Fultondale's ArDarius Stewart, New Orleans WR Raheem Falkins commit to Alabama

Fultondale High School athlete ArDarius Stewart and New Orleans wide receiver Raheem Falkins both committed to Alabama during the Crimson Tide's Junior Day recruiting event, according to reports from BamaOnline. Stewart and Falkins become the sixth and seventh members of the Tide's 2013 recruiting class and the second and third to commit to Alabama this weekend with the earlier commitment of running back Altee Tenpenny.

Stewart became the only junior named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association's Super 12 list in 2011 after accounting for over 3,400 yards of total offense for Fultondale and scoring 20 passing touchdowns and 30 rushing touchdowns during his junior season. Stewart was also named Class 2A Back of the Year by the ASWA and is currently rated the No. 52 player in the nation by 247Sports.

Falkins, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound receiver out of George Washington Carver High School in New Orleans becomes the first wide receiver to commit to the Crimson Tide's 2013 recruiting class. Falkins is rated a 4-star prospect by 247Sports and the nation's No. 27 receiver prospect.

Falkins told BamaOnline that he has received a scholarship offer from LSU but that he preferred Alabama after visiting both schools.

"I didn't want to drag anything out, and in my heart I felt this is where I belonged," Falkins told BamaOnline's Shane Youngblood LSU told me they had an offer for me, but I did not feel the same way that I did when I was at Alabama today. It felt like home.

RB Justin Taylor meets with Saban, remains committed to Tide

Atlanta running back аnd Alabama commit Justin Taylor re-affirmed һiѕ commitment tо tһе Crimson Tide aftеr аn in-person meeting witһ head coach Nick Saban on Tuesday, аccording to а report from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Taylor was asked bу thе Tide coaching staff tо delay hiѕ enrollment untіӏ January of 2013, a technique knоwn as "grayshirting", аnd aftеr recently expressing disappointment wіth tһe move, Taylor's coach and legal guardian Stanley Pritchett ѕaіd Taylor plans on enrolling аt Alabama.


"This is һіѕ life аnd hіs decision," Pritchett told tһе AJC's Michael Carvell. "He wants to go tо Alabama nеxt year, and I'm goіng to support hіm with thаt decision."

Taylor tore hіs ACL prior tо hіs senior season at North Atlanta High School аnd hiѕ ongoing recovery was noted as а major reason behіnd Saban's request thаt Taylor delay hіѕ enrollment. Taylor's options fоr thе upcoming fall semester include attending аnd еѵеn playing football at a prep school, wһісh wоuӏd not count agаinѕt hiѕ college eligibility.

"The plan is tо make ѕurе һe gеtѕ some rehab fоr һіѕ knee," ѕaіd Pritchett. "They sаіd һe cаn tаke somе classes аt a community college іn tһe fall, thrее оr ѕіx hours, where he won't be а full-time student. Or he can gо tо a prep school if hе wants. Actually, it waѕ Justin wһo brought up tһe idea of а prep school. Coach Saban is fine witһ іt аѕ long аѕ tһе doctors clear һim to play. They don't want him tо get him injured again. They dоn't wаnt һim playing аgain until hе'ѕ 100 percent."

Chris Samuels joins Alabama coaching staff

Former University of Alabama All-American offensive tackle Chris Samuels will join the Crimson Tide coaching staff as an offensive line assistant, according to a report from The Washington Post. Samuels, who started 42 games for the Crimson Tide from 1996 through 1999, was chosen third overall in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins and was a six-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle before being forced to retire due to injuries in 2010. He spent the 2011 season as the offensive coordinator at Blount High School in Prichard, Alabama.


Samuels told The Washington Post's Mike Jones that he plans to complete his degree while coaching at Alabama.

"They'll pay for me to finish my degree, and I'll be able to learn from some great coaches over there at Alabama. ...It's just been a blessing for me," Samuels said. "It's a huge opportunity for me. I learned a great deal about football from all those years of playing and being around a lot of great coaches."

Samuels won the Outland Trophy in 1999 after leading Shaun Alexander and the Crimson Tide offense to 1,383 rushing yards.

The hire follows the recent departure of Crimson Tide assistant Rob Sale, who accepted a position at McNeese State on Tuesday as offensive line coach. Sale had served as a weight room assistant and offensive video analyst for Nick Saban since 2007.

Update on Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley

Alabama - C.J. Mosley suffered a dislocated hip during Alabama's 21-0 BCS National Championship Game victory over LSU on Jan. 9.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban addressed an estimated crowd of 32,000 on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium during a national championship celebration.

