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Alabama Football Recruiting: Update on top defensive prospects

By Ronald Evans

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 17: Fans cheer as coach Nick Saban leads the Alabama Crimson Tide out of the locker room for a game against North Texas on September 17, 2011 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 17: Fans cheer as coach Nick Saban leads the Alabama Crimson Tide out of the locker room for a game against North Texas on September 17, 2011 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football player, Levi Wallace
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Cornerback and Safety

Cornerback is the highest priority in the 2018 class. Alabama football will lose both starting corners in Levi Wallace and Anthony Averett. Seniors Hootie Jones and Tony Brown, along with probable NFL early entries Ronnie Harrison and Minkah Fitzpatrick will need replacements.

The current roster includes promising backups, though most will likely play, safety, money or star: Trevon Diggs; Shyheim Carter; Deointe Thompson; Nigel Knott; Daniel Wright; Kyriq McDonald and Xavier McKinney. Other than maybe Trevon Diggs, no current player appears on track to start at corner in 2018.

The Tide has a verbal from Jalyn Armour-Davis. The 4-Star is the No. 16 rated CB in the nation. Jalyn is still being recruited by Auburn and others but is believed to be firm to the Tide.

Hottest Cornerback Prospects

  •  Tyson Campbell – CB; 5-Star; No. 3 CB and No. 23 Overall. Campbell is from Ft. Lauderdale, FL and most pundits have Miami as his leader. Tide coaches are reported to be confident. Other threats are Ohio State, Georgia and Clemson.
  • Saivion Smith – CB; 4-Star; No, 1 CB and No. 2 Overall JUCO from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Alabama football appears to be in a strong position for Smith, who could start for the Tide in 2018. He will not transfer until May so it could be awhile before he announces a decision.

Other High Priorities

Alabama football will take three corners and possibly four in 2018.

  • Patrick Surtain – CB; 5-Star; No. 1 CB and No. 4 Overall. Surtain is a teammate of Campbell. He has 33 offers. LSU was once believed to be his leader. Currently, FSU, Clemson and Ohio State are factors competing with the Tide. Expect Surtain to have an Alabama football offer held for him until the end.
  • Nadab Joseph – CB; 4-Star; No. 21 CB and No. 212 Overall. At this point, Joseph looks like a two-way battle with Georgia. Alabama football is thought to be the clear leader. It is not known if the Tide will let Joseph commit at this point.
  • FLIP WATCH – Josh Jobe – CB; 4-Star; No. 12 CB and No. 91 Overall. Jobe is a Miami commit. He is scheduled to take an official visit to Tuscaloosa for the LSU game. Michigan is also chasing Jobe.

Other CB Possibilities

  • FLIP WATCH – Jaycee Horn – CB; 4-Star; No. 23 CB and No. 218 Overall. Horn is a Tennessee commit. Clemson, South Carolina, and Georgia join Alabama in trying to flip Horn from the Vols.  It is not known if the Tide would let Horn commit at this point.
  • Issac Taylor-Stuart – CB; 4-Star; No. 4 CB and No. 26 Overall. USC is the clear leader for Taylor-Stuart. Alabama football, Texas A&M, Nebraska and Ohio State are trying to catch up with the Trojans.

Safety

  • Kelvin Joseph – CB; 4-Star; No. 8 CB and No. 49 Overall. Joseph is from Baton Rouge. He de-committed from the Bengal Tigers earlier this month and quickly took an official visit to FSU. Alabama football is believed to be recruiting Joseph as a safety. It looks to be an FSU, Tide, Clemson and maybe LSU battle.
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