Random Thoughts- Recruiting

This year's recruiting class lacked a lot of drama up until the end of the day.  Really, what we are seeing now is a program that is pretty business like that takes its pipeline, manages it 24/7, and keeps the pipeline flowing and does not get stuck on one or two things.  It will kill the drama that some fans love about signing day, but I like that they get it.  The drama can cut both ways for a program and if you seal the deal in November or December, you can focus on the next year while your competition is scrambling. 

As is the usual request, I look at video from YouTube, recruiting sites, and such to give a personal opinion on each recruit.  This entry is year in and out the most debated because I don't glow when there isn't a reason to glow.  I leave that to folks trying to make a buck off you. 

Early Enrollees

Ryan Anderson- Anderson is a Jack/End that will probably redshirt just because of depth at Jack, but he is a very talented guy who moves well to the play and seems to always be at the action.  Many High School ends have deer syndrome, they shoot straight up from the snap, but Anderson's first motion is straight, staying low, and driving up and knocking linemen backwards.  When he lines up outside shoulder, he loves to jam his hand on a tackle and keep space with his strength and technique.  I saw a few cases where he was doubled or shadowed by a FB or HB, and he recognizes that well and sees the scheme and seems to be ready to address that with good technique.  He is a guy that has a real violent streak when he plays.  Loves to drive guys into the turf and deliver the shoulder with force.  The downside is that he like many HS Seniors forget to wrap trying to deliver the highlight, but that is coachable.  Physically, he's ready, mentally, I think he's ready.  Enrolling early will benefit him and if he applies himself and presses Dickson and Hubbard, he could play this fall. 

Deion Belue- The expectations for Belue are high because Bama is low on depth at DB after a mixture of early departures for the NFL and recruits not panning out.  He's a very versatile player with good speed and size.  His knowledge at WR benefits him as a DB because he knows how to move to the route and play their hip.  There isn't a lot of video from JuCo but in HS he was really good at closing and if he was beaten on a route he had the speed to catch up and correct himself.  Originally, he was more of a Star Corner than a Corner, but he probably will be asked to play the island more.  He should be less raw now than he was 2 years ago, but we will know for sure in the Spring.  I look for the staff to spend a lot of time with him so that he can be a contributor/starter where ever they need him.  He also will be asked to be a returnman with Dee Hart, if recovered.  The big question is will he be more of a player with great skills or a guy with speed that gets away with mistakes?  For Bama to be great in the secondary again, he needs to be the first one. 

Chris Black- From a physical stand point, he's more of what they have had.  I would almost call him a Darius Hanks clone.  Before you think that  is a slam, remember I liked Hanks more than I did the rest of his peers.  He has good speed, but he isn't blazing fast (at the Under Armor he ran 4.54).  His burst is more at the 2nd and 3rd level than off the snap.  He is a pure WR and has been one since a freshman.  Many will watch him and say he's fast, but he is more elusive than fast.  He stays loose at the hips and can make guys miss in space.  He understands his position well and knows how to use his body to create separation when he can't out run a player.  Has really good hands and runs routes better than a lot of college guys do.  He is very smart and knows how to read zones and sit in the gaps.  He isn't as physical as Hanks was, but he probably moves without the ball better than Hanks did.  He probably will get a serious look with the early enroll but a lot depends on players like Carter, Bell, Bowman, etc as far as how far he makes it up the chart. 

Amari Cooper- Cooper was under the radar when Bama found him because his stat lines don't jump out.  That is more of an issue of the system he played in than him.  He reminds me some of DeAndrew White in his size and ability to go up for the ball.  He has great hands and really does a great job of not fighting the ball and using his hands in extension.  Many young WRs are apt to try to catch with their body and struggle to extend and catch they want to pull it to their chest to wrap up.  Cooper extends and snares  and that keeps the drops low and allows him to turn and go better.  He has a good burst off the snap and separates well by staying in control and not telegraphing the plays.  He isn't very physical and will not break many tackles, but he's a WR not RB.  Early enrollment will benefit him because they need his size and ability in the red zone.  Like Black, he's going to get a real look at PT because the depth chart is open. 

