SEC-W Recruiting Updates

[jbcarol]

Calvin Ridley

School: Monarch (Pompano Beach, Fla.)

Position: Wide receiver

Height/weight: 6-foot, 170 pounds

Other schools: Miami, Florida State

247Sports composite ranking: Five-star recruit, nation's No. 1 receiver and No. 11 overall recruit

How he fits into Alabama's plans: Ridley is another longtime commitment, but had to miss all but three games of his senior year because he was too old for Florida high school ball. Ridley is an elite talent in the mold of Amari Cooper...

[NaturalStateReb]

4-star LB Jeffrey Holland has signed with Auburn

[jbcarol]

John Talty @JTalty  ·  1 hour ago

Alabama has locked up the top recruiting class, per @247Sports. Saban triumphs again.

[jbcarol]

Ross Dellenger @DellengerAdv  ·  7 minutes ago

Told WR Brandon Martin not expected to sign. Will likely go straight to JUCO. Who knows, though. #LSU Croot'n.


Prime Prep

[NaturalStateReb]

5-star DE CeCe Jefferson has signed with Florida.

[jbcarol]

Ross Dellenger @DellengerAdv  ·  1 minute ago

Was told no. RT @Johsc24: @DellengerAdv did LSU send LOI to iman Marshall?

[jbcarol]

 Ross Dellenger @DellengerAdv  ·  29m 29 minutes ago

#LSU's composite star breakdown:

5 stars: 2
4 stars: 11
3 stars: 9
2 stars: 2

[jbcarol]

Shea Dixon @Sheadixon  ·  2 hours ago
#LSU has landed a commitment from punter Josh Growden. That's 20 for 2015. NSD just a couple days away. #Bolts http://lsu.247sports.com/Bolt/Growden-gets-on-board-35297828 ...

Brad Wing @bwing38  ·  2 hours ago
ANOTHER Aussie punter to LSU. 3 in a row...

Blake Ferguson @thefergsnapper  ·  2 hours ago
Welcome to the family brother! @JGrowler can't wait to snap to you for four years!!

Cody Worsham @CodyWorsham

Miles: I've gone for three straight punters from Australia. We scoured the entirety of South Australia to find someone chasing kangaroos.
6:42 PM - 4 Feb 2015

[jbcarol]

GoGamecocks.com @gogamecocks  ·  15 hours ago

Ranking the SEC signing classes. http://www.gogamecocks.com/2015/02/04/677086/signing-day-2015-ranking-the-sec.html ...

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  19 hours ago

Defensive tackle, linebacker are priorities for LSU in 2016 class http://es.pn/1Kjjnu3

Only three days after national signing day, LSU will stage its "Boys From the Boot" recruiting weekend where it will host many of the state's up-and-coming prospects -- so getting the state's top talent on campus this weekend became an immediate top priority.

"We'll have guys from 2016, 2017 from the state of Louisiana here on our campus," LSU recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson said Wednesday afternoon, "and so we've got Thursday, Friday, we're fighting like hell to get those guys here on campus, and Saturday it's showtime."

[jbcarol]

ESPN CollegeFootball @ESPNCFB  ·  17 hours ago

SEC dominated #SigningDay, with the most ESPN 300 recruits by a large margin

[jbcarol]

TexAgs @TexAgs  ·  13 hours ago

BREAKING: Braden Mann, the nation's 2nd-ranked kicker in 2016, has committed to Texas A&M ...

[jbcarol]

Ross Dellenger @DellengerAdv  ·  11 hours ago

From @RabalaisAdv: Miles blows off steam at #LSU Bash. Award-winning graf here 'bout croot'n - http://bit.ly/1KlJYXw 

"If he finds a way to wiggle out of the finest state in America, if he finds a way not to enjoy Louisiana ... to hell with him," Miles said.

[jbcarol]

Baton Rouge Central WR Terrell Chatman has signed with ASU.  Many thought he would land at LSU or TCU.

[jbcarol]

Drew Champlin @DrewChamplin  ·  39 minutes ago

Wrote about some 2016 Alabama QB targets because of course it's never too early http://ow.ly/IO9VL

TOP QUARTERBACK TARGET

Shea Patterson (6-foot-2, 195 pounds | Shreveport, La.)

