Abdullah sorting things out

One of the many offensive standouts for the Alabama squad at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game is Homewood (Ala.) all-purpose back Ameer Abdullah. The 5-foot-9, 177-pound back is looking forward to the upcoming week of practices and the game which will be played on Saturday.

"I feel I am part of a real good offense, a real good team," Abdullah said. "I am honored to be representing the state of Alabama. A lot of prestigious people play in this game like Rolando McClain. I am just honored."

As for his next stop after the annual all-star game, Abdullah is still trying to sort things out when it comes to his recruitment.

"A lot of schools have been recruiting me real hard lately," Abdullah said. "I have heard a lot from West Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. All three of them have offered me. Auburn has also been talking to me a lot lately. They haven't offered me."

So far, Abdullah has taken two official visit.

"I have taken one to Tennessee and Vanderbilt," Abdullah said.

He talked a bit about his trip to Nashville, Tennessee to check out the Commodores.

"Vanderbilt was real fun, I visited the weekend they played LSU," Abdullah said. "I love the city of Nashville. My sister actually goes to law school up at Vandy so it would be nice to maybe go up there and be around some family."

Recently, Vanderbilt and Robbie Caldwell parted ways. That decision has had a major influence on Abdullah's recruitment.

"That kind of affected me because the main coach that was recruiting me was Robbie Caldwell before he got promoted to interim head coach," Abdullah said. "I had built a real special bond with him. I thought he would be there if I went there. It is still in the SEC and a program with great education and academics but I have to see what they do."

As for Tennessee, he enjoyed his visit to Knoxville earlier this season.

"Tennessee I visited when they played Kentucky," Abdullah said. "It was real fun. I got a chance to meet some of the players. They gave me good insight. Everything was positive from them."

Abdullah recently hosted Tennessee for an in-home visit.

"(Defensive Cooridinator) Justin Wilcox has been recruiting me for Tennessee," Abdullah said. "He is really recruiting me as a defensive back for Tennessee, which I have no problem with. I play that for my high school too. They have been telling me the same thing for a couple months now."

This past weekend, Abdullah was supposed to take an official visit to West Virginia but had to reschedule as he thought it may interfere with the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. He expects to take an official to Morgantown in mid-January.

"I am talking with Coach (Chris) Beatty at West Virginia," Abdullah said. "He wants me as a running back. They look for speed backs, typical for what I am."

The pitch from the Mountaineers is echoed by the South Carolina Gamecocks.

"South Carolina is recruiting me for the same thing," Abdullah said.

As for the in-state Auburn Tigers, Abdullah understands their approach to his recruitment and the fact an offer hasn't been extended yet.

"With Auburn, they missed out on (Mike) Blakely so they are looking to the next guy," Abdullah said. "They are trying to pick up two backs. I know they are looking at me, Andrew Buie, and Tre Mason. I met Tre Mason when I visited for the Georgia game, he was a real cool guy. I liked him a lot. We talked about possibly going to the same school."

With a little less than two months to Signing Day, Abdullah is taking things nice and slow.

"Everybody is just about neck-and-neck," Abdullah said. "I don't want to name a leader."