Alabama Crimson Tide Inside Look: Priority flip targets
Alabama remains in the hunt for several top recruits who are currently committed elsewhere. BamaInsider takes an inside look at some of the biggest names to continue following these next few months.
*Andrew Bone and Joseph Hastings compiled this report.
Demarcus Riddick, No. 2 LB, Chilton County HS (Clanton, Ala.)
Even though they entered the mix later than others, Alabama is going all out for in-state linebacker and Georgia commit Demarcus Riddick. Since receiving an offer in late January, Riddick has been treated by Nick Saban’s staff as a top priority. Interest is being reciprocated as Riddick visited Bama three times in the spring, including for A-Day Game on April 22. Riddick hasn’t talked with the media since his recent visit to Tuscaloosa. He is expected to return for an official visit. The date is currently unknown.
Auburn presents tough competition here. Like Bama, the Tigers are also frequently getting Riddick on campus and will host him for an official visit down the line. Georgia, which earned Riddick’s commitment last November, technically remains the team to beat. Their biggest advantage here is relationships as Riddick was offered by UGA in June 2021, over a year and a half before Alabama got into the mix.
In the end, however, the expectation is that Riddick stays in state at the next level. I still remain confident in my On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine pick for Alabama to flip Riddick.- Hastings
Related: Five 2024 prospects who could commit to Alabama next
Isaia Faga, three-star DL, Central HS (Phenix City, Ala.)
Utah DL commit Isaia Faga. (Photo courtesy of Isaia Faga)
There are players who get a little more attention than the in-state defensive lineman. Faga doesn’t seem to mind. He has kept a low profile, but college coaches, including Alabama, are in high pursuit. The Utah commitment received an offer from Alabama on March 4. He was supposed to return to Tuscaloosa the Friday before the A-Day game, but did not make the trip.
Alabama defensive line coach, Freddie Roach, visited Faga’s school on May 1. Kevin Steele, the Tide’s new defensive coordinator/area recruiter, stopped to see him on Wednesday. Faga informed BamaInsider he is in communication with the Tide defensive coaches almost daily.
Faga is on the short list of defensive line targets for the Crimson Tide, but this is not an easy flip in favor of Alabama. The 6-foot-2, 285-pounder remains committed to the Utes where Faga said on Wednesday night still “feels like home.” He intends to return to Salt Lake City this summer.
His father, Faauo, is an Army Ranger and deployed soon. He will not join his son for any summer visits. Faga is currently scheduled to take an official visit to Texas on June 16-18. He will also schedule officials to Alabama, Utah and Florida. A final decision is expected early this fall- Bone
*Note BamaInsider will have an in-depth interview with Faga on Friday.
Peyton Woodyard, No. 4 safety, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Peyton Woodyard with Alabama DB coach Travaris Robinson during April 13 visit.
Alabama and Georgia have gone head to head for a lot of recruits through the years. The majority of the battles have featured many top recruits in the Southeast. There are some which happen outside the region. Alabama has its eyes on Peyton Woodyard who hails from one of the top high school football programs in the country.
Woodyard grew up an Alabama fan. His father, Gerald, is originally from Mobile. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder camped in Tuscaloosa after his freshman season earning an offer from Coach Saban. A lot of eyes shifted to Alabama as early in driver’s seat in his recruitment. The interest remained, but the visits stalled. Alabama had changes in the secondary including safeties coach Charles Kelly (Colorado) who left Tuscaloosa in January.
He took three visits to Georgia during that time and subsequently committed to the Bulldogs in January after attending Junior Day. Alabama increased its pursuit led by the efforts of Travaris Robinson and Holmon Wiggins.
Woodyard returned to Tuscaloosa on April 13 for an unofficial visit. His first trip back since receiving the offer. He scheduled an official visit on June 23-25. Coach Saban also had a phone conversation with Woodyard on Tuesday followed by a visit from Coach Wiggins on Wednesday.
Woodyard remains comfortable with his commitment to UGA. He will return to Athens for an official visit on June 9-11. He is also keeping the door open for a few other schools. Ohio State will receive an official on June 16-18. Alabama is a serious threat, however, to flip the elite safety away from Kirby Smart.—Bone
Don’t Miss: Woodyard talks phone call with Nick Saban
Ellis Robinson, five-star cornerback, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Five-star DB and Georgia commit Ellis Robinson. (Joseph Hastings/BamaInsider)
BamaInsider has spoken in-person with UGA commitment Ellis Robinson IV in each of the previous two months. Based on what he told us each time, Robinson appeared to be not as high on Alabama in our late April conversation as he was in early March. The nation’s No. 1 cornerback went from saying that Bama will receive an official visit from him to telling us that it’s not a guarantee. Robinson also recently expressed a desire to hear from more members of the staff other than Travaris Robinson.