Trill Dixon- Another Dixon with a nickname.  The thing that you see when you watch Dixon play in HS is that he has really strong football instincts.  I like him at Corner better than I do Belue because he looks natural.  He loves to press, he is a strong tackler at Corner, and he has good speed to correct to the ball.  I think when you see him, his size will work well in the SEC because he's 6-2 and really plays to the ball well so he can play corner or star and be effective.  He had 7 Interceptions as a SR, 4 last year in JuCo.  He does well against the run by staying small and not giving linemen/TE a target to block and keeps his hips loose to change directions and break to the ball.  I can see him getting in the heads of WRs and making them break down mentally.  He loves to paw and bump around, so he'll be a favorite of the staff if he can play zone. 

Dillon Lee- I have had the pleasure of watching Lee play Calhoun High the last few years in the State Championships.  He is a lot like Sunseri in that he's as good at the line as he is in space.  I can tell you from talking to players that they really respect him because he doesn't quit.  He is always on the ball and always creating plays on defense.  He can play inside or outside linebacker because he moves in space well and has great speed for his size to move to the play.  He is well coached and plays the technique right.  I doubt he is in the 230s as listed by some, probably more like 215-220.  What makes him good is how well he reads and reacts to the play and can catch as well as he does.  Lee played TE on offense, but he can snag a pick like a corner.  He needs to learn how to play with his bigger frame at the next level. Last year he did struggle at times with playing linebacker after being more of a bandit safety for most of his career.  He can play Sam or Will in the 3-4 and has the nose for either position.  I personally would put him at Sam to allow him to shadow option QBs or match up with slot WR/TEs with his speed and ability to play space as well as he does. 

Alphonse Taylor- Taylor flipped from FSU late in the process and has enrolled to play Tackle.  He has a big frame and is fairly athletic for his size.  He moves well when he is in his stance and stays down.  He has a lot of lower body power and uses it when he comes out of his stance on either side of the ball.  As a DT, he is a natural double team target.  Reminds me a lot of Cody in those regards.  His conditioning needs a little work, but Scott will cure that or kill him this spring.  Getting him into the program will benefit him in his transition because he's got a lil baby fat he needs to shape. 

TJ Yeldon- The thing you see with TJ when he plays is that he has near NFL level vision and feel for the game.  He does an exceptional job of knowing what kind of player he is and using those strengths to his advantage.  He isn't a bruiser or a pounder, he is more like Shaun Alexander and knows how to square up and get small to make him harder to tackle.  He is a lot like Percy Harvin in that you can line him up in various areas and exploit matchup issues.  He has a great 2nd burst that separates him from defenders.  Yeldon is very patient and lets his blocks setup and that is something that is rare with HS runners.  He can be the total package as a change of pace to a bruiser like Lacy.  He will need to bulk up to take the SEC beatings and avoid getting high in his stride at times because the speed of the SEC will be a quick adaption for him or he could find a few injuries early on.  He won't redshirt and could be 2nd string with a strong showing this spring. 

The February 18

Dakota Ball- I have had the pleasure of watching Dakota play.  He is a blue collar worker.  He might remind you of Gentry with a little more natural talent.  He probably is going to be an End in the 3-4 and play inside at the 2 or 3 gap.  He will benefit from a redshirt to learn his role as most of his fellow D Linemen recruits do.  Ball is a mauler by trade and just likes to go north and south and wear out people with his power than swim and move.  However, when he is playing run, he moves through the gaps and gets to the ball well.  He has good hands but forgets to use them at times.  He likes to waller around too much and gets high at times.  He was well respected by his opponents and they speak about how tough he is and how they know they have their hands full with him each time they play because he won't quit despite the score.  Ball is a redshirt candidate but in time with some coaching and learning time under him, I can see him playing at end next to the jack to help create lanes for the linebackers and playing tackle in the nickel like Gentry did.  You won't be disappointed with Dakota when it is his turn, but some will not like him over the flashier names on the roster because he's not fancy, but ass kickings aren't fancy they are tough.  That's Dakota in a nutshell.

