Alabama Crimson Tide: Ohio State Buckeyes
WR Derek Kief commits to Alabama
June, 16, 2013
Jun 16
6:12
PM ET
By Greg Ostendorf & Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
The University of Alabama found its quarterback of the future on Friday when ESPN 150 selection David Cornwell (Norman, Okla./Norman North) committed to the Crimson Tide. Two days later, they reeled in a target to help Cornwell down the road, four-star wide receiver Derek Kief (Cincinnati/LaSalle).
"I love everything about it. I love the coaches, the offense, everything. They will develop me as a football player as well as a person," Kief said Sunday.
Last week, Kief and his family made a second trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala., where they spent time around the program, with the coaches and with several of the current players. Kief first visited Alabama in March during spring practice.
“It’s all business,” he said after that trip. “They’re very disciplined, and it shows if you do that, it’ll help you win.”
As a junior, Kief had 65 catches for 907 yards and nine touchdowns. He set a school record for receptions in a season and was named first-team all-district in Ohio.
"They said they can see me playing in multiple receiver positions," Kief said Sunday. "I run good routes for my size, and they said I'll be a red-zone weapon."
With the addition of Cornwell and Kief this weekend, Alabama has 12 commitments for 2014, a group that now includes eight four-star recruits. Kief becomes the first wide receiver taken by the Tide in this class.
Ohio State will have its work cut out for it with Chad Mavety (Garden City, N.J./Nassau Community College) when he returns to campus in November.
And that’s a good thing.
And that’s a good thing.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- It's good enough news for a school when a coveted recruit such as Raekwon McMillan (Hinesville, Ga./Liberty County) shows up on campus for a visit. But the Florida Gators got a double dose of good news from the nation's No. 1-ranked inside linebacker during his unofficial visit on Saturday.
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Alabama, Ohio State or Kentucky will know by Sunday evening if their recruiting classes increase by one.
Wide receiver Derek Kief (Cincinnati/La Salle) confirmed he will announce where he will continue his academic and athletic future on his personal Twitter account on Sunday.
Wide receiver Derek Kief (Cincinnati/La Salle) confirmed he will announce where he will continue his academic and athletic future on his personal Twitter account on Sunday.
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While many top college prospects are traveling across the country to take unofficial visits, attend camps and find ways to visit schools that they're interested in, ESPN 150 offensive guard Braden Smith (Olathe, Kan./Olathe South) is taking a different approach, according to his head coach.
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound prospect, who is No. 118 in the ESPN 150, is focusing on offseason workouts and not recruiting currently.
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound prospect, who is No. 118 in the ESPN 150, is focusing on offseason workouts and not recruiting currently.
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Junior college offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (Scranton, Pa./Lackawanna) counted UCLA as his top school before this past weekend's official visit -- and now he counts himself as a UCLA commit.
Eluemunor pledged to the Bruins on Sunday night and became the fourth commit of the 2014 class.
Eluemunor pledged to the Bruins on Sunday night and became the fourth commit of the 2014 class.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The explosion of offers and attention was overwhelming enough for Brandon Harris when spread over four months.
But it was nothing compared to the 72-hour window a week ago that essentially offered confirmation that the four-star quarterback (Bossier City, La./Parkway) has arrived on the national scene and isn’t going away.
But it was nothing compared to the 72-hour window a week ago that essentially offered confirmation that the four-star quarterback (Bossier City, La./Parkway) has arrived on the national scene and isn’t going away.
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FAIRFIELD, Ohio -- Part of a tight-knit family, Fairfield (Ohio) High School lineman Danny Burns would like to play in front of his mom and grandparents in college. But that won’t be a major factor in his decision.
So it is more coincidence, he says, that schools from bordering states Michigan and Kentucky lead for him.
So it is more coincidence, he says, that schools from bordering states Michigan and Kentucky lead for him.
