It's finally finished. Rivals has completed its reshuffling of the top 100 recruits, and there were more than a few significant changes.
6 of the 26 5* recruits are RB's. 5 are defensive lineman (DE or DT). LSU leads all schools with 3 5* players.
Auburn has just one 5*, recent commit Kris Frost, while Alabama has two 5* commits, safety Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix and newly-appointed 5* RB Demetrius Hart.
Both schools have multiple offers out to several top-rated players. Whispers suggest that Auburn has a good shot at landing 4* TE Brandon Fulse and 4* OL Christian Westerman (currently committed to Texas). On defense, look for Auburn to close with 4* DB Erique Florence and possibly newly crowned 5* DE Ray Drew.
Meanwhile, Alabama still has high hopes of reeling in big fish DE Jadeveon Clowney, OL Cyrus Kouandjio, and RB Isaiah Crowell.
One of the most intriguing stories of the recruiting battles is Brent Calloway, current Auburn commit and former Bama commit.
As a Bama pledge, Calloway was rated the #12 player in the country as a LB. His stock has since plummeted after pledging his allegiance to the Tigers. Now, I don't claim to believe any conspiracy theories regarding stars and schools, but some things just smell rotten sometimes. Ever since dropping his Tide commitment, recruitniks have been very critical of Calloway (both as LB or possibly RB, which he hopes to play at Auburn). Kinda reminds me of when Robert Lester was rated a 2* DB until Saban offered him a scholarship to help lure Julio to Tuscaloosa. Not long after, Lester was "re-evaluated" and given a 4* status. Now, granted, Lester proved his worth on the field in 2010, leading the Tide in INT's, but it still seemed fishy.
I don't think Calloway suddenly got slow or proved to be a liability. I think perception drives these rankings, maybe more so than actual talent.
For every Julio Jones, there's a BJ Scott. Oh, and Nick Fairley says hi.