Saban has not been available for interviews since Jan. 10, the morning after winning Alabama's 14th national championship - his third, and second in three seasons.

At the time, Saban said Mosley had suffered the injury, and his prognosis was unclear.

Alabama linebacker Nico Johnson was asked after Saturday's celebration how Mosley is coming along.

"He's doing all right," Johnson said. "He's walking around fine. He just had a dislocated hip."

Mosley finished the season with 37 total tackles, two sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss and an interception.

Alabama Elite 18 list of football prospects heavy on linebackers

The complete Elite 18:

1. Jameis Winston, QB, Hueytown (6-4, 200). Racked up more than 3,000 yards of total offense and 44 total touchdowns, ending the year with an MVP performance in the Under Armour All-American game. Committed to Florida State.

2. T.J. Yeldon, RB, Daphne (6-2, 210). Proved he's a power back in 2011, rushing for 2,193 yards and 32 TDs to earn Mr. Football honors. Already enrolled at Alabama.

3. Chris Casher, DE, Davidson (6-4, 240). Forced to sit out the 2011 season after transferring from Faith Academy, but he had a strong week at the Under Armour game. Committed to Florida State.

4. Reggie Ragland, LB, Bob Jones (6-4, 245). Also a standout on the basketball court, he is a sideline-to-sideline pursuer and was among the most impressive LBs at the Under Armour game. Committed to Alabama.

5. Ryan Anderson, LB, Daphne (6-3, 250). After switching from DE, made 105 tackles, 12½ sacks as a LB in 2011. Already enrolled at Alabama.

6. Tyler Hayes, LB/ATH, Thomasville (6-3, 215). Two-way star made 97 tackles and 3 sacks as a LB, could also play H-back or S in college. Committed to Alabama.

7. Kwon Alexander, LB, Oxford (6-2, 212). Playmaking linebacker missed much of his senior year with a torn ACL. Alabama, Auburn and LSU lead.

8. Cassanova McKinzy, LB, Woodlawn (6-2, 224). Twenty of his 108 tackles in 2011 were for losses. Committed to Auburn.

9. Darrion Hutcherson, TE/DE, Dadeville (6-7, 247). Physically imposing player caught 30 passes for 572 yards, 6 TDs, but likely projects as a DE. Committed to Auburn.

10. Alphonse Taylor, DT, Davidson (6-6, 340). Athletic lineman played both OT and DT for Warriors, but Crimson Tide wants him to play nose guard. Committed to Alabama.

11. Javiere Mitchell, LB, Leeds (6-2, 197). Active defender played defensive tackle in high school, but projects as a linebacker in college. Already enrolled at Auburn.

12. Darius Philon, DL, Vigor (6-1, 282). Made 65 tackles and 11 sacks in 2011, playing the last half of the season with a knee injury. Committed to Alabama.

13. Tyler Nero, DT, Escambia County (6-2, 290). Sixteen of his 74 tackles in 2011 were for losses. Committed to Auburn.

14. Beniquez Brown, RB/LB, Florence (6-2, 210). There is some debate about which position will suit him best. Was a 1,000-yard rusher in high school but may play LB in college. Mississippi State and Tennessee lead Arkansas, Ole Miss and North Carolina State.

15. Trae Elston, DB/WR, Oxford (6-0, 183). Had 8 interceptions and more than 100 tackles on defense, 700 yards and 12 TDs on offense. Oklahoma State leads Arkansas, California, Central Florida and Louisiana-Lafayette.

16. Darren Lake, DT, Sumter Central (6-3, 330). Massive nose guard made 48 tackles and 5 sacks as a senior. Committed to Alabama

17. JaMichael Winston, DE, Vigor (6-5, 226). Tall, rangy defender racked up 97 tackles and 17 sacks and was a finalist for 5A lineman of the year. Committed to Arkansas.

18. Justin Shanks, DT, Prattville (6-3, 306). Made 60 tackles and 5½ sacks as a senior for 6A state champion. Committed to Florida State.

