Tag: 2023 recruiting

Multiple Alabama freshmen named among top newcomers in college football

While they may be young, these freshmen are expected to make an impact for Alabama that could earn some national recognition.

Alabama football enters the 2023 college football season with plenty of new faces, inexperienced players and true freshmen. While for many programs this may be a cause for concern, it’s not for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.

Losing Bryce Young, Will Anderson Jr., and Jahmyr Gibbs surely stings, but the next-man-up mentality allows for the Tide to reload instead of having to rebuild.

The incoming 2023 recruiting class for Alabama was ranked No. 1 in the nation, according to 247Sports, which is good for the program because it’s likely that a few will see some serious playing time.

ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren recently ranked the top 50 college football newcomers, which includes transfer and true freshmen.

Two Alabama freshmen made the list.

At No. 32 is running back Justice Haynes.

“Haynes was the No. 2 running back in the class behind Richard Young, who also signed with Alabama. Haynes is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound back from Buford, Georgia, and has already caused a stir during the spring, showing versatility in the spring game — two touchdowns on the ground another receiving. Haynes has the talent, and although he still has some competition ahead of him in Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams, he should be able to find reps this season.”

Freshman safety Caleb Downs also made the list at No. 26.

“Downs, a 6-foot, 190-pound recruit out of Georgia, was the No. 1 safety in the 2023 class. He’s a talented defensive back who has already garnered hype since enrolling at Alabama. The Crimson Tide lost safeties Brian Branch and Jordan Battle to the NFL, so there are open spots. Downs has every opportunity to see the field early this fall and, given his talent level, could become one of Alabama’s better players in the secondary.”

Both of these players will see the field in 2023, with Downs potentially serving as a starter in the secondary. While the entire season won’t rely on them, they are pieces to a much larger puzzle that could lead to the success of the Crimson Tide this season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football as the 2023 offseason winds down.

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Prospect Profile: 2025 defensive tackle Ka’Mori Moore

A look at Sooners 2025 defensive line target Ka’Mori Moore out of Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Oklahoma is one more recruit away from locking up Lee’s Summit North High School as an official recruiting pipeline. Between their pursuit and signing of Cayden Green in the class of 2023, their pursuit of one of the nation’s best prospects in Williams Nwaneri for 2024, and 2025 four-star wide receiver Isaiah Mozee, Oklahoma has a strong relationship with the Kansas City area football program.

It helps when the head coach of the team is former player Jamar Mozee. Mozee was a running back on the Sooners’ last national title-winning squad back in 2000.

The possible pipeline could grow even more if the Sooners can land yet another Power Five caliber player that Lee’s Summit has to offer. 2025 nose tackle Ka’Mori Moore was the latest athlete from that high school to receive an offer from Oklahoma.

The Sooners are actively recruiting his teammates, and it’s only natural that the 6-foot-1, 310-pound defensive tackle is being recognized.

Moore is powerful but has excellent agility for someone his size. His ability to stonewall offensive linemen allows him to disrupt timing on plays and enables the rest of the defense to make plays. Moore also spent time in June at one of Oklahoma’s camps, showcasing his skills in front of the coaching staff.

He has a frame that could also hold a bit more weight and help him be a wrecking ball in the middle of defenses at the collegiate level. He has offers from Nebraska, UNLV, and Iowa State as well.

In a world where Oklahoma lands Williams Nwaneri this recruiting cycle, it’s hard to imagine the Sooners not being a leader in Moore’s recruitment. Brandon Drumm, the Rivals insider for Oklahoma sports, already logged a future cast in favor of Moore landing with Oklahoma.

Ka’Mori Moore’s Recruiting Profile

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2024 4-Star PF Jarin Stevenson commits to Alabama over North Carolina

2024 power forward Jarin Stevenson announced his commitment to Alabama on Wednesday. Stevenson chose the Crimson Tide over Virginia and North Carolina.

Four-star 2024 power forward Jarin Stevenson announced his commitment to Alabama on Wednesday evening. Stevenson also announced that he will be re-classifying and enrolling at Alabama in the fall. Meaning he will forgo his senior year of high school and be eligible to play for Alabama in 2023-2024.

Stevenson chose the Crimson Tide over North Carolina and Virginia. He took official visits to all three programs. In the end, it was Nate Oats and the Alabama coaching staff that was able to land Stevenson’s commitment.

Stevenson plays for Seaforth High School in Pittsboro, North Carolina. As a junior, he averaged 22.8 points per game, 11.7 rebounds per game, and 3.7 blocks per game.

With Stevenson on board, Alabama will now have 11 scholarship players for next season. That is not account for North Dakota State transfer Grant Nelson who has not officially announced that he is committed to Alabama.

