Texas-based OL Casey Poe previews Saturday’s game, talks Alabama commitment

The Texas Longhorns will face off against Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday evening. They won’t be the only representatives from the Lone Star State in Tuscaloosa this weekend.

Nick Saban’s coaching staff will welcome at least a couple of Texas-based recruits on campus for this top-11 matchup. Those are their sole official visitor Terry Bussey, and Class of 2024 offensive lineman commit Casey Poe.

This will be Poe’s first time attending an Alabama game since committing to the program on July 12.

“It’s going to be great for me,” Poe told BamaOnLine. “Texas was the only Texas team not to offer me. It’s surreal that I’m going to be watching the only Texas team not to offer me play the team I’m now committed to when I used to be a Texas fan. It’s going to be surreal and a really cool experience.”

For a little context on that response, Poe says that he camped at UT in the summer of his sophomore year. He had actually torn his meniscus prior to the camp, but wanted the offer and camped through it. He says his measurables, however, were not what the Longhorns were looking for. Poe would later receive a game invite from the staff, but never talked with them over text or the phone again.

While Texas was the school he rooted for growing up, Poe believes he was led down the right path.

“I 100 percent made the right decision,” Poe said of his Bama commitment. “Every time I talk with any of the guys or any of the coaches or just go to Tuscaloosa, it feels like home. I knew the second I committed that I made the right choice. Seeing all the great opportunities I’ll have and the people I’ll be around, I know that it was 100 percent the right decision for me. It’s going to be a great collegiate atmosphere.”

Poe shares his prediction for Saturday: “We know Bama is going to win.”

Speaking of that atmosphere, it will be one to marvel at on Saturday with Texas coming into town.

Alabama beat the Longhorns by just one point on the road last season. With their crowd behind them and the momentum they built in Week 1, Poe envisions his future team enjoying a more comfortable victory this time around.

“We know Bama is going to win. That’s an obvious thing,” Poe said. “I think Texas is going to come in and ride that high horse of last year thinking they have something going. But they haven’t played in Tuscaloosa yet. It’s going to be Alabama on top by two or three scores… Texas is obviously a good team, good talent, and a pretty decent coaching staff, but they’re not going to be able to hang with the Tide.”

Casey Poe in Nick Saban’s Ferrari during his June official visit.

The nation’s No. 1 interior OL also agreed with Nick Saban’s statement that this will be a “good barometer” for Bama to find out where they are as a team.

“I think it’s a tone-setter,” Poe said. “They come out and play hard, smash-mouth football. Go up against a good opponent and come out on top… it’ll show the other opponents in the future that they’re still here. They’re still playing hard, smashmouth football. If you want to take that national championship, you’ll have to take it out of their hands.”

Poe, who will be accompanied by his father and best friend this weekend, also plans on doing some recruiting at the game.

“While I’m there, I’m going to get after the guys the coaching staff tells me we need,” Poe said. “My message is to them is just to watch the game and feel the experience. Sit in that stadium underneath the LED lights listening to Dixieland Delight… there’s nothing else I need to say.”

Alabama OL coach Eric Wolford is still treating Casey Poe like a priority

Our conversation next turned to the person who played a key role in Alabama landing Poe: Eric Wolford.

Wolford’s recruiting talents have been on full display yet again this cycle. Bama landed Poe and two other priority interior offensive lineman targets in Joseph Ionata and William Sanders. They’re also in the lead for their top offensive tackle target in this class.

Poe says the communication with Wolford has not slowed down one bit.

“It’s been awesome,” Poe said. “He’s texting me almost every single day and calling me two or three times a week. He’s just making sure I’m staying on top of things at Lindale. That’s the great thing about him: He wanted me as a player, but he really cares about me as a person. He really cares about the person more than the player.

“It’s been great. I know he’s going to be a great coach for me, build me up, and really push me in the direction of my goals.”

Wolford’s work on the recruiting trail complements his skills as an o-line coach.

“As a coach, I think he’s one of, if not the greatest offensive line coach in college football right now,” Poe said. “I don’t think there’s not a single person in that room that he would not go to the end of the earth for. If you’re in a sticky situation, he’s the coach you want to call… as far as development, I really do believe he cares about the details.

“Kadyn Proctor is obviously a huge, talented kid and could’ve played in any college o-line room,” Poe continued. “But I really do believe Coach Wolf is going to make him into something special, something even greater than he would’ve been if he went to another program.”

Poe tuned in for last week’s game versus Middle Tennessee, and had high praise for both Proctor and the o-line group as a whole.

“I think they did good. I think they played aggressive,” Poe said. “Proctor came out and showed why he earned that starting spot. Had the normal bumps that a freshman has, but came out and played great. Saw the twos get in there as well. They have a bunch of talent and a bunch of hard-working kids. They have a lot of depth, which is an amazing thing for the o-line room.”

Poe has made strides in his skill set

As for when he’ll join that group, Poe is not yet sure. He’s still going back and forth on whether he will enroll at Alabama in January or next summer.

Right now, his focus is on his senior season, and adding as many pancakes to his resume as possible.

“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better in pass pro,” Poe said. “Last year, I wasn’t really a technician in pass pro. I got the job done, but it wasn’t the prettiest thing to watch. I feel like I hit that hard in the offseason. Just physical aggression. Coming out and hitting people in the mouth whenever I need to. Just finishing blocks and making sure I set the tone for the game.”

After this weekend, Poe plans on visiting Alabama for the Tennessee game on Oct. 21. Bama is the only program that will receive a visit from him from now until his recruitment is officially over.

“I don’t need to visit anywhere else,” Poe said. “I know where home is.”

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