Alabama usually pulls in one of two top Louisiana prospects and of Alabama's QB targets, Patterson is the highest-rated at five stars (and that's why he's listed as the top quarterback target here) and No. 18 overall in the 247Sports composite. He was once committed to Arizona but decommitted after his brother was hired to the LSU staff. Reporters are coming out that Sean Patterson has resigned (debunked by his father three days ago) for a position at Ole Miss. Look for LSU, Ole Miss and Auburn to be among the top contenders along with Alabama. Patterson is close with top receiver Mykel Jones and Alabama is after both.

247 Crystal Ball  Ole Miss 54%  LSU 23% ...

RETURNING QUARTERBACKS (with 2016 class)

Alec Morris (Sr.), Cooper Bateman (Jr.), David Cornwell (So.), Blake Barnett (RFr. or So.)

2015 QUARTERBACK SIGNEES

Blake Barnett

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  3 hours ago

SEC junior college signees to watch http://es.pn/1ygTKSd

DT Jeremiah Ledbetter, Arkansas: The Razorbacks hit the jackpot last year when they signed Sebastian Tretola from junior college. Why not try it again? Bret Bielema already said he expects the 6-foot-3, 280-pound Ledbetter to come in and play right away on the defensive line. After all, it's a unit that lost two starters in Darius Philon and Trey Flowers. Ledbetter is better suited to play inside and take the place of Philon.

[jbcarol]

6-4 2016 NOLA S Clifford Chattman gave a verbal to LSU.

[jbcarol]

John Garcia Jr. @JohnGarcia_Jr  ·  7 hours ago
3-star Buhl (Ala.) Sipsey Valley LB Edwaun McNeil says he's accepted an academic scholarship to #Bama, will walk-on

[jbcarol]

Drew Champlin @DrewChamplin  ·  Feb 11
Alabama's Mario Cristobal earns clean sweep from recruiting services as national Recruiter of the Year http://ow.ly/ITNvs

[jbcarol]

John Talty @JTalty  ·  23 hours ago

Lots of hub-bub today about Rivals adding two sixth-graders to its database http://ow.ly/J8S5c


Daron Bryden, 5-2 pro-style QB from the Class o' '21 (LEFT)
Tyson Thornton, 5-11 RB from Springfield, MS

[jbcarol]

John Talty @JTalty  ·  4 hours ago

What precedent is Rivals setting making 6th grade profiles? I talked to @jcshurburtt @SBNRecruiting for insight: http://ow.ly/Jih6y

Daron Bryden becoming one of two sixth-graders added to Rivals.com's database this week was an accomplishment years in the making.

Whether that's good or bad depends on who you ask.

Bryden is a 5-foot-2, 105-pound "pro-style" quarterback from Enfield, Conn. In the widely circulated photo on his Rivals profile, he looks every bit like the kid he is.

Craig Bryden, Daron's father, has been generating media attention for his son for years.

Craig, who is deaf and never played football, is pleased with the results.

JC Shurburtt, a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, understands why Rivals put up profiles of the two sixth-graders, but believes it could be dangerous for the players.

"It's a dangerous precedent to get data on a sixth grader out there because it might follow you around," Shurburtt said.

[jbcarol]

Drew Champlin @DrewChamplin  ·  5 hours ago
Quick post - Clay-Chalkville receiver T.J. Simmons commits to Alabama  http://ow.ly/JlbJ5

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound star receiver from Clay-Chalkville High School was offered by Alabama and committed to the Crimson Tide today, per the school's football Twitter account.

Simmons is the fourth Class of 2016 commitment for the Crimson Tide.

[NaturalStateReb]

John Talty @JTalty  ·  4 hours ago

What precedent is Rivals setting making 6th grade profiles? I talked to @jcshurburtt @SBNRecruiting for insight: http://ow.ly/Jih6y

That's out of control.  They look like they're gearing up for the Hunger Games.

Sixth graders don't need that kind of pressure.  Anyone else think that dad "garnering media attention for years" for a sixth-grade kid is weird?  I think it's way weird.

[jbcarol]

John Talty @JTalty  · 

Huge for Ole Miss to get Shea Patterson committed. That's a difference-maker right there.

[jbcarol]

Shea Dixon @Sheadixon  ·  2 hours ago

BREAKING: 5-star CB Saivion Smith has announced his commitment to #LSU.

[WyomingTiger8888]

MaxPreps @MaxPreps 
  ·   2h  2 hours ago   
Saivion Smith, the No. 1 CB in 2016, commits to LSU. Highlights:
http://t.maxpreps.com/1JHX0Bz 

[jbcarol]

Riley Blevins @Riley_Blevins  ·  Feb 25

5-star OLB RT @bendavis_1: My Top 7 schools. No order



6-4 230, 96-rated 5-star from Gordo.

