Anthony Averett's recruitment just kicked up a notch.
No offense to the other schools that have offered him a scholarship, but when the defending national champions offer, it's time to take notice.
“It was exciting actually, talking to Nick Saban,” Averett said of a weekend conversation in which he was offered a scholarship by Alabama. “I didn't know what to do. They want me to come down in the summer or the spring. They said I'll love it down there. I'll find out more when I get down there.”
No offense to the other schools that have offered him a scholarship, but when the defending national champions offer, it's time to take notice.
“It was exciting actually, talking to Nick Saban,” Averett said of a weekend conversation in which he was offered a scholarship by Alabama. “I didn't know what to do. They want me to come down in the summer or the spring. They said I'll love it down there. I'll find out more when I get down there.”
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ESPN TideNation writers Alex Scarborough and Greg Ostendorf discuss Alabama's NCAA tournament draw and the Crimson Tide's first-round matchup against Creighton.
Tide, Tigers on top for La. native Beckwith 
March, 12, 2012
3/12/12
10:56
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By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
The University of Alabama has shown that it’s not afraid to go into the state of Louisiana and take recruits away from LSU. Last year, the Tide swiped five-star Landon Collins, and this year, they already have a commitment from wide receiver Raheem Falkins, a New Orleans native.
The UA coaching staff has targeted a number of 2013 prospects from the Pelican State, including ESPNU 150 Watch List athlete Kendell Beckwith.
Beckwith received a scholarship offer from Nebraska on Sunday night, giving him a total of seven offers, but it’s the Crimson Tide and Tigers who are at the top of his list right now.
The UA coaching staff has targeted a number of 2013 prospects from the Pelican State, including ESPNU 150 Watch List athlete Kendell Beckwith.
Beckwith received a scholarship offer from Nebraska on Sunday night, giving him a total of seven offers, but it’s the Crimson Tide and Tigers who are at the top of his list right now.
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Over the weekend, ESPNU 150 Watch List offensive lineman Tyrone Crowder competed in the Nike Football SPARQ Combine in Charlotte where he ran a 5.44 40-yard dash, jumped 25.6 inches in the vertical and threw the power ball 36 feet.
When it comes to recruiting, Crowder has 14 scholarship offers from some of the elite programs in the country including Alabama, Florida State, Georgia and Tennessee.
“Everything is kind of even,” Crowder said. “I’m going to take some visits to schools before I narrow it down.”
When it comes to recruiting, Crowder has 14 scholarship offers from some of the elite programs in the country including Alabama, Florida State, Georgia and Tennessee.
“Everything is kind of even,” Crowder said. “I’m going to take some visits to schools before I narrow it down.”
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Jones' move to center a minor transition
March, 11, 2012
3/11/12
11:19
PM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Call Barrett Jones' move to center new.
Call it a transition.
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John Reed/US PresswireJaMychal Green and Alabama open play in the NCAA tournament Friday against Creighton.TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- This time a year ago, the University of Alabama was left on the outside looking in, snubbed by the NCAA tournament selection committee and jettisoned to the NIT while teams with similar postseason resumes went dancing.
In 2012, the Crimson Tide were determined to not let history repeat itself, bulking up their non-conference schedule and strengthening their RPI.
Despite finishing with the same overall record last year following the SEC Tournament, Alabama on Sunday had its ticket punched for the NCAA tournament as a No. 9 seed. UA will face No. 8 Creighton on Friday in the second round of the Midwest region in Greensboro, N.C.
"I didn't know where we would end up but I felt pretty good about our chances to get in, in light of what we accomplished over the course of the season," UA coach Anthony Grant said after he learned of the seeding. "I think once our name popped up, from what I could tell, there was a sense of joy from our guys."
Around the bases: Oral Roberts 3, UA 2
March, 11, 2012
3/11/12
5:53
PM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Crimson Tide played a clean game all the way up until the final frame. Staring down a two-game winning streak, Alabama bobbled a win against Oral Roberts away on an error, a pair of walks and a heart-breaking single past the outstretched arms of shortstop Jared Reaves.
Down to its final strike, Oral Roberts designated hitter Chris Williams hit a single up the middle with the bases loaded, scoring two and downing Alabama, 3-2. The loss drops UA to 6-9 on the year.
