RECRUITING NEVER STOPS // BAMA PUTTING TOGETHER THE 2015 CLASS

By Garry Harris

Alabama’s 2014 recruiting class was rated by every major service as the top class in the country. Nick Saban doesn’t ever rest on his laurels though. Alabama already has seven commitments for the Class of 2015 and Saban and the UA coaching staff are working hard to secure more.

ROQUAN SMITH

Athletic linebacker looking forward

to UA visit

One of the most athletic linebackers in the class of 2015 will be Roquan Smith of Montezuma-Macon County, GA. The 6-2, 207-pound Smith has already reeled in offers from schools across the nation, including Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M and UCLA, among others.

Smith plans to make his first visit to Tuscaloosa for the Tide’s second Junior Day for 2015 prospects on March 1st.

“I’m looking forward to that,” Smith says. “I know that they have a great program over there. I’m eager to get over there and see what it’s all about. I know a lot of people say it’s a great place, and I’m ready to go check it out for myself on March 1st.”

Smith is being recruited by UA defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.

“I’ve had a chance to speak with Coach Smart some,” Smith says. “He offered me a few weeks ago. He’s a cool guy. He’s real funny. He doesn’t sugarcoat things.”

“It was a huge offer. I mean, it’s Alabama,” Smith says. “I’m very excited about it. I want to get over there to meet with their coaching staff and get to know them better.”

Smith attended Auburn’s Junior Day on February 1st.

“It went pretty good,” he says. “I enjoyed myself and got to meet with the coaching staff. I had a pretty good time. There weren’t a lot of prospects there, so I got a lot of individual time. That was good.

“I’m going to continue to look at Auburn.”

Another school Smith plans to continue to look at is the home-state Bulldogs. Georgia is among the schools recruiting Smith the hardest.

“Basically, the whole staff at Georgia is recruiting me,” Smith says. “Coach [Tony] Lilly is my main recruiter, but I’ve talked with every coach on the staff. I like Georgia.”

Smith says that speculation that he has a favorite is premature. He plans to thoroughly evaluate every school that’s recruiting him.

“I’m going where it’s best for me,” he says. “I’m going where I feel the most at home. That’s the main thing to me. It’s going to be about bonding with the coaching staff. And I want to get a great education. I want to have the feeling that I’d love it at that school even if I wasn’t playing football.

“I’m going to take as much time as needed to make my decision. I’m going to make a lot of visits and see what every place has to offer. By September 1st, I hope to know which five schools I want to make official visits to.”

VENZELL BOULWARE

Georgia OL excited about Tide offer

Fairburn-Creekside High School offensive lineman Venzell Boulware is expected to be one top offensive linemen in Georgia in the class of 2015. The 6-4, 275-pounder saw evidence of that last week when he landed several offers.

“It was a really crazy week,” Boulware says. “Clemson offered first. Then North Carolina and Ole Miss offered. Alabama offered. Kentucky also offered. It was pretty wild for me.”

“I was really excited when Alabama offered,” Boulware says. “I was talking on the phone with Coach Saban and he told me that they were officially offering me. He told me that he likes my athleticism as a tackle.

“I’m real excited because Alabama is one of the top colleges in the nation, so that is pretty big for me. Alabama is going to be a school that I’ll seriously consider.”

Boulware plans to visit Tennessee this weekend. He’ll make his first visit to Alabama for Junior Day on March 1st.

“I really want to see how each school focuses on academics,” he says. “From there, I want to see what kind of atmosphere they have in their program. I’m looking for a family atmosphere. Those are the biggest things.”

Boulware doesn’t plan to make an early decision.

“I want to visit as many schools as possible,” he says. “I want to find the place where I feel the most comfortable. My decision won’t really have anything to do with the offensive system or with whether they want me as a tackle or guard. I just want to find the right school.”

ALABAMA’S CURRENT 2015

COMMITMENTS

DL Jonathan Ledbetter 6-5 262 Tucker GA-Tucker HS

DE Mekhi Brown 6-5 220 Columbus GA-Carver HS

OL Lester Cotton 6-4 309 Tuscaloosa AL-Central HS

OL Dallas Warmack 6-2 287 Atlanta GA-Mays HS

RB DeSherrius Flowers 6-1 200 Prichard AL-Vigor HS

S Deionte Thompson 6-2 177 West Orange TX-Stark HS

WR Daylon Charlot 6-0 182 Patterson LA-Patterson HS