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CINCINNATI -- Derek Kief will have a lot of time to ponder his recruitment next week. He has close to a four-hour drive to Atlanta and then a flight back home to Cincinnati.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- DeShone Kizer (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) was ready to commit a few months ago. Then LSU offered. Alabama came soon after. Those two offers made Kizer slow his recruitment down.
With baseball and basketball now done, he will finally have his first opportunity to see both schools up close next week.
With baseball and basketball now done, he will finally have his first opportunity to see both schools up close next week.
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Da’Shawn Hand (Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) came to Columbus, Ohio, over the weekend full of optimism and left with even more promise.
The fourth-ranked player in the nation and top-ranked defensive end, Hand was in town as part of the Columbus Nike Football Training Camp.
He left with an invitation to The Opening -- his second in as many years -- and even snuck in an unofficial visit to Ohio State the day before.
The fourth-ranked player in the nation and top-ranked defensive end, Hand was in town as part of the Columbus Nike Football Training Camp.
He left with an invitation to The Opening -- his second in as many years -- and even snuck in an unofficial visit to Ohio State the day before.
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QB Harris talks Bama, Ohio State visits 
June, 3, 2013
Jun 3
11:32
AM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
It’s been quite the week for four-star quarterback Brandon Harris (Bossier City, La./Parkway). He made a stop at Alabama on Thursday before flying up to Columbus, Ohio, to visit Ohio State and compete in the Elite 11 this weekend.
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S Mattrell McGraw breaks down top eight
May, 29, 2013
May 29
12:48
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Safety Mattrell McGraw (River Ridge, La./John Curtis Christian) has a plan.
Right now, it’s cutting his list down to eight. By the time football starts, it’ll be down to three.
Right now, it’s cutting his list down to eight. By the time football starts, it’ll be down to three.
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CARMEL, Ind. -- Austin Roberts goes to Carmel High School, but Indiana is not his home. He was born in Dallas, but that’s not his home, either. The closest thing to home would be the state of Florida, but he lived in three different cities and was there for a little more than half of his life. The other half was spent moving from city to city.
That’s the life you live when your father coaches in the NFL. Alfredo Roberts, Austin’s father, is currently the tight ends coach for the Indianapolis Colts.
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MANALAPAN, N.J. -- Through one quarter, Chris Blacknall racked up 80 yards on six carries. He was capping off a breakout senior season and football was his ticket to college.
Moments later, Blacknall was lying on his back, forced to watch the college coaches walk out of the stadium with any hope of a scholarship leaving with them.
“Ever see the Joe Theismann play? That’s what happened to me,” he said. “I went up the middle, went to the left, planted my foot and the linebacker held me and spun me and my leg stood where it was. ... My knee was backward, leg was backward and my foot turned around.”
He has a second chance now -- one that has come through his son Saeed Blacknall, an ESPN 150 receiver out of Manalapan (N.J.) High School. And Saeed is taking that chance very seriously.
Moments later, Blacknall was lying on his back, forced to watch the college coaches walk out of the stadium with any hope of a scholarship leaving with them.
“Ever see the Joe Theismann play? That’s what happened to me,” he said. “I went up the middle, went to the left, planted my foot and the linebacker held me and spun me and my leg stood where it was. ... My knee was backward, leg was backward and my foot turned around.”
He has a second chance now -- one that has come through his son Saeed Blacknall, an ESPN 150 receiver out of Manalapan (N.J.) High School. And Saeed is taking that chance very seriously.
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ABOUT TIDE NATION
Greg Ostendorf
Greg Ostendorf joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering University of Alabama football and basketball recruiting at the Tuscaloosa News and Rivals.com. Ostendorf graduated from the University of Alabama and currently resides in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Email him at gsostendorf.espn@gmail.com.
Alex Scarborough
Alex Scarborough joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering University of Alabama athletics and high school football for The Tuscaloosa News. He currently resides in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Email him at alexscarborough.espn@gmail.com.