Tag: Eli Holstein

Alabama Morning Drive: ‘Bama vs. Texas set to air on FOX

The latest news and notes involving the Alabama Crimson Tide on Tuesday morning.

Good Tuesday morning and welcome back to another edition of Alabama Morning Drive. Monday got the week started off with a bang and we want to carry that momentum into the remainder of the week.

A lot has happened over the last 24 hours and we are going to do our best to fill you in with the latest and greatest involving the Crimson Tide of Alabama.

One of the biggest stories of the day was the release that the much anticipated week two matchup between Alabama and Texas is set to air on FOX.

Unfortunately, with FOX picking up the TV rights, it appears that the [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and [autotag]Steve Sarkisian[/autotag] matchup is destined for a noon eastern kickoff time.

Let’s take a look at a few more stories that Alabama fans should be taking note of this Tuesday morning. I’ll give you a hint, it is a recruiting-focused edition.

Four-star 2023 QB visiting LSU on Saturday

Top-100 prospect Eli Holstein, an LSU legacy, is on campus Saturday for the first time under the new coaching staff.

LSU is all-in on the [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag] sweepstakes but with a lot of competition for the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 class and the Tigers seemingly behind teams like Texas, coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] has to focus some of his attention to other options for this cycle.

One of the best is [autotag]Eli Holstein[/autotag], a four-star quarterback from Zachary, Louisiana. Holstein is an LSU legacy, as his father Scott is a former punter for the Tigers. The Elite 11 quarterback pledged to Texas A&M last summer, but he decommitted in March and has since become one of the top recruiting targets for major programs around the nation.

The Tigers are one of them, and they had Holstein on campus for a visit on Saturday, according to On3’s Sam Spiegelman (subscription required). Spiegelman reports that offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] has been pursuing Holstein heavily in recent weeks. It’s Holstein’s first visit to Baton Rouge under the new coaching staff.

His father isn’t the only connection Holstein has to LSU. His brother Caleb played high school ball at St. Thomas More in Lafayette, the same school where recent Tigers signee [autotag]Walker Howard[/autotag] played. Caleb was also recruited by current LSU quarterback coach [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] to play at Louisiana Tech.

Holstein is currently rated as the No. 54 overall prospect and No. 8 quarterback in the 2023 cycle. Landing a blue-chip in-state quarterback in back-to-back cycles would be a huge win for Kelly, and he’ll hope to make an impression on Holstein this weekend.

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Florida still hanging on for 5-star quarterback Arch Manning

Florida and head coach Billy Napier are still barely in the race for 5-star quarterback Arch Manning.

Florida is still hanging on by a few lonely threads for five-star quarterback [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag]. On3’s Chad Simmons reported that head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is trying to get Manning to the Swamp for a visit. Manning is the top prospect in the country regardless of position, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. Manning is the son of Cooper Manning, the elder brother to Peyton and Eli Manning, and the oldest grandson of Archie Manning.

Simmons also reported that Alabama, Georgia and Texas are generating the most buzz in his recruitment so far with the Longhorns and Bulldogs garnering the most out of the three.

Outside of those three, he believes Florida has the best chance to host Manning for a visit. Simmons said Napier and his coaching staff are still in touch with Manning and that Napier’s success at Louisiana Lafayette is intriguing to him.

Gators Online reported that stability is the most important factor to Manning. If that’s the case, it doesn’t make any sense why he would consider Florida and Texas. The Gators have cycled through four head coaches since they last hoisted the national championship trophy in 2008. The Longhorns have been mediocre except for the 2019 season when they went to the Sugar Bowl and defeated Georgia.

The Gators won’t be a legitimate threat in Manning’s recruitment until they get him on campus, so fans shouldn’t get their hopes up until something materializes on that front.

Corey Bender of Gators Online also reported that four-star quarterback [autotag]Dylan Lonergan[/autotag] hasn’t heard from Florida since he visited last month. The Gators have also hosted four-star [autotag]Eli Holstein[/autotag] last month, but Alabama is viewed as the heavy favorite for his pledge.

It’s perplexing what Florida and Napier are doing at the quarterback position this cycle. Most top quarterbacks have already committed elsewhere while the Gators have struck out for a few already and losing ground for others.

Bender said to look for the Gators to offer more quarterbacks this week and don’t rule out the possibility of them using the transfer portal for one again.

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Alabama 2023 QB target Eli Holstein puts up impressive numbers at Elite 11

Tide QB target Eli Holstein puts his athleticism on full display at the Elite 11.

It seems like [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and the Alabama football coaching staff have shifted their focus to just two quarterbacks in the class of 2023. [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag] has stolen the majority of the headlines, but coach Saban and company are also particularly high on [autotag]Eli Holstein[/autotag] as well.

