Blog: Recruiting: Alabama looks to bolster already strong DL

[JessN]

Recruiting: Alabama looks to bolster already strong DL
December 28th, 2008 11:29 PM

With a look at the offense finished, we now move to the defensive side of the ball, which has quickly been built into a strength by head coach Nick Saban.

The defensive line has overachieved for two years now, and many fans are hungrily looking at the 2009 season as the point at which the line steps up its game, particularly against the pass. Alabama is in the market for several ends and tackles. Here’s a breakdown:

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Defensive ends
Committed: William Ming, 6-5 260 4.7 Athens/Athens; Anthony Orr, 6-4 260 4.9 Harvest/Sparkman; Chris Bonds, 6-4 270 4.7 Columbia, S.C./Richland Northeast

Recruiting: Pernell McPhee, 6-4 265 4.7 Fulton, Miss./Itawamba CC (JUCO); Ed Stinson, 6-4 230 Homestead, Fla./South Dade Senior; Fletcher Cox, 6-4 240 4.6 Yazoo City, Miss./Yazoo City; Olivier Vernon, 6-3 240 4.6 Hialeah, Fla./American Senior; Montez Robinson, 6-4 230 4.6 Avon, Ind./Avon

Comments: Alabama already has its strongside ends covered in the commitments of Ming, Orr and Bonds. While Bonds could also play weakside end (and Orr, with some conditioning work), the fact that all but one player in the “Recruiting” group is in the 6-4, 240 range should tell you that Alabama wants at least one speed rusher and probably two. Of that group, Stinson, Cox and Vernon are considered to be interchangeable. Vernon is probably the most highly rated, nationally, of the three, but many believe Cox has the highest upside. Cox is currently a Mississippi State commitment but many believe Alabama can eventually turn him. Stinson will likely go to either Alabama or Florida State, and the Seminoles may have a slight lead for him. Vernon would be almost a longshot pull for Alabama, with Miami the chief competition, but Miami’s struggles and Alabama’s rise up the charts can’t be ignored. Robinson committed to Auburn once already and will probably still end up there, but Alabama will definitely pursue him, especially if two of the three prior names tell Alabama they’re heading elsewhere. There’s also the issue of the same threesome being Jack linebackers in Alabama’s scheme. As for McPhee, he’s cut more from the same cloth as those already committed, so an offer to him would likely come late in the process and be conditional on someone else not making it. Of the ones committed, Ming could also play tight end. Orr’s stock has fluctuated this year based on some bad playing habits he’ll need to break. Bonds is the best prospect of the three and a potential freak in the mold of Eric Curry, but he’s been injured often in high school and needs to stay healthy.

Darkhorses: Kendrick Washington, a Jack/weakside end tweener, claims an offer (depending on who’s telling the story) and could slip in late. He has a great frame and could grow into any number of positions, but he’s very rough around the edges and probably wouldn’t contribute for a year or two. DeQuinta Jones changes his list frequently and Alabama would absolutely take him if he’d come, but Alabama trails at least four other schools right now. He would project at either strongside end or tackle. Marlin Sims would love an Alabama offer but appears to be way down the pecking order right now. Terrence Coleman, an Auburn commitment, is on the perimeter of the DE search but will probably stick with the Tigers.

Verdict: Alabama holds onto the three it already has, pulls Cox from MSU and adds one more from the list. We’ll guess Stinson.

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Defensive tackles
Committed: Quinton Dial, 6-3 310 5.3 Pinson/Clay-Chalkville; Darrington Sentimore, 6-3 275 4.8 Destrehan, La./Destrehan

Recruiting: Brandon Moore, 6-5 315 5.2 Montgomery/G.W. Carver; William Campbell, 6-5 315 5.1 Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical

Comments: Dial is Alabama’s nose tackle of the future once Terrence Cody graduates. But it’s Darrington Sentimore that has opened the most eyes in the previous month. Sentimore projects either at the nose or as the off tackle in Alabama’s 4-2-5 nickel alignment. He has a high motor and the 4.8 speed is probably legitimate, even for his size. He may be one of the most underrated prospects in the country right now. Alabama’s recruiting list for players still uncommitted is pretty short. William Campbell is one of, if not the top tackle prospect in the country due to his speed. Even at 6’5”, 315, he runs at least a 5.1 and may be faster than that. Alabama is a distant fifth or sixth for his signature, though. That leaves Brandon Moore, who has played coy with Alabama all year. He is heavily sought by both Auburn and Florida and may actually be leaning to the Gators. If not, he’s no better than 50/50 at the moment. Alabama is turning up the heat for him, however, and he’s one of the Tide’s top targets down the stretch.

Darkhorses: Vinson Bass of Ellenwood, Ga., would be a lot higher up people’s lists if there weren’t academic questions. He’ll likely either get an offer from a lesser school like Mississippi State or Oklahoma State, or he may have to head to JUCO. For a player his size, he has good speed and is reminiscent of Alabama’s Josh Chapman. Deion Roberson’s chances probably ended when Alabama took a commitment from Sentimore. Chris Davenport is a highly rated prospect in the same mold of Dial and Moore, but is committed to LSU. It would be very difficult for Alabama to turn him this late.

Verdict: Alabama holds onto Dial and Sentimore and adds Moore.


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