In all likelihood, Stevenson will play either power forward or center next season. With Noah Clowney and Charles Bediako declaring for the NBA Draft, Stevenson has the opportunity to see a lot of playing time next season. His ability to stretch the floor, rebound, and protect the rim stands out the most. At 6-foot-10, 200 pounds, Stevenson will be a perfect fit in Nate Oats’ system.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama basketball program.

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2024 5-Star PF Jarin Stevenson lists Alabama in top 3

2024 power forward Jarin Stevenson released his top-three schools on Friday. The South Carolina native is down to Alabama, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Jarin Stevenson released his top-three schools on Friday. Stevenson’s finalists are Alabama, Virginia, and North Carolina.

Stevenson has taken official visits to all three schools. The South Carolina native took an official visit to Alabama in May.

When asked by 247Sports’ Travis Burnham on how he feels about the Crimson Tide, he said, “I like Alabama’s play style. They have an NBA offense and they also have a good defense, too. Coach [Nate] Oats is pretty cool,,, they’re great people.”

A decision is expected to come over the weekend. He is also considering re-classifying to the 2023 recruiting class. Meaning he will have enough credits to graduate high school and join the basketball program of his choice in the fall.

According to Rivals’ David Sisk, the likelihood that Alabama lands Stevenson’s commitment is high if he does decide to re-classify. If he elects to remain a 2024 recruit, the favorites will likely be North Carolina or Virginia.

Stevenson’s decision is crucial for the Crimson Tide. North Dakota State transfer Grant Nelson was suppoosed to announce his commitment at the beginning of the week. However, he has not officially committed to Alabama at this point. If Nate Oats and the rest of the coaching staff can land both Nelson and Stevenson, next year’s team has the potential to be a top-10 team.

Roll Tide Wire breaks down Jarin Stevenson’s recruiting profile.

Oklahoma DL Derrick LeBlanc enters the transfer portal per On3 report

According to a report from On3 Sports, 2023 four-star DL Derrick LeBlanc is entering the transfer portal after just one semester with OU.

In an odd turn of events, one of Oklahoma’s 2023 enrollees is entering the transfer portal. After just one semester in Norman, four-star defensive lineman [autotag]Derrick LeBlanc[/autotag] is entering the transfer portal, according to a report from On3’s Matt Zenitz.

Derrick LeBlanc was Oklahoma’s sixth highest-rated signee in the 2023 cycle and one of two blue-chip prospects signed to the class. Out of Kissimmee, Fla., LeBlanc was the No. 33 defensive lineman in the class and ranked No. 246 overall.

This offseason, the Sooners have been active in the transfer portal, adding interior defensive line options since the portal initially opened in the winter. Oklahoma’s added [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag], [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag], [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag], and [autotag]Phillip Paea[/autotag] and moved Jonah Laulu from defensive end to defensive tackle this offseason. Those additions, along with the return of [autotag]Isaiah Coe[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag], could have limited his opportunities to get on the field in 2023.

In 2024, the Oklahoma Sooners are hoping to add an impressive group of defensive linemen headlined by [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], [autotag]Williams Nwaneri[/autotag], and [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag], potentially creating a more difficult path toward playing time.

LeBlanc was a big addition for the Oklahoma Sooners, helping them secure one of their best recruiting classes in the modern recruiting era. Now with LeBlanc gone, [autotag]Ashton Sanders[/autotag] and [autotag]Markus Strong[/autotag] remain as the interior defensive linemen in the 2023 recruiting class.

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A look at 2025 TE Chase Loftin, who picked up a recent Oklahoma offer

Oklahoma becomes the first college to offer 6-foot-5 2025 TE prospect Chase Loftin out of Nebraska.

2025 tight end Chase Loftin has knocked down a significant hurdle in becoming a collegiate athlete. He has finally secured his first scholarship offer, and it came thanks to the Oklahoma Sooners.

Loftin hails from Omaha, Nebraska. He played for Elkhorn North High School, where he grabbed 39 catches for 577 yards and five touchdowns. He also had duties as a punter, averaging almost 41 yards per punt.

Loftin showed up in Norman looking to compete at Brent Venables OU Camp, and Loftin did just that. At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, he has the requisite frame to grow into a collegiate tight end. Loftin has football in his DNA and a brother who is a redshirt freshman tight end at Oklahoma’s Big 12 foe, the Kansas State Wildcats.

As it stands, Oklahoma doesn’t have a tight end committed for 2025. Their top target has been five-star Davon Mitchell. Mitchell is a prospect that Oklahoma is the perceived leader for, but no commitment has happened just yet. Oklahoma could take Mitchell and a second commitment from another tight end like Loftin based on numbers. Mitchell is the caliber of player that is a take no matter the numbers, and you figure out the logistics along the way. Mitchell has been rumored to reclassify to the 2024 cycle, opening the door for Loftin to be the target in 2025.

