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National Signing Day is Wednesday, February 6, 2013 and everyone is sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation as to whether the Bama Fax Girl will be back!
After that major development is settled, it comes down to counting up the faxes that arrive on campus. At this point, 22 young men have given their verbal commitment to attend the University of Alabama. The exact total that Coach Nick Saban can sign is unknown at this time due to Brandon Hill's possible back-counting to 2012 and Bradley Bozeman taking a greyshirt to count towards the 2014 class. More greyshirts are possible as well.
Crazy things happen on NSD, but we should expect a pretty uneventful one as far as guys possibly flipping away from Alabama (mostly because I don't think there will be any). Instead let's focus on who may fill the last few openings and who might flip to the Tide. From the list below, it is pretty evident defensive line is a priority, followed by one O-lineman and maybe one more defensive back. Also, there is one RB that they might take and a certain 5-star that you may have heard of.
The running back:
Alvin Kamara RB Norcross, GA (Norcross) 5-10/195. Yes, the Tide has Altee Tenpenny, Derrick Henry, and Tyren Jones but competition is good, right? The thing is, these four guys are all different kind of backs and they are all exciting tough runners. Kamara is an all-purpose back with good hands. On Friday, UGA offered Georgia Tech commit running back Brendan Douglas and he immediately accepted. This action was thought to be construed as a "Plan B" by the Bulldogs for not getting Kamara. Saturday, Kamara was reported as being in Tuscaloosa. You have to like the Tide's chances. PREDICTION: ALABAMA
D-Linemen:
Eddie Vanderdoes DT Auburn, CA (Placer) 6-2/310. The consensus #1 defensive lineman added Bama to his list after some sort of falling out with Southern Cal that led to a de-commitment. He is 310 pounds of muscle with an engine that does not stop. Saban & Co. pulled out all the stops this past weekend during his official visit and it sounds like it went incredible. He is a level-headed kid who is serious about conditioning and where he will perfect his craft in college. He is supposed to announce on NSD evening between Bama, Notre Dame, UCLA, and SoCal. The only drawback might be the distance to his hometown in Northern California. Below are some of his tweets during his visit to T-town. PREDICTION: UCLA - sorry, ya'll. It's just my gut feeling.
Man I love it out here in T-Town. Idk why everyone was saying I wouldn't love the South haha I fit in perfect here. #RTR
— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 2, 2013
People are real out here to, VERY nice and down to earth.
— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 2, 2013
Bamas lifting/conditioning program is crazy
— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 2, 2013
Dee Liner DT Muscle Shoals, AL (Muscle Shoals) 6-2/275. The former Auburn commit jumped the S.S. War Eagle once the water reached the Lido deck. An official visit to Tuscaloosa blew him away. He was supposed to visit Athens, GA this past weekend but did not attend. The 4-star is looking like a strong commit to Bama but he wants to do the NSD press conference thing. I'd like to see a guy get up there with three Bama hats. PREDICTION: ALABAMA
Jarran Reed DT Goldsboro, NC 6-4/302. This Ole Miss commitment was supposed to be in Oxford this past weekend but instead he showed up back in Tuscaloosa! He was a surprise visitor the last weekend in January and obviously had a good time. The real question is if there is enough room. After a year at Hargrave, he spent two seasons at East Mississippi C.C. He will have 2 years of eligibility left.
Henry Poggi DT Baltimore, MD (Gilman) 6-4/270. Michigan commit made a late visit to Tuscaloosa. Rumors are going around that he is considering a greyshirt at Bama or possibly even walk-on his freshman year. Did I mention that NSD is crazy? PREDICTION: MICHIGAN
Chris Jones DE Houston, MS (Houston) 6-5/250. He is probably a name you are not familiar with because he has been a long-time solid MSU commit. However, the 5-star may now be looking around. Ole Miss and Bama may be alternative choices. PREDICTION: MSU
Jay-nard Bostwick DE Port Saint Lucie, FL (St. Lucie West Centennial) 6-4/280. PREDICTION: Miami over Florida.
O-Linemen:
A'Shawn Robinson OT Fort Worth, TX (Arlington Heights) 6-5/302. Reports surfaced this weekend that this 5-star told Texas coaches during an in-home that he would sign with Alabama. Saban has been putting in one last big push for the former Texas commit, including an in-home visit this past week. Robinson was in Tuscaloosa for the parade weekend. Cross your fingers. PREDICTION: ALABAMA
Laremy Tunsil, OT Lake City, FL (Columbia) 6-6 295. For the longest time it looked like a battle between Bama and UGA when out of nowhere he names Ole Miss as his leader. If the Tide gets Robinson, Tunsil probably goes elsewhere. PREDICTION: OLE MISS
Austin Golson OT Prattville, AL (Prattville) 6-6/285. De-committed from FSU and named Ole Miss his favorite. It's a long-shot but as I said, crazy things happen on NSD. PREDICTION: OLE MISS
Defensive Backs:
Antonio "Tony" Conner S/CB Batesville, MS (South Panola) 6-1.5/203. Reports are that he LOVES Alabama and the feeling is mutual. However, he is being pressured by those close to him to stick with Ole Miss. This one will be a nail-biter. PREDICTION: ALABAMA
Vonn Bell DB Rossville, GA (Ridgeland) 5-11/190. Once thought to be an Alabama lean, he now looks to be going to Tennessee. Another close one but the Tide will probably not take both these DBs. PREDICTION: TENNESSEE
Etc.:
VERBAL COMMITMENT - Reuben Foster LB Auburn, AL (Auburn) 6-2/230. A phenomenal 5-star talent on the field with some questionable behavior off the field. The drama continued this weekend when reports came in about Foster who was on Auburn campus for his official visit, getting into an altercation with the charming Reese Dismukes, Auburn's starting center, who may have used racial slurs. It is said Foster left Auburn in the middle of his visit and went to Tuscaloosa to hang with Christion Jones and Alvin Kamara. He is scheduled to announce his commitment live on Fox Sports South recruiting show on Monday at 10 p.m. ET/9 p.m. CT. Rumors are running wild about his final landing spot. Alabama, Auburn, and UGA are thought to be the finalists.
Some announcement schedules of note CT/ET for Wednesday:
6:35/7:35 a.m. DE Robert Nkemdiche (prediction: Ole Miss)
8:05/9:05 a.m. DE Carl Lawson (prediction: Auburn)
8:15/9:15 a.m. OLB Matthew Thomas (prediction: FSU)
8:35/9:35 a.m. OT Laremy Tunsil (prediction: Ole Miss)
8:45/9:45 a.m. DT Montravius Adams (prediction: ?)
9:05/10:05 a.m. S Vonn Bell (prediction: Tennessee)
9:45/10:45 a.m. S Antonio Conner (prediction: Alabama)
10:15/11:15 a.m. CB Mackensie Alexander (prediction: Clemson)
11:00/12 p.m. DT Dee Liner (prediction: Alabama)
2:30/3:30 p.m. OT A'Shawn Robinson (prediction: Alabama)
2:35/3:35 p.m. RB Alvin Kamara (prediction: Alabama)
7:00/8:00 p.m. DT Eddie Vanderdoes (prediction: UCLA - sorry, ya'll)
* All are subject to change. Most announcements will be aired on espn360.com