Alabama-LSU Matchup Provides Massive Recruiting Weekend With Elite Players in Town

The visitors list for Alabama-LSU is loaded with premier talent from across the country

Tuscaloosa, Alabama will be the epicenter of the college football world on Saturday afternoon when the No. 3 ranked Crimson Tide face off against No. 2 LSU at 2:30 on CBS.

A game of this magnitude will bring guests from all over the country. ESPN’s College Gameday and SEC Nation have set up their stages on campus and thousands of fans will soon be gathering around the Quad. 

Even the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, will make his way to Bryant-Denny Stadium to watch this highly-anticipated showdown in person.

But the visitors that Crimson Tide fans should keep an eye on is the plethora of recruits who will be wandering the sideline pre-game, taking in the sights and sounds of what promises to be an electric atmosphere.

The guest list is a who’s who of prospects.

It helps that the Crimson Tide will have 20 commits from the Class of 2020, including five-star players, quarterback Bryce Young and defensive end Chris Braswell, returning to Tuscaloosa to help do some recruiting of their own.

Back in Tuscaloosa this weekend 😁🐘 #RTR

— Bryce Young (@_bryce_young) November 4, 2019

Back home this weekend 💪🏾🐘#RollTide

— Chris Braswell (@Chrisbras410) November 4, 2019

While the Crimson Tide and Tigers battle on the field, the recruiting war will be in full swing, as both teams are targeting some of the same players like Jordan Burch, Zachary Evans, and Darnell Washington.

After getting commitments from five-star tight end Arik Gilbert, four-star wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, and four-star defensive end BJ Ojulari, all within a week of each other in October, the Tigers jumped the Crimson Tide in the 247sports Class of 2020 team rankings for the second spot behind Clemson. Rivals puts the Bayou Bengals’ class at the top-ranked spot in the nation, while the Crimson Tide’s is at fourth.

This huge recruiting visit weekend proves to be pivotal down the stretch run as the early signing period is coming up in just over a month.

Here is a look at which players will be in town:

2020

Official Visits 

• Jordan Burch (Hammond - Columbia, SC), Five-star DE

Getting Burch back in Tuscaloosa for this game is huge for the Crimson Tide. This will be his first trip back to Alabama since June. Burch is ranked at No.4 on the Rivals250 list of top players in the country. Georgia, Clemson, LSU, and South Carolina round out his final five schools to choose from, which he announced at the end of October. 

• Zykeivous Walker (Schley County - Ellaville, GA), Four-star DE

• Darnell Washington (Desert Pines - Las Vegas, NV), Five-star TE

This will be Washington’s first time at an Alabama home game this season. He is the highest rated tight end remaining on the board, according to the 247sports Composite rankings. After top-ranked tight end, Arik Gilbert, committed to LSU, the Crimson Tide will now turn their attention to Washington, who could fulfill a position of need in the near future.

• Joel Williams (Madison Prep - Baton Rouge, LA), Four-star CB

• Jase McClellan (Aledo- Aledo, TX), Four-star RB

• Arian Smith (Lakeland - Lakeland, FL), Four-star WR

Unofficial Visits

• Zachary Evans (North Shore - Houston, TX), Five-star RB

Slight😌💁🏾‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/e7c9gFSZD8

— Zach Evans (@Runzekerun01) May 4, 2018

Both LSU and the Crimson Tide are in the thick of things for Evans’ services. He checks in as the top-ranked running back in the nation according to 247sports. Saturday will mark his second trip to Tuscaloosa, as he visited last month, when the Crimson Tide took on Tennessee.

• Jacob Guillory (Alexandria - Alexandria, LA), Four-star DT

• Phillip Webb (Lanier - Buford, GA), Four-star LB

T O P F I V E 🕸 pic.twitter.com/MPB974mhUT

— Phillip Webb🕸 (@_PhillipWebb_) November 4, 2019

Last week, Webb announced his final five schools which included LSU, Florida, Auburn, Oklahoma, and Alabama. He has not been in Tuscaloosa since July. He visited Baton Rouge, when the Tigers beat the Gators last month.

• Dazalin Worsham (Hewitt-Trussville - Trussville, AL), Four-star WR

• Javion Cohen (Central Phenix City - Phenix City, AL), Four-star OT

• Omari Thomas (Briarwood - Memphis, TN), Four-star DT

• McKinnley Jackson (Lucedale - George County, MS), Four-star DT

#Alabama DL target McKinnley Jackson wearing #RollTide gloves pic.twitter.com/2u3pda6XJZ

— Hank South (@HankSouth247) March 24, 2019

Jackson is the top-ranked player in the state of Mississippi according to Rivals and 247sports. LSU and Alabama are among his top five schools. He is expected to make his decision on National Signing Day in February.

• Reggie Grimes (Ravenwood - Brentwood, TN), Four-star DE

• Josiah Hayes (Horn Lake - Horn Lake, MS), Four-star DT

• Jeremiah Pegues (Oxford - Oxford, MS), Four-star ATH

• J.J. Evans (Montevallo - Montevallo, AL), Four-star WR

• Xavier Hill (Olive Branch - Olive Branch, Miss), Three-star OG

• Brady Ward (St. Paul’s - Mobile, AL), Three-star OT

• R.J. Adams (Woodbridge - Woodbridge, VA), Three-star OG

2021

• Amarius Mims (Bleckley County - Cochran, GA), Five-star OT

• Lee Hunter (Blount - Eight Mile, AL), Five-star DT

• Agiye Hall (Armwood - Seffner, FL), Five-star WR

• Tunmise Adeleye (Thompkins - Katy, TX), Five-star DE

• James Williams (Western - Opa Locka, FL), Five-star S

• Dylan Brooks (Handley - Roanoke, AL), Five-star DE

• Will Shipley (Weddington - Matthews, NC), Five-star RB

• Ga’Quincy McKinstry (Pinson Valley - Pinson, AL), Five-star CB

• Hudson Wolfe (Hardin County - Savannah, TN), Four-star TE

• Tristan Leigh (Robinson - Fairfax, VA), Four-star OT

• Micah Morris (Camden County - Kingsland, GA), Four-star OT

• Brian Thomas Jr. (Walker - Walker, LA), Four-star WR

• Jaylin Davies (Mater Dei - Santa Ana, CA), Four-star CB

• Cristian Dixon (Mater Dei - Santa Ana, CA), Four-star WR

• Tim Keenan (Ramsay - Birmingham, AL), Four-star DT

• Jager Burton (Frederick Douglas - Lexington, KY), Four-star OG

• Monkell Goodwine (National Christian Academy - Fort Washington, MD), Four-star DE

• Kaine Williams (John Ehret - Marrero, LA), Four-star S

• Mario Williams (Plant City - Plant City, FL), Four-star WR

• Maason Smith (Terrebonne - Houma, LA), Four-star DT

• Markevious Brown (IMG Academy - Bradenton, FL), Four-star CB

• Cade Denhoff (Lakeland Christian School - Lakeland, FL), Four-star DE

• Aaron Willis (St. Frances Academy - Baltimore, MD), Four-star OLB

• Evan Pryor (William Amos Hough - Cornelius, NC), Four-star RB

• Andre Turrentine (Ensworth - Nashville, TN), Four-star CB

• Nyland Green (Newton - Covington, GA), Four-star CB

• Daejon Reyonlds (Central Gwinnett - Lawrenceville, GA), Four-star WR

• Deontae Lawson (Mobile Christian - Mobile, AL), Four-star DE

• Cam Jeffery (American Christian - Tuscaloosa, AL), Three-star RB

• Bralyn Oliver (Belton-Honea - Honea Path, SC), Three-star S

• Kamari Lassiter (American Christian - Tuscaloosa, AL), Three-star CB

• Trinity Bell (Albertville - Albertville, AL), Three-star ATH

• Micah Pettus (Sparkman - Harvest, AL), Three-star OT

• Noah Josey (Brentwood Academy - Brentwood, TN), Three-star OG

2022

• Khurtiss Perry (Park Crossing - Montgomery, AL), Four-star DE

• MJ Morris (Carrollton - Carrollton, GA), Four-star QB

• Jeremiah Alexander (Thompson - Alabaster, AL), Four-star DE

• Ty Simpson (Westview - Martin, TN), Four-star QB

• TJ Dudley (Montgomery Catholic Prep - Montgomery, AL), Four-star OLB

• Justice Finkley (Hewitt-Trussville - Trussville, AL), DE

• Tanner Bailey (Gordo - Gordo, AL), QB

• Kaden Young (Madison Academy - Madison, AL), OC

• Jordan James (Brentwood Academy - Brentwood, TN), RB 

2023

• Tony Mitchell (Thompson - Alabaster, AL), ATH