With all the uncertainty surrounding Manning’s recruitment, it seems as though Holstein’s recruitment is a little less dramatic. After all, his last name isn’t Manning.

Recently Holstein competed at the Elite 11 in Las Vegas and put up out-of-this-world numbers during his workout.

The Elite 11’s official Twitter account released a tweet with Holstein’s numbers and how he compared to some of the top NFL quarterbacks when they worked out for the event.

They would also release a tweet showing Holstein’s numbers compared to the rest of the competition in Vegas.

Holstein is obviously a gifted athlete who will most likely continue to rise in the rankings before signing day.

Currently, it looks as if Alabama has taken the lead for the one-time Texas A&M commit. Hank South of BamaOnline recently put in a crystal ball for Holstein to the Tide.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor Holstein’s recruitment throughout the process.

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This big-name 4-star QB named Florida one of his top 5 programs

Have the Gators finally locked in on a quarterback prospect? Dylan Lonergan has the Gators in his top 5.

After missing out on a couple of elite quarterbacks in the class of 2023, Florida has made four-star [autotag]Dylan Lonergan[/autotag]’s top five.

The Snellville, Georgia, recruit released the list on social media Friday and spoke to On3’s Hayes Fawcett about each program left in his recruitment. Alabama, Ohio State, Stanford and South Carolina are Florida’s competitors.

“Florida is going to get a lot better the next few years and Coach Napier has a great record with QBs,” Lonergan said. “Great baseball program as well.”

Lonergan wants to be a dual-sport athlete in college, and the Gators’ baseball program is one of the nation’s best. Safety [autotag]Miguel Mitchell[/autotag] will be spending time with both teams, so it’s at least something [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] is open to. Lonergan features a fastball in the low 90s with room to pick up speed and a hard slider that’s used as a strikeout pitch.

If baseball is what gets him to Florida, so be it. The Gators need to add a quarterback with [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Carlos Del Rio-Wilson[/autotag] in the transfer portal, and Lonergan is a top-10 player at the position. Unless [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag] or [autotag]Dante Moore[/autotag] suddenly names Florida as a top contender, Lonergan or [autotag]Eli Holstein[/autotag] remain the best available options.

He’s the No. 82 overall recruit in the class of 2023 and the No. 9 ranked quarterback, according to the On3 consensus.

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Despite the uncertainty with Arch Manning, Alabama’s future is bright at QB

Nick Saban hasn’t put all his eggs in the Arch Manning basket and Tide fans shouldn’t either.

Like a classic TV drama of “who did it” the recruitment of five-star quarterback Arch Manning has everyone guessing how it will end. Even some of the country’s top recruiting analysts are stumped on where the generational talent will take his talents.

At the moment, On3’s recruiting prediction machine has Manning with a 38.1% chance of landing at Texas followed by Georgia (32.5%) and Alabama (27.2%). While it seems likely Manning will choose from among those three schools, it would be premature to think Ole Miss doesn’t stand at least an outside shot.

Look, I know Manning is a superior talent and Nick Saban would obviously welcome him into Tuscaloosa with open arms. But in the event Manning doesn’t sign with the Tide, ‘Bama fans have no reason to worry. The future is still very bright for the Crimson Tide at the quarterback position.

Bryce Young will obviously carry the Tide during the 2022 season before he moves on to be one of the top picks in next year’s NFL draft. But Alabama fans also have to be excited about the future at the position with both Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson. Both were highly coveted prospects who can win a lot of games for Saban and the Tide.

It is also important to remember that Alabama isn’t putting all its eggs in the Arch Manning basket. Saban and the Alabama coaching staff have zeroed in on a fellow class of 2023 quarterback prospect, Eli Holsten. Like Manning, Holstein hails from the state of Louisiana.

At nearly 6 feet, 4 inches and 225 pounds, Holstein has the prototypical size that you look for in a quarterback. Holstein led his high school team to a 15-0 record and a Class 5A state championship during the 2021 season. Max Preps named Holstein the Louisiana Football Player of the Year.

It appears Alabama is in a strong position to land Holstein, and Tide fans should not consider this a consultation prize. Holstein is talented and Nick Saban and the coaching staff really like the kid. On3’s RPM heavily favors the Tide for Holstein’s commitment, giving Alabama an 81.3% chance of landing the Bayou QB.

Whether Alabama lands Manning or not, the Tide is in goods hands and the ‘Bama dynasty will continue as long as Saban is in charge.

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This big-time 4-star QB plans to visit Florida on Wednesday

Four-star quarterback Eli Holstein will visit Florida for the first time on Wednesday.

