Alabama Crimson Tide: Football recruiting
JACKSON, Miss. -- ESPN 150 offensive lineman Rod Taylor (Jackson, Miss./Calloway) has been camping at Alabama for years. He made a name for himself in Tuscaloosa when he was a freshman. Over the weekend, it didn’t matter that he was the nation’s No. 2 guard. He still went out and competed at the Crimson Tide’s OL/DL camp.
“It was good,” he said. “There was some good competition up there. It wasn’t like a normal camp. It was players who really can play.”
“It was good,” he said. “There was some good competition up there. It wasn’t like a normal camp. It was players who really can play.”
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The new ESPN 300 rankings came out Monday, and to go with the them, we looked at the top remaining Alabama targets and ranked the top 10 based on who's most likely to commit to the Crimson Tide.
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Hassenauer officially pledges to Alabama 
June, 17, 2013
Jun 17
7:53
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By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
Since an outstanding performance at the Memphis NFTC, center J.C. Hassenauer (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) has been considered one of the most under-recruited prospects in the country. Only Minnesota and Vanderbilt offered.
Then Hassenauer camped at Alabama, and word got out that the Tide loved what they saw and offered. Now, the under-the-radar lineman is an Alabama commitment. The three-star center and his father both confirmed the commitment to ESPN.com. It was rumored he committed this weekend.
“I have committed,” Hassenauer wrote in a text message.
Then Hassenauer camped at Alabama, and word got out that the Tide loved what they saw and offered. Now, the under-the-radar lineman is an Alabama commitment. The three-star center and his father both confirmed the commitment to ESPN.com. It was rumored he committed this weekend.
“I have committed,” Hassenauer wrote in a text message.
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ESPN 300 analysis: Alabama Crimson Tide
June, 17, 2013
Jun 17
11:50
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By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
It should come as no surprise that the University of Alabama’s 2014 recruiting class is littered with recruits in both the ESPN 150 and the new ESPN 300 rankings as the Crimson Tide are coming off back-to-back national championships. But the class received its biggest boost yet with a pair of commitments over the weekend.
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OL/DL camp: ESPN 300 DE earns Tide offer
June, 17, 2013
Jun 17
2:30
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By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- ESPN 300 defensive end Davon Godchaux (Plaquemine, La./Plaquemine) made a third trip to the University of Alabama over the weekend for the Crimson Tide’s OL/DL camp. It was his best trip yet.
The 6-foot-4, 271-pound Godchaux was one of the standouts at the one-day camp. Afterwards, UA head coach Nick Saban met with him in his office and offered a scholarship. Saban said he still wants to check on his grades, but based on what he had seen on film and at the camp, it was enough to warrant an offer.
The 6-foot-4, 271-pound Godchaux was one of the standouts at the one-day camp. Afterwards, UA head coach Nick Saban met with him in his office and offered a scholarship. Saban said he still wants to check on his grades, but based on what he had seen on film and at the camp, it was enough to warrant an offer.
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WR Derek Kief commits to Alabama
June, 16, 2013
Jun 16
6:12
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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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In-state DT Thomas vies for Bama offer
June, 15, 2013
Jun 15
6:12
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By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama was one of the first schools to begin recruiting defensive tackle/end Cory Thomas (McCalla, Ala./McAdory). He lives just an hour up the road. However, the Crimson Tide had yet to offer the local prospect because the coaches hadn’t seen enough.
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Two SEC powers reeled in quarterback commitments Friday -- David Cornwell (Norman, Okla./Norman North) to Alabama and Jacob Park (Goose Creek, S.C./Stratford) to Georgia.
The outcome was expected, but the timing was a little peculiar, to say the least.
Around 4:15 p.m. CT, news broke that Park had committed to Georgia. Within a half hour, Cornwell tweeted that he had committed to Alabama. Did Alabama miss on Park and have to settle for Cornwell, the nation’s No. 1 pocket passer? Not quite.
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The rich got richer Friday as Alabama landed David Cornwell (Norman, Okla./North), the ESPN 150's No. 1 pocket-passing quarterback prospect. He has a chance to elevate the Alabama Crimson Tide's quarterback play, and here's how:
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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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OL Sims visits Auburn, cancels Bama trip
June, 14, 2013
Jun 14
8:30
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By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
When Homewood (Ala.) High School began practice this spring, four-star offensive lineman Jordan Sims decided to take a break from the recruiting process. He wanted to concentrate on his team as well as losing weight and getting back in shape.
Sims, the No. 8 player in the state, took his first visit in nearly three months on Wednesday when he made the short trip over to Auburn University.
Sims, the No. 8 player in the state, took his first visit in nearly three months on Wednesday when he made the short trip over to Auburn University.
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The spotlight was on the quarterbacks and skill players during Alabama’s first camp, but now it shifts to the trenches as the Crimson Tide will host an OL/DL camp on Saturday.
Here’s a look at five 2014 offensive and defensive linemen to keep an eye on this weekend:
OG Rod Taylor (Jackson, Miss./Callaway)
Here’s a look at five 2014 offensive and defensive linemen to keep an eye on this weekend:
OG Rod Taylor (Jackson, Miss./Callaway)
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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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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.