Alabama Crimson Tide

08-06-2007, 10:50 AM

August 6, 2007

Tim Watts
BamaOnLine.com Recruiting Editor

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Destin Hood Prospect Video

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Nick Saban and his staff continue their good in-state recruiting start today when the Tide landed a verbal pledge from St. Paul wide receiver Destin Hood who had offers from Auburn, FSU, Florida and LSU among others. Hood, 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, called the UA staff Monday to let them know of his decision.

Hood is a fast-rising two-sport star that also shines on the baseball diamond.
"I committed to Alabama last night (Sunday)," said Hood. "I called Coach Saban. He told me how excited he was that I will be a part of his program. He told me that they wanted to use me as an outside receiver and deep threat. I also talked to Coach (Lance) Thompson who was just as excited.

"Coach Thompson is a good guy. He told me early on that I was one of the top wide receivers they were recruiting and he recruited me hard. Coach said that I was that big, physical receiver who can go up and over a guy to make a play. That is what they are looking for. All the coaches up there know what they are doing. You can tell that when you are around them. They are strictly business and I like that they don't sugarcoat everything. They let you know what they expect and what you need to do in order to play for them."

Hood joins Ivan Matchett as future Tide players, but at least two more of his teammates are current top Alabama targets.

"Ivan committed to Alabama early and he's been in my ear about going with him. We discussed it before and I knew that was something I would like. He's a great teammate," Hood said. "Mark (Barron) doesn't say as much, but he knows we want him to come with us. He's definitely looking into it and so is A.J. (McCarron). We are all close and get along great. I would love for all of us to continue to play in college together."

Hood plans to also play baseball at the Capstone.

"I love baseball too and Coach Saban told me it's alright to play both when I'm in college. I've already cleared it with the baseball staff. They offered me a scholarship too," Hood said. "It's a good program and I think it goes hand in hand with what I want to do in college. I think I can get to play early for Coach Wells."

As a junior, Hood hauled in 22 receptions for 636 yards and 12 touchdowns.

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08-06-2007, 10:50 AM

August 5, 2007

Shane Youngblood
BamaOnLine.com Recruiting Analyst

Related Links:
Robby Green Prospect Video

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Nothing could be more impressive for a potential defensive back prospect than to watch your possible future head coach running the show at your position. Over the weekend, that is exactly what one Rivals250 member did as he watched the Crimson Tide's first batch of practices and the head man himself teaching and coaching the cornerbacks.

Green is a shutdown corner on a star-studded secondary for John Curtis.
"I have been to Tuscaloosa three or four times, so this trip was mainly for my parents," said John Curtis High School (River Ridge, La.) star Robby Green. "My dad had talked to Coach Saban about taking a visit, and we wanted to do it before I started football practice.

"The main thing they were interested in was the academics, and they loved everything Alabama had to offer. They took a tour of all of the facilities while I watched practice. They were blown away by everything."

Green is a lockdown corner that had four interceptions and 15 pass break-ups despite rarely being challenged.

"I was able to watch Coach Saban work with the defensive backs, and it was just like the camp I attended here," said Green. "There was never any slow time or dragging around. Everything was uptempo and there was constant coaching and teaching.

"I was able to sit in on some meetings with the defensive backs and special teams. It was complicated, but I could understand what they were talking about. Coach Saban met personally with me and my family, and he told me that they are only targeting two or three defensive backs and I was one of the guys he wanted."

Green is just one John Curtis target of the Tide with safety P.J. Smith also holding a Tide offer.

"P.J. may make his decision pretty soon," said Green. "Playing with him would be really cool, but we are going to make our own path if that is what's best. Right now, I am planning to make my decision after the football season is over. I am going to take my official visits. I know I am going to the Alabama-LSU game, but that will be an unofficial.

"This trip helped Alabama a lot. They have it going on up here. I would be real comfortable here."

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08-06-2007, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by RakimAllahNY

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You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to RakimAllahNY again.

08-06-2007, 12:36 PM

Destin Hood is a Big Time Pickup, I kinda figure that we would get all three of the St Paul Trio Ivan Matchett, Hood, and Mark Barron. Now its all on Mark, which i think he will commit sooner or later in this upcoming season.... Our Receiving Corps aint gonna be bull!!tin inthe next couple of years with or without Julio Jones IMO

I dont know to much about Robby Green, other than what i read about him, I hope we can get a John Curtis Pipeline going to the Capstone that would be a good look from the Tide. But let me do some research on Buddy

Look like we going to have a good week this week

08-06-2007, 02:05 PM

^^ yea no doubt. that receiving core is already the best in the nation talent wise with DJ Hall, Keith Brown, Nakita Stover, Matt Caddell, Will Oakley, & Earl Alexander and with these new recruits coming in having them play with Stover and Alexander in the next several years will be crazy.

08-11-2007, 07:00 PM

After landing some of the top in-state commitments in the 2008 recruiting class, Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide are staking their claim in the Lone Star State. One of the top defensive prospects in the state of Texas chose the Crimson Tide over offers from some of the nation's top programs, giving the Tide its 16th commitment for 2008.

Thank you Mr. Square!!!! Alabama is racking UP in Recruits this year!!

08-11-2007, 07:02 PM

Rakim!! Hook me up!

08-12-2007, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by titanreese

Rakim!! Hook me up!

Damion Square 4* Defensive Tackle out of Yates High school in Houston,TX. He's 6'3 270lbs runs a 4.6 40. [pic] Had offers from alot of programs such as Texas A&M, Florida, Miami, Michigan, Tennessee, Its was either between us and Texas A&M. Glad he didnt choose ATM over us.

