When Derek Meadows committed to LSU in July, five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood was on board and it looked like two things came together at once: Meadows playing in the SEC and with an elite quarterback.

Recently, Underwood flipped his commitment to Michigan and that then posed an issue for the four-star receiver from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman.

The Wolverines made a serious run at Meadows but he decided to flip his commitment to Alabama which continues to serve two of his biggest wishes: Playing in the SEC and teaming up now with five-star quarterback Keelon Russell.

Alabama was always a major part of Meadows’ recruitment.

LSU, Alabama, Notre Dame and Michigan were the four programs that stood out from the beginning for Meadows, who had 24 catches for 598 yards and seven touchdowns in his senior season.

The Tigers semi-surprisingly won out over the summer since Meadows had been pegged to Notre Dame for so long.

And it looked like LSU would be able to keep Meadows in the class especially if the Tigers could have locked up Underwood but that wasn’t the case as Michigan flipped him in recent weeks.

Alabama and Michigan especially re-engaged with Meadows after the Underwood news but in Tuscaloosa he gets to play in the SEC and with an elite quarterback still.

RIVALS REACTION

Meadows has all the physical tools to be special but the sticking point through his high school career is whether he has dominated enough for someone who is ranked so highly.

His stats in his senior season were fine but not spectacular and now he’s headed to the most-competitive conference in college football.

Meadows has shown flashes of elite ability but he will need to put together better production at Alabama to really reach his potential. He has all the physical ability to be one of the best receivers in college football if he can put it all together.