By all accounts, last weekend’s big Championship celebration/recruiting weekend went really well. Oddly enough, nobody committed. Usually when the Tide has a big weekend like they just had, at least one guy makes his pledge whether it is from the current year or the next. But crootin is a whole new ballgame with this Early Signing Period. If you were expecting the upcoming National Signing Day to be undramatic for Alabama, think again. I get the feeling fireworks will be on the menu.

As mentioned in Monday’s Jumbo Package, Trevon Diggs hosted 5-star cornerback Patrick Surtain Jr. It looks like his family had a pretty good time.

Diggs had posted some mini-vids of Surtain in an Alabama uniform but the Tweet is now gone. That is not encouraging...

Mack Wilson hosted the committed but unsigned OLB Quay Walker who just picked up a fifth star from 247 but still has 4-stars from the 247 composite.

Tua Tagovailoa reportedly hosted high 4-star WR Justyn Ross.

It is believed Bama made some progress with the Phenix City prospect. Rivals bumped him up to 5-star status. UPDATE: Nick Saban, Mike Locksley, and new WR coach Josh Gattis all paid him a visit Thursday, Jan 25.

Other 2018s who were on hand for the festivities:

Tyson Campbell DB Plantation, FL 6’2.5”/180 (247’s #27 overall player) ***** - UGA, Alabama and Miami.

Nick Petit-Frère OT Tampa, FL 6’5’’/272 ***** - His last names translate from French to English as “Little Brother”. Needs to put on some weight. Fla, ND, Bama.

J.J. Peterson OLB Norman Park, GA 6’1.5”/210 **** - Tenn commit... for now.

Xavier Williams WR Hollywood, FL 6’0”/180 **** - Signed.

James Foster Dual QB Lanier-Montgomery, AL 6’1”/197 ***½ - This will be interesting to watch. Hopefully, Brock Purdy decides ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ this weekend. LSU, FSU and Bama are on his final list.

Vernon Jackson ATH Boling, TX 6’3”/240 **** - This Alabama unsigned commit is up to 4-stars from ESPN, 247sports and the 247sports composite ranking. #BamaBump
If they can fit him into this class, he will sign with the Tide. Otherwise, TAMU is looking like his landing place.

Malik Langham DE Huntsville, AL 6’5”/269 *** - 247sports added him a fourth star. The 247 composite stays at three. Another wait ‘n’ see decision.

Julius Irvin S Anaheim, CA 6’2”/182 **** - A late addition to the visitor list this past weekend who got a follow-up visit from Tosh Lupoi and the newest member of the Tide staff, Jeff Banks, this past Monday. Saban is certainly making him think. UPDATE: Jeff Banks and Tosh Lupoi visited Jan 22.

SKYROCKET IN FLIGHT

No #BamaBump needed here. Alabama signee Eyabi Anoma has shot up the rankings to the #4 overall player in the 247sports Composite. 247sports themselves rank him #3 and Rivals has him at #7. Somehow, Clemson signee QB Trevor Lawrence is still the #1 overall prospect despite his horrendous performance at the US Army All-American Bowl.

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

THIS WEEKEND

The Tide staff will have a smaller group of OVs this weekend.

Brock Purdy QB Gilbert, AZ 6’1”/197 *** - You have been hearing a lot about this kid since Saban offered him. Jeff Banks visited him earlier this week. Iowa State, Bama, UCF, Boise.

QB UPDATE: This is getting interesting. Alabama has offered four-star Princeton commit Brevin White. Tosh Lupoi had an in-home visit earlier this week and offered him a scholarship. The 6’2”/185 Pro-style QB is from Lancaster, CA and passed for 3,931 yards and 54 touchdowns. as a senior. He is eligible for early enrollment. He is too late for the full Spring semester but you may recall from this time last year that UA has a Spring II term that begins in February. White is in T-town this weekend for an OV.

Jacob Copeland WR Pensacola, FL 6’1” 188 **** - Alabama is looking like the favorite over Fla with Tenn, TAMU,and FSU bringing up the rear.

