B/R Recruiting Notebook: 4-Star Looking Forward to Iron Bowl Visit

The Iron Bowl is expected to attract a large number of recruiting targets this weekend, and 4-star Hudson, North Carolina, offensive lineman Landon Dickerson will be one of the athletes in attendance. Dickerson, the nation's No. 7 offensive tackle in the 2016 class, will make an official visit to Auburn and has both Auburn and Alabama high on his list as he inches closer to finalizing his college plans.

Five schools are in good positions to land Dickerson: Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and Tennessee. He took an official visit to Florida State last month, and January officials to Georgia (weekend of Jan. 16) and Alabama (Jan. 23) are scheduled. An official visit to Tennessee is still up in the air, as he's visited the campus multiple times.

Decisions will need to be made soon, but don't expect Dickerson to feel the pressure.

"I've been really trying to enjoy the process, because you only get to go through it once," Dickerson said. "I've been more worried about my team than recruiting. I've come to the conclusion that no matter where I go, I'm going to be happy. I'll have the best opportunities around me.

Dickerson's high school team, South Caldwell, advanced to the third round of the North Carolina Class 4A state playoffs with a win over A.L. Brown on Friday. Winning a state title is priority No. 1 for Dickerson, but he hasn't put recruiting on the back burner. In fact, he knows what he wants in his upcoming visits.

"It varies between schools," he said. "I've been to Auburn a few times now. For Auburn, it's really about watching a game and seeing what it's like to play in that game atmosphere. I didn't get a chance to go to Alabama and watch them play, I'll get to do that and also catch up with the coaches and getting my parents there.

"With Georgia, it's going to be more of the UGA experience. I've been around the game environment and athletic facilities. I have really seen the academic side of things and what else it has to offer."

Dickerson said he'll later determine if his fifth and final visit will go to Tennessee or a school that comes into the picture late. He said he's been to Tennessee "about seven or eight times already," and the open official may be better suited for a school he knows little about. Dickerson added that he may choose against taking the fifth visit altogether.

Credit: 247Sports.com

Notre Dame or UCLA for 4-star APB Alloway?

Fontana, California, 4-star all-purpose back Damian Alloway admittedly is in the home stretch of knowing where he wants to continue his football career.

Alloway has schools like Notre Dame, UCLA and Oregon on his list, and Notre Dame is a team to watch after he took a productive official visit there last week. It was a visit that received very high marks from Alloway, the nation's No. 4 all-purpose back.

"They really pulled the red carpet out," said Alloway, who had freshman receiver C.J. Sanders as a player host. "As soon as I got there, I got to see the player walk and saw how cool all the fans were. I saw all the traditions and all the things you do when you score and the plays in between. It was real cool."

Notre Dame's top competition for Alloway is UCLA, and Alloway said he plans on taking an official visit to UCLA after his high school season concludes. Summit High School is two wins away from a California Interscholastic Federation Central Division championship. Summit beat Chino, 13-9, on Friday in a game where Alloway—also a solid defensive back—recorded an interception in a defensive-heavy contest.

The visit to UCLA could tell a lot as Alloway prepares to end his recruitment. He said he wants to announce either on his birthday, Dec. 19, or on national signing day, depending on how sold he is on a winning program.

"UCLA was kind of like my favorite school growing up," he said. "They were one of my first offers. I've known the coaches for two years and built relationships with them that I don't have with a lot of other coaches."

Credit: 247Sports.com

Texas A&M pledge considering official visit to rival

New Orleans 3-star tight end Irvin Smith Jr. committed to Texas A&M in June and has been very happy with where he is from a recruiting standpoint.

On Sunday, the Brother Martin High School standout said he's strongly considering taking an official visit in December to one of the last places Aggies fans want to hear about.

"I think I'm going to Texas Dec. 12," Smith said. "One of my teammates [3-star tight end Peyton Aucoin] is committed there, and I want to see what it's like. I'm still committed [to Texas A&M], but I want to see what it's all about [at Texas]."

Smith, at 6'4" and 236 pounds, said he and Aucoin "complement each other" on the field. Both are listed as tight ends, but while Aucoin is more of the traditional blocking athlete, Smith is more of a versatile option who could line up at a few positions, including tight end on the line, wide receiver spread deep, H-back and fullback.

Smith added that a couple other schools are still being considered as national signing day approaches.

"I've been talking to LSU a bunch," said Smith, who has 26 reported offers. "They're still in my top schools I'm considering. I don't know if I'll take an official [visit] there. Other schools are Alabama, Mississippi State and Florida."

Iowa State's top pledge comments on Rhoads' firing

With the news of Iowa State Paul Rhoads losing his job on Sunday, Lawrence White, the team's top-ranked commit, said he has some things to think about.

White, a 3-star athlete from Bakersfield, California, said he was shocked to hear of Rhoads' termination but said he isn't making any immediate decisions on his future. Rhoads' attitude and passion for the game was key in White choosing Iowa State.

"Right now, I'm still with Iowa State, but I am open to other schools right now," White said. "I was bummed out; I hate to see a good coach like Rhoads get let go. He was a really great person outside of coaching, too."

White has only taken one official visit so far, which was to Iowa State back in September. The 6'0", 170-pound athlete, whose college future may be at cornerback, has additional offers from Washington State, Fresno State, New Mexico and Eastern Washington.

"I might be taking official visits to those four," he said.

Sleeper alert: Versatile ATH getting it done both ways

Arroyo Grande, California, athlete Bradley Mickey has fans paying attention to what he does regardless of where he ultimately lines up on the football field.

Mickey can play safety, cornerback and wide receiver. The 5'11", 180-pound athlete, according to MaxPreps.com, has 61 tackles, six interceptions and five pass deflections as a defensive back. Offensively, he leads Arroyo Grande with 890 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns and also has 17 receptions for 383 yards and three touchdowns.

Mickey, who has 21 interceptions for his high school career, has Arroyo Grande in the hunt for a CIF-Southern Section championship. He has interest from San Diego and Cal Poly but is still looking for his first offer.

"In a region known for sleeper talent, and at a school that once produced Oklahoma State linebacker Seth Jacobs, Mickey is definitely a hidden gem in California," said Lorenzo Reyna, blogger and talent evaluator for Cali Gold Mine. "He's the guy Arroyo Grande looks to for a breakout run or when it needs a crucial takeaway. His big plays on both sides of the ball have kept the Eagles' chances of a Southern Section title alive."

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles