Some players I work with told me he liked Bama early (last year) but they didnt show much interest because of other targets (now commits) and his grade/other problems. He was the first recruit people in Alabama started talking about last year because of his film. Alabama has known about him for a long time. Place him somewhere and get him in the next class. By that time you can decide if he has all the things in his life in order.. He is huge and can fly.
I hope we wait on taking this guy and not accept his commit just yet. I have seen him play quite a bit and there is no question he is a monster "when" he is on. He started as a true freshman in high school. I have also seen him look terrible when his team is losing and he sort of gives up. I know a lot of people in Russellville including the former coach who is now in B'ham. The reports you are hearing are very true. This kid has major issues and it is far from just grades. He has had many off the field problems as well as on the field disciplinary problems and motivational issues. Its pretty obvious Bama backed away from him after they received their other commits. I dont see how we need him in this class anyway unless he has an incredible senior season on "AND" off the field with off the field being VERY important. He has unlimited potential and hearing about these grades is a giant step for him because that was a real issue. I'm going to be in Russellville the week before labor day and I'll ask some of the people I know about his grades. Maybe thats a sign he is finally getting his act together. This kid would be a 5 star recruit if he did because he is a beast of a player.
My first rule on recruiting is this: 1. Always take a chance that a great athlete will find a position to play. My second rule on recruiting is this: 2. Never take a chance that a bad character will turn around. Great talent is SOOOO tempting, but a guy with bad character, bad work ethic, and bad discipline almost never lives up to the billing. It just happens so much you have to wonder why coaches don't wise up to it. If we're going to offer this kid, it had better be a conditional offer. If he keeps on the straight and narrow from now until signing day, we will keep him. If not, he can try to catch on at Memphis or somewhere like that. It's just my observation that these kinds of players almost always disappoint you.
Have you seen those videos? That kid does not look like a pure fullback. He looks like a demon with the ball in his hands. And not a single block was thrown. He reminds me of a guy like Peyton Hillis, who started out as a very good tailback until McFadden and Jones came along and made him move.
If I remember correctly, he turned a lot of schools off by saying he did not want to play FB. Guess that changed.
I can justify taking 3 LB's before taking 2 FB's. But back to my question about Crowton's offense. Will we see less of a traditional blocking FB in this offense? Will a Hester type of FB, lighter--great receiver--be more of the norm under Crowton in years to come? Does anyone know how he used FB's on his previous teams?
There will be multiple looks as regards formations. Crowton will have the Tigers line up in the conventional run-oriented I formation as well as the more wide-open spread. A tight end will be used as one of the inside receivers in the four-wide sets. Look for LSU to run option out of the spread formation which was something Crowton has used in the past. The quarterback will do more designed running than in the past. The passing game will be built around getting the ball to the speedy skill-position players in space.