It’s almost the end of April, and Florida is still looking for a quarterback in its 2023 recruiting class. One of its top targets left on the Gators’ board is four-star quarterback [autotag]Eli Holstein[/autotag]. 247Sports reported that he will visit the Swamp on Wednesday. The Zachary, Louisiana, native is ranked as the 54th best player overall and as the eighth-best quarterback prospect, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Scott Holstein, Eli’s father, said his son and his family had an immediate interest in Florida once it offered him on March 28 because of a connection his father has with one of its assistant coaches. He punted at LSU in the early 1990s and was a teammate of Gators’ defensive backs coach [autotag]Corey Raymond[/autotag].

A week before head coach [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag] offered him, Holstein backed off his commitment to Texas A&M on March 18 due to all the coaching changes that occurred during the offseason.

Holstein, as a junior, led his high school to a state title and threw for 3,228 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also ran for 518 yards and 14 scores. Following his senior season, he is set to play in the All-American Bowl.

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Florida offers another 4-star quarterback in 2023 recruiting class

Florida football offered four-star quarterback Eli Holstein out of Zachary, Louisiana, on Monday.

Florida football has passed out a handful of scholarship offers to quarterback prospects over the last two months. The latest one to receive one is four-star [autotag]Eli Holstein[/autotag] out of Zachary, Louisiana. Offensive coordinator [autotag]Rob Sale[/autotag] extended the good news to Holstein Monday.

Holstein is ranked as the 54th overall prospect and the eighth-best at his position, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. He finished his junior season, completing 65% of his passes for 3,228 yards and throwing 30 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Holstein added 523 yards on the ground and 14 scores.

247Sports spoke to Holstein’s father, Scott Holstein. He said they are looking forward to getting to know Florida more and hope they can take a visit to the Swamp.

The Holsteins have some connections with the Gators coaching staff, too. Scott played with cornerbacks coach Corey Raymond at LSU. Off-the-field analyst Russ Calloway also recruited Eli for the Tigers.

He said Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Stanford, Oregon and Texas A&M are on him the hardest currently so far in his son’s recruitment. He’s also fresh off a visit to the Crimson Tide earlier this month.

It’ll be interesting to see what this means for the top of the Florida quarterback board. Coach Billy Napier had [autotag]Arch Manning[/autotag], [autotag]Christopher Vizzina[/autotag] and [autotag]Marcus Stokes[/autotag] toward the top of his list.

It probably means nothing and that the Gators are still doing their due diligence but it still sits in the back of my mind.

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Alabama is the favorite for 2023 QB Eli Holstein according to On3’s RPM

On3’s RPM favors the Tide for four-star QB Eli Holstein

Good luck in trying to figure out exactly which quarterback Nick Saban and Alabama will sign in the class of 2023. For obvious reasons, the headliner of the class is Arch Manning and the Crimson Tide is right in the mix for the talented signal-caller from Louisiana.

But Manning isn’t the only Louisiana quarterback that is drawing interest for Saban and the Tide. Zachary, LA native Eli Holstein, who recently withdrew his commitment from the Texas A&M Aggies, appears to have his eyes set on Alabama. In fact, according to On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), Saban and the Tide are the favorites to land the four-star prospect.

Currently, Alabama has a 48.1% chance of landing Holstein which is 14% better odds than the next closest school in LSU.

I would imagine the battle for Manning will have a lot to do with where Holstein ends up signing, but in either event, Alabama could end up with an Eli or a Manning.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

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Alabama in the mix for recent Texas A&M QB decommit Eli Holstein

Arch Manning isn’t the only talented QB Alabama is targeting in 2023.

On Friday afternoon longtime Texas A&M class of 2023 commit Eli Holstein opened back up his recruitment.  The consensus four-star prospect still has several teams pushing for his signature.

Arch Manning has obviously garnered most of the attention when it comes to the class of 2023 quarterback prospects but Holstein has been a guy that the Crimson Tide coaching staff has continued to recruit.

According to a recent report from On3, Ohio State has recently entered into the mix for the coveted quarterback out of Louisiana.

Eli Holstein’s Recruiting Profile

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
247 4 80 3 8
Rivals 4 51 5 5
ESPN 4 59 4 6
On3 Recruiting 4 219 13 10
247 Composite 4 54 4 8

Vitals

Hometown Zachary, Louisiana
Projected Position Quarterback
Height 6-3
Weight 226
Class 2023

Recruitment

  • Offered by Alabama on Jun. 12, 2021
  • Attends Junior Day at Alabama on March 5, 2022

Offers

Film

Twitter

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