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Alabama Recruiting Update: Official Visitors’ Reactions

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The Crimson Tide football staff put press coverage on recruits.

Back row: Ty Simpson (6), Tyler Booker (54), Bear Alexander, Denver Harris (1), Omari Abor (23), Dayne Shor (67), Terrance Brooks; Front Row: Jake Pope, Nicholas Singleton, Anthony Lucas.
Anthony Lucas IG

The second big recruiting weekend for the Crimson Tide has ended and it was a smashing success. Prospects, parents, and coaches were equally floored by the show that Alabama puts on for their guests.

A few 2022 recruits who may have been on the fence might might have teetered their way towards the Capstone. It is a long way until December/February but here are some reactions in Twitter/IG form.

Twitter

Denver Harris, 5-star CB, No. 8 overall, North Shore, TX - was blown away. “The visit to Bama was better than I expected it to be. Everything went smooth and it was just great, genuine energy all over the place.” It is said he doesn’t like to talk about his recruitment, so to get him to say this much is significant. He hopes to commit in December. Alabama will hold a spot for him.

Omari Abor, 5-star SDE, No. 23 overall, Duncanville, TX - One thing that was great to see was several of these recruits posing for pictures with their Alabama recruiter. Freddie Roach (top left) was a popular one. The Crimson Tide made up a lot of room on Abor. Alabama is definitely in the running for this big Texan. Abor plans on announcing his decision at the Under Armour game but will tell coaches ahead of time. WANT.

Bear Alexander, 5-star DL, No. 30 overall, Fort Worth, TX - Coming into the weekend, it looked like Bear may be a Texas A&M lean. After this weekend, it is a dead heat.

Alexander’s high school coach Tony Jones was equally impressed.

Tyler Booker, 4-star OT, No. 42 overall, originally from New Haven, CT. Transferred to IMG Academy. He may announce his commitment in July but no guarantees.

Terrance Brooks, 4-star CB, No. 58 overall, Plano, TX - Had an excellent official visit to Tuscaloosa and could make an announcement in the coming weeks. His dad, Chet Brooks was along for the ride and gushed about the visit.

“It was a great visit. Great visit with the coaches, the academic staff, the medical staff, weight room staff, the strength and conditioning staff, all that stuff was really, really good.” Dad is a former Aggie and 49er but will not pressure his son into going to TAMU.

Regarding Nick Saban: “ He’s as expected… about his business. He just laid out the plan for T as far as what he expected if he decided to come here. I don’t want you to commit to Alabama, I want you to commit to all the things that we have in place that’s going to make you the best version of you, is basically what he said.”

Anthony Lucas 4-star DL, No. 83 overall, Scottsdale, AZ - There’s Freddie Roach again. Also, Drew Svoboda. Lucas said he will likely return for the LSU game.

Nicholas Singleton, 4-star RB, No. 99 overall, Reading, PA. Sources have said that Nick Saban informed Singleton they still have a spot for him, but the clock is ticking...

Jake Pope, 3-star Safety/Athlete, Buford, GA - An excellent all-around athlete who the Tide is really high on.

Dayne Shor, 3-star OT, Alpharetta, GA - Attended IMG Academy in 2020 but missed his junior season due to a shoulder injury suffered during preseason practices. It is unclear what his status is with the Tide at this point. He may announce a decision at the end of July. If he does, it probably won’t be Bama.

If you are not already in love with Alabama commit Ty Simpson yet, you will be. The 5-star QB is already a leader of this class and the biggest recruiter as well. His family reminds me a bit of Mac Jones’s clan. It is going to be enjoyable for Tide fans having Ty on campus in the coming years.

things that make you go hmmm

Former Texas commit WR Evan Stewart (Frisco, TX) was in town for multiple days on an unofficial visit. The 5-star No. 35 overall plans to return to T-town in the fall for an OV. However, he is still sporting UT gear in his Twitter profile.

JTT

As you probably heard, 2021 5-star DE JT Tuimoloau cancelled his trip to Tuscaloosa. In all honesty, adding him would have just been gravy. The Crimson Tide already had the highest-ranked recruiting class in the history of such rankings. So, I think they’ll be okay.

COMMIT

As expected, WR/TE Amari Niblack (St. Petersburg, FL) did commit to Alabama over the weekend. He is currently a 3-star and No. 492 in the country #TheDynastIsDead! That could be due to the confusion of where he might play. Is he a tight end, a wide receiver, H-back? Alabama fans should expect a Bama bump any day now. The key for the Tide staff will be finding the right position for him.

Nick Saban has had his eye on Niblack for quite a while. Upon meeting him two years ago, Saban said that he reminded him of a young Julio Jones. Niblack did not receive an offer at the time but was told that he’d see him again in a couple of years. Fast forward to this past week, and the young man did enough at camp to earn that coveted offer.

FEELING OLD?

Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. is a 2024 prospect. I am sure you know who is dad is.

2023

I have been covering crootin for RBR for close to a decade now. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that it’s a bit fruitless looking ahead to classes beyond the rising one. As an example, the first two commitments to the Class of 2021, Latrell McCutchin and Drake Maye, ended up signing elsewhere. This happens almost every year.

Do yourself a favor and ignore all the chatter about the Manning kid and the rest of the 2023 class until the next National Signing Day elapses.

ROLL TIDE

#NSD22