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Alabama Football: Star recruits rolling to Tuscaloosa for evening game

By Ronald Evans

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: A general view during the SEC Championship game between the Florida Gators and the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: A general view during the SEC Championship game between the Florida Gators and the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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There are five big SEC vs. SEC games on Saturday but it is Alabama football that has the top recruits descending upon Tuscaloosa.

There are some very nervous coaches in the SEC and around the country and it has nothing to do with results of Saturday games. The games are important, more than one coach’s career could unravel with a loss. What scares most of the coaches more is the recruiting prowess of Nick Saban and Alabama football.

More than 75 recruits are expected in Tuscaloosa for the Ole Miss game. In that huge number are 20 recruits, verbally committed to other schools. Which explains the high number of nervous coaches from other programs.

All schools, Alabama football included, are vulnerable to recruits flipping their commitments before Signing Day(s). Season after season, Nick Saban and the Tide gain more ‘flips’ than are lost.

The schools with the nervous coaches are Ohio State, LSU, Kentucky, FSU, Florida, Michigan, Mississippi State, Missouri, Texas Tech, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Top Potential Flips to the Tide

  • Emory Jones – Quarterback; 5-Star – Verbal to Ohio State
  • Jarren Williams – Quarterback; 4-Star – Verbal to Kentucky
  • Emil Ekiyor – Offensive Tackle; 4-Star – Verbal to Michigan
  • Kelvin Joseph – Safety; 4-Star – Verbal to LSU
  • Jacob Copeland – Wide Receiver; 4-Star – Verbal to Florida
  • Jaycee Horn – Cornerback; 4-Star – Verbal to Tennessee
  • Brenton Cox – Defensive End; 5-Star – Verbal to Ohio State

Other Big Names Visiting T-Town

  • Bobby Brown – Defensive Tackle; 4-Star
  • Saivion Smith – Cornerback; 4-Star (JUCO)
  • Jaylen Waddle – Wide Receiver; 4-Star
  • Coynis Miller – Defensive Tackle; 4-Star
  • Justyn Ross – Wide Receiver; 5-Star
  • Harold Joiner – Running Back; 4-Star
  • Nadab Joseph – Cornerback; 4-Star
  • Adam Anderson – Linebacker; 4-Star

Biggest Name of all the Saturday Visitors

  • Justin Fields – Quarterback; 5-Star

Based on the 247Sports Composite, Fields is the No. 1 Overall player in the 2018 class. Fields originally committed to Penn State. In recent months recruiting experts have him trending to FSU and Georgia. Also in the mix for Fields are Florida, LSU and Auburn. Fields has 41 offers and his weekend trip to Tuscaloosa will be an official visit.

Best Chance for a Weekend (or soon after) Commitment

  • Saivion Smith – Alabama football needs a corner who can play immediately. The JUCO transfer appears to be the best option.
  • Emil Ekiyor – Not even Michigan will be surprised if Ekiyor flips to the Tide.

2019 Recruits

The Tide will be hosting over 30, 5-Star and 4-Star recruits at the Ole Miss game. The biggest names are Owen Pappoe (LB), Kardall Thomas (OG), Bru McCoy (ATH), Quavaris Crouch (RB), Ani Izuchukwu (DE) and (LB) King Mwikuta.

The Tide is very high on Mwikuta and a commitment soon would not surprise. Another 2019 recruit expected to choose Alabama football is Taulia Tagovailoa. He will also be in Tuscaloosa as a recruit and brother to Tua.

Next: 30 Great Tide Players who were 3-Star Recruits

Check out the current list of 2018 Football Commits. The NCAA Early Signing Period for basketball begins November, 8 and the new Early Signing Period for football begins December, 20.

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