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Alabama camp season: Stock risers
The summer camp season brought in many top recruits. Several who have moved up the recruiting board after getting evaluated in-person for the first time and several who have moved down. Andrew Bone takes a closer look at more than 10 recruits in the 2022 class who have improved their stock.
Insider Report: The latest after a big recruiting weekend!
Get the very latest inside scoop after a massive recruiting weekend in Tuscaloosa!
Florida tight end captures Alabama’s attention
Mason Taylor, four-star tight end from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, announced that he received an offer from Alabama after participating at the Crimson Tide”s camp on Monday afternoon.
“It’s huge,” Taylor said of his offer from Alabama. “A school like this, best in the nation, feels like where I belong.I don’t have any to come back yet, but I definitely plan on coming back in the fall.”
“Coach Saban thought I had a great day at camp. He said he saw my growth throughout the year in height and weight. He loved my ability to run and block.”
He measured 6-foot-4.5, 228-pounds during his time in Tuscaloosa. It was his first time ever visiting Alabama.
“I like everything about it,” Taylor said. “The coaches, the facilities and the people. It’s just a great place.”
Taylor spent time with former STA star Dallas Turner who recently arrived in Tuscaloosa to begin his freshman year with the Tide.
“Dallas actually took us to his dorm to see everything,” he said. “He likes it a lot. He tells me if you want to be the best you got to play with and be around the best.”
Alabama joins several others who have extended offers to the South Florida athlete. The Crimson Tide join schools like Arizona, Auburn, Illinois, Indiana, Miami, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Texas A&M and West Virginia.
Taylor will visit LSU on Tuesday, Florida on Wednesday and take a visit to West Virginia this weekend. He does not list any favorites at this time, but hopes to announce a decision by the end of the summer.”
Four-star LB earns Alabama offer
Raylen Wilson, 2023 four-star linebacker from Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Florida, has stayed hot this month with several new offers to his resume including UCF, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, N.C. State and Oregon. He added another one on Monday from the Crimson Tide.
Wilson posted on his Twitter account, “After a great talk and workout with Nick Saban I am blessed to earn an offer from The University of Alabama”. He spoke with BamaInsider shortly after he received his offer from the defending national champions.
“I think really highly of this school so the offer means a lot,” Wilson said. “Coach Saban said that he loved the player I am on and off-the-field. He said I am a top priority.”
Wilson measured 6-foot-1, 205-pounds and was clocked with a 4.64-forty. A very impressive time for the rising junior.
“Coach Golding and Coach Saban watched me go through drills,” he said. “I worked at inside linebacker. Coach Golding said I am one of his top priorities. I loved working with him I love how active he is.”
The offer list is impressive for the talented prospect from the Panhandle. He doesn’t have any top schools at the moment, but it’s safe to say Alabama has entered the mix as a top contender for his future signature.
“I will definitely come back,” Wilson said. “They want me back there for a home game. I like everything about Alabama especially the environment.”
Alabama extends offer to two-way lineman
Fitzgerlad West, three-star defensive tackle from Lafayette Christian Academy in Louisiana, posted on his Twitter account on Monday afternoon, “Extremely Blessed & Honored To Announce I’ve Received an Offer From THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.”
West met with Coach Saban after participating in the Tide’s camp on Monday. Coach Saban was impressed as he extended the Louisiana lineman an offer, but also said he wants to see him a little bit more this fall for a ‘game’ evaluation.
The visit was the third time West has visited Tuscaloosa. This was his opportunity to work out with Alabama defensive line coach Freddie Roach.
“I feel like I could have done better,” West said. “I liked his (Coach Roach) personality. I felt like I learned a little bit.”
He measured 6-foot-2, 315-pounds during his one-day trip to Alabama. West toured the campus, facilities and took photos prior to his departure.
“They were amazing,” West said regarding the facilities. “I like the culture they have there. It’s a great winning culture.”
West spent the day working out on the defensive side of the ball, but said that Alabama envisions him more as an offensive guard when he gets to the next level.
Another big week ahead for the Tide!
Alabama will host several five-stars this upcoming week including J.T. Tuimoloau and Denver Harris. Be sure to visit the recruiting board to see close to 30 recruits who are expected in town this week!
Five-star OL Zach Rice impressed by data numbers at Alabama
Zach Rice, five-star offensive tackle from Liberty Christian Academy in Lynchburg, Virginia, took his third official visit this weekend. Rice spoke with BamaInsider as he was boarding a plane to return home on Sunday afternoon.
“The visit was really good,” Rice said. “The biggest thing for me was just the overall data we were able to see where 9.7-percent of all athletes will get injured during their playing days in college, but Alabama has a 3.4-percent ratio.
“Alabama is doing what it takes to help prevent injuries. They have all the science stuff down there and really helps to show you how your body works. If I go there they can show every area of my body and what injuries I am prone to.”
