Alabama offers four-star DL
Aeneas Hawkins, four-star defensive lineman from Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, traveled to Tuscaloosa on Saturday for Junior Day with his parents. It was a big day with offer No.24 added to his list
"The visit went well," Hawkins said. "We showed up and took a quick tour around campus. We went to the academic center. We were told Coach Saban wanted to meet with me in his office. He told me he watched my film. He liked how I am as a player. He then offered me.
"It's big-time. Coach Saban is the best in the business. Alabama is one of the best, if not the best program in college football. It automatically puts them as one of my favorites."
Hawkins was impressed with everything he saw on his first visit to Alabama.
"I knew it was going to be big," he said. "When I first got there I didn't know what to expect. When we met with Coach Cochran in the weight room it started to make sense why Alabama is so successful. Their players are so big and so good.
"Coach Saban doesn't sugar-coat anything. He doesn't play around. It's all about business down there. The facilities down there are designed for them to win forever.
"Just being in the weight room and listening to Coach Cochran really stood out to me. I went down there to get the offer. It was the reason I made the trip. Coach Saban didn't waste my time.
"A lot of schools are recruiting me as a defensive tackle. Coach Saban was honest with me. He said he sees me as a 5 or 6-technique. Those were my two favorite things about the trip."
Alabama is one the early short list of favorites for Hawkins. Other schools include Ohio State, Clemson, Cincinnati, Penn State and Notre Dame.
"After taking so many trips everything starts to look the same," Hawkins said. "Everyone has nice facilities and a nice weight room. I really look at the coaching staffs. I think Alabama has the best staff in the country. Some schools may have a better coach at one position, but Coach Saban really impressed me the most out of any coaches I've been around so far."