Landon Collins- As long as bat shit crazy doesn't ooze out during his years in college, there is nothing to stop Landon from being great.  On a similar note, I doubt the U gives his mama a ticket to the games because she's a walking recruiting problem.  There isn't a lot to not like about Collins as a safety.  He is able to play up on the line, he plays well in space, he is fast, and tackles well with good form.  Landon has shown the ability to play in zone coverage which is a rare trait that will probably earn him a longer look this summer.  He has the skill set to play star or money and is more of a strong safety than a free safety.  He isn't afraid to get in the box and make a hit or engage bigger linemen to get to the ball.  I like that he sees the field well and has a great instinct for the ball.  From a stat line recruiting perspective, he hits it all and won the SPARQ title because he hits all the measurements.  He was the 2nd fastest player at DB at the Under Armor game.  The weak points to Landon are more about his overconfidence.  He over pursues at times because he knows he's fast.  He has to develop a little more discipline when playing the run and man coverage.  He struggles in man at times because he plays tight and lets quick players juke him off enough to create the gap to make a play.  He corrects and makes the tackle, but when it is 3rd down, that is the small difference between punt and 3 more downs.  Landon won't redshirt, the recruiting battle won't allow that.  He probably will get some ST time and mop up unless he just beats the pants off Sunseri/Dix. 

Denzel Devall- Devall is a lot like Hightower coming out of school.  He wasn't a big name but he is a versatile player who can play standing up or hand down.  He is very physical and has a great understanding of how to play MLB.  He knows how to attack the gaps and not the linemen.  Devall is a big time tackler and loves to hit.  He looks faster than he is because he stays loose and moves well from side to side. He understands angles and how to time his attack from them.  For example, Prince Hall would just run straight into traffic trying to get to the ball and he either did or didn't get there.  Devall, like McClain and Hightower, sits back in position and moves to the opening and then attacks- keeping the linemen off him as long as possible and keeping him in the play.  Has great hands and uses them to jam linemen and keep them from engaging him.  Plays well with his hand down and can bull rush.  He needs coaching if they want to play him on the line because he is more raw and rough as a rusher.  Depth is the only thing keeping him from playing in rotation at Mike or Will this fall.  With DePriest, Patrick, Mosley*, and Johnson all available, he might sit a year and learn the schemes. 

Kenyan Drake- Drake played in the highest level of GA HS Football.  Drake is a bit of a tweener in that he can be a RB but he might have to be a WR-slot guy because of how he naturally plays. He kinda plays like an oversized scatback.  He is at his best in space playing in one on one situations.  At RB, he needs more patience and to get more compact in between the tackles.  He is fast, very fast, but he runs very stiff and lacks a 2nd move to break away.  He is a stronger runner once he gets beyond the box and is at the 2nd level.  Drake has the ability to play between the tackles but is at his best on sweeps, counters, and any run outside the tackles.  All the areas of work for him are not issues if he lines up as a WR.  At WR, his one move and go style is more appropriate and he has the speed and power to separate from the line against the bump.  Has really good hands and can sky up and get the ball.  Drake may not redshirt because he's got speed and they need it, but his potential is going to depend on where they place him for the long term.  He could be the 4th back behind Lacy, Hart, Yeldon or 5th behind Fowler. 

Kurt Freitag- Dillon Lee's teammate and another guy I have been able to watch over the years.  He is a winner and plays to win.  He won't get talked about a lot because he's a TE, but he's a very good receiver from the line and has been well coached.  He is a big body and blocks well and comes off the block to peel and catch well.  Buford liked to have him chip and peel into the flat so that the defense lost him in motion.  He is more of a receiving tight end than a blocker, but Bama has enough blockers.  He is a lot like Dial in that he can play H or TE and is devastating when in motion.  He has good hands and is a great short to middle threat like Dial was.  I would be surprised if he plays this fall just because the depth chart needs to stagger out, but if he plays, he can at ST and as a 2nd H Back. 

