Alabama Football: It’s flip and get flipped time in recruiting
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football has verbal commits other schools want to flip and some targets the Crimson Tide wants to flip from commitments to other schools.
It is flipping frenzy time in college football recruiting. Alabama football has to fight other schools flipping current Crimson Tide commits. The Tide seeks to be a ‘flipper’ rather than a ‘flipee’ while chasing at least one top target. Last year offers a bitter reminder of the disappointment for fans and the roster damage to the program from last minute flips.
One Alabama football commit is widely believed not to be signing with the Crimson Tide on Wednesday. Christian Williams, 4-Star CB from Daphne, AL will likely sign with LSU. The Bengal Tigers will play it up as a flip. It is more awareness by one or both of Williams and the Tide staff the recruit would have more playing opportunities somewhere else.
An actual flip could occur on Wednesday with 4-Star, Khris Bogle choosing Miami over Alabama football. The Tide staff does not want to lose Bogle but Manny Diaz has pressed Bogle hard to remain in South Florida for college.
Two other Alabama football commits are expected to hold firm and sign with the Crimson Tide. Byron Young, 4-Star DT from Mississippi took all his official visits after committing to the Crimson Tide last summer. Those visits, one as recent as last weekend, were to Florida, Tuscaloosa, Starkville, Baton Rouge, and Oxford MS. Young is a top priority for the Tide staff and it appears he is solid and will sign with the Tide on Wednesday.
The Tide’s other verbal commit, 4-Star, RB, Keilan Robinson alarmed some Alabama football fans by visiting USC last weekend. USC would like to flip him but that does not seem likely. Some fans worry if the Tide lands 5-Star, RB Jerrion Ealy, Robinson will choose another school. Tide insiders say landing Ealy will have no impact on Robinson.
Alabama Football Flip Targets
The Tide staff is very interested in FSU commit, 4-Star, DE Quashon Fuller. Based upon Fuller’s tweets after last weekend’s trip to Tuscaloosa, Quashon is also very high on Alabama football. Rumors persist his mother wants him at FSU.
4-Star, OT Javonne Shepherd is another flip possibility for the Tide. Shepherd is a Texas commit. Despite very tight numbers, some insiders believe the Tide will take Shepherd if he decides to flip.
The Tide staff has worked hard to flip 4-Star, DT Nathan Pickering from Mississippi State. At this point, the Tide chances can be best defined as a longshot.
Will there be Wednesday surprises? There will be some surprises because decisions are not firm for many players. Even if Bogle and Robinson were to flip, it would not be like season. In their place, Nick Saban would likely add other top players. In the end, the Tide will probably finish with the No. 1 class. In the worst case for Wednesday, the Tide’s 2019 class would be ranked No. 2.
Next. It's go or no go time for Avery and the Tide. dark
Bama Hammer will track every recruiting development closely. On Tuesday night, we’ll even offer an opinion on what will happen on Wednesday.