Jumbo Package: Mississippi OL Xavier Hill commits to Alabama

Happy Monday, everyone. The Tide held its annual Champions’ Cookout event yesterday, and one commitment followed.

“My parents really think Bama is my best bet of getting developed and stuff like that, my biggest chance of achieving my goals,” Hill said of what went into his decision. After they told me that I got to thinking. I met with Coach (Nick) Saban after that, and Coach (Kyle) Flood. After my meeting with Coach Saban something just clicked.

“He was really just telling me how much he believed in me as a player and what he thinks I can be under his program.”

Your parents are right, Xavier. Hill is probably one of the most undervalued prospects right now by the services, rating only three stars on the 247 composite despite offers from LSU, Tennessee, and Texas A&M in addition to Alabama. A shoulder issue has prevented him from doing much of the camp circuit, but analysts seem to expect the 325-pounder’s stock to shoot up in his senior campaign.

Unfortunately recruiting news may be scarce for the next month as the dead period starts today and runs through July 24.

Tim Tebow thinks it’s now or never for UGA.

“It’s been a building process for Georgia, (and) if you looked a few years ago, you would say right now would be that time,” Tebow said. “I think this needs to be Georgia’s year, I really do. I think just the way it’s gone against Alabama the last couple of years, to not be able to get there again.

“It’s not just that it hurts you in that year. It becomes a big brother-little brother type of thing, where you have to eventually be able to get over that hurdle, and get over that hump, and this is kind of that year.”

In this case it’s more of a Daddy-son relationship, and may it continue. For the first time in his head coaching career, Kirby has had to endure a tumultuous offseason following the disastrous Sugar Bowl loss to Texas, losing two key members of his ballyhooed 2018 recruiting haul to transfer, both coordinators, and several surprising NFL Draft declarations. Now, the top returning WR on the team has been dismissed for beating his girlfriend.

Make no mistake, there is plenty of talent on the roster and they are recruiting as well as anyone, but it will be interesting to see how they do with a DC who has never called plays and an OC who presided over putrid offenses under Al Golden in Coral Gables and hasn’t called plays since 2015.

Greg Byrne responded to a little criticism of Alabama’s 2019 football schedule, and Cecil Hurt weighed in on the matter as well.

So, Question Two: how many of those remaining 50 teams (with Duke already scheduled) want to schedule a home-and-home with Alabama? It’s hard to get a precise answer, although this is a fact: any Power Five team that is eager to play such a series will get a return call from Byrne if they make that intention public. Furthermore, if people don’t regard Duke as good enough, how many teams are “good enough?” Is Duke a better game than Georgia Tech? Duke certainly would have been in 2018, judging by the scoreboard.

That’s actually a great point. Alabama has played plenty of “marquee” games over the past decade. This year, the ACC provided Duke for the Chick-Fil-A kickoff after producing Louisville last year. The main problem there is the lack of depth in that conference. Beyond Clemson, everyone sucks.

Speaking of people who suck, Cam Newton apparently flies coach and was hilariously rebuffed on his offer of $1500 to a fellow passenger for a seat with more legroom.

What’s with the shades, Cam? Is it bright on that there aeroplane?

Last, Clemson is hiding behind FERPA in refusing to release any details of their internal ostarine investigation, and attorneys for the press ain’t having it.

An NCAA official told The Post and Courier that approximately 1,100 athletes per year are screened for drugs at championship events, and on average fewer than 10 per year test positive for the drug category ostarine falls under. Those numbers do not include the 2018-19 season numbers, which would include the Clemson players.

“It is true that FERPA protects the education records of students,” South Carolina Press Association attorney Taylor M. Smith IV said. “But it is also true that the use of any exemption in the S.C. Freedom of Information Act is not mandatory. In this case, it seems the players involved (and perhaps other players not mentioned) would provide consent to the school to release those records, protected under FERPA, so the public can be made aware of how these tests were failed.”

Please sue, Taylor. Inquiring minds want to know. #CoverupsTheRightWay

That’s about it for today. Have a great week.

Roll Tide.