I dont really know too much about our out of state recruits, but Square seems like a good player on our Defensive Line. IE "Marcus Spears" comes to mind...

08-12-2007, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by titanreese

Rakim!! Hook me up!

August 11, 2007

Tim Watts
BamaOnLine.com Recruiting Editor

Talk about it in BOL Round Table
Alabama added another highly-touted defensive playmaker to its 2008 recruiting class Saturday with a commitment from one of the top players from the state of Texas, three-star defensive end Damion Square. The Houston native, 6-foot-3, 270-pounds, announced his commitment on local television picking the Tide over offers from some of the nation's top programs including Florida, Miami, Michigan and Texas A&M.

Square committed on local TV with his family present.
"I'm committing to the University of Alabama," Square said. "They had everything I was looking for in a school. Great coaches, the best tradition and good education. I've always liked Alabama and my visit for camp pretty much sealed it."

"When I saw what a great class they were putting together and saw how the current players were all buying into their system, I knew they were headed for great things and I wanted to be part of it."

Square said his decision to go with the Tide had a lot to do with new head coach Nick Saban and the credentials he brings to the program.

"There isn't a better coach around than Coach Saban. He's strictly business on the football field and I know he can help me get to the next level. He's a teacher and there's a lot I can learn from him."

Offensive coordinator Major Applewhite, who recruited Square for the Tide, also played a big role in landing the Texas star.

"Coach Applewhite is a good guy. He played at Texas so we have that in common. He understands where I'm from. He never tried to oversell me but chose to be honest about where I fit in with their program."

The Tide staff also had another connection with Square that made the Yates High School standout even more comfortable choosing the Tide.

"Another thing that helped Alabama was that my head coach and Coach Bo Davis go back a long way. I got a great feel from when I was talking with Coach Davis and when I worked with him. Heading into recruiting, the relationship with the staff was going to be important to me and I felt that I connected the best with the Alabama staff."

In addition to a good relationship with the coaching staff, Square's impressions of the campus and facilities at Alabama worked in the Tide's favor.

"The first time I was at Alabama was for junior day. I didn't get to see anything. But when I went back for camp I got to see the campus and everything else and I loved it. All the football facilities were new and the most impressive I've seen. The campus is set up nice for the students and also the academic center stood out so it won't be hard to go from athletics to academics."

08-12-2007, 07:21 PM

August 12, 2007

Shane Youngblood
BamaOnLine.com Recruiting Analyst

Related Links:
Justin Rogers Prospect Video

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One of the fastest prospects in the state of Alabama, Vestavia Hills' Justin Rogers, has been a dominant running back in metro Birmingham in recent years, but the speedster is being recruited by at least one school on the other side of the ball. After lining up on defense at the recent Alabama football camp, it appears the Tide likes the 5-foot-11, 180-pound speedster roaming the secondary.

Rogers is being recruiting primarily as a running back except for the Tide, who prefers him in the secondary.
"All of the schools that have offered me like me as a running back except Alabama," said Rogers, who rushed for 2,100 yards and 31 touchdowns last fall as Vestavia Hills reached the 6A semifinals. "Alabama likes me at corner. I will be playing corner this fall with my high school team too. I haven't really played there since my freshman year, but it will be fine.

"It doesn't matter to me where I play really. I see a scholarship offer as a scholarship offer and I am not really concerned abother where I am playing right now. As long as I can contribute and help my team win, I am cool with it."

The Alabama coaching staff apparently sold Rogers on the idea of playing defense by pointing towards one of Tide Coach Nick Saban's former proteges.

"Laron Landry played quarterback in high school," said Rogers. "And now he is a first-round draft pick."

Rogers began fine-tuning his work defensively at the Tide camp.

"It went real well," said Rogers, who runs a true 4.4 40-yard dash. "The Alabama coaches taught me how to move my hips and how to get in position at cornerback. I learned a lot that will help me this fall."

Rogers has also been offered by Clemson, LSU and UCLA.

"Right now, everyone is about the same," said Rogers. "I will probably commit about halfway through my senior year and I will hold a press conference to make my decision."

08-14-2007, 02:12 PM

"Both sides are going to get the job done," TB Terry Grant said during a break from Alabama's preseason camp. "We want to be a national championship team, so we have to do the right thing and the offense has to put up the most amount of points and the defense has to put up the least amount of points. There has to be an even balance on both sides of the ball."

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great point

08-15-2007, 12:00 AM

^^ at least he can read. [pic]

*cough* Bo *cough*

08-15-2007, 08:08 AM

Yea but u gotta be Bo to not read and be stupid... u cant be Terry grant

08-15-2007, 12:45 PM

^^ yea but he didnt say anything stupid. he just said something that is obvious.

Bo knows touchdowns, Bo knows hitting, Bo knows Auburn, but Bo dont know reading.

08-15-2007, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by Birdman's Back

but Bo dont know reading.

who cares

08-16-2007, 12:38 AM

^^ lol exactly what id expect an Auburn fan to say.

08-16-2007, 01:07 AM

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I believe Terry Grant will make people out of believers this year. If we had Grant last year, probably would have been a different season for the Tide. IMO of course..

08-16-2007, 01:28 PM

^^ lol what u think about Jimmy Johns moving to FB? im still not sure but i think having both Johns & Grant in the backfield at the same time will great and Johns is REALLY physical anyway so its a good fit as long as his run blocking is good (which im pretty sure it will be).

08-23-2007, 07:42 AM

Not only are we k!lling it in football recruiting but were k!lling it in BB Recruiting too! We have picked up a 4 star and 5 star within a week of each other! Alabama is getting there !! together to make some runs!

08-23-2007, 08:18 AM

^^ u talkin bout Basketball or Baseball? not that it matters anyway.

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