Alabama Football Recruiting: Latest Buzz on Tide's Pursuit of Top Prospects

A BCS Championship victory will serve as a huge boost for the Alabama program.

The national spotlight is sure to help sway those unsure recruits toward the tide. Here’s the latest buzz on the best of the best who have yet to commit to play for Nick Saban, but could realistically land in Tuscaloosa.

LB Matthew Thomas, ESPN’s No. 8-Ranked Recruit

Corey Long of ESPN reported that Thomas will visit Alabama, USC, Florida State, Georgia and Miami and in the coming weeks.

He connected with Crimson Tide wideout Amari Cooper at a workout in Florida this winter. Thomas said (via ESPN): “We caught up for a few minutes and he asked me when I was taking my trip. Amari is pretty quiet, he lets his play do the talking and he had a great season.” 

DT Montravius Adams, ESPN’s No. 7-Ranked Recruit

Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Constitution-Journal reported on Monday that Adams still has plenty of hats to choose from, but the Tide is one of his top options.

The lineman has visited Florida and will hit up Alabama, Clemson and Georgia this January. He’ll also choose to visit USC, Auburn, North Carolina or Ole Miss.

CB Mackensie Alexander, ESPN’s No. 5-ranked recruit

David Dorsey of the News-Press.com reported Alexander is also having trouble narrowing down where he wants to play football. The list is long: Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Florida State and Florida.

Alexander’s high school football coach Jerrod Ackley said (via News-Press.com): “He’s still really, really out there. Every time I think he’s got the list narrowed down, another school enters the picture. He’s really having a hard time with this decision.”

OT Laremy Tunsil, ESPN’s No. 4-Ranked Recruit

Jake Rowe of UGASports.com reported that Alabama is indeed in Tunsil’s top three. The Crimson Tide is joined by Georgia and Ole Miss.

Tunsil said of his relationship with Coach Jeff Stoutland who’s now recruiting the O-lineman after the departure of Jeremy Pruitt (via UGASports.com): “He's a great coach and a great guy."

DE Robert Nkemdiche, ESPN’s No. 1-Ranked Recruit

Matt Scalici of Al.com reported that Nkemdiche talked about his interest in Alabama at the Under Armour All-American Game. He said he liked the program because of, “the history, they know how to win, they always have a good defense every year and they always compete.”

Two top defensive end prospects in DeMarcus Walker and Jonathan Allen have already committed to the Crimson Tide, but one more wouldn’t hurt given that Nkemdiche is the best player in the entire nation.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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