Rivals Recap: Alabama

PHENIXCITY,Ala.-TheweekendinAlabamacenteredaroundPhenixCity(Ala.)Central's20-13overtimewinoverMontgomery(Ala.)RobertE.LeeonFriday.TherewereplentyofFBS-boundprospectsonthefieldunderthelights,butthetripthroughAlabamaalsoincludedstopsatotherhighschoolsthathousetop-leveltalent.Belowarenews,notesandtakeawaysfromFridaynight'sgameandbeyond.

IWASIMPRESSEDWITH…

LeewidereceiverHenryRuggsClickHeretoviewthisLink.wasonthelosingendofFriday'sgame,buthewas,byfar,thestaroftheshow.Ruggspossesseselitespeedthatheusedtocatchfivepassesformorethan120yards.He'sstilldevelopingasawidereceiver.There'sareasonthatRuggs,whoisjustajunior,alreadyholdsscholarshipoffersfromAlabamaClickHeretoviewthisLink.,FloridaClickHeretoviewthisLink.andothers.Ruggsisoneofthetopjuniorsinthestateandseemstohaveroomtogetevenbetter.Hewashisteam'sfirstoffensiveweaponandimpactedthegamefromstarttofinish.

CentrallinebackerMarkailBentonClickHeretoviewthisLink.keepsaddinggoodweightandisbecomingacollege-readyprospectinahurry.OnFriday,hisnamewascalledoftenashefunctionedasarun-stufferupthemiddleandcreatedchaosonanumberofpassingdownsaswell.Bentonisversatileforaplayerofhissizeandmovesincrediblywelllaterally.Ashebecomesstrongerandmoreassignment-sound,he'llimproveasaprospect.

CentralwidereceiverJamalCouchClickCentralsophomoreJustynRossClickLee'sEdwardJohnsonClickIWASSURPRISEDBY…HeretoviewthisLink.hasincredibleupside.Justasophomore,theyoungdefensivebackisalready6-foot-2andcoversextremelywellforaplayerofhissize.OnFriday,hedidatremendousjobcoveringtoutedprospectJustynRossClickIWASSURPRISEDBY…HeretoviewthisLink.andshowedalevelofphysicalityrareinprospectsofhisyouth.The180-poundJohnsonhasthetoolstodevelopintoahigh-levelcollegeprospectifhecontinuestorefinehisskillset.HeretoviewthisLink.hasplentyofscholarshipoffersalreadyandshowedwhyinflashes.Hehasincrediblelengthandrunsaswellasanyplayerofhissize.Rosswasinjuredinthesecondhalfandcouldbeseenoncrutchesafterthegame.A2018prospect,Rosshasabrightfutureandwilllikelyholdmorethan30offersbeforethingsaresaidanddone.HeretoviewthisLink.madetheday'smostimpressivecatchlateinthefirsthalf.Couch,whowillplaydefensefortheSeminoles,showedhisquicknessandhisaccelerationwhileplayreceiverandranopenmoreoftenthathewastargeted.There'salottolikeaboutCouch,whowillneedtoaddstrengthbeforebeingreadytocontributeintheACC.

ThisisFloridastatecommitJamalCouchwithagreatTDcatch@Warchanthttps://t.co/r4RWSWhEUY-RobCassidy(@Cassidy_Rob)November14,2015

OTHERNOTES…

Four-starlinebackerMarkailBentonClickHeretoviewthisLink.ofPhenixCity(Ala.)HighSchoolnamedatopthreeofAlabama,AuburnClickHeretoviewthisLink.andFloridaStateClickHeretoviewthisLink..Andwhiletwo-thirdsofhislistismadeupofin-stateprograms,hesayscampuslocationwillnotbeafactorinhisdecision.Justajunior,BentonsaysheintendstowaituntilNationalSingingDay2017toannouncehisdecision.

CoachesatParkCrossingHighSchoolthinkhighlyof2017defensivebackKameronGreenClickHeretoviewthisLink..ParkCrossingheadcoachSmittyGrinercalledGreenhisbestdefensiveback,andthefactthathehasahandfulofFBS-boundplayersinthesecondarymakesthathighpraise.GreenisyettoreceivehisfirstofferbutanumberofteamshavereachedouttotheParkCrossingstafftoinquire.

SophomoreMarcusJenkinsClickHeretoviewthisLink.goesbythename"Tank"forgoodreason.A2018prospect,themassiveoffensivelinemanalreadyholdsanumberofscholarshipoffersforgoodreason.Atthisearlypointintherecruitingprocess,JenkinssaysLSUClickHeretoviewthisLink.,AuburnandFloridaleadhisrecruitment.HeplanstoattendClemsonClickHeretoviewthisLink.'sNov.21gameagainstWakeForrest.

AuburncommitJohnBroussardClickHeretoviewthisLink.madethegame-savingtackleinovertime,ashebroughtdownLee'sRuggsjustshortofthegoallinetosealthevictory.Broussardcloseswellandiseffectiveinrunsupportdespitebeingatadslender.HeisunlikelytotakeotherofficialvisitsandseemsalmostcertaintosignwiththeTigersonNationalSigningDay.

FloridacommitJeawonTaylorClickHeretoviewthisLink.isconsideringavisittoAuburninthenearfuture,butremainssolidlycommittedtotheGators.Taylor,athree-stardefensiveback,planstovisitUFforitsgameagainstFloridaStateonNov.28,buthasnotscheduledadateforatriptoAuburn.

Park Crossing quarterback Malik CunninghamClick Here to view this Link., who visited Auburn for its game against Georgia, holds a handful of offers as things stand now. Georgia is responsible for his lone SEC offer and the Bulldogs intend to move the junior to defensive back should they land his commitment. Cunningham says he hopes to land scholarship offers from Auburn and Clemson in the future and would strongly consider each. Schools such as TroyClick Here to view this Link., ToledoClick Here to view this Link. and LouisvilleClick Here to view this Link. have offered him as a quarterback.

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