Down to its final strike, Oral Roberts designated hitter Chris Williams hit a single up the middle with the bases loaded, scoring two and downing Alabama, 3-2. The loss drops UA to 6-9 on the year.
As the University of Alabama awaits what seed it will get and where it will play in the first round of the NCAA tournament, here's a look back at the latest updates from what Anthony Grant and the Tide staff have been doing on the recruiting trail:
2013 point guard Jaren Sina committed to Alabama early in the process but opted to reopen his recruitment in September. While other schools have entered the mix, the Crimson Tide remains high on his list. Link
McDonald’s All-American Devonta Pollard capped his season on a high note with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks to lead his team to a victory in the state title game. Pollard has Alabama among his six finalists and talks about his relationship with head coach Anthony Grant. Link
2013 point guard Jaren Sina committed to Alabama early in the process but opted to reopen his recruitment in September. While other schools have entered the mix, the Crimson Tide remains high on his list. Link
McDonald’s All-American Devonta Pollard capped his season on a high note with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks to lead his team to a victory in the state title game. Pollard has Alabama among his six finalists and talks about his relationship with head coach Anthony Grant. Link
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Around the Bases: Tide 7, Cardinals 6
March, 10, 2012
3/10/12
8:51
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By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It was only fitting in a game that resembled a comedy of errors, a mental miscue would determine its outcome.
With the game tied at six and five errors already on the board, Louisville forgot how to execute on a bunt attempt in the bottom of the eighth and Alabama capitalized, bringing in the winning run on an infield hit from Jon Kelton that dribbled no more than six feet from home plate.
The 7-6 win over No. 14 Louisville inches Alabama two games closer to the .500-mark.
With the game tied at six and five errors already on the board, Louisville forgot how to execute on a bunt attempt in the bottom of the eighth and Alabama capitalized, bringing in the winning run on an infield hit from Jon Kelton that dribbled no more than six feet from home plate.
The 7-6 win over No. 14 Louisville inches Alabama two games closer to the .500-mark.
ESPN TideNation writers Alex Scarborough and Greg Ostendorf report from the University of Alabama's first day of spring practice.
Notebook: First practice for newcomers
March, 9, 2012
3/09/12
9:42
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By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- For the eight enrollees at the University of Alabama, Friday marked their first practice wearing a Crimson Tide uniform. It’s a group with high expectations and includes a number of players who could make early contributions for UA this season.
The group may be highlighted by running back T.J. Yeldon, a true freshman from Daphne High School who has the opportunity to get some serious reps with Eddie Lacy expected to miss the entire spring due to injury.
“What we would like for him to do is focus on what he needs to do to be a complete player at his position, so that he has a chance to contribute, understand, develop confidence in the fundamentals that he needs to play his position with,” UA head coach Nick Saban said.
Saban spent time working hands on with newcomers Deion Belue and Travell Dixon. Both players came over from the junior college ranks and could see early playing time in what’s expected to be a revamped secondary.
The group may be highlighted by running back T.J. Yeldon, a true freshman from Daphne High School who has the opportunity to get some serious reps with Eddie Lacy expected to miss the entire spring due to injury.
“What we would like for him to do is focus on what he needs to do to be a complete player at his position, so that he has a chance to contribute, understand, develop confidence in the fundamentals that he needs to play his position with,” UA head coach Nick Saban said.
Saban spent time working hands on with newcomers Deion Belue and Travell Dixon. Both players came over from the junior college ranks and could see early playing time in what’s expected to be a revamped secondary.
Marvin Gentry/US PresswireAlabama coach Nick Saban reminded his players on the first day of srping practice to put 2011 behind them.TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- On Friday, the parade for the University of Alabama officially came to a halt. The 2011 national championship run ended when the Crimson Tide strapped on their helmets for the first time in two months and began spring practice.
The crystal ball has vanished from memory, the partying on Bourbon Street left to those in New Orleans interested in SEC basketball.
Back home in Tuscaloosa, a new drive to the BCS began with an opening whistle on Friday afternoon and a sharp reminder not to let the 2010 season happen again.
Coming off the Tide’s 13th national championship two years ago, a hangover set in. Drunk with success and armed with a preseason No. 1 ranking, UA slipped out of the gates and lost the competitive edge needed to stay on top.