Brandon Greene- I think Greene is the best lineman they signed this year.  I like him because he's like Barrett Jones and can play every position.  He has really good footwork and plays zone blocking well.  I am surprised they aren't looking at him as a center, but they may think he will outgrow it.  Greene is a little light for an SEC lineman currently, but that's what redshirting works on.  I like that Greene can move and is a great pull guard candidate.  He displays a lot of vision and finds his 2nd block when in counter.  While he lacks mass, he doesn't lack a mean streak.  He can bury a defender and open a gap rather well.  I think he's a pure redshirt and plays guard or center at the next level because he is too short for tackle.

Adam Griffith- I remember when my brother was telling me I needed to see this guy kick.  I was skeptical like some on the Internets are.  I will say that I have never witnessed a high school kicker who can just kick over and over like a machine the way he does.  He is consistent and absolutely kills the football.  The thud is louder than the screaming fans, much like Janikowski's kicks thud off the tee.  He has a 60 yard leg without a tee, but is a solid 40+ yard FG kicker.  Gets good height on the ball and is a great kickoff kicker.  It is rare that the ball sails short of 65 yards on kickoffs.  He damaged the roof of the concession stand over time with his kicks. For what it is worth, the stand is a good 75 yards from the 40 on both sides.  Don't compare him to Smith or Foster or any other kicker Bama has had in the last 5 or 6 years, he's mentally and physically a better player than any of them.  He will play this fall in a minimum of kickoff and deep FG roles as Foster has all but lost his spot on the team. 

Caleb Gulledge- Caleb is a project that has been committed to Bama for what seems like an eternity.  He has played more defense than offense in his career, so to project him as a lineman, he is a project because he lacks the coaching and training to be an instant impact at OL right now.  He comes from a power program, so he knows how to win at a high level, and that is a key that many recruits can't say they have.  His OL footage is pretty limited and what little I have gotten to watch of him is pretty raw.  He is a guy who knows how to be bigger and maul over smaller players, but when he hits a guy of equal size, he lacks the footwork both in movement and placement to drive them far.  He needs a redshirt and probably one or two more years of coaching and discipline as a guard or tackle before he's ready. 

Tyler Hayes- Hayes is an OLB that is almost a Bandit/Safety type.  Has great instincts to the ball and wraps up on the tackle.  Tyler has corner speed and a great burst to separate as a running back.  Hayes plays linebacker from the right angles and pursuits that keep him in position to tackle clean and not get chewed up.  He is a potential ST player this fall, but he needs to bulk up because he lacks the size to play at the SEC level right now.  I think if he can get up to 235, he can be a real force at Sam or Will.  If he stays at this weight, he may get a look at SS.  He would excel in either role with his speed and vision. 

Brandon Hill- Another big project.  Hill has the size and power to be a great tackle.  He is fairly athletic for his size, but he is very raw from an understanding and technique perspective.  If you put him in a game early, he will probably be ruined, but in 2 or 3 years of coaching and training with Stoutland, he has all the skills to be an All SEC type.  He has a quick stride and good hands when in motion, but he doesn't know how to play the position.  He knows how to be bigger than the guy across the way.  He struggles with how to knock defenders out of the play or engage them and drive them down.  Much of that is technique issues that are common with guys like him, he often just fails to keep his pad level down and has a bad case of deer syndrome.  If he gets it, he'll be great.  If he doesn't, he is an easy attrition candidate.  How's that for a standard deviation?