Best of the rest (with commitments): Justin Thomas, QB, Prattville (Georgia Tech); Caleb Peterson, OL, Auburn (North Carolina); Robert Leff, OT, Fairhope (Auburn); Derrick Moncrief, DB, Prattville (Southern Miss); Caleb Gulledge, OL/DE, Prattville (Alabama); Eric Lee, DE, Daphne (South Florida); Kyron Samuels, C, Fairhope (undecided); Jonathan Wallace, QB, Central-Phenix City (Southern Miss); Jonathan Curry, TE, Central-Phenix City (Purdue); Michael Flint, OL, Oxford (undecided); Harding Harper, LB, Carver-Montgomery (undecided); Kelton Brackett, DB, Blount (UAB); Laronji Vason, DB, Prattville (Wake Forest); Jacoby Glenn, DB, Vigor (Kentucky); Kivon Coman, DB, Florence (Mississippi State); Chris Humes, DB, Spain Park (Arkansas); Taylor Stargel, LB, Gulf Shores (Georgia Tech); Torren McGaster, DB, Daphne (Vanderbilt); Beau Hankins, LB, Jackson-Olin (undecided); K.J. Maye, RB/WR, Murphy (Minnesota).

Nick Saban's statue updated to reflect Alabama's 14th national championship

Alabama updated Nick Saban's statue Thursday to reflect the Crimson Tide's 14th national championship in football.

A fresh etched "2011" appeared next to the "2009," both years signifying the two national championship teams Saban has coached at Alabama.

The latest came via a 21-0 victory over LSU on Jan. 9 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The update comes just in time for Saturday's national championship celebration set to take place at 2 p.m. inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Saban has three national championship teams. His first was in 2003 at LSU.

ESPN projects three Tide players drafted in Top 10 of 2012 NFL Draft

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper projects three members of Alabama's 2011 BCS Championship team will be taken in the first 10 picks of the upcoming NFL Draft. Kiper released his first mock draft projecting all 32 picks in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft and the Crimson Tide feature heavily at the top of Kiper's list with Heisman Trophy finalist Trent Richardson projected to be the first Tide player selected. Kiper projects Richardson to be taken with the No. 5 pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick is projected to be taken by the Carolina Panthers with the No. 8 pick. Kirkpatrick was arrested early Tuesday morning for marijuana possession, though Kiper does not address in his analysis whether the arrest is expected to impact Kirkpatrick's draft status.

Kiper projects linebacker Courtney Upshaw to be taken with the No. 10 pick by the Buffalo Bills. The Bills used their first round selection in 2011 on another Tide defender, defensive end Marcel Dareus.

Safety Mark Barron also appears in Kiper's mock draft as the No. 16 selection for the New York Jets. Barron is listed as the top safety by Kiper.

Kiper's mock draft includes a total of nine players from the SEC, including two from LSU (Morris Claiborne and Michael Brockers), two from South Carolina (Melvin Ingram and Alshon Jeffery) and one from Georgia (Cordy Glenn).

Lance Thompson returns to Alabama

Thompson is one of the most proven recruiters in the SEC in the last decade. He played a major role in Alabama signing the 2008 and 2009 classes that were ranked No. 1 in the country and formed the heart of the 2009 and 2011 BCS championship teams.

Sunseri did some serious recruiting himself as Thompson's replacement. Saban, for all of his own expertise in that area, values that skill in his assistants so it was important to replace Sunseri with someone who knew the territory.

No one fit that description better than Thompson. As a bonus, he wouldn't have to spend one second learning how to work with defensive coordinator Kirby Smart or for Saban. Thompson's done both, with Smart at Alabama, with Saban at LSU, too.
In a sense, he's Saban's prodigal coaching son returned.

Anyone inclined to consider Thompson a traitor should recognize that college football is a business for the men who coach it. It is true that, after he left Tuscaloosa for Knoxville, Thompson took a verbal jab or two. Remember the boast he made at a supposedly private UT recruiting event that Saban wasn't going to get any more of "his" players?

Saban responded with a commitment from a Memphis wide receiver about 90 seconds later.
That was nothing more than gamesmanship. Thompson's true feelings about Saban and Alabama, where he also worked under Mike DuBose, never changed. He shared them, when he was allowed to speak to the media, during his time in Knoxville. I sat down with Thompson and former Auburn assistant Eddie Gran, another coach taken in by Kiffin, in 2009.

"Coach Saban was always great to me," Thompson said that day. "A lot of people, when I left, being fans and being emotional, thought it was about Nick. It had nothing to do with Nick. Just the opposite. I had the opportunity because of him."
Truth be told, people close to him say, Thompson wishes he'd never left Alabama three years ago. Considering the turmoil at Tennessee, including the transition from Kiffin to Derek Dooley, hasn't the man suffered enough?

No doubt Thompson has learned from that experience, but he hasn't lost his zest for recruiting. Where was he April 27, the day tornadoes ripped through this state? On the recruiting road in north Alabama as trees fell and a funnel cloud passed. He's showed friends photos and videos he took with his phone that day.