In 2012, history has a chance to repeat itself if the Tide let it.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama opened spring practice Friday afternoon and worked out in cool weather conditions outdoors.
A couple of notes from the viewing period:
Barrett Jones looked comfortable at center, stepping in for the departed William Vlachos. Jones played alongside Cyrus Kouandjio at left tackle. Redshirt sophomore Chad Lindsay took some snaps at center as well.
A couple of notes from the viewing period:
Barrett Jones looked comfortable at center, stepping in for the departed William Vlachos. Jones played alongside Cyrus Kouandjio at left tackle. Redshirt sophomore Chad Lindsay took some snaps at center as well.
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Spring practice preview: DBs
March, 9, 2012
3/09/12
10:26
AM ET
By
Alex Scarborough and
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- When spring practice begins tomorrow, no area on the University of Alabama roster will look more different than the secondary.
The unit that propelled the Tide to the No. 1 total defense in the country, due in large part to having the top-ranked pass defense, is largely gone. Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick and DeQuan Menzie take 75 percent of the unit to the NFL.
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Spring practice: 3 newcomers to watch
March, 9, 2012
3/09/12
10:13
AM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
Here are three newcomers to watch when Alabama opens spring practice Friday on the Tuscaloosa campus:
T.J. Yeldon (RB, Fr.) may be the most talented player in the Crimson Tide’s backfield next season, and he hasn’t played a down of college football yet. Eddie Lacy should be the starter and the primary back when Alabama travels to Dallas to play Michigan, but with Lacy out for spring practice due to injury, Yeldon has an opportunity to take advantage and be the change-of-pace back. The Alabama Mr. Football award winner enrolled early at UA just so he could play as a freshman. He’s ready physically. Can he learn the playbook and do what Alabama wants him to do? This spring should tell us a lot.
Travell Dixon (CB, JUCO So.) gets the comparison to former Alabama cornerback DeQuan Menzie often because both players came from the junior college ranks. But with his size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) he actually compares better to Dre Kirkpatrick on the field. He has the length UA likes in their corners, and he has the experience of playing at the college level. That combination makes him an ideal candidate to play early. If he can develop under head coach Nick Saban and impress the coaching staff, he could be playing opposite of Dee Milliner in the Tide’s defense come next fall.
Amari Cooper (WR, Fr.) could be a star in the making. He was off the national radar before last summer when he came to Tuscaloosa and dominated Alabama’s camp. Since then, he enjoyed a solid senior year at Miami Northwestern and proved to be one of the top players at the Under Armour All-America Game in January. With the departure of three senior wide receivers and the suspension of three more, the position is up for grabs. Both Cooper and Chris Black enrolled early and have a leg up on the competition. If one or both has a strong showing this spring, they become of one AJ McCarron’s go-to targets next year.
T.J. Yeldon (RB, Fr.) may be the most talented player in the Crimson Tide’s backfield next season, and he hasn’t played a down of college football yet. Eddie Lacy should be the starter and the primary back when Alabama travels to Dallas to play Michigan, but with Lacy out for spring practice due to injury, Yeldon has an opportunity to take advantage and be the change-of-pace back. The Alabama Mr. Football award winner enrolled early at UA just so he could play as a freshman. He’s ready physically. Can he learn the playbook and do what Alabama wants him to do? This spring should tell us a lot.
Travell Dixon (CB, JUCO So.) gets the comparison to former Alabama cornerback DeQuan Menzie often because both players came from the junior college ranks. But with his size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) he actually compares better to Dre Kirkpatrick on the field. He has the length UA likes in their corners, and he has the experience of playing at the college level. That combination makes him an ideal candidate to play early. If he can develop under head coach Nick Saban and impress the coaching staff, he could be playing opposite of Dee Milliner in the Tide’s defense come next fall.
Amari Cooper (WR, Fr.) could be a star in the making. He was off the national radar before last summer when he came to Tuscaloosa and dominated Alabama’s camp. Since then, he enjoyed a solid senior year at Miami Northwestern and proved to be one of the top players at the Under Armour All-America Game in January. With the departure of three senior wide receivers and the suspension of three more, the position is up for grabs. Both Cooper and Chris Black enrolled early and have a leg up on the competition. If one or both has a strong showing this spring, they become of one AJ McCarron’s go-to targets next year.
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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.