Cyrus Jones- Cyrus has more talent than most players in this class.  He is as good at RB as he is at WR, or DB.  The issue there is where can he play that maxes out his potential and do you avoid making a BJ Scott error?  Honestly, I think he's gonna benefit from being a cornerback and they need more depth there than at WR or RB.  He has the game changing capacity to take any pass he gets and make it a TD.  He has great burst off the snap and keeps his hips loose to make quick cuts and break away for big plays.  As a corner, he can jam and press and has the speed to correct quickly.  He does a real good job of driving WRs off their routes and uses the sideline as his ally.  Has a good vertical and is probably the 2nd best return man in the class behind Belue.  His running style is smooth and gliding and will remind some of Julio where he doesn't look fast but he's burning past everyone with ease.  On either side of the ball, he reads the plays well and adjusts to make plays.  As a WR, he breaks route and helps the QB out, on D he plays back and reads the play and gets in position to make a tackle or INT.  He is a descent tackler for a corner, won't whip someone, but won't miss or shirk it either.  I can't see how he redshirts unless there is just too much depth at returner and/or corner. 

Korren Kirven- Kirven is probably a DE at the next level.  Reminds me some of Deaderick but probably a little more athletic than Brandon was.  Kirven is rough around the edges, and needs some conditioning work to be an every down player, but he has a good motor and is disruptive when he plays down and drives through.  Unlike some of his classmates, he does keep his pads under the opponent and has strong legs, but he sometimes forgets to use his hands to disengage.  Kirven with a RS will probably be a contender to replace Williams or Square next season.  He has the mentality and ability, he just needs coaching and conditioning and he'll be good to go. 

Darren Lake- Lots of potential with Lake, but he can be inconsistent.  For a guy tipping 330, he runs very well and has a lot of power coming out of his stance.  His issue is a common one, he shoots up too high (deer syndrome).  He has gotten away with being the bigger than the crowd player, but he uses his size and mass well and creates the need for double teams like Cody and Taylor do, but if he would get lower, he has the power to drive the pile back to the ball carrier.  Despite being raw, he brings his lunch pail to work and plays to the end every down.  Unlike Cody and others, he is a better pass rusher than they are and has a good swim move.  Lake can play end or tackle much like Jessie Williams can.  He just needs some fine tuning and he will be a good contributor if he does what he's taught.  The measurable stats are definately there. 

Alec Morris- This is either Jimmy Barnes 2.0 or Greg McElroy minus 50 pounds.  I am kidding to a point.  He has a million times better mobility and footwork than Barnes.  Jimmy couldn't lift his leg to put his pants on I don't think.  Morris is very mobile for his size and has an adequate arm much like McCarron and McElroy.  He stands tall in the pocket and makes tough throws under pressure.  He isn't afraid to waggle and be exposed to the defense.  Does a good job of setting his feet on the move to deliver strong passes across the middle.  His mechanics are a little unsteady and has a bad habit of delivering too low.  Fans will try to hype him up because Bama wiffed on the big name QBs for the 2nd straight year.  That is going to happen when you have McCarron as a rising JR and Sims as a rising SO.  Morris will give them depth and with some work will be another solid game manager.  That is really what he is when it gets down to it.  He will need to redshirt and work on taking snaps under center and working on his mechanics to keep the ball delivery high and not dip so much. 

Reggie Ragland- Ain't nothing like having another legacy linebacker.  Reminds me a lot of many of the great linebackers from Bama's history.  Had a chance to see him at a 7 on 7 and he's legit.  Has Hightower's ability to play in space and pass coverage (pre knee injury Hightower), and the pass disruption abilities of Upshaw.  The thing I noticed most last year was that he is very light on his feet and he moves well to the ball.  Not a lot of wasted motion or hesitation in his action.  He plays the angles the way an MLB should and really likes to hit.  Lots of chatter about him at TE or Jack.  He can play them all, but with Anderson in this class being a more natural Jack, and being enrolled early, Ragland's potential to me is Mike.  He has great instincts and does a great job of disrupting plays both in the rush and pass coverage from the middle.  That is a rare thing, well everywhere except Alabama who seems to have had those guys for 5 years now.   I think he may play some, but if he RS it isn't a disrespect thing it is a depth thing. 