Loftin will have a bit more of a magnifying glass on himself in the future. Now that he has an Oklahoma offer, his recruitment should see an uptick.

“It was awesome,” Loftin shared with Sooners Illustrated’s James D. Jackson about receiving the Sooners offer. “Probably the best moment of my life so far. When they brought me up, I wasn’t expecting it. It took me by surprise, for sure. It’s one I’ve wanted my whole life, so it’s a dream come true. It’s a dream school, for sure.”

Oklahoma is fresh off back-to-back years in landing a tight end from the state of Nebraska. [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag] in 2022 and [autotag]Kade McInytre[/autotag] from the 2023 class hailed from Nebraska.

Can Oklahoma’s budding relationship with Chase Loftin help them go 3/3 in the Cornhusker State recruiting tight ends? We’ll find out over the next 18 months.

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WATCH: 5-star PG Jeremy Fears talks Michigan State basketball

5-star PG Jeremy Fears talked MSU while at the McDonald’s All-American game:

Jeremy Fears is one of the four players headed to Michigan State in the 2023 recruiting class, one of Tom Izzo’s best in his Michigan State tenure. Fears, a five-star, is highly regarded by Spartan nation, which hopes he will be the next point guard in Michigan State’s strong lineage.

The future Spartan is gearing up for the McDonald’s All-American game. He spoke to the media ahead of the game.

Watch what the five-star point guard had to say about the Spartans, courtesy of Tommy Yarrish of 247Sports:

ESPN compares Oklahoma freshmen to a pair of Sooner legends

Oklahoma’s 2023 class has some exciting players. Two of those signees have been compared to a pair of Oklahoma football legends.

With plenty of 2023 signees taking part in their first spring practices, it signals the end of their high school careers and the first step as collegiate players.

Expectations are high, and many players use this time to adapt to their new homes and carve out roles on their new teams. This time allows teams to get a deeper understanding of who the players are.

As the Sooners integrate members of their 2023 signing class, ESPN issued comparisons for 10 of the top prospects in the ESPN 300. For the Sooners, they identified pretty significant comparisons for Jackson Arnold and Ryan Broyles.

Quarterback Jackson Arnold enters Oklahoma with a ton of hype. He’s yet to take a meaningful snap, but Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill of ESPN believe he most compares to Heisman winner and Sooner favorite Baker Mayfield (ESPN+).

Mayfield completed a stellar career at Oklahoma after originally walking on at Texas Tech. During his time as a Sooner, he threw for a whopping 12,292 yards and 119 touchdowns, won the 2017 Heisman and averaged a staggering 11.5 yards per pass attempt. He was the very definition of swagger and moxie, and he had the arm to back it up.

Arnold is like Mayfield not only in stature (6-foot-1, 195 pounds), but also in style. He’s confident, poised and intellectual. At Denton Guyer High School (Texas), he ran essentially the same offensive system that he will be in at Oklahoma under Jeff Lebby, which has many similarities to Lincoln Riley’s scheme when tutoring Mayfield. The 2022-23 Gatorade Player of the Year should face a seamless transition at the next level. – ESPN

The expectation for Arnold is he will usurp Davis Beville as the backup QB by season’s end. While Arnold is “at the back of the line” on the depth chart, spring and summer should allow him to leapfrog Beville and give the Sooners a high-ceiling backup who will have the keys to the offense in 2024. Baker waited his turn and blossomed during his time in Norman.

One of Arnold’s incoming classmates will give him a weapon to throw to during his Oklahoma career. Four-star wide receiver Jaquaize Pettaway will not join the Sooners until the summer, but the OU coaching staff will be very happy when he does. The folks over at ESPN believe he most closely resembles the Sooners’ all-time leading receiver, Ryan Broyles.

There were faster players in college football than Broyles during his Oklahoma tenure, but very few were as productive. He finished as Oklahoma’s all-time career leader in receptions (349) and scored 45 touchdowns. The ultimate slot receiver from 2008 to 2011, Broyles was one of the best route runners in recent college football memory and was a second-round draft choice by the Detroit Lions in 2012. Pettaway may be faster (10.4 100-meter) than Broyles, and his scheme versatility and route-running precision is very similar.

His ability to navigate coverage from the slot, be featured on bubble screens and jet sweeps, and win one-on-one matchups in man coverage are all strengths. Like Broyles, Pettaway knows how to get open and make plays. He could follow in his footsteps and develop into a dangerous return man for the Sooners, as well.

