The Tide is surging

Despite probation, Franchione having recruiting success

Alabama has been an impressive team this season. They are 7-2, but their two losses are to No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 7 Georgia. The Crimson Tide just may be the best team in the SEC West and over the next several weeks, we all will find out. Alabama is a team on probation for five years, no bowls for two seasons, and the loss of 21 scholarships through 2004.

Despite the black cloud over Tuscaloosa, Alabama head coach Dennis Franchione has done an extraordinary job both on and off the field. Not one player transferred from Alabama after the probation was handed out. And when all things are considered, Franchione is the perfect man for the job. He has exceptional leadership skills, has short- and long-term plans for the Alabama program that everyone has bought into. He also has two qualities that all can attest to -- honesty and integrity.

Recruits have noticed. Currently, Alabama sits at No. 5 in the team recruiting rankings by TheInsiders.com. It is incredible that Coach Franchione and his staff have recruited the way they have. In fact, this is the best I have ever seen a team under “probation” perform in the recruiting wars.

The Tide currently have 13 commitments from the Class of 2003 and will re-sign linebacker Ernest Nance, who sat out the fall due to a knee injury. The headliners are running back Tim Castille and defensive tackle Dominic Lee. These are two big-time blue-chippers. LeRon McClain is committed as well and he may be the top fullback in the nation. Defensive backs Chris Felder and Eric Gray are terrific cover guys who have pledged to Alabama.

This is part of a terrific group and Alabama is not finished yet. The Tide have four slots open with in-state blue-chippers Chad Jackson (WR), Matt Caddell (WR), Jayson Swain (WR), Will Roach (S), Aaron Sears (OL), and Mitchell Thomas (LB) all giving Alabama a very serious look. Quarterback Kelcy Luke and linebacker Daniel Brooks also are possibilities. The final four members of their recruiting class likely will come from this group. Any mix or match will be a great haul for Coach Franchione. And there is a strong possibility that they could close with Jackson, Swain and Caddell.

In 1995, Alabama was on probation and had only 14 scholarships. That recruiting class consisted of current NFL players Shaun Alexander (Seattle), Reggie Grimes (Seattle), Fernando Bryant (Jacksonville) and Chris Samuels (Washington). Offensive lineman Michael Moore spent some time in the NFL as well.

One day, we may be able to compare this year’s class with the great one of 1995. Coach Franchione and Alabama will close strong between now and Signing Day. And if this extraordinary season is any indication, the Crimson Tide will be just fine. After all, they have the right man for the job.

Top RB adds another visit

The dynamics of college football coaching in today's pressured filled era are ever changing. Every once in a while a kid has to feel like a jinx. In the class of 2000, Von Ewing committed to Alabama only to see Mike Dubose fired. He then committed to Georgia only to see Jim Donnan fired. He settled back in on his early favorite and signed with Alabama.

This year Barrington Edwards is feeling the same way. "Man, I don't know what to think," Edwards said. "I'm looking at Michigan State real close, and they lose their head coach. I'm looking at Georgia, and the running back coach leaves.

“I don't know what to think," Edwards added with a laugh. "I'm not in any hurry, though. I'm going to sit back, stay in shape, and see what happens, and kind of let the process come to me. I want to see who the new coaches are going to be. They're still probably my two favorite teams, so we'll wait and see what happens. I've set up another visit to Southern Cal."

Edwards is a member of the BorderWars.com 101 Team and the No. 5 ranked running back in the nation by TheInsiders.com.

-- Scott Kennedy, BorderWars.com

Star LB makes his decision

Despite not taking any of his official visits, talented linebacker Drean Rucker, 6-foot-1, 230 pounds from Moreno Valley (Calif.) Canyon Springs, has made his college choice. It came down to USC, Oregon and Oklahoma but the hometown Trojans were able to win out.

"He committed last night," Canyon Springs defensive coordinator Shane Prosser said. "He just felt the timing was right and didn't feel the need to put it off. He saw nothing but good things about USC and is excited about his decision.

Rucker is a big-time talent and a borderline top 100 player nationally. We rated him the No. 2 linebacker in the West in our pre-season rankings. He was the top linebacker at the SoCal Nike Camp where he clocked 4.65 in the 40, jumped 29 inches in the vertical and did 20 reps on the bench. He was also dominant in the one-on-one drills and has all the tools to be an immediate impact player in college.

"Drean has been dominating games and taking them over from his linebacker position all year," Prosser said. "He makes plays from sideline to sideline and has so much speed and range on the field. I really believe he's the best linebacker in the state, I can't imagine anyone being better."

Rucker had set a visit with Oregon State and was also planning to trip to Oklahoma and Oregon but will now just visit USC.

-- Greg Biggins, PacWestFootball.com

Tight end de-commits

Tight end Garrett Bushong has re-opened his options after learning of the firing of Michigan State head coach Bobby Williams.

“I visited Purdue and I had a great visit,” Bushong said. “I really got along well with the guys and I liked the coaches also. I had a great time.

“I’m also going to visit Illinois. I still plan on visiting Michigan State, but that won’t be until the new coaching staff is in place.

“I’m completely wide open right now.”

Bushong, a 6-5, 225-pounder, from Ionia, Mich., is a fantastic prospect. Ohio’s Louis Irizarry is the only Midwest tight end I’ve seen on film who’s better than Bushong.

Bushong set every tight end receiving record in school history. He had 93 catches for 1,600 yards in his career at Ionia. He was named all-conference three years in a row as a tight end, defensive end and punter.

We asked Bushong if Michigan State is still the team to beat for his services.

“I’d say a lot depends on whether or not Pat Perles is still at Michigan State when the dust clears,” Bushong said. “Coach Perles is the tight ends coach and we have a pretty good relationship.

“Like I said before, I’m completely open right now. I’m going to listen to all schools that have an interest in me.”

Ionia finished the season 6-4 and lost in the opening round of the state playoffs.

-- Chris Pool, PoolRecruiting.com

What's next for San Diego QB?

It's been a difficult recruiting journey thus far for San Diego (Calif.) State Augustine QB Richard Kovalcheck. The strong-armed signal caller has taken two official visits, loved both, but has since been dropped by both schools after each received quarterback commitments. Here's the latest:

Kovalcheck, 6-3, 215 pounds is a big time talent with tremendous arm strength and accuracy. He's as good a pure passer as anyone we've seen but coming off of ACL surgery, some schools wanted to wait to see how he looked this year before going on him. We saw Kovalcheck earlier in the year and he still look a little hobbled, but according to St. Augustine head coach Jerry Ralph, he is making huge strides.

"He has been looking like the Richard of old the past few weeks," Ralph said. "His knee looks great and has been responding very well. He throws such a great ball and it looks like he has made it all the way back now."

In early September, Kovalcheck visited Notre Dame and came home raving about the trip. He wanted to take more trips, but the Irish were a heavy leader. He was then informed in the past month that the Irish were going in a different direction and would no longer be recruiting him. Last weekend, Kovalcheck took his second official visit to Colorado and the Buffs shot to the top of his leader board.

Unfortunately for him, just days ago, the Buffs took a commitment from their second quarterback in this year’s class and, like the Irish, also stopped recruiting Kovalcheck. So now the question is what's next for the talented quarterback.

"He's still very interested in Washington and excited about that trip in November," Ralph said. "Tennessee is a hot one right now too. They just offered him and Richard is very excited about it. I know he'll definitely visit there. He's also very interested in Cal right now and likes what they've been doing on the field. So right now, things are still going well and he has a lot of options. He'll be fine and whoever lands him will be very grateful they did."

-- Greg Biggins, PacWestFootball.com

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