Danny Sheridan reports Saban wouldn't give in to Nkemdiche's wishes
Dabo Swinney reportedly was willing to do something Nick Saban wasn’t to land the nation’s No. 1 recruit, Grayson (Ga.) defensive end Robert Nkemdiche.
Emphasize reportedly, because polarizing USA Today handicapper Danny Sheridan is behind the report.
Sheridan, of course, also claimed that the NCAA knew the name of the bagman that allegedly paid Cam Newton to come to Auburn. But when push came to shove, Sheridan elected not to give up his source and was scolded by the NCAA.
Nkemdiche chose Clemson over everyone, including LSU and Alabama. The decision came after two of his best friends, Grayson defensive back David Kamara and running back Wayne Gallam, committed to Swinney.
Gallman committed to Clemson in mid-April, while Kamara waited until June 14 to tell Swinney he’d join the Tigers. Nkemdiche then surprised most recruiting pundits by pledging his allegiance to Clemson shortly after Kamara did. So if Alabama did turn down a commitment from Nkemdiche in return for signing Kamara and Gallam, it likely happened before April.
Nkemdiche’s high school coach Mickey Conn played college football at Alabama with Swinney, but told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he believed LSU, not Alabama, was the runner-up.
When asked on Twitter about the source behind his report, Sheridan wrote that it was the same people who told him former Tide backup Phillip Sims was transferring to Virginia and added, “I would not rely on a booster or fan for this info. Enough said.” Sims did end up transferring to Virginia.
Take that for what it’s worth, and the value of any Sheridan report is, to be gentle, debatable. So when he later added that Tide wide out Duron Carter may play in the opener against Michigan, Alabama fans may not want to get overly excited. Carter is believed to be ineligible.
In the meantime, could this be the beginning of a recruiting trend, where players try to assume more power in the negotiating process by getting a free ride for the teammates?
Nkemdiche did not immediately respond to a comment request made via Twitter.
Sorry, my keys are sticking. Probably because I was educated at USC and Athletes got "A"s for showing up for class.
RN comited to Clemson last year and stayed quiet and played the role of "top rek cruit" and got tired of doing that. His teammates actually followed him. But as any good sportswriter knows controversity sells their collums.
@pmnc2000 I would like to know how you know he committed to Clemson last year and lied to the entire football nation for almost a year. So you are now saying that RN is a liar? That the whole time he was saying he was uncommitted, he actually was already committed and Dabo Swinney went along with this? If that were true, what does this say about the young man's character. And Dabo Swinney's for that matter.
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What about clemson's OTHER needs? Ever think about that? We NEED a running back. Wayne is a RB. Well look at that, one less RB to worry about. Espn has him as a 4 star RB. Idk about DK though. In a. Interview by tigernet DK reported Dabo telling him, "Whatever happens to RN happens. Just know you had an offer from us before we knew anything about a package deal between you & RN"
Keenan Allen asked the same deal of Coach Saban a couple of years ago with him and his half brother and Coach Saban refused. Cal agreed and they are both starters at Cal BUT the brother is no where near as good as Allen and that is why Cal isn't doing as well because the brother is the QB. If in fact Robert N did ask this, then I understand why he went to Clemson because Clemson accepted BUT the other two aren't as good and won't help Clemson and Robert N will miss out on a NC just like Allen has.
If this is true I would hate to be a player on that team. Nkemdiche's ego should be high enough being the #1 recruit in the nation and now controlling the coach by getting his friends on the team will demoralize the rest of the team who aren't in his posse. I wish him the best of luck but if this is true, not a good way to run a program.
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Sounds a lot like what occurred a few years back with another young man and his half-brother wanting a twin deal with CNS before they signed with CAL. And I believe Lame Kiffin was caught in the same dealings at Rocky Top before e fled to USC!
Coach is doing his job in a clean and honest manner. So if this story is true, then I would say hooray for Saban and the Bama administration.
@sammieg That's how Tennessee got Da'Rick to flip from UGA to Tennessee (by promising a scholarship to his best bud who is no longer on the team) but in that case it was actually Dooley who made that offer not Kiffin.
Package deals are one thing but bringing along two other players is a little extreme if it's true. Of course this is Danny Sheridan, so I would probably believe a report from my six year old son over him.
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Bama will be fine with or without Nkemdiche. Nkemdiche is more worried about touching rocks and individual awards than winning Championships. In his interview he was talking about how Upshaw went in the second round because "they didnt know what position he played". And how he didn't want that to happen to him. But in the same breathe he talks about winning championships and being a first round NFL draft pick. Those things just dont go hand and hand with Clemson. ESPN is comparing Nkemdiche to DaQuan Bowers the last 5 star DE that played at Clemson. Correct me if I am wrong but wasnt he a 2nd round NFL pick? Number 51. Courtney Upshaw (a 4 star) who Robert Nkemdiche mentioned in his interview video was a 2nd round number 35 pick!! I think what hurt DaQuan Bowers was going to Clemson! Only time will tell. RTR
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@BernieSeverance What hurt bowers was what hurt him. He had knee surgery before the draft. He was suppose to be a top 5 pick but questions about his health made him slip down the board.
@Ethanbrown65 @BernieSeverance
The Draft order is about future potential and filling the needs of the team. Marcel Dareus played hurt all year and still got selected with the third pick. Because he gave a great showing at the combine which moved him in front of both Nick Fairley and Bowers. Would have, could have, should have. It is what it is. Oh and Clemson could have beat West Virginia too 70-33. Unbelievable. Nice try though you get an A for effort.
Surprising that you actually graduated anywhere with all your useless comments. Especially doubtful USC but anyways please stick to the topic if you can with your limited knowledge of the subject. You my friend seem to be the dumba. . . on this blog!
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@BernieSeverance @Ethanbrown65
Oh my, another dumba.. from another "diploma mill" in the SEC. Yep, I am one too. I was stupid and enjoyed the $$ from fans/alums that supported my "truely Free education". Just have had orange blood since I was born, and always wil.
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signing a players friends just to get them is a stupid as hiring a player's high school coach just to get him...we have a limited number of players we can sign and wasting 2 schollies on players just to sign one who even tho he is highly HIGHLY touted isn't in the best interest of the team...Saban knows that 1 player will not make the team, its the combination of lots of guys and if Robert didnt want to come to BAMA on his own and needed a push by bringing along 2 teammates then he obviously wasnt that excited about the idea of playing there...wish him all the best, but if he continues to base life choices based on other ppls decisions and life choices he's going to turn around 1 day and wonder what could have been....
RN committed to Clemson last year and stayed quiet and played the role of "top recruit" and got tired of doing that. His teammates actually followed him. But as any good sportswriter knows controversity sells their collums. The school that offers 1st to a 9th/10th grade player 'sometimes' wins out. It made a difference with RN, and Adams has Clemson at the top beause they were the 1st to offer. So do not be surprised when Adams committs in <45 days>.
You were referring to UGA, when you mentioned "a Coach"?
Since Clemson is "training" Alabama's next HC in 2 years, you should appreciate them.
Many are very correct, Alabama never has a lack of high quality players and never will. They can afford to be choosey and go after specfic player-types that are perfect for their system. The "other players"
RN committed to Clemson last year and stayed quiet and played the role of "top recruit" and got tired of doing that. His teammates actually followed him. But as any good sportswriter knows controversity sells their collums. The school that offers 1st to a 9th/10th grade player 'sometimes' wins out. It made a difference with RN, and Adams has Clemson at the top beause they were the 1st to offer. So do not be surprised when Adams committs in <45 days>.
You were referring to UGA, when you mentioned "a Coach"?
Since Clemson is "training" Alabama's next HC in 2 years, you should appreciate them.
Many are very correct, Alabama never has a lack of high quality players and never will. They can afford to be choosey and go after specfic player-types that are perfect for their system. The "other players" are a "4 star RB" and a "3/4 star DB". It is very likely that a "2/3 star WR" and a "Athlete" of similar talent could end up at Clemson. That will give "others" a whole lot to talk about. "The Grayson (conspiracy or connection, according to which side you are on).
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allam728 you are correct. I researched and found that it was actually his half-brother and CNS would have none of it and signed Menzie instead. The memory is not as good as it used to be. Thanks.
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The same thing happened a couple of years ago. Keenan Allen had verbally committed to the Tide and afterward asked CNS if he would take a couple of his high school teammates. CNS told him that he did not do package deals. Allen and his teammates all signed with Cal.
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@ncbama You are totally correct. I remember that. And look at him now. Allen would of had a championship ring but instead he has been lost in obscurity playing for a mediocre team.
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Who cares!!! Saban will get his share of the best-of-the-best. And so many 'BAMA All Americans were 3-star rated out of high-school, (and many even less). Sure, there are a lot of really excellent athletes who can run, jump and tackle...but 'football', more than any other sport, is first & foremost a "team game", whereby each player must "play for the man next to him, behind him or in front of him. Finally, what actually matters is what happens to a potential, (read "high-school" here), player AFTER he steps foot onto the U of A Campus in Tuskaloosa...how he's conditioned, how he's coached and how he responds to the all-important "team" aspect of 'BAMA's style.
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thats very true... but saban apparently didnt find his buddies worthy of giving up two schollys. plus it doesnt exactly set a good precedence. giving in to whatever a couple of recruits wants is not exactly good team building formula.
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nkemdiche is not worth giving up 2 valuable scholarships to what really amounts to 2 'middle-of-the-road' players. alabama would be better suited bringing in 3 elite players versus just 1 elite, & 2 sub-par players. clemson on the other hand need to make a splash on a national level. nkemdiche is a far bigger name in clemson than he is at bama. at clemson, he is the man. at bama he is another great player fighting for position on the feild. nkemdiche will not have to fight or battle for PT at clemson. at bama, nothing is guaranteed.
RN comited to Clemson last year and stayed quiet and played the role of "top rek cruit" and got tired of doing that. His teammates actually followed him. But as any good sportswriter knows controversity sells their collums.
I wouldn't believe a word out of Danny Sheridan's mouth. Nick Saban would do anything to get one of the top-rated players in the country, even if it meant a package deal (he would process the others out before the Fall).
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@Sprizzle2182 @RandyHarris Randy are you one of the Bama Haters that are always posting on these boards? I guess most folks still believe the Ivy League and Big East should have automatic bids to the NCS Games like Notre Dame does. You take the two best teams to the final game, period. If Bama is not #1, or #2, then they will not be there. However, what the other conferences complain about was that Bama did not deserve to be there this past NCS game. Well, I do not see any of the other wanna-be's scheduling Bama in the immediate future. Notre Dame dodged and so did other Big 10 and Big 12 teams.
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@sammieg @Sprizzle2182 @RandyHarris How in the name of Sam Hill did you come up with this response to my post about Sheridan not being believable. I said absolutely NOTHING about the BCS Championship game, let alone who should or should not be there. My response was saying that no one should believe a word that Danny Sheridan says. He's already proven himself to be a liar in the Can Newton "bagman" story. For crying out loud, man, READ what I wrote, not what you wanted my posting to say.
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@RandyHarris You're wrong on that subject. A few years ago Kennan Allen wanted to come to Alabama but Saban would have to take his brother. Saban would not agree and Allen went to Cal.
