Alabama Football: After the Cookout what is next in recruiting

Alabama football fans were hoping for new commits from the second Champions Cookout. What happened and what is next for Crimson Tide recruiting.

The second Alabama football Champions Cookout came and went with no new verbal commits. While the Alabama football staff continued pursuit of a few top players, other schools stole the weekend headlines.

The biggest splash of the weekend was made by Georgia. The Bulldogs added commits from 5-Star RB, John Emery Jr. and 4-Star LB, Rian Davis. Both players had Alabama football offers. Neither was at the top of their position group on the Crimson Tide big board. Davis is said still planning a later official visit to Tuscaloosa.

Emery is the No. 2 RB in the nation per the 247Sports Composite. The Crimson Tide plans to either sign the No. 1 RB, Trey Sanders or perhaps not take another running back in the 2019 class. The real slap in the face from the Emery commit goes to Ed Orgeron. Emery is from Destrehan, LA.

Other weekend commits were Brendan Gant to FSU and Jeffery Carter to TAMU. Gant was once a Tide commit and was still being recruited. Carter is one of the Tide’s top CB targets.

Another top RB, committed to LSU, Tyrion Davis was expected to attend the Alabama football Cookout but did not make the trip. Auburn commit and Tide top WR target was expected to visit Tuscaloosa on Sunday. Pickens went to Auburn and FSU during the weekend but skipped Tuscaloosa.

Other top players who did not visit for the Champions Cookout were Trey Sanders, Evan Neal (5-Star OL) and Clay Webb (5-Star OL.) Sanders and Neal were not allowed to leave IMG Academy for the weekend. Webb chose to visit Georgia. He remains a projected future Tide commit.

What happened in T-Town

The second Champions Cookout was planned to have fewer players than the June event. Almost forty players from the 2019 and later classes made the trip.

Among the 2019 visitors, the top targets for the weekend were Darnell Wright, Wandale Robinson and Christain Harris. Darnell Wright and his mother spent almost three days in Tuscaloosa. The 5-Star, No. 2 rated OT will return for an official visit during the season. He appears to be months away from a decision.

Christian Harris also traveled with his mother. The 4-Star LB is a Tide take for an ILB position. Some insiders believe the Tide staff have or will soon press Harris for his decision. Wandale Robinson is also a take for the Tide.

Robinson is a 4-Star, rated by the recruiting groups as an all-purpose back. Alabama football is recruiting him as a slot receiver. Having already taken a commitment from one slot guy (John Metchie), there has been doubt the Tide would take another one. A bigger body WR, like Auburn commit, George Pickens was believed to be the Tide’s priority.

Robinson is too good to pass on for any other player. He is compared to Jaylen Waddle from the 2018 class. Some insiders go so far to say Wandale is potentially another David Palmer. Our best hunch is there is room in the class for one more WR and it will be Robinson. He will return for an official visit in late September. He might make a decision shortly after that official.

A couple of a weekend surprise

Alabama football is expected to have room for three (maybe four) more defensive linemen. Big names like Sopsher, Tuitele and Ika are often mentioned, as well TAMU commit, Leal. Another 4-Star, DT visited the Cookout. Jaquase Sorrells of Largo, FL was believed to be way down the Tide’s big board. If he was way down the board, he is no longer. Recent rumors are Tide coaches very much want Sorrells and will accept his commitment rather than waiting on all the bigger names.

It has been expected the three 5-Stars, Darnell Wright, Clay Webb and Evan Neal will have spots held for them in the 2019 class. With the current commits, the three above were thought to take up all the open OL slots. There is recent chatter, 4-Star OG, Darrian Dalcourt is another offensive lineman the Tide will take. We do not know if the interest in Dalcourt is driven by staff concern that Clay Webb will choose another school.

What is next?

The recruiting pace will slow down a bit until the season begins and more official visits are added. 5-Star safety Daxton Hill and 5-Star RB, Trey Sanders could make a decision in the next few weeks. The first big official visit weekend for the Tide will the TAMU game on Sept. 22. Wandale Robinson might come onboard that weekend. Christian Harris and if rumors are correct, Darrian Dalcourt may understand waiting with so few roster spots does not favor them.

The next NCAA Dead Period starts on Aug. 1. There is another top RB reported to be visiting Tuscaloosa before then. It is believed to be 4-Star, Ole Miss commit, Jerrion Ealy. The 2019 class is not expected to have room for Trey Sanders and Ealy.