The saga involving the recruitment of 2016 5-star receiver Demetris Robertson is still ongoing, as the electric playmaker visited Alabama last weekend.
The trek to Tuscaloosa was significant for head coach Nick Saban and the Tide’s chances of ultimately reeling in the nation’s top receiver and No. 14-ranked player overall in the 2016 cycle.
As BamaOnline’s Hank South reported, Robertson’s visit to Alabama was a surprise, as he was expected to see home-state power Georgia instead.
With Alabama finally getting him back on campus, do the Tide have a legit shot at landing the 5’11 ¾”, 175-pounder?
Considering Saban’s prowess as a recruiting machine and the fact that Robertson initially committed to the Tide early in the process before reopening things, it’s tough to discount them in this race.
The Bulldogs are in the mix with Robertson, as are Notre Dame and Stanford.
Where Will Demetris Robertson Land?
As South detailed, Robertson—who is hoping to obtain the necessary test scores to be admitted into Stanford—has the Cardinal as his current leader, with the other three schools in a three-way tie just behind them.
This latest development is a departure from where things stood earlier in the month, when the Irish were the perceived favorites in his recruitment.
But the Tide were able to make a move with Robertson over the weekend.
“Alabama showed me a lot about life after football,” Robertson told Kipp Adams of Dawgs247 (via South). “I learned a lot about my degree and they definitely moved up the ladder for me.”
Another factor that could help the Tide reel in Robertson is their need at the receiver position.
Notre Dame outside my house; we have a surprise for SCPS too!! #GoIrish 🍀🍀🍀 pic.twitter.com/ZfW7pfmRNA
— RealRobertson5 (@d_rob4) January 28, 2016
The Tide landed only one pure receiver—3-star and current early enrollee T.J. Simmons—in its class. However, players such as 4-star athlete Trevon Diggs could also end up catching passes over the next few years for the Tide.
Still, it’s clear that Saban and his staff are treating Robertson as a top priority until he makes a final decision.
As Tom Loy of 247Sports noted, there’s a sentiment from people close to Robertson that suggests he wants to end up at an academic power such as Stanford or Notre Dame in the end.
But Alabama’s persistence with him paid off in getting him on campus over the weekend, and that trip also suggests that the Tide will remain major players in his recruitment until it comes to a close.
Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.
