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Published Nov 5, 2015
Breakdown: Alabama vs. LSU
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Jason Howell
Football Recruiting Analyst
Thereisnodoubtaboutit,thebiggestmatch-uponthisweekend'scollege
footballschedulewill
beplayedinTuscaloosa,Ala.TheAlabamaCrimsonTideandtheLSUTigersenterthe
weekendastopfiveprogramsandfightingforwhatcouldbetheonlySEC
spotintheCollegeFootballPlayoff.Itisalsoamatch-upofnational
recruitingtitans,whofaceoffwithoneanothertimeandtimeagainonthe
recruitingtrail.
Belowisananalysisofthecurrentrostersofeachsquadandhowtheplayersrankedwhentheyweresigned.
Alabamavs.
LSU
AlabamaClickHeretoviewthisLink.
NickSaban
AVG.RR
AVG.STARS
RANKINGPOINTS
FIVE-STARS
RIVALS100
RIVALS250
5.83
3.8
11,551
14
33
53
Top-rankedsignee:DEDa'ShawnHand--Handwasranked
theNo.1overallplayerinthe2014recruitingclass.HechosetheCrimsonTide
overMichiganandFlorida.Herecordedseventacklesandtwosacksasatruefreshman,andhasrecordedseventacklesand2.5sacksthrougheightgamesin
2015.
Five-stars:The14five-starsonAlabama'srosterdonotjust
claimarosterspot.Theseguysaregettingafterit.FreshmenCalvinRidleyand
MinkahFitzpatrickhavebeentwoofthetopfreshmeninthecountry.
CameronRobinsonstartsatlefttackleandReubenFosteristiedforthirdontheteam
intackles(39)andtacklesforloss(5).JonathanAllenleadstheteaminsacks
(5)andtacklesforloss(8).A'ShawnRobinsonandMarlonHumphreyhavebeen
veryactiveonthedefensiveside,andO.J.Howardhasrecorded290yardson26
receptionsfromhistightendposition.
Highest-rankedpositiongroup:DefensiveBack--LSUmaybe
knownasDBU,butAlabama'sgroupentersthegamewiththemostrecruiting
pointsofanypositiongrouponeitherteam(2,422).Thegroupincludesthree
formerfive-starprospectsinMarlonHumphrey,MinkahFitzpatrickand
TonyBrown.EddieJacksonistheonlystarterwhocheckedinbelowthe5.9four-star
ranking.Jacksonwasrankeda5.7three-staratwidereceiver.Alabama's
linebackergroupwastheonlyotherpositiongrouponeitherteamtohaveover
2,000recruitingpoints.
Classof2016recruitingranking:No.12overall,1,846
recruitingpoints,3.59averagestarranking
LSUClick Here to view this Link.
Les Miles
AVG. RR
AVG. STARS
RANKING POINTS
FIVE-STARS
RIVALS100
RIVALS250
5.76
3.56
8,901
8
17
40
Top-ranked signee: RB Leonard Fournette -- Fournette
was ranked No. 4 overall in the 2014 recruiting class. He chose LSU over Alabama
at the Under Armour All-American game. He is the current favorite to claim the
Heisman Trophy, and he has rushed for 1,352 yards and 15 touchdowns on 176
carries in 2015. He rushed for 1,034 yards and 10 touchdowns on 187 carries as a
true freshman in 2014.
Five-Stars: Fournette is not the only former five-star putting
in work for the Tigers. Maea Teuhema has claimed a starting spot on the
offensive line, and Malachi Dupre leads the Tigers in average yards per
reception (18.9) and TD receptions (5). Dupre is second on the team with 21
receptions for 397 yards. Derrius Guice has averaged 9.3 yards a carry and has
rushed for 316 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries. On defense,
Tre'Davious White and Kevin Toliver II have manned the cornerback spots.
Highest-ranked position group: Offensive line -- LSU's running
game has gotten the attention in 2015, but the offensive line group is composed
of the most top recruits. Maea Teuhema is the only five-star, but Ethan Pocic
and Toby Weathersby were also Rivals100 prospects. Starters William Clapp and
Vadal Alexander were Rivals250 members and Jerald Hawkins was a 5.7, three-star
prospect. The Tigers offensive line narrowly beat out the wide receiver/tight
end group, which had 1,679 total recruiting points.
Class of 2016 recruiting ranking: No. 1 overall, 2,357 recruiting points, 3.53 average star ranking
Where do they come from?
