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Take Two: Will Alabama lose out on in-state stud Justyn Ross?

Justyn Ross
Justyn Ross (Chad Simmons)

Take Two returns with a daily offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and a local expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.

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THE STORYLINE 

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The last time the top-rated prospect in the state of Alabama did not end up signing with the Crimson Tide was in 2012, when five-star quarterback Jameis Winston picked Florida State.

It’s really an anomaly. Alabama gets who it wants when it comes to in-state recruiting.

Enter Justyn Ross, the five-star receiver and No. 1 prospect in the state out of Phenix City (Ala.) Central, who seems to be leaning toward Clemson, with Auburn keeping pace and Alabama a probable third in his recruitment at this point.


Clemson and Auburn have made him a top priority in this recruiting class and Ross, rated as the second-best receiver nationally, has shown a tremendous amount of interest in both programs.

The five-star traveled to Clemson earlier this season to watch the two teams square off. Plus, he’s been to Auburn before, and he’s heading back to Clemson soon for another visit.

So can Clemson go into the state of Alabama, flex its recruiting muscle even more and land the state’s top player? As Ross’ recruitment continues - and if Auburn keeps playing well - can the in-state Tigers keep him home? Will this be one of those rare occasions where Alabama doesn’t sign the top player in the state?

  FIRST TAKE: PAUL STRELOW, TIGERILLUSTRATED.COM  

“While Alabama’s stature made the Crimson Tide one to monitor, sentiment has always held Auburn as the strongest in-state competition for Ross because of proximity and relationships there. To that end, here’s believing Auburn still accounts for the stiffest challenger to the favorite.

"But Clemson’s billing as 'WRU' has evolved to become self-fulfilling. Dabo Swinney recruits a little differently with the higher risk-reward approach of narrowing in on select targets and investing more time and efforts toward them, and the Tigers have no better position to sell than receiver. Co-offensive coordinator/receivers coach Jeff Scott, an ace recruiter, impressively pulled five-star Tee Higgins and four-star Amari Rodgers from what should have been Tennessee’s clutches last year. And to that end, when Scott has sunk his teeth into a receiver’s recruitment the last couple of years, he’s gotten who he’s wanted.

“Ross is taking his Clemson official visit next week, and the Tigers don’t use those early unless there’s reason to think it’s to their strategic advantage.”

SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM  

“A lot of people think Ross is going to end up at Clemson, with its wide receiver tradition. It’s tough to think of a kid like that leaving the state when both Auburn and Alabama want him so badly, but right now it’s trending heavily toward Clemson.

“I would say Auburn has the best chance to keep him in-state. He’s been there a few times this season already, but he wants to go to a passing offense and the way Clemson produces wide receivers has really opened his eyes.”

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