ESPN Recruiting Nation Football

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- It's just two days until the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and both teams practiced both in the morning and the afternoon to get ready for Saturday. For the Mississippi squad, a certain defensive lineman continued to dominate and their most dynamic athlete returned to practice.

Alabama's two big stars did their talking on the field but remained quiet off it when asked about recruiting.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- ESPN 300 cornerback Marquez White (Dothan, Ala./Northview) committed to Florida State in May, but there’s been plenty of speculation surrounding his recruitment since then. Where’s he stand now?

“I’m still firm to Florida State,” White said.

Recently, the four-star took an official visit to Minnesota. It was first trip to Minneapolis.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Antonio Conner (Batesville, Miss./South Panola) might be the nation’s No. 2 safety in the ESPN 150 rankings, but he’s getting a turn at running back during practice this week for the Mississippi team in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.

“Kailo Moore went down, and coach asked me if I was willing to play running back,” Conner said. “I told him anything to help out the team, so that’s what I had to do today. It’s real good. You’ve got to see the hole and have great vision.”

Moore, a Mississippi State commitment, missed practice on Thursday with a groin injury. He’s questionable for the game on Saturday. If Conner sees time in the backfield, he’s got one goal on his mind -- get in the end zone.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- It hasn’t been easy for ESPN 150 offensive lineman Austin Golson (Prattville, Ala./Prattville) this week at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. He’s had to go up against top defensive line prospects such as Dee Liner and Darius Paige all week at practice, but he knows it’s only making him better.

“It has been a challenge, but it’s just competition,” Golson said. “It makes me better. I hope I make them better. We’re just getting after each other. [Liner] got me at that summer camp. I don’t think I was prepared, so I had to get him back somehow.”

On Wednesday, Florida State assistant coach Dameyune Craig came by practice to see both Golson and Marquez White, who are both committed to the Seminoles.

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Several senior standouts from Alabama and Mississippi were in action on Tuesday during the practices for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game in Montgomery, Ala. RecruitingNation reporter Greg Ostendorf was there live and has the scoop on which top prospects shined.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Arkansas State commitment Shaun Rupert (Montgomery, Ala./Carver) missed the news last night when the Red Wolves hired Texas offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin. He has been too busy competing at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game this week.

The three-star safety doesn’t know much about Harsin, other than the fact that he’s an offensive coach, but he plans to talk to him today.

“Texas is a big program,” Rupert said. “He’s got a really good record there, so he should be successful.”

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- When Gene Chizik and his staff were let go at Auburn, ESPN 300 wide receiver Earnest Robinson (Pinson, Ala./Pinson Valley) wanted to reopen his recruitment. The AU commit was close with the former staff, specifically assistant coaches Trooper Taylor and Tommy Thigpen.

“Me and Thigpen and Troop, we’re really close, so it really shocked me and everything,” Robinson said. “I had to think what I’m going to do now because I didn’t know what coaching staff was going to come in. I still had my options open.”

Enter Gus Malzahn.

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Life is good for three-star cornerback Jonathan Cook (Spanish Fort, Ala./Spanish Fort). He just won a state championship, and this week, he’s playing defensive back for the Alabama squad in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.

In the state title game, Cook caught a 25-yard touchdown pass as Spanish Fort High School cruised to a 42-14 victory.

“It felt real good,” he said. “That was the main thing we worked for.”

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Aside from Reuben Foster, Rod Crayton (Dadeville, Ala./Dadeville) is one of the higher-ranked players left in the state of Alabama still undeclared. The three-star defensive tackle has an impressive offer list, but he’s beginning to narrow his choices.

In October, he took his official visit to Penn State for the Ohio State game.

“I liked it,” Crayton said. “I like Coach Ted Roof. I like Coach Larry Johnson. Coach Johnson can get you to the league. He’s a good coach. He knows the fundamentals and everything, and he knows what it takes to get there. I think he can teach me that.”

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- It didn’t take long for new Tennessee head coach Butch Jones to reach out to three-star running back Johnathan Ford and let him know his scholarship offer from the Volunteers still stands, but it’s just another offer for Ford, who remains solid with his commitment to Vanderbilt.

Ford visited Vandy last month when the Commodores blew out Tennessee 41-18 in their home finale.

“It pretty much sealed the deal,” Ford said. “I saw everything I need to see -- the whole energy, Coach [James] Franklin working with the offensive guys. We’re on the rise. I’ve always wanted to play in the SEC, and he says I’m the top dog. I can come in and get early playing time.”

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The first day of practice for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game kicked off on Tuesday, and the Alabama squad showed off its strength at the skill positions as well as on the defensive line. The game is on Saturday.

QB Jeremy Johnson
Mongtomery, Ala./Carver
Committed to Auburn

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