Alright, by request, here's an update.
***I don't know if we are reserving spots by position at this point. Rather, I believe that we are going to take the best athletes, regardless of position at this point from a list that the staff has (like they do when ranking the current team).
As far as numbers go, I don't see how we can take less than 25. With academics being a concern on several commits and prospects, coupled with the talent out there, it's nearly impossible not to.
***Current commitments
2008 backcounters (2)
RB Jermaine Preyear- Delayed enrollment to recover from surgery.
OL/DL Kerry Murphy- IF IF IF he can finish this last make-up class strong this month, he'll be on campus soon. If he can't, Warmack will take this spot since he is enrolling in January.
2009 (19)
OFFENSE
QB AJ McCarron
RB Trent Richardson
OT/OG Anthony Steen (needs academic work)
OG Chance Warmack (will enroll in January)
OT Darius McKeller
OG Kellen Williams
OT/OG James Carpenter (Juco, will enroll in January)
ATHLETES
OT/DL DJ Fluker- could play either side and dominate. I'm leaning OT.
FB/LB Mike Marrow- I'm leaning HB.
WR/LB Michael Bowman- Leaning WR, but is a "soft" commitment and needs some academic work.
DE/TE William Ming- leaning WDE, but with the depth we have in this class at DL, TE is an option.
DEFENSE
DE Anthony Orr
DE Darrington Sentimore (needs academic work)
SDE/NG Quinton Dial
NG/SDE Chris Bonds
LB Nico Johnson
LB Jonathan Atchison
CB Gerald West
S Rod Woodson (needs academic work)
****all academic concerns are very doable
I've sat here and typed, deleted, and retyped several lists only to feel that I'm not that comfortable making any real big predictions right now. So many variables exist.
From a list of guys I feel we have at least a 50% shot at, the only ones I feel have a spot regardless are CB Dre Kirkpatrick, OT Bobbie Massie (some academic work needed), LB Tana Patrick and WR Reuben Randle.
From that same list, there are several guys that are nearly impossible not to take: OT/DT Brandon Moore, Jack LB Fletcher Cox (grade concerns), WR Kevin Norwood, Slot WR Chad Bumphis, Jack LB Ed Stinson, WR Kendall Kelly. There may be guys from this list who get left out.
Guys that we would take regardless, but I feel we have a less than 50% chance at getting: S Darren Myles, CB Janzen Jackson, CB Branden Smith, OT Morgan Moses
Guys that would be nearly impossbile to turn down, but we have a less than 50% chance at: Slot WR Marsalis Teague, LB Johnathan Stewart, LB Barkevious Mingo, WR Patrick Patterson
Guys that have Tide at or tied at top that could still be a part of this class: CB Eric Gordon (grade concerns), LB Greg King, LB Petey Smith, CB Gene Robinson
And, of course, this staff never ceases to have a surprise or two.
***PHEW***
***I don't know if we are reserving spots by position at this point. Rather, I believe that we are going to take the best athletes, regardless of position at this point from a list that the staff has (like they do when ranking the current team).
As far as numbers go, I don't see how we can take less than 25. With academics being a concern on several commits and prospects, coupled with the talent out there, it's nearly impossible not to.
***Current commitments
2008 backcounters (2)
RB Jermaine Preyear- Delayed enrollment to recover from surgery.
OL/DL Kerry Murphy- IF IF IF he can finish this last make-up class strong this month, he'll be on campus soon. If he can't, Warmack will take this spot since he is enrolling in January.
2009 (19)
OFFENSE
QB AJ McCarron
RB Trent Richardson
OT/OG Anthony Steen (needs academic work)
OG Chance Warmack (will enroll in January)
OT Darius McKeller
OG Kellen Williams
OT/OG James Carpenter (Juco, will enroll in January)
ATHLETES
OT/DL DJ Fluker- could play either side and dominate. I'm leaning OT.
FB/LB Mike Marrow- I'm leaning HB.
WR/LB Michael Bowman- Leaning WR, but is a "soft" commitment and needs some academic work.
DE/TE William Ming- leaning WDE, but with the depth we have in this class at DL, TE is an option.
DEFENSE
DE Anthony Orr
DE Darrington Sentimore (needs academic work)
SDE/NG Quinton Dial
NG/SDE Chris Bonds
LB Nico Johnson
LB Jonathan Atchison
CB Gerald West
S Rod Woodson (needs academic work)
****all academic concerns are very doable
I've sat here and typed, deleted, and retyped several lists only to feel that I'm not that comfortable making any real big predictions right now. So many variables exist.
From a list of guys I feel we have at least a 50% shot at, the only ones I feel have a spot regardless are CB Dre Kirkpatrick, OT Bobbie Massie (some academic work needed), LB Tana Patrick and WR Reuben Randle.
From that same list, there are several guys that are nearly impossible not to take: OT/DT Brandon Moore, Jack LB Fletcher Cox (grade concerns), WR Kevin Norwood, Slot WR Chad Bumphis, Jack LB Ed Stinson, WR Kendall Kelly. There may be guys from this list who get left out.
Guys that we would take regardless, but I feel we have a less than 50% chance at getting: S Darren Myles, CB Janzen Jackson, CB Branden Smith, OT Morgan Moses
Guys that would be nearly impossbile to turn down, but we have a less than 50% chance at: Slot WR Marsalis Teague, LB Johnathan Stewart, LB Barkevious Mingo, WR Patrick Patterson
Guys that have Tide at or tied at top that could still be a part of this class: CB Eric Gordon (grade concerns), LB Greg King, LB Petey Smith, CB Gene Robinson
And, of course, this staff never ceases to have a surprise or two.
***PHEW***
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