Just a few quick hits to illustrate that our new staff is not just recruiting in Alabama, or the Southeast for that matter. Here are a few recruits that we're after (and there is mutual interest):
- Fred Matua (DT) - 6,3, 270, Wilmington, CA - one of top DL in country; literally offered by every top program; Alabama still on his list
- Donald Burgs (CB) - 5-11, 170, Houston, TX - reports offers from Alabama, Texas, Colorado, Miami, Oklahoma and A&M
- Kole McKamey (QB/WR) - 6-1, 185, Artesia, New Mexico - camped at Alabama as part of a national tour; camped at something like 9 schools; high school is top program in NMex (21 state championships); played QB as sophomore and threw for 2,200 yds; moved to WR as junior and was All-State, averaging over 25 yards per catch; will play QB this Fall; ran 10.7, good for second in state track championships.
- Willie Andrews (CB) - Longview, TX - favorites are Tennessee, Alabama and Texas. Unclear if we've offered.
- A.J. Davis (CB) - Durham, NC - thought by many to be top DB in country; recruited by Coach Torbush at UNC and still in contact; says that programs like Oklahoma, Michigan and Alabama are "right up there near the top"; big factor for him is also running track.
- Roshawn Pope (ATH) - 5-11, 180, Galvaston, TX) - yep, he's also a nephew of Asst. Coach Kenith Pope; plays QB in high school; district offensive player of year last season; will visit Alabama in July for camp; also looking at LSU, Miami, UCLA, Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma.
- Mark Guillion (QB) - 6-3, 185, Orinada, CA - one of top QBs in nation; listed on Tom Lemming's (ESPN) top 100 list; passed for 2,200 yds and 28 TDs last year; may camp at Alabama; also thought to have relatives in Tuscaloosa.
- Patrick Lowery (LB) - 6-2, 225, Davie Co., NC - father is good friend of Coach Torbush; just camped at Michigan where he was selected as a top LB; also interested in NC State; told by CCT that Alabama will be recruiting him hard this Fall.
- David Thomas (TE) - 6-3, 210, Wolforth, TX - one of top TEs in country; Alabama not listed among his favorites, but did confirm that Alabama coach did come by his school.
- Drew Lagow (LB) - 6-4, 235, Carroll, TX - offered by Arkansas (who he favors for the moment), also recruited by Alabama, Notre Dame, Vandy, Oklahoma and Texas; says that he will camp at Alabama this Summer.
- Ronnie Osborne (RB) - 6-2, 210, Piedmont, OK - All-State RB, has run for over 2,000 yards both as junior and senior; when last discussed recruiting, commented that Oklahoma, Michigan and Alabama recruiting him the hardest.
- Justin "Ricky" Blalock (OL) - 6-3, 305, Plano, TX - attends same high school as Charlie Peprah; recruited by Alabama and many, many others; rumored to be favoring Texas.
- Kellen Tillman (LB) - Plano, TX - favorites include Oklahoma (parents attended), Texas, A&M, FSU, Alabama, Texas Tech and West Virginia.
- Derrick Pope (LB) - 5-11, 215, Galvaston, TX (attends Garden City CC in Kansas) - also nephew of CKP; thought to be strong lean to Alabama; very, very fast
Lawrence Pinson (LB) - 6-2, 245, Tulsa, OK - attends Jenks H.S., a top program in the area; we recruited a top RB there last year; brother was at Minnesota, but transfered to Oklahoma, so looks like he will be a Sooner; reports offers from Alabama and several other top programs
- Vickiel Vaughn (DB) - 6-1, 185, Plano, TX - one of top DB prospects in country; offered by Alabama, Nebraska, A&M, Arkansas and many others; reports that Coach Fran and staff has been recruiting him since he was a sophomore.
- David Lofton (ATH) - Plano, TX - a website from Texas lists his favorites as Stanford, Texas, Nebraska, Alabama and Washington.
- Matthew Melton (ATH) - Tyler, TX - same website lists his favorites as Notre Dame, Nebraska, Texas, A&M and Alabama.
Sorry this is so long and please, please remember that it is very early. Offers are flying all over the place, some "take it or leave it", others left open. The point of the list is to show you how expansive our "recruiting map" has become.
RTR!
