Alabama DT backing off from Tide
Three-star Smiths (Ala.) defensive lineman
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Michael Hill says he's leaning toward re-opening his
recruitment after receiving confirmation that Alabama head coach Dennis
Franchione is leaving for the top post at Texas A&M.
"I can't really say I'm surprised," said Hill, a member of the Rivals.com
Top 30 team and one of the top-rated defensive tackles in the
South. "When I started hearing all the rumors, I was thinking that he was
going to go all along, but he was telling all of his assistant coaches that
he was definitely staying. That's what they were telling us.
"I guess it just came down to a money thing. That
and his family not liking it too much around here. I think they wanted to be
back in Texas."
Hill (6-2, 270, 4.8) said he was likely going to
de-commit from the Crimson Tide for the time being.
"I'm kind of backing off now," he said. "I want to
explore all my options, maybe take some visits."
A few options have already presented themselves.
Hill said he talked to coaches from Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida and
Ole Miss on Thursday.
"Those were pretty much the teams in my top five
when I committed to Alabama, so I may give them another shot."
Asked what it would take to re-commit to the Tide,
Hill said: "It would depend on how many of their assistant coaches stay, if
the players stay, and who the new coach is. There's a lot of things that
will have to be answered."