Alabama came into this high school all-star game with a chance at acquiring commitments from two big-time prospects and came away with both.

4-star CB Marcus Banks from Houston, TX was the first to commit. As a matter of fact, he already signed his LOI during the Early Signing Period. The University granted his request to keep it quiet until this game so he could announce. Kudos to those tight lips at U of A!

Banks is 6’0” / 170 lbs and was very impressive in practices this week. He has great instincts and ability to turn and locate the ball in red zone coverage.

Jeff Banks and Karl Scott were the recruiters on the Texan. A December in-home visit by Nick Saban and the two assistants was the clincher.

The former LSU commit picked Alabama over Texas A&M, Florida and apparently Tennessee.

4-star Khris Bogle soon joined Banks with a second quarter commitment to the Tide over nearby Miami. The Fort Lauderdale prospect stands at 6’4” and weighs 215. Despite his low weight (paging Dr. Cochran), he has a long lean frame and is a terror rush on the edge. He has a quick and athletic game that makes him difficult for offensive lineman to corral. 247sports compares his potential to Barkevious Mingo.

Joe Pannunzio and Craig Kuligowski were Bogle’s recruiters. He is the nation’s #3 weakside DE and #57 overall prospect for 2019.

Check out this video before they take it down lol:

NOTES:

• Wisconsin commit quarterback Graham Mertz started out the All-American game hot completing 5 of 6 passes. The one incompletion came on a beautifully thrown pass to the corner end zone but Banks made an excellent play on the ball to swat it away. Mertz did not look Banks way the rest of the game that I saw.
• This is the kind of game where referees are asked to look the other way when it comes to holding. Despite this disadvantage, Alfano looked very good rushing the middle and got at least one tackle for a 4-yard loss. Bogle looked like a handful for the OL (and by handful, I mean they held him a lot) as well and put good pressure on the QBs.
• QB Taulia Tagovailoa and uncommitted LB Henry To’oto’o did not play in the game as they both recover from injuries.
• To’oto’o will be announcing his choice on National Signing Day 2 (NSD2) in February between Alabama, Tennessee, Oregon, Washington and Utah. He is scheduled to officially visit Tuscaloosa on January 25.
• I have had my doubts about Nathan Pickering signing anywhere other than Mississippi State. Regardless of that, the big defensive tackle will OV T-town on January 11. He has trips planned to LSU and Oregon as well.
• One last OV has emerged from FSU 4-star commit DE Quashon Fuller. I don’t think Alabama will take him now that Bogle has committed but LOIs have not been signed yet. Fuller will visit February 1, a week after he OVs Tallahassee.
• The jersey numbers looked like they were scribbled on with many different colored highlighters, so it was hard to see who was in the game. That said, Ima say all the Bama players looked great in the game and I’m sticking to it!
• Not that anyone really cares, but the East team clobbered the West 48-14.

WHAT NOW?

The Dead Period ends after the National Championship Game on Monday. From there, it is a sprint to NSD2 on February 6.

With the addition of Banks, the Tide has 24 signed. The general consensus is they could take 28 and possibly 29, but Saban will not take that many just because he can.

Committed But Not Signed

• DE Khris Bogle - expected to sign.
• DL Byron Young - expected to sign.
• CB Christian Williams - May be an odd man out.
• RB Keilan Robinson - same as above.

Top Remaining Targets

• DT Ishmael Sopsher
• DT Nathan Pickering
• LB Henry To’oto’o

(I believe the Tide has moved on from OL Darnell Wright and Aubie commit WR George Pickens.)

#ROLL1N9