dawson signed (from his junior year in HS, in fact) that his future was at DT. He had good speed, but his fearful strength and lack of coverage skills were going to doom him more than his weight. He didn't eat out of his position... he did what he was advised to do by Alabama coaches: put on mass and strength and prepare to play with your hands down.

Hall came in at about 245. I'm told he's down to 235, is very mobile, very aggressive, and hits like a ton of bricks falling on a man.

 

[lazarus]

Nobody ever mention Antonio Forbes what is he doing or did he not sign with bama.

Forbes is at Itawamba CC, if I'm not mistaken. He was doing well, early on, but I think he may be currently in the HC's dog house.

 

[lazarus]

I would hope so, but the way Mccoy said it was like, they let me know that they were recruiting 5 receivers and were only going to take the first two.. Hopefully the first two are Hawthorne and Alexander and they take Fayson as a ATH hehe

Alexander and Fayson are more "athlete" than pure receiver, so they could sign five WR's and not be lying.

Bottom line is, I think Alabama wants Stover, Hawthorne, Fayson, Alexander and Smith, but I think they'd take any two of the last four to go with Nikita and call it a good WR class. I think we take three min, and five max.