News Article: RECRUITING ANALYSIS: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance [by JessN]

[JessN]

Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance
By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-in-Chief
Feb. 7, 2009

When Alabama finished No. 1 in the country in 2008 in recruiting, most Alabama fans were not only elated, but probably couldn’t fathom finishing at the top two years in a row, especially with talent-rich Florida and modern-day recruiting juggernaut Southern Cal in the picture.

Someone forgot to tell Nick Saban.

For the full story, click here: http://www.tidefans.com/forums/tide...tops-recruiting-lists-repeat-performance.html

 

[ncbama]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

Jess, the Michaelangelo of sportswriters!

I can only say, incredible writeup!

In the words of a famous Alabamian, thank ye, thank ye, thank ye.

 

[Airborne Tider]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

Great job as always Jess. RTR. :BigA:

 

[resmith]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

I had been waiting on this report since signing day. What a great way to start my Saturday! Thanks, Jess, and thanks to all at TideFans for a great site!

 

[Bhammer]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

Appreciate the piece Jess. Good read. Am happy to hear that Woodson seems to be expected to qualify, but not so happy to hear about the nagging ankle problem since we still need help/depth at safety. Any additional information available?

 

[bamafan216]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

Thanks Jess for you insight!

Alright when does spring practice start?

 

[CrimsonBleedRed]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

One of the sites to behold at practice in the fall will be the Julio Jones .v. Dre Kirkpatrick battle. I absolutely love the bravdo that Dre should on NSD, and I believe Dre and Julio will make each better similar to when Texas had Nathan Vasher work on Roy Williams.

As always, great job Jess.

 

[Tidetwin]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

Jess, thanks for making this great class sound even better than I thought it was. Post-NSD Depression? Hah

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Great analysis Jess. This class is simply amazing on paper. I give your writing and the Bama 2009 signing class...

 

[BEATtutorsee]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

One of the sites to behold at practice in the fall will be the Julio Jones .v. Dre Kirkpatrick battle. I absolutely love the bravdo that Dre should on NSD, and I believe Dre and Julio will make each better similar to when Texas had Nathan Vasher work on Roy Williams.

As always, great job Jess.

Don't forget Lawrence and Green as well. They're all physical corners with pretty good size.

 

[CrimsonBleedRed]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

Don't forget Lawrence and Green as well. They're all physical corners with pretty good size.

I didn't forget, and seeing there skills up against a talent like Jones is interesting, but I single out Dre, because of his bravado he showed on NSD by saying he "wasn't afraid of Julio Jones."

 

[bamar]

jess, great breakdown of this outstanding class. what a job ahead for our coaching staff, to place, work these guys into positions, that will permit the tide to rise even higher. scary talent.

 

[First Sergeant]

excellent analysis Jess.....this is always my favorite script to read after completion of NSD!!! Great Job!

Also, I hope Woodson's ankle injury heals up and gets his grades to enrollment standard, he looks like a missile ready to hit something in his films!! He will be a fun one to watch.

 

[PDL]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

Appreciate the piece Jess. Good read. Am happy to hear that Woodson seems to be expected to qualify, but not so happy to hear about the nagging ankle problem since we still need help/depth at safety. Any additional information available?

Yeah, I was surprised to see Jess rate him as "expected to qualify." I was sure he was one of the ones that would be right on the bubble and having an uphill climb to get in. If he is indeed expected to qualify, that is great news for our depth at safety.

 

[bmcklv]

Thanks, Jess. I certainly picked up a very pleasing mantra throughout the entire article. One I hope continues throughout CNS' career.

"He is expected to qualify."
"He is expected to qualify."
"he is expe....."

Look out world, the Tide is rolling in! :BigA: :BigA: :BigA:

 

[BEATtutorsee]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

I didn't forget, and seeing there skills up against a talent like Jones is interesting, but I single out Dre, because of his bravado he showed on NSD by saying he "wasn't afraid of Julio Jones."

Well what did you expect him to say, "when I think of Julio Jones I pee my pants." :tongue: :redface: :wink:

 

[BigEasyTider]

From I read on Woodson's ankle injury was that it was just your plain jane high ankle sprain, so with a few months of rest and recovery he should be fine. If there is any news out there with there being lingering issues beyond what you would have normally with that injury, I haven't read anything about it.

In fact, Woodson himself explicitly said in a NSD story that he did not need surgery, and that he was rehabbing the injury and that he was now almost back at 100%.

Hopefully, though, he will be able to qualify. We need him in the worst way. If nothing else, he could be a stud on special teams as a true freshman. From what I've read on his academics, his grades have improved a good bit -- he's been focusing on academics, and that's one of the reasons he committed early -- but he still needs a boost on the ACT. He's got two more tries at it, so we will see.

 

[BigEasyTider]

Some news on Michael Bowman's academic situation...

He needs an 18 on the ACT in order to qualify, and he's moving in that direction. The first time he took the test a long while back he made a 14, but the most recent time he took it he made a 16, so now all he really needs is two more points. He has three chances left. He took it yesterday (February 7th), and if he doesn't get his 18 then, he will have two more opportunities to do so.

Quite frankly, I feel pretty good about his chances. He's been working very hard with tutors and I read where he has been doing some prep course material, so with three opportunities left, needing only two more points, I really like the odds that he makes it. To be sure, it will be close, but I think he will make it.

And also, it helps that since he has gradually increased his score that he will not have any scrutiny from the Clearinghouse. Those guys don't have any problem when guys increase their scores slowly over time, they just go off when you dramatically raise your test score between individual tests. In other words, a 14 to a 16 to an 18 is fine, but a 13 to a 19 is not.

Maybe I'm drinking the kool-aid a bit much, but I think Bowman should be good to go.

 

[CrimsonBleedRed]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

Well what did you expect him to say, "when I think of Julio Jones I pee my pants." :tongue: :redface: :wink:

No, but Dre could have sidestep the question, and gave generic answers like "I look forward to improving my skills against one of the best WR in the game", or "I look forward to playing with a great player", etc, etc. Instead he chose go with the sexy answer and showcased his bravado.

I don't like players when they sidetrack questions. If you have confidence in your ability show it. And Dre definately have confidence in his ability.

 

[Airborne Tider]

Re: Recruiting: Alabama tops recruiting lists with repeat performance

No, but Dre could have sidestep the question, and gave generic answers like "I look forward to improving my skills against one of the best WR in the game", or "I look forward to playing with a great player", etc, etc. Instead he chose go with the sexy answer and showcased his bravado.

I don't like players when they sidetrack questions. If you have confidence in your ability show it. And Dre definately have confidence in his ability.

I agree I had absolutely no problem with Dre's answer. I think some people have made too much of his answer. Odds are Dre and Julio are friends and they probably laughed about it later. I highly doubt Dre was trying to insult Julio in anyway, he was just heckling his friend and new teammate. I thought it was great. RTR.:BigA: