Daily Archives: January 28, 2013

Some Tide recuiting bits and pieces

Alabama has at least four spots to fill in its 2013 recruiting class, and at the moment, it’s too murky to predict exactly who the Crimson Tide will pull in by national signing day.

However, we’re willing to guess these three appear decent bets to land in Tuscaloosa and Alabama would be glad to have them: Wide receiver Eddie Jackson, 6-foot-0, 180 pounds, Boyd Anderson High in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.; running back Alvin Kamara, 5-10, 190, Norcross (Ga.) High; defensive lineman Dee Liner, 6-4, 295, Muscle Shoals.

Other possible commitments include defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes of Placer High in Auburn, Calif., linebacker Reuben Foster of Auburn High, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil of Columbia High in Lake City, Fla., and defensive lineman Jarran Reed of East Mississippi Community College. There are others, but those are four who are gaining plenty of attention.

Scout rates Tunsil as the No. 1 offensive line prospect in the country, and if you could pick one guy from the list Alabama would love to have, he is it. Georgia appears to be in the lead, however.

We have video of him from the IBN Sports Network. Tunsil wears No. 77 and plays offensive tackle.

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Releford shines in SEC hoops statistics

Alabama's Trevor Releford (12) against Kentucky. AP photo by Vasha Hunt of AL.com)

Alabama’s Trevor Releford (12) against Kentucky. AP photo by Vasha Hunt of AL.com)

Alabama’s Trevor Releford ranks in the top five of four individual categories in the 14-team Southeastern Conference.

Releford is fifth in scoring (16.1 points a game), second in free throws (84.9 percent) and fifth in steals (2.0 a game).

But here’s something you might not expect — Releford ranks fifth in field goal percentage with 49.4 percent. He’s so good in transition, where he gets layup attempts, and doesn’t take many bad shots, his percentage winds up being better than most would expect for a 6-foot-0 guard.

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Alabama stays at No. 5 in gymnastics rankings

Alabama coaches Sarah and David Patterson during practice. (AP photo by Dave Martin)

Alabama coaches Sarah and David Patterson during practice. (AP photo by Dave Martin)

The Alabama gymnastics team remained No. 5 in the national rankings this week after beating Kentucky at home Friday.

Unlike football, the gymnastics rankings are compiled strictly on team scores posted this season. Last season doesn’t count and neither does the potential for the future.

Florida is first, followed by Oklahoma at No. 2, Michigan at No. 3 and UCLA at No. 4. The Crimson Tide is third on the uneven bars, sixth on the vault, eighth on the balance beam and ninth on the floor exercise. The Crimson Tide will take on the Gators, Sooners and Bruins in the coming weeks.

Alabama’s next opponent is No. 8 Georgia at Athens, Ga., in the Tide’s only Saturday meet of the regular season.

Junior Kim Jacob is ranked 14th in the all-around, fifth on the floor exercise and 23rd on the balance beam. Junior Diandra Milliner is seventh on the vault. Senior Ashley Priess is seventh on the uneven bars, while junior Sarah DeMeo and senior Ashley Sledge are tied for 13th.

Video of Milliner performing the vault against Kentucky:

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SEC coaches pick Tide to win the league

The Southeastern Conference softball coaches have picked Alabama to win the league championship.

Alabama has won the last three regular-season crowns and the SEC tournament titles in 2010 and 2012.

The Crimson Tide finished 60-8 a year ago and claimed the first national title in league history. Alabama led the way with eight of 13 possible votes followed by the Tennessee Lady Vols with five. (Vanderbilt does not sponsor softball.) The Tide also is ranked No. 1 in the preseason USA Today/NFCA poll.

Points for the poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6 basis for the Eastern Division and a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 basis for the Western Division. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.

Conference champion: Alabama (8), Tennessee (5)

Eastern Division
1. Tennessee (12 points)
2. Missouri (30 points)
3. Georgia (34 points)
4. Florida (38 points)
5. Kentucky (58 points)
6. South Carolina (65 points)

Western Division
1. Alabama (12 points)
2. LSU (28 points)
3. Texas A&M (31 points)
4. Arkansas (51 points)
5. Mississippi State (56 points)
6. Auburn (63 points)
7. Ole Miss (74 points)

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