Three Skill-Positioned Prospects, Including Commit Julian Sayin, Visiting Alabama Campus on Monday
Alabama football will host 5-star quarterback commit Julian Sayin and 4-star running back Christian Clark on Monday during spring practice. Sayin committed to Alabama on Nov. 2 and Clark is making his first official visit after receiving an offer on Feb. 2.
Julian Sayin
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect out of Carlsbad High School, Calif., is ranked as the consensus No. 2 quarterback in the nation and the No. 1 junior in the state, per On3 Recruiting.
Sayin has been recruited by Alabama's new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees since he was a freshman and has built a relationship with him over the past couple of years.
Sayin's tape showcases why he represents the state with some of the nation's top recruits as he threw for 2,695 yards and 27 touchdowns his junior season.
Sayin is primarily a pocket passer and has excellent mobility in that area by quickly stepping in when facing potential pressure. However, when the pressure is too much, he knows when to evade it by running outside the pocket and will take matters into his own legs.
Sayin's accuracy is arguably his best trait. Whether it's a short, medium or long ball, Sayin consistently places the ball only where the receiver can haul it in. His accuracy continues to thrive when throwing on the run as well.
Christian Clark
The 6-foot, 195-pound prospect out of Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, Ariz., is ranked as the consensus No. 22 running back in the nation and the No. 5 junior in the state, per On3 Recruiting.
The majority of Clark's tape showcases his ability to make quick cuts and avoid defenders. Clark doesn't necessarily have the speed of Jahmyr Gibbs, but he can consistently fake-out tacklers as good as anybody in the FBS.
In addition to shifting past defenders, Clark earned a lot of his 737 rushing yards this past season from breaking tackles. Clark was tackled by the first defender very few times on his highlight reel. Clark told On3 that his motivation to truck defenders comes from two former Alabama standouts.
“Watching college football, Najee Harris was my favorite running back when he was there. I love Josh Jacobs, so I love the history of running backs that they have.”
One of Clark's most underrated assets is his receiving game. Clark's efficiency on wheel routes and screens make him a threat as an additional pass catcher as he finished his junior season with 37 receptions for 368 yards and five touchdowns.
Derrick "DJ" Butler
The 6-foot, 190-pound prospect out of WP Davidson High School in Mobile, Ala., is ranked as the No. 86 ranked running back in the nation and the No. 61 junior in the state, per 247 Sports.
The majority of the tape showcases Butler's ability to recognize gaps towards the outside and inside of the line scrimmage. He's quick to see them and executes in explosive fashion.
Similar to Clark, Butler also excels at cutting and changing direction to evade tackles. Clark's tape proved that he's effective as a pass-catcher on several routes as well.
See Also:
Who are the In-State Recruits Coming to Tuscaloosa For Junior Day?