[jbcarol]

Missed last week that LSU got an '18 verbal from Somerset TX QB Zadock Dinkelmann.

[jbcarol]

'16 3-star  6-6 Humble TE Zarrian Holcombe gave a verbal to A&M.

[jbcarol]

Richard Davenport @ArRecruitingGuy  ·  4 hours ago

Capps calls the Hogs: Star City defensive lineman Austin Capps has publicly committed to Arkansas. http://bit.ly/1Gj6xsN

[jbcarol]

Drew Champlin @DrewChamplin  ·  2 hours ago
4-star OL Jean Delance, who decommitted from Oklahoma after racist video surfaced, earns Alabama offer http://ow.ly/K7KT1

[jbcarol]

Javious7⃣1⃣bardney retweeted
Drew Champlin @DrewChamplin  ·  12 hours ago
Mississippi offensive lineman Javious Bardney has Alabama in top 2 http://ow.ly/KcgsQ

The offensive lineman from Callaway High School in Jackson, Miss., got an offer from Alabama on Feb. 24.

"They offered me on my birthday," Bardney said. "It was like a blessing from God to receive that on my birthday."

The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Bardney is rated as a three-star recruit in the 247Sports composite. He has offers from Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and said he had interest from Auburn, Missouri, Arkansas and others.

[jbcarol]

Hunter Paniagua @HunterPaniagua  ·  4 hours ago

2016 four-star safety Cam Lewis has committed to LSU

[jbcarol]

Shea Dixon @Sheadixon  ·  4 hours ago

#LSU has just moved up to the No. 4 class in the country in the @247Sports Team Rankings. #Bolts http://lsu.247sports.com/Bolt/LSU-now-has-No-4-class-36136839 ...

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  6 hours ago
Dear Chicken: Check out this incredible Texas A&M recruiting letter from 1919 http://es.pn/1L2uLOR

Click to enlarge:

[jbcarol]

Drew Champlin @DrewChamplin  ·  31 minutes ago
Thought it was interesting Alabama offered Gene Stallings' grandson recently http://ow.ly/KveDt

Gene Stallings led Alabama to the 1992 national championship. Now, Alabama coaches are hoping his grandson will join the Crimson Tide and help add to its championship legacy.

J.C. Chalk, a 3-star tight end recruit from Argyle, Texas...

[jbcarol]

Michael Carvell @Carvell_AJC  · 
It's hard to report on early football offers because I'd conservatively guess 80% (especially from out-of-state schools) are NON-commitable

[jbcarol]

 Courtney Cronin @CourtneyRCronin  ·  40m 40 minutes ago

Mississippi State added depth to its O-Line with a commitment from 2016 guard Dareuan Parker last night. http://www.clarionledger.com/story/recruitingreport/2015/03/30/dareuan-parker-commits-msu/70703724/ ...

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  16h 16 hours ago
The Top 12 Auburn vs. Alabama recruiting battles, ranked | http://ow.ly/Lbno3 

1. Lyndell Wilson, 5-star linebacker
Wilson is the top dog Alabama and Auburn are pining over, mainly because he does not have family ties to the schools...

[jbcarol]

4-star '16 Folsom OT Jonah Williams gave a verbal to Bama.

[jbcarol]

 Zach Abolverdi @ZachAbolverdi  ·  16h 16 hours ago

#UF has offered WR Tyrie Cleveland (6-3, 189). The Texas A&M commit is a consensus four-star recruit. #Gators #Aggies

[jbcarol]

 Richard Davenport @ArRecruitingGuy  ·  18h 18 hours ago

Hammonds commits to the Hogs: Pulaski Robinson junior athlete T.J. Hammonds has committed to Arkansas. http://bit.ly/1aCnPao

McTelvin Agim @So_Splash  ·  16h 16 hours ago

Congrats to my family @Just_Theron on committing to Arkansas today! He gone ball out!!

[jbcarol]

 Drew Champlin @DrewChamplin  ·  34m 34 minutes ago

Spoke with Texas cornerback Jared Mayden @MaydenII about his Alabama visit and recruiting options - http://ow.ly/LxJYt

With the additions of Maurice Smith, Tony Brown and Kendall Sheffield, Alabama has gone into Texas and snagged a high-profile defensive back in each of the last three recruiting classes.