Geno Smith- Nobody will ever accuse Geno of lacking confidence.  He comes from a power program too, St Pius X, that churns out D-1/NFL prospects annually.  Smith isn't a lockdown type corner that loves to play up and disrupt the WR off the snap, he is more of a play off and react type.  He isn't fast but he knows how to play with his skill set and apply them against faster players.  He grades high because he is smart and sees the play more than he just out atheltes the guy across from him.  Has a good back peddle and doesn't get locked up or slow down when he turns and goes into stride with receivers.  He is stronger in zone coverage than man which is unique because he plays the run and tackles well.  The only question mark with him is his speed at the next level.  If he can take the 4.6 he ran at UA combines and skinny it down to 4.57 or 55, he's fine.  If he slows any further, he might have to play safety, which isn't a demotion with his skills. 

Dalvin Tomlinson- Tomlinson is a big guy that is a workout freak.  Henry County plays 3-4 so he won't have to learn much as to how to play end again.  He is a little lean to play end today, really if he plays day 1, it might be more like Jack given his physique.  He could easily play at 300 though and not be too heavy.  Good motor and his wrestling background helps him stay low and drive off the snap, much like wresting requires, but he needs some time to understand how to put it all together.  He hesitates off the initial move sometimes and that costs him or gets him doubled.  He is a redshirt and with a year or two of work will be a starter contender. 

Eddie Williams-  I don't think I have ever seen a 5 star talent forgotten so much.  The question with Eddie is where can he make the impact quickest?  Before Collins committed, he was a sure fire safety.  Now, he may be a WR or Sam.  I think he's probably going to start out in the WR Core because they lack size and range.  Williams is not a blazer like Julio, but he has good hands and vertical like him.  He can go over the middle and isn't afraid to hit or get hit, so that will benefit him and the team.  Like Julio, he is deceptively fast.  He likes to make a corner think he's going full speed and then finds another burst.  He loves to maul on both sides of the ball, but as a WR this will make corners play off and give him more space to make a cut or move to throw them off.  If he plays safety, he is a free safety by nature.  He plays zone 2, but his coaches let him just kinda do what he wanted in the backfield.  Not sure how that plays in the world of Saban, well I do but let's watch for fun.  Williams is a natural player with more skill than a lot of players around him.  His PT is dictated by where he plays, if at WR, I could see him starting especially if Carter never gets it together. 


Philons Hurt

I have to admit, this issue with the grayshirt and Philon is a bit hard on both sides of the coin.  It has PR issues regardless of spin from either side.  It is true that he still had an offer for a scholarship from Alabama, but he was going to have to wait it out while Arkansas and other schools were ready today.  He had dropped an offer at Auburn to go to Alabama.  He was not offered it as a grayshirt at that time, and that is where the PR issue is.  The issue isn't what a grayshirt means, it is about how it was done and when it was done.  If he had been a GS from day 1 and then flipped, that's his choice.  However, as some close to the story have said, it came 2 weeks before signing day.  Now, Saban is about as business executive as anyone I have ever seen, but that was a failure of planning.  I get that he has an knee injury, but that didn't stop Bama from signing others.  The issue was that 3 or 4 weeks before they didn't think they had Tomlinson or Kirven (more likely).  The surprising thing is that if you are going to weed numbers, why not gray one of the linemen that need more time anyways?  Vigor is a good and fertile ground for prospects, it will be interesting to see how this issue plays out next year. 

Does this have any long term brush back?  No.  Does this diminish the class?  No.  Is it a blip and a black eye?  Yeah, but like black eyes, they go away and life moves on.  The lesson for the staff is to not get too wrapped up in the race and make sure they keep their 25-27 intact.  Philon was a good prospect with a bad knee, I get why they didn't want him on the 2012 list and wanted to push him to 2013.  I question the timing a bit as it is being told.

Just a reminder about Stars and Recruiting....

Credit Bruce Feldman for pointing this article out:  http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1327387  It is a great reminder that it is still about filling needs in a system over stars.