One more note - I am headed out of town on vacation. If I don't answer your questions this or next week, don't take it personally (g).
- Fred Matua (DT) - 6,3, 270, Wilmington, CA - one of top DL in country; literally offered by every top program; Alabama still on his list
- Donald Burgs (CB) - 5-11, 170, Houston, TX - reports offers from Alabama, Texas, Colorado, Miami, Oklahoma and A&M
- Kole McKamey (QB/WR) - 6-1, 185, Artesia, New Mexico - camped at Alabama as part of a national tour; camped at something like 9 schools; high school is top program in NMex (21 state championships); played QB as sophomore and threw for 2,200 yds; moved to WR as junior and was All-State, averaging over 25 yards per catch; will play QB this Fall; ran 10.7, good for second in state track championships.
- Willie Andrews (CB) - Longview, TX - favorites are Tennessee, Alabama and Texas. Unclear if we've offered.
- A.J. Davis (CB) - Durham, NC - thought by many to be top DB in country; recruited by Coach Torbush at UNC and still in contact; says that programs like Oklahoma, Michigan and Alabama are "right up there near the top"; big factor for him is also running track.
- Roshawn Pope (ATH) - 5-11, 180, Galvaston, TX) - yep, he's also a nephew of Asst. Coach Kenith Pope; plays QB in high school; district offensive player of year last season; will visit Alabama in July for camp; also looking at LSU, Miami, UCLA, Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma.
- Mark Guillion (QB) - 6-3, 185, Orinada, CA - one of top QBs in nation; listed on Tom Lemming's (ESPN) top 100 list; passed for 2,200 yds and 28 TDs last year; may camp at Alabama; also thought to have relatives in Tuscaloosa.
- Patrick Lowery (LB) - 6-2, 225, Davie Co., NC - father is good friend of Coach Torbush; just camped at Michigan where he was selected as a top LB; also interested in NC State; told by CCT that Alabama will be recruiting him hard this Fall.
- David Thomas (TE) - 6-3, 210, Wolforth, TX - one of top TEs in country; Alabama not listed among his favorites, but did confirm that Alabama coach did come by his school.
- Drew Lagow (LB) - 6-4, 235, Carroll, TX - offered by Arkansas (who he favors for the moment), also recruited by Alabama, Notre Dame, Vandy, Oklahoma and Texas; says that he will camp at Alabama this Summer.
- Ronnie Osborne (RB) - 6-2, 210, Piedmont, OK - All-State RB, has run for over 2,000 yards both as junior and senior; when last discussed recruiting, commented that Oklahoma, Michigan and Alabama recruiting him the hardest.
- Justin "Ricky" Blalock (OL) - 6-3, 305, Plano, TX - attends same high school as Charlie Peprah; recruited by Alabama and many, many others; rumored to be favoring Texas.
- Kellen Tillman (LB) - Plano, TX - favorites include Oklahoma (parents attended), Texas, A&M, FSU, Alabama, Texas Tech and West Virginia.
- Derrick Pope (LB) - 5-11, 215, Galvaston, TX (attends Garden City CC in Kansas) - also nephew of CKP; thought to be strong lean to Alabama; very, very fast
Lawrence Pinson (LB) - 6-2, 245, Tulsa, OK - attends Jenks H.S., a top program in the area; we recruited a top RB there last year; brother was at Minnesota, but transfered to Oklahoma, so looks like he will be a Sooner; reports offers from Alabama and several other top programs
- Vickiel Vaughn (DB) - 6-1, 185, Plano, TX - one of top DB prospects in country; offered by Alabama, Nebraska, A&M, Arkansas and many others; reports that Coach Fran and staff has been recruiting him since he was a sophomore.
- David Lofton (ATH) - Plano, TX - a website from Texas lists his favorites as Stanford, Texas, Nebraska, Alabama and Washington.
- Matthew Melton (ATH) - Tyler, TX - same website lists his favorites as Notre Dame, Nebraska, Texas, A&M and Alabama.
Sorry this is so long and please, please remember that it is very early. Offers are flying all over the place, some "take it or leave it", others left open. The point of the list is to show you how expansive our "recruiting map" has become.
RTR!
One more note - I am headed out of town on vacation. If I don't answer your questions this or next week, don't take it personally (g).