Alabama Crimson Tide Football Recruiting Update: Big Weekend Wrap-Up

The "sport" of following recruiting has really exploded in recent years. Go ask your grandad how who he knew who the new freshmen on the team were going to be and he'd tell you it was when the team ran on the field for the first game and he'd furiously leaf through the game program.

From there, it has evolved into a 24/7 news cycle of he said-he tweeted, will he-won't he? Some tweets are telling but many are smokescreens or just innocent nothings. To help you follow along while keeping your stress level down, here are a few tips:

1. Just because a guy visits a certain campus, it doesn't always mean he has any interest in attending that school.
   
2. When a recruit tweets that he "had a great time" during an official visit, often times that is all it means. He said the same thing about his last three trips.
3. If a guy hashtags a rally cry, be it #RollTide, #GeauxTigers, #HottyToddy, or #WarDumEagle, it doesn't mean that is where he will sign.

I could go on for another 27 commandments but let's get down to the 'crootin' news.

It has been one of the most unusual recruiting Januarys with prospects decommitting (approximately 68 FBS since Jan. 1), offers revoked (Jim Harbaugh TWICE and Mark Richt most recently), and a large amount of uncommitted with a little over a week until National Signing Day (NSD) on February 3. Of the top 25, 11 are still undecided (or unannounced more likely). Many many other recruits have not made their choice known yet either. The side effect is that some of the lesser rated guys will not have offers waiting on them until NSD and they will be left scrambling to find a viable offer.

AROUND THE SEC

• LSU - It appears that the Tigers are in line to land the nation's number one recruiting class. That's kinda odd seeing how head coach Les Miles was on the cusp of being fired in December.
• Ole Miss - Somehow, Hugh Freeze continues to convince top recruits to commit to a program that has not won an SEC title since 1963. They currently boast 5-star commits DT Gregory Little and QB Shea Patterson, with 4/5 star DT Benito Jones.
• Auburn - The Tigers may finish outside the top 15.
• Tennessee - The Vols are just below Auburn.
• Georgia - The Peach State is fertile with blue-chippers this year and Kirby Smart has been able to keep many of them in-state. He has a potential top 10 class, maybe higher.

NATIONALLY

• Michigan - Jim Harbaugh's silly antics seem to be paying off, but what kind of players is he getting for that? Will he even be around to see these young men graduate?
• Ohio State - Urban Meyer should end up with a top 3 class.
• Southern Cal - The Men of Troy have snagged some high profile commitments but only have 13 overall. Lack of depth is not something they can afford.
  

ALABAMA

It was a huge-mongous recruiting weekend with enough talent in Tuscaloosa to start a competitive ACC team.

• Ben Davis (Gordo, AL) LB 5-star – I have a good feeling this top 10 player signs with Bama. Scheduled to announce on NSD 9am CT on ESPN.
  
• Lyndell Wilson (Carver, Montgomery, AL) OLB 5-star - Bama has a really good shot at "Mack" but Georgia is not out of it yet.
• Mique Juarez (North High School, Torrance, CA) OLB 5-star - Had a great OV. If he can just be convinced to leave his home state and UCLA in the rear view mirror, Bama could be his landing spot. Nick Saban paid him an in-home visit on Monday. Ole Miss might be in the mix too.
  
• Terrell Hall (St. John's College HS, Washington, DC) WkDE 4/5-star - Alabama made great strides with Hall this past weekend. He visits Ole Miss this weekend. Please send out your best Bama vibes to counter the Mississippi voodoo.
  
• Nigel Warrior (Peachtree Ridge, Suwanee, GA) S 4/5-star - Top 4 safety might be down to Bama and LSU. BTW, this young man is son of former Vols and NFL safety Dale Carter. Warrior is considering Tennessee but is turned off by everyone calling him a "legacy". He may want to make his own name out there.
• Nigel Knott (Germantown HS, Madison, MS) CB 4-stars - Alabama and Oregon appear to be the finalists. Eugene, OR might be a little too far from home. And don't count out the home state schools.
  
• Shyheim Carter (Kentwood, LA) CB 4-star - Another top recruit spending his final weekend in Oxford. There have been so many conflicting reports that it is a mystery as to where he will land. However, the two teams that seem to be consistent among recruiting analysts are Bama and Ole Miss. #GoodBamaVibes
  
• Jared Mayden (Sachse, TX) DB 4-star - He'll be wearing crimson next year as he has narrowed it down to Alabama and Oklahoma. Saban paid him an in-home visit on Monday as well. NSD announcement.
  
• Keith Gavin (Wakulla, Crawfordville, FL) WR 4-star - He will choose Alabama or FSU.
• D'Vaughn Pennamon (Manvel, TX) APB 3/4-star - Ole Miss commit also enjoyed his OV to Bama, but heads to Oxford this weekend. Bama, TAMU, Ark, Houston, and Cal wait in the wings. NSD announcement.
• Demetris Robertson (Savannah Christian Prep, Savannah, GA) ATH 5-star - Not sure where this guy goes but my gut says it won't be Alabama. Notre Dame somehow got in the mix but Georgia is probably the favorite.
• Jamar King (California juco by way of Detroit, MI) DT 3-stars - I get the feeling this guy is waiting on an offer from Ohio State and Alabama is his fallback. NSD announcement.
• Brandon Stephens (Plano, Texas) RB 3/4-star - Decommitted from Stanford. Alabama was his second choice before he committed to Stanford in September. Stephens is still interested in the Cardinal and Alabama as well as Oklahoma.
  

GOING ELSEWHERE

• Mecole Hardman (Elbert County, Elberton, GA) ATH  5-star - If I am wrong about this, feel free to roast me. My gut says this guy has no intention of signing with Alabama. He is just screwing around so he can do his silly hat-switcheroo press conference. He is going to UGA (100% emoji).
• Jawon Pass (Carver HS, Columbus, GA) QB 4-star – My feeling is that the Tide staff was polite to the Louisville commit but they did not go out of their way to court him. With Jalen Hurts early enrolled, he may not even have a firm offer from Alabama anymore.
• Jeffery Simmons (Noxubee County, Macon, MS) SDE 4/5-star - Probably Ole Miss.
• Don't believe any blather about silent commits Rashan Gary (Michigan) or Derrick Brown (UGA) coming to Alabama. Don't even dignify the twitter teases with a click. Jonathan Kongbo (not Bama) will not sign with the Tide either. I had a bad feeling about that guy from the beginning.

MIDWEEK VISITS

In a perfect world, it is best to get a prospect to visit over a weekend. Sometimes for whatever reasons, schedules don't mesh and a visit needs to happen during the week. However, it is not always a bad thing. The recruit and parents get to see the school in action with the quad teeming with students. Also, the visitors are the center of attention rather than being shared with 20 others. Whether they actually show up on campus is another matter.

Alabama has three scheduled midweek visitors:

1/26/16: Brian Burns (American Heritage, Plantation, FL) DE 6'5"/217, 4-stars - I am not so sure he is serious about Alabama. Fla, FSU, UGA look like the favorites.

1/27/16: Michail Carter (Jackson HS, Jackson, GA) DT 6'3"/288, 4-stars - UGA is the leader over Alabama and Clemson, with Georgia Tech trailing.

1/27/16: Devin Asiasi (De La Salle, Concord, CA) TE 4-stars - Another Californian who will be tough to get. Also plays DE. So Cal, UCLA are the faves with Bama, Mich, Washington.

#RollTide

#NSD2016

For more Bama Crootin News, check out the RBR recruiting page at www.rollbamaroll.com/recruiting