Recruiting is very fluid. In February, we viewed Robinson as a more likely flip target for Alabama than fellow Georgia defensive back commit Peyton Woodyard. Now, Woodyard is higher on the list. Could that change once again, especially after summer official visits? That’s certainly a possibility. The Tide also have a five-star cornerback committed in Jaylen Mbakwe, and have several top targets in Corian Gipson, Jameer Grimsley, and Zabien Brown. That’s something to consider.
If communication picks up and Robinson gets on campus for an official visit, then we’d give Alabama just as good of a shot to flip him as any other out-of-state committed target in this cycle— Hastings
Demello Jones, No. 11 cornerback, Swainsboro HS (Ga.)
Photo by Chad Simmons/On3
Swainsboro (Ga.) cornerback Demello Jones locked in official visits to Alabama and Georgia on Feb. 21. Less than a month later, the top-100 junior (No. 83 overall) committed to the Bulldogs.
Jones has not done any interviews with On3 since announcing his commitment, but did recently confirm with us that he is still taking his official visit to Bama. He is expected to be in town from June 9-11. Jones’ Georgia official visit will take place the weekend prior.
There’s definitely more confidence on our end regarding Bama’s chances with Riddick and even Woodyard, though things could change with Jones after next month’s trip. The belief is that Alabama finished second to Georgia in his recruitment, with the Tide’s standard and development under Nick Saban catching his attention the most. Next month’s official visit will be one to watch—Hastings
Portal News: Former UAB safety Jaylen Key talks Alabama visit, upcoming decision
Dealyn Evans, Pine Tree HS (Longview, Texas)
Texas A&M commitment Dealyn Evans on his first-ever visit to Alabama in January. (Photo courtesy of Dealyn Evans)
Alabama hosted Texas A&M commitment Dealyn Evans for Junior Day earlier this year. He hoped to return to Tuscaloosa during the spring, but did not make it due go a busy schedule. The lack of a spring visit didn’t do anything to shatter Alabama’s interest. The Tide remains in contention with Coach Roach visiting the No. 17 defensive lineman on Wednesday. Coach Wiggins also visited him last week.
Evans confirmed to BamaInsider on Tuesday he will return to Alabama for an official visit in June. He is still finalizing the date. He will also visit Florida (June 2-4) and TCU (June 9-11). A visit to College Station is expected. The Gators are currently considered the biggest threat to the Aggies. Evans recently named Florida as the No. 2 school on his list after a three day visit in Gainesville this spring.
Alabama trailed for a player in the same hometown as Evans in the ’23 cycle, former Longview High School wide receiver, Jalen Hale. Texas was considered a shoe-in for Hale, but a late July visit followed by an official visit in early September flipped the momentum for the Crimson Tide.
There are currently zero defensive linemen in Alabama’s No. 3 recruiting class per the On3 Industry Ranking. Alabama will make its run with Evans. It’s showing heavy interest with the communication, and trips to the Lone Star State in the last two weeks. The key for Alabama is Evans returning back to Tuscaloosa—Bone
*Note this is not the complete list of players committed elsewhere currently pursued by Alabama. There are others in communication, several who are currently in evaluation this spring and more who will emerge during the summer and possibly this fall.
Additional notes:
A few Alabama commitments are keeping the door open for other schools. Perry Thompson has an official visit scheduled to Auburn on June 16-18. Thompson answered rumors regarding his commitment status on Tuesday evening-HEREFour-star running back Jordan Lyle (Michigan commitment) and Myles Graham (Florida commitment) are also still on the target list for the Crimson Tide.Alabama offered Tennessee commitment Marcus Goree on Tuesday. The four-star safety may visit Tuscaloosa this summer. JJ Harrell, four-star wide receiver, is another Volunteer commitment, who recently mentioned visiting Alabama again. Alabama missed on Trey’Dez Green who recently committed to LSU. Green had the Tide as a finalist, but did not visit this year. The staff will welcome a visit from the four-star tight end. Tulane tight end commitment Traville Frederick earned an offer from Alabama earlier this spring, and also attended A-Day. Tide coaches look forward to seeing more of him in camp.
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