Tomorrow’s All-American: Cyrus Jones And Landon Collins

The Under Armour All-America game recently held in Orlando, Florida has become the premier event for up-and-coming high school football players to showcase their talents, and it’s the last chance for players to improve their recruiting stock.

The All-America game also offers a national stage for top tier prospects to make their college destinations known and share in that moment with their families. They get a much deserved moment in the spotlight by announcing during the game, and it adds appeal for viewers and fans. Many prospects keep the media guessing about where they will ultimately play college football to add to the drama of the announcement process.

The Tide picked up two of the most sought-after recruits in the nation during the 2012 Under Armour game in Cyrus Jones and Landon Collins.

* * * *

Jones made his college destination known just minutes before intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown. He is a versatile player with the ability to play on offense or defense, but the Crimson Tide wants the ball in his hands in Tuscaloosa. Jones will begin his college career at Alabama playing receiver and will likely have a shot at returning kicks. Jones played everywhere the coaches asked him to play during his high school career lining up at cornerback, running back, slot receiver and was deadly returning punts and kickoffs.

Jones, who stands 5-foot 11-inches and weighs 185 pounds, is lightning quick. During his senior year he rushed for 948 yards and had 635 yards receiving for Gilman School in Maryland. He is an electrifying playmaker when he gets the ball in space and with senor receiver Marquis Maze graduating, Jones will have an opportunity to step right in as a freshman.

Jones runs in the low 4.40-forty range and could stand to gain a little weight to add to his durability. He has the mental makeup to become a star at the college level and an internal fire to make his own name that will serve him very well under Coach Saban.

Urban Meyer tried to get Jones to visit Ohio State late in the process after being hired by the Buckeyes, and almost had Jones’ attention, until he said he could turn him into a “Percy Harvin type player.” He didn’t bite on the comparison and informed the media that he didn’t want to be turned into someone else; he wanted to make his own name in the sport. He is quiet young man who usually doesn’t engage in trash talk, but he plays with an intensity and fire reminiscent of Javier Arenas. Jones has great straight line speed and the ability to stop, change directions and accelerate to full speed in just a few steps. He displays good leaping ability and catches the ball very well.

Jones has all the tools to be a solid replacement for Marquis Maze early on in his Tide career. I see him ultimately playing at about 200 pounds; he is already a very muscular kid with low body fat and the frame to support fifteen more pounds without compromising speed or agility. He plays with determination rarely seen at the high school level and he should have no trouble making his mark on the college football world.

Jones cited several reasons for choosing the Tide over the other thirty schools vying for his services, but Alabama’s success preparing players for the NFL was too much to pass up.

* * * *

Just days before Alabama was set to face off against LSU in the BCS title game, they won a huge battle on the recruiting trail when Louisiana’s top prospect committed to the Tide during the Under Armour game.

Landon Collins, out of Dutchtown in Louisiana, named the Tide and Tigers as his favorites throughout most of the recruiting process and sparked a fierce recruiting battle between the divisional foes. Landon’s announcement was one of the most anticipated announcements of the 2012 class and with an entire nation watching it turned into one of the most controversial.

Seconds after Collins committed to the Crimson Tide, his mother stole the spotlight with her disapproval of his decision, stating that she would prefer he attend in-state LSU. Speculation about his recruitment immediately set in with many people believing his mother would win out and get her wish by the time signing day rolls around. Angry LSU fans lashed out at Collins and his girlfriend following his announcement with a barrage of rude comments and even threats, forcing them both to delete their Twitter accounts. His last Tweet referred to him seeing LSU fans’ “true colors,” and any hope the Tigers coaches had of him switching his commitment to LSU likely died at the hands of their very own fans.

Collins is not only the top player in Louisiana, he is the nation’s number one safety prospect, and some analysts believe he may be the top player in the country. Standing an even six feet tall and weighing 210 pounds, Collins’ 4.39-forty yard dash and freakish athletic ability make him an elite player in every sense of the word. He has amazing ball skills and football instincts at the safety position, and his athleticism makes his lack of ideal height a non-issue.

He has a good, solid frame that allows him to press the line in run support and act like another linebacker. He is very physical at the point of attack, has good tackling ability and is known as a punishing defender. The speed he possesses allows him to cover the entire defensive backfield, and his ball skills serve him well when he is in man coverage.

Offensive coordinators often try and force defenses to use a safety in man coverage to create mismatches, but Collins takes that option away with his cover skills. He was a standout offensive player in high school as well as being an elite safety, and if he gets his hands on the ball he can score from anywhere on the field. Some fans will see his video and suggest he would be just as good a running back as he would be a safety, but it would take an act of congress to get Nick Saban to turn him over to the offense.

Mark Barron set a very high standard for future safeties at Alabama, and with him heading to the NFL, Collins could make an immediate impact. The Tide uses several defensive packages allowing them to get the playmakers on the field and create an advantage defensively. This will give Landon a chance to work his way into the rotation slowly until he learns the defensive playbook.

He doesn’t compare to any previous Tide safeties, but is similar to HaSean Clinton-Dix, last year’s number one safety prospect. Collins may be more physically advanced than HaSean was coming in although not as tall.

Barron was a physical nightmare for opposing players, but due to his size he didn’t match up well on speedy receivers. Landon and Clinton Dix both have the ability to be just as physical and the athleticism to match up with anyone. Adding Collins to the Alabama secondary makes it the most talented, athletic unit in the country immediately.

The addition of Collins and Jones thrust Alabama’s 2012 recruiting class to the top of the national rankings and with one or two precious spots left, Alabama should finish with the number one class again in 2012.

We will keep a close eye on the remaining possibilities and post the latest updates as they become available. I was able to confirm through a source close to the Tide staff that defensive end prospect Korren Kirven is Alabama’s number one remaining target, due to positional need and potential. Kirven is expected to announce on signing day and with Alabama making him a priority he could be the final addition in 2012.