Oklahoma’s receiving corps ranked 48th in receiving yards and 68th in receptions per target in 2022, and with Marvin Mims Jr. entering the draft, the Sooners don’t have a strong receiving corps returning. This could provide a great opportunity for Pettaway to break in early and use his speed to develop into a go-to player who is also a feared return specialist. Plus, he is coming in early with QB Jackson Arnold, with whom he has also developed a rapport, which was on display in Under Armour All-America Game. – ESPN

Pettaway has a role with the Oklahoma Sooners as soon as he gets on campus. He’s instantly the fastest in the receiver room and quite possibly the entire team.

His route running and ability to get open will be appreciated by Dillon Gabriel in 2023 and Jackson Arnold in the years to come. It’ll be tough to approach Ryan Broyles’ Oklahoma records unless he starts as a true freshman. Being spoken in the same breath as Ryan Broyles puts him in elite company.

Once on campus, Jaquaize Pettaway will be a welcomed addition to Jeff Lebby’s offense.

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BREAKING: Alabama MBB lands commitment from 2023 4-Star SF Kris Parker

2023 small forward Kris Parker announced his commitment to Alabama on Thursday. Parker chose Alabama over Missouri, Villanova, and UCF.

The Alabama men’s basketball program continues to win on and off the court. On Friday, Alabama landed a commitment from 2023 small forward Kris Parker.

Parker chose the Crimson Tide over other programs like Missouri, Villanova, and UCF. When asked by On3’s Joe Tipton about why he chose Alabama, he had this to say:

“I chose Alabama because I think Nate Oats really believes in me and he consistently recruited me even when a lot of other coaches gave up on me.”

Parker is the fourth commitment in Alabama’s 2023 recruiting class. The other three are Sam Walters, R.J. Johnson, and Mouhamed Dioubate. Davin Cosby Jr. was also a member of the class but re-classified and early enrolled in the fall.

Parker can play either shooting guard or small forward at the next level. He seems to be a good fit for Coach Oats’ style of play. His versatility could very well help him see playing time during his freshman season.

Roll Tide Wire breaks down Kris Parker’s recruiting profile.

Jeff Lebby made an immediate impact with the 2023 recruiting class

Among assistants hired in 2022, Jeff Lebby made an immediate impact on the 2023 recruiting cycle.

The hiring of [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] helped provide continuity on the offensive side of the football for the Oklahoma Sooners. While the system changed, the ability to score points remained despite the change in play caller.

The new offensive coordinator was a familiar face in Norman. Keeping his offensive assistants intact allowed them to continue to build upon what they had done under Lincoln Riley.

Though the offense had its issues on third down and in the red zone, the Sooners averaged 35 points per game in 2022. Lebby’s relationship with [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] provided an experienced quarterback to lead his offense after Caleb Williams followed Riley to USC.

And as important as that was, it was the work he did early in the 2023 recruiting cycle that rebuilt the foundation for the Oklahoma Sooners on the offensive side of the ball.

As On3 looks back on the 2023 recruiting class, Jeff Lebby was included among assistants who made immediate recruiting impacts in their new locales on the 2023 cycle.

When Five-Star Plus+ QB [autotag]Malachi Nelson[/autotag] decommitted from Oklahoma after Lincoln Riley bolted for USC, the Sooners were in a bad place with their 2023 class. Not only had Nelson flipped, but so had OU’s top three receiver commits. Enter Lebby, who came to the Sooners from Ole Miss under the tutelage of Lane Kiffin.

Lebby quickly identified Arnold as his guy, and the nation’s No. 4 QB committed in January. On top of that, nearly a year later, Arnold’s best friend, five-star safety Peyton Bowen, signed with the Sooners — in no small part due to his future quarterback. – Pope, On3

Lebby’s relationship with [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] dated back to his time as the offensive coordinator with Ole Miss. It didn’t take Arnold long to commit to Oklahoma once Lebby and Brent Venables made their pitch. As the first commit for Venables in the 2023 class, Arnold provided a ton of stability to a class that almost completely evaporated. Center Joshua Bates was the lone holdover from the Lincoln Riley era.

Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator got a player in Jackson Arnold that was on the rise. Arnold had a tremendous 2022 that saw him win Gatorade National Player of the Year, Elite 11 MVP, and earn consensus five-star status from the recruiting industry. While all of that’s great, it was his unwavering commitment to the program that was critical for the Sooners.

That commitment provided the stability for the rest of the class. Even as players like Anthony Evans and Colton Vasek flipped, the rest of the group stayed together. That’s in no small part to Jackson Arnold hanging with Oklahoma despite a 6-7 season.

Jeff Lebby’s offense will be a big reason why the Oklahoma Sooners return to contention in the Big 12 in 2023. And equally important, his prowess on offense and on the recruiting trail is a big reason why they’ll remain contenders beyond this year.

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