Underclassman has ties to Alabama but no Tide offer just yet

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Stephen Dix may or may not get the opportunity to follow in his cousin’s footsteps. There’s no reason for him to sweat that just yet.

A relative of Alabama alum Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the class-of-2020 linebacker hasn’t received an offer from Crimson Tide just yet. Ask Dix about that, however, and he seems to least somewhat confident about it’s eventual arrival.

“I talked to Nick Saban,” Dix said on Thursday. “He says that they are going to end up recruiting me, but they haven’t offered or anything. That might not happen any time soon.”

For now, however, Dix is concerned with his high school career and his current college options. Teams such as Mississippi State, Tennessee, Indiana and FAU have already offered the linebacker-defensive end hybrid. As far as favorites go, however, that’s a conversation for next year.

“I’m just looking around,” Dix said. “Right now, they’re just offers. I don’t really favor any of them.”

There is, of course, a wildcard in play. Dix grew up a rabid Florida State fan and doesn’t shy away from the fact that he’d like to land an offer from the Seminoles. So far, nothing on that front has budged. But if FSU gets involved, Jimbo Fisher’s program will insert itself into the thick of the race.

“I grew up liking FSU,” Dix said. “As a kid I just always wanted to go play there. They haven’t reached out yet. They haven’t hit me up.”

Dix, who attends Orlando’s Dr. Philips High School, is one of the top sophomores on the roster. Rivals.com is yet to rank the 2020 class so he remains unranked for the time being.

IN HIS WORDS:

-- “I’m probably gonna chill right now. I don’t have many visits in mind this year.”

-- “I’m just now starting to play defensive end. I’ve always played linebacker. So I don’t know where I’ll play in college I guess it just depends.”

RIVALS REACTION: There’s no way to guess where Dix’s recruitment may end or how many twists and turns are in store. The only thing that seems obvious now is that Alabama and Florida State would be among the major players should they offer. It also stands to reason that Tennessee and Mississippi State, both of which got involved early, shouldn’t be counted out.