Alabama Ramps up Recruiting
The Alabama Crimson Tide will not be competing in Atlanta this weekend for the SEC Championship. That did not stop head coach Nick Saban from putting in a busy work week. Missing out on the SEC Championship game and likely being left out of the College Football Playoffs for the first time in five seasons meant that Saban and the Crimson Tide coaching staff would turn its attention to the recruiting trail. December 18, 2019 is the first day the members of the class of 2020 can sign letters of intent.
Saban spent Monday, December 2 in the state of Alabama visiting a long-time Alabama commit, inside linebacker Jackson Bratton from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Bratton, a four-star prospect, has been committed to the Tide since March of 2018.
Saban also went to Phenix City, Alabama to visit Central High School tackle Javion Cohen. Cohen, a four-star prospect, has been committed to Auburn since June of 2019.
On Tuesday coach Saban went out west to check in on uncommitted five-star prospect Darnell Washington. Washington, projected to play tight end at the college level is being courted by Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama.
Saban also checked in on five-star quarterback Bryce Young. Young is the number six ranked prospect in the nation according to 247Sports composite rankings. He recently won the Gatorade player of the year for the state of California and is a finalist for national player of the year. Young is set to enroll at Alabama when the spring semester begins.
Coach Saban returned to the Southeast on Wednesday, visiting three-star offensive lineman Seth McLaughlin. McLaughlin, from Buford, Georgia has been committed to Alabama since March of 2019. Saban was welcomed into the McLaughlin home with home-made oatmeal creampies.
While Saban went to Georgia, defensive coordinator Pete Golding went to Mississippi to visit with uncommitted defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson. Jackson, a four-star prospect from George County high school is the number one prospect in the state of Mississippi is deciding between Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
Thursday Saban traveled to Florida to visit with Tide commit Jahquez Robinson. Robinson a four-star cornerback out of Sandlewood high school in Jacksonville Florida has been committed to Alabama since February of 2019.
Arian Smith, an uncommitted four-star wide receiver from Lakeland Florida also hosted Saban on Thursday. Smith is the 13th ranked prospect in Florida and will be deciding between Georgia, Alabama and Florida.
Saban’s Thursday was full as he also visited four-star inside linebacker Demouy Kennedy. Kennedy from Theodore, Alabama is the number one ranked prospect in the state of Alabama and has been committed to the Crimson Tide since June of 2019.
On Friday Nick Saban went to Jackson Olin high school to visit outside linebacker Quandarrius Robinson. Robinson is a four-star prospect is the second ranked prospect in Alabama and has been committed to the Tide since June of 2019.
Saban also went to Hueytown high school to visit with running back Roydell Williams. Williams is the number one running back in the state and third ranked prospect in Alabama. Williams has been a long time commit to Alabama having given his pledge to Saban in November of 2018.
Saban’s Friday ended in Florida with a visit to wide receiver Thaiu Jones-Bell. Jones-Bell is a four-star prospect out of Miami Carrol City high school. He has been committed to Alabama since May of 2019.
Alabama’s big week of recruiting does not end there as the Tide is scheduled to host multiple prospects in Tuscaloosa this weekend for official visits.
Four-star safety from Hewitt-Trussville Malachi Moore has been committed to Alabama since August of 2018.
Alabama will put on the full-court-press on Javion Cohen this weekend in Tuscaloosa. Cohen, a four-star offensive tackle has been committed to Auburn since June of 2019.
Kristian Story will also have an official visit in Tuscaloosa this weekend. Fresh off a state championship game win this four-star athlete has been committed to the Tide since July of 2019. Story played quarterback for Lanett but his position for the Tide is still undetermined.
Four-star outside linebacker Phillip Webb has yet to make his college decision. From Buford, Georgia, Webb will be choosing between Alabama, LSU and Florida.
Three four-star defensive tackles will also be in Tuscaloosa this weekend. Timothy Smith, from Sebastian, Florida has been committed to Alabama since July of 2019. Jah-Marien Latham out of Reform, Alabama gave his pledge to the Tide in November of 2018. Jamil Burroughs from Powder Springs, Georgia committed to Alabama in October of 2019.