Tuesday was his first day back on the job at Alabama, and he's not wasting time getting acclimated. As reported by AlabamaIntel.com and confirmed to me by a recruiting insider, Thompson and two other Alabama assistants, Jeremy Pruitt and new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, are expected to watch Hueytown quarterback Jameis Winston go through a baseball workout tonight for the San Diego Padres.

For Thompson, it's just like the old days. It's game on.

Justin Taylor now says he won't sign with Alabama

After being asked to delay his enrollment at Alabama until next year, previously committed running back Justin Taylor has decided to seek out another school to sign with in February.

Taylor, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back from Atlanta's Washington High School, told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution in an interview Sunday that he was still planning to sign with the Crimson Tide after head coach Nick Saban asked him to delay his enrollment until January of 2013, a process known as "grayshirting", due to Alabama having more committed recruits than the 25 they will be allowed to accept on National Signing Day. Taylor now says he has changed his mind.

"At first I was cool with it but the more I thought about it, the less I liked it," Taylor said in a phone interview. "I have already missed an entire season of football because of my injury. I decided I just can't miss another season. It's no hard feelings against Alabama but I just decided it's best for me if I go somewhere that I can be at least practicing with the team this year, even if I have to redshirt. I haven't talked to any other schools yet but I will start looking right now."

After suffering a torn ACL for which he underwent surgery in early September of 2011, Taylor missed his entire senior season at Washington. In his junior season, Taylor rushed for 11 touchdowns and over 1,500 yards.

"I am about a month and a half away from being fully healthy again," Taylor said of his injury. "There's really no reason I couldn't be working out and practicing with my new team by the time the summer starts. I am sorry it had to work out like this but I think it will work out for the best for everybody."

Taylor is rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com and is ranked No. 37 among running backs in the 2012 class.

Alabama sends six to Senior Bowl; two questionable with injuries; one out

e Senior Bowl officially announced the names of the Alabama players Saturday that have accepted invitations to the annual NFL showcase game in Mobile.

The Crimson Tide contingent includes linebacker Courtney Upshaw, center William Vlachos, wide receiver Marquis Maze, cornerback DeQuan Menzie, safety Mark Barron and nose guard Josh Chapman.

A Senior Bowl spokesman said Chapman is out, and is due to have knee surgery Tuesday. Maze and Barron are questionable with injuries. Maze suffered a hamstring injury during Alabama's 21-0 win over LSU for its 14th national title. Barron, a Mobile native, has been coping with a rib injury.

The game will be played Jan. 28 in Ladd-Peebles Stadium capping a week of practices, and activities flooding the town with NFL personalities, coaches and scouts.
For some, it's an opportunity to improve their NFL draft stock.

Upshaw headlines the Crimson Tide's participants fresh off his defensive player of the game honors for his contribution against the Tigers in the BCS National Championship Game. Upshaw (6-2, 265 pounds) finished his senior campaign with 52 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and an interception returned 45 yards for a touchdown. The first-team All-American was a big part of Alabama's No. 1 nationally ranked defense.

Vlachos (6-1, 294 pounds) was a three-year starter for the Tide, a finalist for the Rimington Trophy. According to his profile, Vlachos only missed eight assignments in 733 snaps (99 percent on assignments). As the veteran leader, his role was to make identifications and calls at the line. Started all 13 games in 2012, including a team-high 40 straights starts for his career.

Menzie (6-0, 198 pounds) started 13 games at cornerback this season, a total of 19 during his two years at Alabama. He was a first-team All-American by the AFCA. Menzie had a career high 41 tackles, including four solo tackles in the national championship game. He had 11 pass breakups, 1.5 sacks and an interception.

Maze (5-10, 180 pounds) was Alabama's leading receiver with 627 yards and one touchdown. He also had 436 punt return yards, including an 83-yard touchdown return in a 38-14 win against Arkansas on Sept. 24. Maze, who had 54 career games and 35 career starters, was second team All-SEC wide receiver and return specialist.

Barron (6-2, 218 pounds) returned for his senior season fully recovered form a pectoral muscle injury, which ended his junior season after a 28-27 loss to Auburn in the 75th Iron Bowl. Barron, who finished his career with 39 starts, was a unanimous first-team All-American after he flourished once more at safety as Alabama's second-leading tackler. He had 78 tackles including five pass breakups, two interceptions, one sack and one quarterback hurry.

Chapman (6-1, 310 pounds) anchored the defensive line playing through his injured knee throughout the season. His role, not often flashy, was to take on double teams and afford the Tide's linebackers and secondary an opportunity to splash in the glory of statistics. Chapman finished with 23 tackles, two sacks and two pass breakups.