Isaac Taylor-Stuart CB San Diego, CA 6’2”/190 **** - Another top cornerback comes to T-Town, but is he just sight-seeing? Interestingly, Jeff Banks was recruiting him for TAMU, one of the three finalists, and paid him a visit on Monday on the Tide’s behalf. Southern Cal is the heavy favorite. UPDATE: Joe Pannunzio visited him on Wed, Jan 24.

Eddie Smith CB Slidell, LA 6’1”/180 *** - I’m not crazy about this croot but... In Saban We Trust, right? Tennessee, Bama, Missy State, Mizzou.

Glenn Beal TE River Ridge, LA 6’5”/245 *** - I’m not sure why this young man has been invited with so many needs at other positions and so few schollies left to give.

UPDATE: 5-star CB Olaijah Griffin was added to the OV list on Thursday. The Mission Viejo, CA native was visited this week by Tosh Lupoi and Jeff Banks. He was a Southern Cal lean but could be swayed.

UPDATE: Alabama is taking a look at adding a grad transfer kicker. Former Temple kicker Austin Jones is at the Capstone this weekend. The Orlando native was having an excellent career up north before suffering an ACL injury midway through the 2016 season. In 2015, he was 23 of 28. His only PAT miss was blocked. At one point over two seasons, he hit 19 straight field goals, a school record. The downside is that upon returning from his injury, he was not able to unseat his replacement. Jones would be a walk-on. He is also considering LSU and Tulane.

THE BIG FISH

Jaylen Waddle WR Houston, TX 5’10”/165 **** - The highest ranked uncommitted pass-catcher just picked up a fifth star from Rivals. He completed his OVs in early December but did not sign during the ESP. It looks like a fight between Bama and TAMU with FSU and Oregon still hanging around.

ALSO OF INTEREST

Penei Sewell OT St. George, UT 6’5”/340 **** - I am not optimistic about landing this big man, but it ain’t over til it’s over. Oregon, Bama, So Cal.

Kevontae’ Ruggs OLB Montgomery, AL 6’4/190” *** - Yep, that is Henry’s kid brother. I am not sure if they can squeeze him in unless he wants to walk-on or some other arrangement. He visits Ole Miss this weekend.

UPDATE: The top ranked OLB for 2019 will be in town as well. Loganville, GA’s Owen Pappoe is a 5-star and one of the Top 10 overall player in the nation.

UPDATE: There were several 2019 and 2020 recruits in town. Coleman Coliseum was rocking! (Click the names to see Tweets.)

2019 4-star ATH Ronald Thompkins from Georgia
2019 4-star CB Marcus Banks from Texas
2019 4-star S Jalyn Phillips from Georgia
2019 4-star WR DE Savion Jackson from North Carolina
2019 4-star ATH and UNC commit Hakeem Beamon from Virginia
2019 4-star RB Derrian Brown from Georgia
2020 4-star WR Dazalin Worsham from Hewitt-Trussville
2020 DT Jayson Jones, Calera, AL

UPDATE: BOUNCEY BALL

On a related note, several basketball croots were witness to Saturday’s big win over Oklahoma as unofficial visitors.

2019 5-star strong forward Trendon Watford 6’8”/215 (Mountain Brook, AL) - His second unofficial visit in the last two weeks. Alabama is the favorite for his signature.
2020 5-star shooting guard Brandon Boston 6’6”/160 (Norcross, GA)
2019 4-star point guard Kira Lewis 6’3/160 (Hazel Green, AL)

DATES TO REMEMBER

Feb 2-3: Final weekend for OVs. Alabama has no visits scheduled, certainly by design.
UPDATE: New Alabama assistant Pete Golding is going after 3-star Jaylen Moody, a 6’2”/225 ILB from Conway, SC. He does not have an offer as of yet and will be the sole visitor for next weekend so far.

Feb 4: Quiet Period

Feb 5-8: Dead Period

Feb 7: NSD

Feb 9-Apr 14: Quiet Period

April 1: Final Signing Date

April 21: A-Day

#NSD2018

#RollTide