Alabama Crimson Tide

Each week, Tales From The Road provides news and updates about where Alabama’s coaches are recruiting and which prospects are getting noticed.

This week’s targets: Alabama has traveled coast to coast this spring, but this week the staff is putting an emphasis on the Southeast, specifically its home state. UA assistant coach Lance Thompson plans to make a trip back to Mobile where he will no doubt make a stop at St. Paul’s Episcopal to see Auburn commitments Josh Casher and Tre' Williams. Kirby Smart made a stop at Montgomery (Ala.) Carver to see ESPN 150 linebacker commitment Shaun Dion Hamilton. He’ll also be spending a couple days in West Georgia, checking in with top programs like Sandy Creek, Newnan and Carver, the home of 2015 commitment Mekhi Brown.

Area of interest: There aren’t many Californians on the Alabama roster, but the staff seems to be putting more emphasis on the state with the 2014 class. Tide assistant coaches Greg Brown and Doug Nussmeier were both on the West Coast last week checking out prospects. The biggest name is ESPN 150 tight end Tyler Luatua (La Mirada, Calif./La Mirada), the brother of UA offensive lineman Issac Luatua, but the Tide also have offers out to a pair of ESPN 150 offensive linemen, Damien Mama (Bellflower, Calif./John Bosco) and Viane Talamaivao (Corona, Ca./Centennial). All three prospects want to visit Tuscaloosa.

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HOMEWOOD, Ala. -- When spring practice began at Homewood High School, four-star offensive lineman Jordan Sims took a break from the recruiting process and focused on getting better. To help him with that, he hired a personal trainer.

In the last month, Sims has trimmed nearly 15 pounds and now stands at 6-foot-4, 330 pounds. How has the new physique helped?

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The last month has been a productive one for the University of Alabama in terms of recruiting.

Sure, the Crimson Tide still have just three commitments for 2014 -- far less than they’ve had at this time in years past -- but since the beginning of spring practice, they have hosted some of the nation’s top recruits. If the talent on campus this spring is any indication, Nick Saban is well on his way to another No. 1 recruiting class.

With just a week until A-Day, TideNation breaks down the recent visitors, position-by-position, beginning with the offense Thursday.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- A lot had changed since Jordan Sims (Homewood, Ala./Homewood) last visited the University of Alabama. The in-state offensive lineman has since received a scholarship offer, and the Crimson Tide hired Mario Cristobal to be the new offensive line coach.

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HOMEWOOD, Ala. -- Jordan Sims has always been big. When he was born, he was 10 pounds, and 22 inches. A middle school growth spurt and time in the weight room has him at 6-foot-4, 334 pounds.

But despite his imposing size, the fact that he is one of the most coveted prospects in the Southeast has left him stunned.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Earlier this month, the University of Alabama signed the No. 1 recruiting class for the second year in a row, but that’s in the past. It’s time for the Crimson Tide to focus on the 2014 class, and Saturday’s junior day is a good place to start.

This week’s O-zone previews the rising seniors -- highlighting the top players, looking at the biggest position of need and identifying which regions to keep an eye on.

Most talented: DE Da’Shawn Hand

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Mario Cristobal is expected to be named the new offensive line coach for the University of Alabama sometime this week, but he’s already started to put his stamp on the Crimson Tide program.

On Tuesday, Alabama offered a scholarship to in-state offensive lineman Jordan Sims (Homewood, Ala./Homewood) based on the recommendation of Cristobal.

“It was exciting, but it was nerve-wracking at the same time because I didn’t expect them to offer me until I went to camp if they wanted to offer me at all,” Sims said, offering an explanation for the timing that caught him by surprise.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It’s now official. Alabama offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland will take the same job with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was considered one of the best in college football at his position, but what does his departure mean for the Crimson Tide on the recruiting trail?

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