Re: CB Nigel Knott Updates
To consider this from a different angle ... how many of Alabama's really top-ranked players ever leave the state? I can remember two in the Saban era: Winston; Kwon Alexander -- and Alexander only left because we offered him a gray shirt after he got hurt and LSU gave him a full ride.
Number of players in 247Composite's top 10 recruits from the state to go elsewhere since 2008:
2016 - 4 committed
2015 - none
2014 - 1
2013 - 2
2012 - 5
2011 - 1
2010 - 1
2009 - none
2008 - 3
Compared to Mississippi recruits during that time:
2016 - 1 committed with 5 uncommitted
2015 - 1
2014 - 1
2013 - 2
2012 - 2
2011 - 2
2010 - 2
2009 - 2
2008 - 3
Alabama has seen 17 kids head out of state while Mississippi has seen 16 head elsewhere with the possibility of a few others. Seems like LSU has some luck getting kids from the southern part of the state since it would be closer than State or Ole Miss for many.
I'm sure there are a couple more. But the point is this: To out-of-state recruiters, Alabama has been the equivalent of Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road," every bit as much -- and more -- than what Mississippi has been for us. If Wilson and Davis stay in state after all this heavy flirting with Georgia and Florida, you don't think rival fan bases will be questioning how it all came about?
Considering Ben Davis has been considered a Bama lock since his recruitment started, no one would consider any shady happenings. Mack has been seen as a Bama lock even with the Florida talk. Analysts have continued to say "He likes Florida.... But I still see him at Alabama."
The thing about Mississippi kids - they can give every indication they are heading to Alabama or somewhere outside the state, yet end up going to Ole Miss or State at the very last second. CJ Hampton and Tony Conner are two perfect examples.