Alabama Crimson Tide: June visitor preview 1
The University of Alabama has expressed heavy interest in Moss since extending a scholarship offer in April of 2020. Defensive coordinator and area recruiter Pete Golding has maintained a strong relationship throughout the process. The Crimson Tide plans to add another running back to the 2021 class. Moss is on the short list of remaining targets at the position. He will take an official visit to Alabama on June 4-6.
Moss grew up a big LSU fan in the heart of Tiger country. It appears an uphill battle for any other school to land his signature. Alabama has signed many top players from Louisiana during the Saban era who grew up fans of the home state school. The defending National champions will continue to target the best in the Pelican State. Moss has not announced any other visit plans, but expect him to visit places like LSU and Florida in addition to Tuscaloosa in June.
Alabama signed a tremendous group of receivers in the 2021 class. The numbers are expected a little smaller in 2022 which means Alabama is very cautious on who has a green light to commit at the position. Brown is one of the Tide's top targets and considered a top priority.
"I am starting to get comfortable with all the coaches I talk to now," Brown told Rivals earlier this year. "I am always talking to either the wide receivers coach or the head coach from every school. The one that made me the most nervous was coach Nick Saban.
"Talking to coach Saban is pretty amazing. I was nervous at first, but it has gotten easier to talk with him. He always talks about staying on my grades, to keep working, and that good things will come for me. It feels great to be recruited by a school like Alabama, and coach Saban. Alabama is a great school."
Brown told BamaInsider he plans to take an official and unofficial visit to Alabama this summer. He is expected in Tuscaloosa the first weekend of June. Other schools strongly in the mix include Tennessee, Ole Miss, Florida State and TCU (official visit on June 18-20).
The four-star athlete recorded 913 all-purpose yards, seven touchdowns and intercepted two passes in eight games during the 2020 season. He is also one of the top track athletes in Tennessee.
Alabama can land top recruits from just about every area in the country. There have been some targets in the Vegas area through the years, but none have signed with the Tide. Alabama immediately jumped into the mix for Taylor when an offered was extended in February. He replaced USC with the Alabama in his top three which also includes Notre Dame and Oklahoma.
“Especially when coach (Nick) Saban was the one to call and offer you,” Taylor told Rivals earlier this year “You can’t really pass that up. When I did that virtual visit I never saw technology or facilities that advanced. They have absolutely everything. You can step on a pad and get your foot custom-made for a cleat. The facilities and technology are absolutely amazing there.”
Taylor will take an official visit to Alabama on June 4-6. He also has visits planned to Notre Dame on June 11-13 and Oklahoma on June 18-20.
It has been a four-team race for Denver Harris since he announced his finalists on February 22. Harris will take official visits to his final four in June: Texas A&M (June 4-6), LSU (June 11-13), Texas (June 18-20) and the final visit to Alabama (June 25-27).
Harris keeps to himself, for the most part, regarding his recruitment. He set his finalists and scheduled the visits. Harris recently posted on his Instagram account, "It's set", which quickly created buzz throughout the recruiting industry a commitment was on the horizon.
Harris may have a visit date in mind, but the plan remains in-place for the five-star to take June visits before making a decision. Many believe Alabama is the favorite with his relationship with the coaching staff and the thought of playing in the SEC for the best program in the country.
"Alabama is ... Alabama is Alabama," Harris told Rivals earlier this year. "What isn’t Alabama doing right? Sometimes it seems like they can’t do any wrong, which is crazy! My relationship with the coaches there is great. Coach (Nick) Saban is the GOAT, so speaking with him is almost unreal sometimes, but at the same time, I try to use those times to gain as much knowledge as possible because when guys like that speak, you just listen!
"My interest in 'Bama goes back even before they began recruiting me, similar to that of my other top choices. They just have such a storied program and the amount of talent they breed is unreal and it definitely takes a certain type of caliber to play at 'Bama, but I know I have that."
Alabama signed a pair of North Shore offensive linemen in the previous two recruiting classes: Damieon George (2020) and Jaeden Roberts (2021).
The No. 1 player in the 2023 class will return to Tuscaloosa on June 5 for an unofficial visit/camp. Overton is also scheduled to visit Georgia (June 2), Oklahoma (June 19), Texas A&M (June 21) and Clemson (TBD). Overton has strong connections at Alabama. His father, Milton, was an associate athletic director for the Crimson Tide between 2009 to 2015.
Milton, a former Oklahoma Sooner offensive lineman, is now the athletic director at Kennesaw State. He has also worked at TCU, Texas A&M and Florida A&M. His son, Lebbeus 'LT', was a superstar at Bessemer Academy in 2019 when he recorded 105 tackles, 42 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries.
He transferred to Milton High School in Georgia where he registered 70 tackles, 21.5 sacks and six forced fumbles during his sophomore season. It's still a little early to say Alabama is in the driver's seat, but the Crimson Tide is in very strong position early in his recruitment.
“I was recently on the phone with Coach Saban," Overton recently told Rivals. "He’s a pretty cool coach. He speaks from the heart and it’s love from Alabama. I’ve always been (close to) Alabama. I was at the national championship game a few years ago and I got to go to his house and eat dinner there then when my dad was an assistant. Talking to him is just amazing.”
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