Jumbo Package: Lane Kiffin admits talking to LSU about OC job during 2016 playoffs

Happy Thursday, everyone. Slim pickings today, but let’s get to it. First, recruiting:

Already ranked as the No. 1 team in the country, the Tide may not be done yet. The most likely big target left on the board is McKinnley Jackson, a native of Mississippi that hit January as one of the most high-profile uncommitted prospects in the country. Alabama holds most of the 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions for the nation’s No. 9 DT and the recent hire of former Ole Miss assistant Freddie Roach as its DL coach is another boost for the Tide. Texas A&M hosts Jackson this weekend and Auburn and LSU are also serious threats. The Tide are also battling Texas and Oklahoma for Alfred Collins, the No. 62 player in the nation. That one feels like a tougher get. If Alabama lands one, that could be enough to lock up the No. 1 class. If it gets both, Nick Saban is just running up the score.

One step closer to securing the nation’s No. 1 class, Alabama had several big movers in the final edition of the Top247 for 2020, including defensive tackle Timothy Smith earning his fifth star, athlete Drew Sanders maintaining his spot among the top-rated recruits, weak-side defensive end Will Anderson jumping into the top five of the rankings, and quarterback Bryce Young being named the No. 1 overall player in the America. Per BamaOnline’s Hank South, the Crimson Tide is in the mix for several big-time prospects down the stretch including new 247Sports five-star defensive end Alfred Collins, Top100 defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, four-star center and UGA pledge Sedrick Van Pran, and three-star rising cornerback Ennis Rakestraw.

I agree with CB969 that we end up with Jackson and Rakestraw. Collins seems to want to stay home at Texas and, at this point, the Alabama front is a crowded field as it is.

Mike Shula is still coaching QBs.

The Denver Broncos on Tuesday named Mike Shula as the team’s quarterbacks coach.

Shula, who was the head football coach the University of Alabama from 2003-06, comes to the Broncos from the New York Giants, where he served as offensive coordinator under Pat Shurmur.

Shurmur was fired by the Giants on Dec. 30 and Shula was not retained by New York’s new coach, Joe Judge.

Shula’s hiring re-teams him with Shurmur, who is now Denver’s offensive coordinator.

Drew Lock will be his most recent pupil.

Mark Ingram apparently isn’t a fan of this viral picture of him standing next to Derrick Henry.

“That’s so whack. Obviously, he’s 6-4 with cleats on, pads, a helmet, and I’m 5-10. Obviously, you put him closer to the camera, put me further from the camera. The coin toss is in there, so I’m looking in there, looks like I’m looking at him sideways.

”Man, the whole thing was just a setup. They set me up. I get back to the sideline, I remember Landon Collins, he’s like, ‘Aw, they got you, bro.’ It was like 30 seconds. They got me, so y’all weak for that picture, whoever took that screenshot of the TV — it was a screenshot of the TV — so whoever did that come see me. I got some business with you.”

No need to get testy, Mark. It’s all in fun.

Nick Saban’s influence has reached MLB.

“I got about 30 minutes in his office, alone,” Ross said recently of Saban. “Just talking about sustained success. That constant drive.

”He never takes for granted the success he’s had. He’s always looking forward. What’s new? What’s to come? Where are their faults? Where can they improve, rather than focusing on the success they’ve had? That stood out to me.”

The process never changes.

Last, in case you missed it, check out this little Kiffin nugget.

He was left at that tarmac at LAX, and his stint as Alabama’s offensive coordinator ended between a College Football Playoff semifinal and the national championship game. In fact, during Alabama’s postseason run that season in 2016, Kiffin says he spoke by phone to then–LSU athletic director Joe Alleva, agreeing to become offensive coordinator in Baton Rouge under two conditions: (1) if the program hired then-interim coach Ed Orgeron as the full-time leader and (2) if Kiffin didn’t land a head coaching job that offseason (he did—at FAU).

Of all these things, Kiffin isn’t regretful—“I’m not big on living life with regrets,” he says—but, yes, he would “redo” some decisions if given the opportunity.

So, Lane acknowledges that he was speaking to a division rival AD about a lateral move while Alabama was in the playoff. Discuss.

That’s about it for now. Have a great day.

Roll Tide.