News Article: Recruiting 2011: As Signing Day approaches, here are the battles to watch

[JessN]

Recruiting 2011: As Signing Day approaches, here are the battles to watch
By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief
Jan. 31, 2011

With National Signing Day just a few days away, Alabama figures to want to add between three and six players to its recruiting haul.

For the full story, click here: http://www.tidefans.com/forums/tide...igning-day-approaches-here-battles-watch.html

 

[TideWatcher]

Good read; you can't get all of them right, so here's hoping you are wrong about a couple predictions that aren't looking good for the Tide; especially Clowney

 

[jps1983]

Thanks for the read. I was expecting a slow NSD a few weeks ago with Cyrus coming to us, but with the trip to the barn (and all that goes on down there) it has me concerned. I am still optimistic on both big "C's" in Cyrus and Clowney, but figured we'd miss on the others you mentioned too (except we'd still hold onto Dickson).

 

[Crimson Surfer]

I am hoping for a surprise of two on NSD. Hopefully Crowell, Clowney, Brassell, or some of the other prospects will surprise us and sign with Bama. I think Pagan either signs with UGA or Bama.

 

[JDCrimson]

I dont see much 50-50 in that list...

 

[CrimsonJag]

According to ITAT, Clowney will be a signing day switch to The Barn.

 

[peariver]

According to ITAT, Clowney will be a signing day switch to The Barn.

Well dadgum...

 

[BFANLC]

So four commits out of 13 to au and 2 to Bama???

 

[JessN]

So four commits out of 13 to au and 2 to Bama???

There's starting to be a lot of noise that Calloway is going to switch from AU to UA. I may have to revisit that one.

But no, it doesn't look like an overly strong closing for Alabama. Kouandjio is a toss-up.

 

[OreBama]

Very interesting. Remember 5 years ago we would have been thrilled that any of those 13 were even considering the Tide.

AU may have spent all their money on last year's team, so that's a positive for us. We'll be fine either way. Anyway, great read as always, Jess.

 

[ElephanTideis]

There's starting to be a lot of noise that Calloway is going to switch from AU to UA. I may have to revisit that one.

But no, it doesn't look like an overly strong closing for Alabama. Kouandjio is a toss-up.

Jess, who do you think is our biggest competition for Kouandjio?

 

[BamaFossil]

Good read Jess - Thanks!

Hey, if we close without signing any of those on the list, we'll still have a very, very good group of signees.

 

[bamamick]

Yes, we will have a very solid class with some great players, players who can help us win another national championship pretty quickly, but there is no denying that if we don't get ANY of those guys listed other than Dickson that there is going to be a meltdown of massive proportion on this and every other Bama board about in line with us losing to La-Mo in 2007. It's going to be awful and it's going to last a long time (probably until A-day, if I had to guess).

I hate to be such a downer. Maybe it's the weather, but I have this sick feeling that tomorrow is going to be a really bad day for Alabama, even WITH another top ten class, because the bragging rights always belong to those who make the big splash on the last day, and for the second year in a row I don't think that that's us.

rtr

 

[mulletover]

You say Bama will take between 3 and 6 more guys. I don't see how this is possible. We all knew this years class was going to be a small one, somewhere around 22 guys. The Bama staff has already told several recruits we don't have room for them. Then most recently Darryl Collins shopped his skills around then opted to honor his commitment with Bama and take a grayshirt.

If you look at the obvious information you'll see there's nowhere near room for 6 more prospects. Other boards have gone as far to call out CNS saying he's lost his recruiting edge. When it's just plain obvious we have limited spots to work with. The 2011 class filled up way before NSD. Granted we're still being considered by a few elite talents, and the fact Bama has already told atleast one recruit he'll have to delay enrollment I expect the Bama staff has a good idea how it all unfolds. JMO tomorrow looks like a very quiet signing day.

 

[tide96]

A bit of a doomsday scenario here.

Clearly Cryus is not the lock that everyone though just weeks ago, but to say it is a toss-up doesn't seem fair either. He still seems more likely to Bama than Crowell to UGA.

 

[bamablood6]

It is what it is and that is why Coach is working so hard on 2012 already............Starting to have that Texas type recruiting....finish the class early and not much drama or much to expect on signing day but the LOIs. I can bet anything if Cyrus goes rogue Barn, Saban will be livid and will work the rest of the year to overcome this crap and slap cheezedick and the rest of the cheating Barners back into reality. But it is hard to overcome lies and cheats. That staff is sneaky and low down cheaters....they dont evaluate they let the LSU's and Bama's of the world evaluate and find players and then go after them late in the game like FSU and Bowden used to do.....

Barner season next years is at best 7-5...AT Best!

 

[rolltide2213]

i'd be fine with getting 2 guys as long as cyrus is one of them.

 

[brannonlynch]

What's with all the whining and crying? This is Alabama not Auburn!! We got a full class. Be proud of it. Roll Tide Roll!!!

 

[JessN]

Couple of things just after midnight on National Signing Day:

1) We are now calling Brent Calloway for Alabama. New information gathered in the last couple of days has led us to believe Alabama has moved back ahead of Auburn.

2) If we could get away with a "no pick" on Cyrus Kouandjio, we'd do it. Auburn believes they have him. Alabama believes they have him. We have not been able to get anything substantive one way or another. Our Alabama pick stands simply due to inertia.