This year, one to watch is Sachse four-star recruit Jared Mayden.

Mayden made a trip to Tuscaloosa last Friday to watch practice with 2018 teammates Jalen Mayden (his brother, a quarterback) and receiver Drue Jackson and Jordan Whaley, a rising senior receiver from Wylie.

"Pretty much everything stood out," Mayden said. "It lent (credence) to what people say about Alabama. It was all that, weight room, facility, (they) practice hard, structured practice, pretty much everything people say about Alabama and what you think about it was pretty much it."

The 6-foot, 190-pound Mayden is rated as the No. 143 prospect nationally and the No. 13 prospect in the state of Texas in the 247Sports composite. He just earned his 40th offer last week when Miami called.

"(Alabama coaches) like my size and my speed, as big as I am," he said.

Mayden and his  group also went to Mississippi State after his Alabama visit.

"It was nice," Mayden said. "I didn't really expect it to be as big as it was. It was a pretty big campus. Even the stadium was pretty big. I didn't expect it to be that big."

[jbcarol]

'16 3-star South Grand Prairie safety Greg Eisworth gave a verbal to Ole Miss.

[jbcarol]

 Brian Perroni @Perroni247  ·  6h 6 hours ago

4-star WR Tyrie Cleveland has decommitted from #TAMU. Watch out for #GoCoogs and #UF...

[jbcarol]

John Talty @JTalty  ·  13h 13 hours ago

3-star TE Brendan Scales is the newest Alabama commit: http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2015/04/tight_end_brendan_scales_commi.html ...

Scales, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound recruit from Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Mo., was offered earlier this week. He told AL.com that he was making a trip to Tuscaloosa this weekend.

Scales is a three-star recruit on the 247Sports composite. He becomes Alabama's sixth verbal commitment for the 2016 class. Last year, Alabama signed tight end Hale Hentges from Missouri.

Scales had offers from the likes of Arizona State, Arkansas, Michigan State, Iowa and others.

[jbcarol]

 Richard Davenport @ArRecruitingGuy  ·  2h 2 hours ago

Kelley commits to Arkansas: Quarterback Cole Kelley, 6-7, 240 of Lafayette, (La.) Teurlings Catholic has commi... http://bit.ly/1cIo2dr

Richard Davenport @ArRecruitingGuy  ·  2h 2 hours ago

Hog QB commit @ColeKelley10 believes OC @DanEnosUA is very creative and likes to take risks. Really likes the offense.

Richard Davenport @ArRecruitingGuy  ·  28m 28 minutes ago

Doubt Arkansas is done adding #LouisianaHogs to 2016 class. Could add more. @CoachMichaelSmi and @DanEnosUA double teamed @ColeKelley10

[jbcarol]

Bret Bielema @BretBielema  ·  4h 4 hours ago
Great to call the hogs all the way from Lafayette, LA! Building it one day at a time with young men who want to #BeUncommon #WoooPig

[WyomingTiger8888]

http://www.nola.com/recruiting/index.ssf/2015/04/lsu_ed_alexander.html


St. Thomas Aquinas 2016 defensive tackle Edwin Alexander was a one-time LSU commitment but backed off of his commitment soon after. But Saturday at the LSU spring game, Alexander reaffirmed his commitment to the Tigers, according to two sources close to the DT.

The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Alexander was identified early in his career by LSU and fills a huge need by the Tigers.

Alexander is considered a five-star prospect by ESPN and 247 and a four-star according to Rivals. He's widely considered one of the top defensive tackles in the country.

Just this week, Alexander's St. Thomas Aquinas teammate, quarterback Cameron Dantzler, said that the DT "sets the tone" for the team.

"He sets the tone for us on defense. He helps everybody make a big play. ... He just helps everybody out on the defense side," Dantzler said.

[jbcarol]

 Drew Champlin @DrewChamplin  ·  8h 8 hours ago

5-star running back Najee Harris becomes Alabama's first 2017 commitment http://ow.ly/LNElK

Najee Harris, a five-star recruit rated as the No. 16 overall player and No. 2 running back in the 247Sports composite, gave a verbal to the Crimson Tide coaching staff while on a visit to Alabama's A-Day game...

Harris is from Antioch, Calif., and picked Alabama over several major offers, including Michigan, UCLA and USC.

Tosh Lupoi, Alabama's outside linebackers coach with plenty of west coast ties, was Harris' primary recruiter.