Five-star Dani Dennis-Sutton recaps Alabama official visit
Dani Dennis-Sutton, five-star defensive end from McDonogh High School in Owings Mills, Maryland, took his third and final official visit this weekend to the University of Alabama. Dennis-Sutton went in-depth with BamaInsider about his first trip to Tuscaloosa.
“It was great,” Dennis-Sutton said. “It was fun. I see why they produce so many top guys. I talked to Coach Saban, Coach Roach and Coach Sal (Sunseri). They really showed me everything at Alabama. I see why it’s a winning culture.
“I hung out with Will Anderson and Chris Braswell. It was good to be around the players on the team. I really enjoyed myself. It’s definitely one of the best visits I’ve been on. They taught me the in-and-outs of the program. Will played as a true freshman and Chris is working hard to get out there. It was good to hear two different perspectives.
Five-star WR nugget
Luther Burden, the nation’s top receiver, was in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. He also plans on returning to Alabama this fall. Burden sheds a little light on his quick trip with the Tide.
Alabama remains favorite for Earl Little Jr.
It was a weekend to remember for Earl Little Jr.as he returned to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the third time during his high school career. The visit was a little different since he arrived on Thursday with his parents and remained at the Capstone until Sunday. It was an unofficial visit, and he will return for an official during the first weekend of November.
“I loved it,” Little said of his trip to Alabama. “I loved everything about it. They showed me around. I was greeted by random people even when I first arrived at the airport. It was great.
“I saw the facilities, the practice field and stadium. I walked around the campus. I spoke with the AD (Greg Byrne). I talked to all the coaches. I had a great one-on-one conversation with Coach Saban.”
Little has talked with Coach Saban on several occasions, mostly through Zoom calls during the spring. This time was different. He sat down with Coach Saban for more than an hour.
Rivals100 DE Quency Wiggins talks second visit to Alabama
“My biggest takeaway was just how serious they take football,” Wiggins said. “Sitting down talking to Coach Nick and the rest of the coaches, they just showed me how much they take it serious over there.
“[Saban] was just telling me about how they’d develop me into the player I want to be and get me to the next level. Not only get me to the next level but they can get me prepared for life after football. He told me the NFL stands for not for long. The NFL will only get me to a certain point, and then after that I’ll have to do something. He told me that going to Alabama will definitely benefit me in football and after it.”
Electric Texas wide receiver feels at home
Johntay Cook, 2023 Rivals100 wide receiver from Desoto High School in Texas, arrived at Alabama on Thursday with his parents. They did not leave Tuscaloosa until Sunday morning. It was his first time visiting Alabama.
“It was great,” Cook said. “It was everything I expected. We toured the facilities, talked to the coaches, talked to Coach Saban, took pics and watched them work out. The facilities were top-of-the-line.
“It was amazing. My mom and pops went with me. They liked it, too. Their only concern was how far it is from home. We knew what to expect from Bama and they exceed those expectations.”
Cook sat down with Alabama head coach Nick Saban during his four day visit. He also enjoyed the time he spent with wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins.
“Coach Saban was talking a lot about academics, discipline and leadership,” he said. “Coach Saban was real serious, but he told me he liked my game and they only recruit kids who they can see on an NFL team. I felt pretty good about hearing that from the GOAT.
“Coach Wiggins was cool. He is solid. I can definitely get better with him. The best part of the visit was just watching the players work-out. It was ‘hella’ competition.”
Desoto High School was scheduled to compete in Alabama’s seven-on-seven tournament on Saturday, but the event was cancelled due to torrential rain in Tuscaloosa. Cook experienced a few days without rain at Capstone including a cook-out on Friday.
The event featured plenty of heavy hitters on the menu like ribs, wings, baked beans and the always favorite, mac-n-cheese. Cook said the wings stole the spotlight.
“Honestly, it felt like home,” he said. “I can see myself playing there. It’s a football factory, and they have one of the top business schools in the country.
“It was good bonding with some of the players and other recruits. I built a pretty good relationship with Javon (Baker) while I was there. He said it’s (Alabama) is the place to be.”
Cook doesn’t have any favorites at the moment, but said if he did Alabama is in his top five. He plans to return to Tuscaloosa on November 6 for the Tide’s home game against LSU. He plans to take trips to LSU and Ohio State this month.
In-state edge rusher has Alabama on top after visit
Yhonzae Pierre grew up cheering for the Crimson Tide. The Euphala, Ala. native is the cousin of former Alabama great Courtney Upshaw and spent his childhood watching as the Tide built up college football’s greatest dynasty under Nick Saban.
This weekend, Pierre got a taste of what life in crimson and white would be like as he visited Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the first time on Friday.
It’s safe to say the class of 2023 edge rusher felt right at home.
“It was amazing, I ain’t going to lie to you,” Pierre said. “I loved it. It’s a nice big campus, and I like the way they do stuff. They were telling me about the school and how it’s a good academic school.
