Daily Archives: February 4, 2013

Reuben Foster makes his decision

Even with an Auburn tattoo on his forearm, high school linebacker Reuben Foster announced Monday night he will sign with Alabama.

Rivals.com and Scout.com rank the 6-foot-1, 240-pound Foster as the No. 1 inside linebacker prospect in the nation and the top prospect in the state.

“I’ve been loving Alabama since I was a pup,” Foster said during a Fox Sports South. “I was raised as an Alabama fan by mom and dad.”

Foster said he made the decision on his way to the Fox Sports studio Monday night. He gives Alabama 23 public commitments. National signing day isn’t until Wednesday, and public commitments aren’t binding.

Foster committed to Alabama before his junior season, which he spent at Troup High in LaGrange, Ga. After his junior season, he transferred to Auburn because his coach at Troup was fired.

He committed to Alabama before switching to Auburn in July 2012. At a news conference announcing his switch, he wore an Auburn cap and had his 3-year-old daughter dressed in an Auburn cheerleader outfit. Later that month, he showed up to Auburn’s summer football camp with the ink on his forearm.

He decommitted from the Tigers in December when Auburn assistant coach Trooper Taylor, who recruited him, wasn’t retained by new head coach Gus Malzahn.

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In the past two weeks, Foster has visited Alabama, Georgia, San Diego State and Auburn. During his Auburn visit this past weekend, he reportedly left and spent Saturday night in Tuscaloosa.

Odds for AJ, Yeldon to win the 2013 Heisman Trophy

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron has led the Tide to national titles in 2011 and 2012. (AP photo by Bill Haber)

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron has led the Tide to national titles in 2011 and 2012. (AP photo by Bill Haber)

Bovada of Las Vegas (www.bovada.lv) has made Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron a 12-1 shot for the Heisman Trophy this season. T.J. Yeldon is an 18-1 choice.

You can guess who the favorite is: 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M.

Odds to win the 2013 Heisman Trophy:
Johnny Manziel (QB, Texas A&M),4/1
Braxton Miller (QB, Ohio State), 7/1
Marquis Lee (WR, USC), 9/1
Aaron Murray (QB, Georgia), 10/1
De’Anthony Thomas (RB, Oregon), 10/1
A.J. McCarron (QB, Alabama), 12/1
Duke Johnson (RB, Miami), 12/1
Jadeveon Clowney (DE, South Carolina), 12/1
Tajh Boyd (QB, Clemson), 15/1
Taylor Martinez (QB, Nebraska), 15/1
Ameer Abdullah (RB, Nebraska), 18/1
Marcus Mariota (QB, Oregon), 18/1
T.J. Yeldon (RB, Alabama), 18/1
Brett Hundley (QB, UCLA), 20/1
Lache Seastrunk (RB, Baylor), 20/1
Everett Golson (QB, Notre Dame), 22/1
Stephen Morris (QB, Miami), 25/1
Blake Bell (QB, Oklahoma), 30/1
Jeff Driskel (QB, Florida), 30/1
Ka’Deem Carey (RB, Arizona), 33/1
Devin Gardner (QB, Michigan), 40/1
Stefon Diggs (WR, Maryland), 40/1

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Alabama remains at No. 5 in gymnastics rankings

Even after a loss at Georgia, Alabama remained No. 5 in the national gymnastics rankings today.

Keep in mind, the rankings are based on scores and not won-loss records. Alabama posted a season-best 196.950 in a loss at Georgia on Saturday.

Alabama’s next opponent, Florida, remain at the top of the rankings. Oklahoma is second, followed by No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 UCLA.

Alabama is fourth on the vault, fifth on the uneven bars, seventh on the balance beam and seventh on the floor exercise.

Crimson Tide junior Kim Jacob is ranked 15th in the all-around, fifth on the floor exercise and 22nd on the balance beam after posting a career-best 9.950 on the floor exercise against Georgia. Junior Diandra Milliner is ranked sixth on the vault, while senior Ashley Sledge is 23rd on the floor exercise. Senior Ashley Priess and junior Sarah DeMeo are tied for seventh on uneven bars.

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Top Tide targets agree to televised Wednesday announcements

Some of Alabama’s top remaining recruiting targets have agreed to let ESPNU televise them Wednesday when they announce where they’ll go to school.

At 8 a.m., the network will carry the announcements of linebacker Matthew Thomas of Booker T. Washington in Miami, offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil of Columbia High in Lake City, Fla., and defensive tackle Montravius Adams of Dooly County in Vienna, Ga.

Thomas is considering Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Miami and Southern California, while Tunsil has Alabama, Georgia and Ole Miss on his list. Adams has Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida and Georgia.

At 9 a.m., safety Vonn Bell of Ridgeland High in Rossville, Ga., will announce his choice from his list of Alabama, Ohio State and Tennessee. In addition, safety Antonio Conner of South Panola High of Batesville, Miss., will pick between Alabama and Ole Miss.

Muscle Shoals defensive lineman Dee Liner will announce his choice at 11 a.m., and Alabama is thought to be in the lead for him.

Running back Alvin Kamara of Norcross (Ga.) High is set to announce at 2 p.m. He is picking between Alabama and Georgia.

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TV networks will carry seven Tide softball regular-season games

Alabama’s softball team will appear on television seven times in the regular season, including games on ESPNU, Fox Sports Net and CSS.

March 16, South Carolina (away), CSS, 11 a.m.
March 23, Auburn (home), CSS, 1 p.m.
March 24, Auburn (home), ESPNU, 2 p.m.
April 5, Missouri (home), ESPNU, 8 p.m.
April 6, Missouri (home), ESPNU, 2 p.m.
April 21, Mississippi State (away), FSN, 1 p.m.
April 25, LSU (away), ESPN2, 7 p.m.

In addition, ESPNU will televise the SEC softball tournament May 8-10, and ESPN will pick up the championship game May 11 at 7 p.m.

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