It is not surprising to note that each team calls on its home state as its No. 1 source of players. It is interesting, however, that while the Tide often dip into Louisiana, the Tigers stays clear of Alabama. Here is a breakdown of four states that produce the most players that will be in action on Saturday.
LOUISIANA -- 6,602 total recruiting points on the rosters (LSU 5,436; Alabama 1,256)
Alabama and LSU are both well represented, but LSU by far has the most recruiting points from the state of Louisiana. The Tigers have 45 rated prospects from the state. Five of those 45 are five-star prospects, and 10 were Rivals100 prospects. Five-star Cameron Robinson leads the way for the Louisiana-based Crimson Tide contingent. Alabama currently holds commitments from Louisiana prospects Joshua Perry (2016) and Dare Rosenthal (2018).
ALABAMA -- 3,243 points (Alabama 3,243, LSU 0)
Alabama likes to keep the in-state talent home when possible and the Crimson Tide have the most recruiting points from its home state. In fact, LSU does not have one rated Alabama prospect on its roster. Marlon Humphrey is the highest rated Alabama prospect on the Crimson Tide's roster. He was rated No. 9 in the 2014 recruiting class. LSU is venturing into Alabama though and has a commitment from offensive lineman Jakori Savage in the 2016 class.
TEXAS -- 2,211 (LSU - 1,136; Alabama - 1,075)
Texas will be well represented in the SEC battle, and the talent will be seen on both rosters. Eight Texans are on the Crimson Tide squad including five stars A'Shawn Robinson and Tony Brown. The Tigers have 10 rated Texans on the roster with Jamal Adams and Edward Paris joining Teuhema and Weathersby as former Rivals100 prospects. The Tigers have four Texans committed for the 2016 recruiting class and Alabama has three 2016 commitments from Texas. Eric Monroe and Erick Fowler give the Tigers two Rivals100 Texans, and Alabama has a commitment from Rivals100 defensive tackle Kendell Jones.
GEORGIA -- 1,723 (Alabama - 1,120; LSU - 603)
The fertile grounds of Georgia are a high priority for teams across the country, so it is no surprise to see it well-represented in this matchup. Alabama's Geno Matias-Smith is the highest ranked Georgia prospect on either roster as the only Rivals100 representative. The Crimson Tide has 10 rated Georgians, while LSU's roster has seven, including the likes of Vadal Alexander and Arden Key. Alabama 2016 commitment Miller Forristall is the only Georgia prospect committed to either team in the 2016 recruiting class. Alabama also holds commitments from 2017 Georgia standouts Jake Fromm, Netori Johnson, and Xavier McKinney.
Alabama vs. LSU Recruiting Battles
Gregory Little
COMMITTED
DT Kendell Jones, Killeen (Texas) Shoemaker -- Alabama and LSU both made a
strong run at the Texas prospect before he chose the Crimson Tide in the spring.
UNCOMMITTED
OT Gregory Little, Allen (Texas) -- The five-star offensive lineman has already
taken his official visit to LSU and he will visit Alabama over the weekend. He
plans to make his choice shortly after his trip to Tuscaloosa. The Tide and
Tigers are not the only ones in the race, but both are fighting hard for his
services. Ole Miss and Georgia are also in the mix.
DT Rashard Lawrence, Monroe (La.) Neville -- The Rivals250 defensive tackle has
had Alabama and LSU high on his list from the beginning. Both are in his top
four with Ohio State and UCLA, and both will likely have hats on the table
whenever he makes his choice.
FB Devin White, Springhill (La.) North Webster -- The Rivals250 running back
would fit well at either program and both were among his first scholarship
offers. Both figure to be among his choices when he makes his decision.
OLB Lyndell Wilson, Montgomery (Ala.) Carver -- LSU is in Wilson's top eight as
is Alabama. The Crimson Tide seem to have a strong position with the linebacker
right now, but the Tigers are in the mix.
ILB Ben Davis, Gordo (Ala.) Gordo -- Alabama is considered the favorite for the
heavy hitting linebacker, but the Tigers are in the mix and he has an official
visit scheduled for November.
DT Marvin Wilson (2017), Houston (Texas) Episcopal -- Wilson is No. 1 in the
2017 recruiting class and he has taken unofficial visits to both LSU and Alabama
during the 2015 season.
ATH Dylan Moses (2017), Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab -- Alabama and LSU
have been on Moses from the very beginning, and both remain in constant contact.
He has taken multiple visits to both schools over the years.
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