Tide offers 2014 standout

Sophomore Kevin Crosby of Bamberg-Ehrhardt (S.C) already had 14 offers when he arrived in Tuscaloosa, Ala., for junior day.

Now, the standout outside linebacker/tight end has one more.

On Saturday, the Tide pulled the trigger.

"After we went to the basketball game, we were just sitting around in position meetings," Crosby said. "Coach [Nick] Saban called me into his office. He said, 'We're offering you a scholarship.'"

Crosby called it a "big offer" and added that Alabama was a program he would "strongly consider." One of the reasons for that is his familiarity with Tide assistant Chris Rumph, who previously coached at Clemson and was instrumental in the Tigers landing former Bamberg-Ehrhardt (S.C) stars Da'Quan Bowers and Ricky Sapp.

"I've known him since he was at Clemson," Crosby said. "I kind of feel like I had a relationship with him already since I've seen him before."

Alabama did not specify which position the Tide likes the 6-feet-2, 220-pound Crosby at best. He was effective at each in 2011. Crosby recorded 36 catches for 676 yards and nine touchdowns on offense, and 58 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions on defense.

Overall, he enjoyed the visit.

"It was real good," Crosby said. "We toured the facilities and stuff, and the academic center. We went to the dorms, and I got to meet all the coaches."

Saban made a good impression, according to Crosby.

"He's a down-to-earth guy," Crosby said. "He's not going to build you up just to make you big. He's going to tell you how it is. We talked about academics, about life after football. He said if you don't make it in football you still have an education."

At this point, Crosby has no leader.

He plans to visit South Carolina this coming weekend.

Keith Niebuhr can be reached at Keithrivals@yahoo.com. You can follow him on Twitter @KeithRIVALS.