Alabama Football: Latest Summer News and Recruiting Updates

It seems like it was forever ago that the Alabama Crimson Tide won the 2011 BCS National Championship, but truthfully it wasn't that long ago. It also seems like college football is still such a long way away from kicking off, but in reality, it is less than three months away.

During the offseason, many can get lost in what takes place, as everything seems quiet during the months of June and July, though there is a lot going on. With incoming freshmen arriving, recruiting and players preparing for the next season, there is a lot to pay attention to.

With the season right around the corner, here are some of the latest updates on the 2012 Alabama Crimson Tide.

Josh McNeil Will Make Announcement Soon

Tight end Josh McNeil has only been playing football for about a year, but in that little amount of time he has emerged as a top prospect at his position. At 6'5", 240 pounds, the former basketball player has great size, speed and hands to provide a team with a solid playmaker on the offensive side of the ball. He had offers from every top school in the country, but has trimmed that list down to only two.

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I am down to Georgia and Alabama. said Josh McNeil. I feel relieved. I feel like the pressure is off, and I can concentrate on myself now. They were the two schools that stuck out the most and the two places where I felt the most comfortable. They are both equal right now. (Via Scout.com)

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McNeil likes the idea of early playing time and the fact that either school will give him a great chance to win at a high level. He is expected to make his decision on July 7 at 8:30 p.m.

Taj Williams Trims His List

It has been a while since Alabama has had that game changer at the wide receiver position, but that could change if the Crimson Tide is able to land wide receiver Taj Williams. He is a lanky wideout at 6'4", 170 pounds, runs excellent routes and has a great pair of hands. He has the ability to play either side of the ball, but will prefer to play the wide receiver position.

Williams has several offers on the table, but the two schools that are receiving the most attention are Alabama and South Carolina.

He is expected to check out South Carolina during the summer and will attend camp at Alabama sometime in July as well. He will also make his decision before his senior season of high school begins, so stay tuned for any updates on the 4-star wideout.

LSU and Alabama Equal Odds

If the season was to start today, who would you have winning the SEC? Most people would either pick LSU or Alabama. After all, they are the two teams that played in last year's national championship and return loaded rosters on both sides of the ball.

Popular betting website Bovada has listed both LSU and Alabama as 11/5 favorites to win the conference. That makes both teams the favorites to win the SEC, but even the website is having a difficult time deciding which team is better heading into the 2012 season.

As the season begins, we should have a better idea about these teams, but as of right now, you can't go wrong with either.

Schedule Times Released for Big Games

The two biggest games on the Alabama schedule this season are without question the matchups against the Michigan Wolverines and LSU Tigers. We have known when these teams will square off, but now we have the official times, so we know for sure when to not schedule anything else for the rest of the day.

The season opener against the Wolverines will take place on September 1, at 8:00 p.m. ET, and will be televised on ABC. The rematch against the Tigers will also be played at 8:00 p.m. ET, on November 3, and will be televised on CBS.

In the words of Bart Scott, "can't wait."