Okay, as stated in my very first report, Recruiting 101, Shula's #1 goal was to close the borders and it is quite evident that he has been successful.
With that said let's look at who is committed and who will/might commit soon and what are their academic standings.
Commitments: (16)
Expected to fully Qualify Commitments: (9)
N. Walker
J. Britt
C. Davis
T. Davidson
B. Stabler
JP Wilson
C. Turner
W. Oakley
T. Robinson
Commitments close to Qualifying: (5)
N. Stover
E. Knight
A. Johns
A. McDaniel
C. Dawson
Likely headed to prep or JC: (2)
K. Hamilton
J. Holifield
Projected to sign with the Tide: (6)
A. Caldwell - OL (C) - qualified announcing 1/5
S. Castille - CB/S - Qualified announcing 1/3
T. McCall - TE/FB/DE - Qualified announcing soon
M. Carter - S Qualified announcing soon
L. Washington - DT Qualified May be late announcement
E. Phillips - DE/LT - Sign and place
K. Mainord - DE - Qualified will announce if we start to run out
That is 20, minus Holifield and Hamilton. We can only sign 19.
It is not being talked about very much, but some of the current commitments have already been approached to gray shirt. That is where they don't join the team until December instead of August. Therefore they can workout until then and get stronger and have the benefit of a spring practice before their freshmen year. Some that have been approached, likely more as well are JP Wilson, who is very open to the idea, and Drew Davis. Davis is an OL that is being recruited by Miss. St. and Auburn.
Here are some more that are in the running:
M. Manson - qualified - if he were to sign with Bama I guarantee he won't gray shirt. Chances are good too.
C. Adams - OL - possible partial qualifier
DJ Hall - WR - We are in top 3, but Florida leads
M. Howeth - DE
B. Jackson - RB
D. Void - RB
L. Kendrick - WR (JC)
D. Muy - OL
D. Davis - OL - Gray Shirt
Side note: With the option of gray shirting, Bama can use them as free redshirt years. This will be huge getting around the 19 limit this year and put us in place with about 5 soon to be committed for 2005.
Alabama will also be receiving some talented walk ons at OL and WR.
Speculation:
Caldwell - Will announce next monday, Bama is leader.
Manson - Has decommitted from Florida which is a huge sign for Bama. He has not talked much though.
Castille - Will announce Saturday, Bama is leader
Carter - Was close to committing to Tide, but Auburn coaches asked for a visit first. Still think we get him. Could be domino effect once we hear from Castille and Caldwell.
Final point: If we see Caldwell and Castille commit this weekend then I feel that will cause a domino effect. If that happens look for commitments from McCall, Carter, and Mainord.
Hope this helps!
Happy New Year!
The Tide
With that said let's look at who is committed and who will/might commit soon and what are their academic standings.
Commitments: (16)
Expected to fully Qualify Commitments: (9)
N. Walker
J. Britt
C. Davis
T. Davidson
B. Stabler
JP Wilson
C. Turner
W. Oakley
T. Robinson
Commitments close to Qualifying: (5)
N. Stover
E. Knight
A. Johns
A. McDaniel
C. Dawson
Likely headed to prep or JC: (2)
K. Hamilton
J. Holifield
Projected to sign with the Tide: (6)
A. Caldwell - OL (C) - qualified announcing 1/5
S. Castille - CB/S - Qualified announcing 1/3
T. McCall - TE/FB/DE - Qualified announcing soon
M. Carter - S Qualified announcing soon
L. Washington - DT Qualified May be late announcement
E. Phillips - DE/LT - Sign and place
K. Mainord - DE - Qualified will announce if we start to run out
That is 20, minus Holifield and Hamilton. We can only sign 19.
It is not being talked about very much, but some of the current commitments have already been approached to gray shirt. That is where they don't join the team until December instead of August. Therefore they can workout until then and get stronger and have the benefit of a spring practice before their freshmen year. Some that have been approached, likely more as well are JP Wilson, who is very open to the idea, and Drew Davis. Davis is an OL that is being recruited by Miss. St. and Auburn.
Here are some more that are in the running:
M. Manson - qualified - if he were to sign with Bama I guarantee he won't gray shirt. Chances are good too.
C. Adams - OL - possible partial qualifier
DJ Hall - WR - We are in top 3, but Florida leads
M. Howeth - DE
B. Jackson - RB
D. Void - RB
L. Kendrick - WR (JC)
D. Muy - OL
D. Davis - OL - Gray Shirt
Side note: With the option of gray shirting, Bama can use them as free redshirt years. This will be huge getting around the 19 limit this year and put us in place with about 5 soon to be committed for 2005.
Alabama will also be receiving some talented walk ons at OL and WR.
Speculation:
Caldwell - Will announce next monday, Bama is leader.
Manson - Has decommitted from Florida which is a huge sign for Bama. He has not talked much though.
Castille - Will announce Saturday, Bama is leader
Carter - Was close to committing to Tide, but Auburn coaches asked for a visit first. Still think we get him. Could be domino effect once we hear from Castille and Caldwell.
Final point: If we see Caldwell and Castille commit this weekend then I feel that will cause a domino effect. If that happens look for commitments from McCall, Carter, and Mainord.
Hope this helps!
Happy New Year!
The Tide