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2026 qb julian lewis set for unofficial visit to tuscaloosa for iron bowl, share this article.

Julian Lewis, a quarterback from the 2026 class, announced via Twitter that he would be in attendance for this weekend’s Iron Bowl. The Georgia native has already received over 20 offers from programs across the country. The Tide officially offered Lewis in June.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban doesn’t often extend offers to underclassmen unless he has seen enough to extend them an actual offer. That appears to be the case for Lewis.

Lewis is a freshman at Carrollton High School in Carrollton, Georgia. This season Lewis has thrown for 3,006 yards and 37 touchdowns. Not to mention, he is competing at the highest classification in Georgia, where he’s led his team to a perfect 12-0 record.

The Tide are enamored by the talent of this young man and have made that clear. It will be interesting to see how this weekend’s visit goes for Lewis as he is able to make an unofficial visit for one of the biggest rivalries in college football.

I will be in Tuscaloosa this Saturday for the Iron Bowl @AlabamaFTBL @Alex_Mortensen_ @HolmonWiggins @CoachKellyUA1 @SWiltfong247 @adamgorney @ChadSimmons_ @CraigHaubert @MohrRecruiting @JeremyO_Johnson @RWrightRivals pic.twitter.com/wW8Or37mhr — Julian "Ju Ju" Lewis 2026 QB (@JuJuLewis10) November 22, 2022

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Lewis’ recruitment as well as other Alabama football recruiting news.

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University of Alabama Athletics

Recruiting guide.

Prospective Student-Athlete

You become a "prospective student-athlete" when you start ninth-grade classes. Once you start classes for the 9th grade you have 4 years to complete high school without delay.

The Recruiting Process

Freshman and sophomore years.

• You may receive brochures for camps and questionnaires.
• You may make calls to the coach at your expense only.
• A college coach cannot call you, or return your calls.
• You may receive brochures and material from the University.
• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits.
• College coaches may watch you compete in person, but they may not speak to you face-to-face.

Junior Year

• You may begin receiving recruiting materials beginning September 1 of your junior year.
• You may make calls to the coach at your expense.
• You may make an unlimited number of unofficial visits to the school.

After Your Junior Year

• A college coach may call you once per week starting July 1 after your junior year.
• Coaches are allowed to make off-campus contact with you beginning July 15 after your junior year.

Senior Year

• College coaches may call you once per week beginning August 1. They can also make unlimited calls the day after you sign an NLI, written offer of admission and/or financial aid; OR the day after you are admitted to the college and it receives a financial deposit from you.
• Off campus contact is allowed but limited to 3 opportunities to speak to or visit you and your parents during your senior year.
• Official visits are allowed beginning on the opening day of classes your senior year.
• You may make only one official visit per college and up to a maximum of five official visits to Division I colleges.

Official visit

Any visit to a college campus by you and your parents paid for by the college. The college may pay all or some of the following expenses:

• Your transportation to and from the college;
• Room and meals (three per day) while you are visiting the college; and
• Reasonable entertainment expenses, including three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest.

Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have to provide the college with a copy of your high school transcript (Division I only) and ACT, SAT or PLAN score and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Unofficial visit

Any visit by you and your parents to a college campus paid for by you or your parents. The only expense you may receive from the college is three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest. You may make as many unofficial visits as you like and may take those visits at any time except during a dead [recruiting] period, which are very rare. You can avoid planning your visit during a dead period by simply asking the coach ahead of time.

Steps to Achieving Eligibility

Freshmen and sophomores.

• Start planning now!
• Work hard to get the best grades possible.
• Take classes that match your high school's List of NCAA Courses. The NCAA Eligibility Center will use only approved core courses to certify your initial eligibility.
• You can access and print your high school's List of NCAA Courses at NCAA Eligibility Center .
• At the beginning of your sophomore year, complete your online registration at www.eligibilitycenter.org .
• If you fall behind, do not take short cuts. Classes you take must be four-year college preparatory and must meet NCAA requirements.
• Home School students and/or students taking online (non-traditional) courses either through your home school or high school must verify your courses have been submitted and approved through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Don't assume that they are even if your Home School or High School is accredited!
• For more information on Home School, or online (non-traditional) coursework please visit the NCAA Eligibility Center .
• Register to take the ACT , SAT or both on a National Testing Date and use the NCAA Eligibility Center code 9999 as a score recipient. Doing this sends your official score directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center.
• Continue to take college preparatory courses. Double check to make sure the courses you have taken match your school's List of NCAA Courses.
• Ask your high school counselor to send an official transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center after completing your junior year. If you have attended more than one high school, the NCAA Eligibility Center will need official transcripts from all high schools attended (The NCAA Eligibility Center does NOT accept faxed or emailed transcripts/test scores). The NCAA Eligibility Center does accept transcripts electronically through Docufide/Parchment, e-Scrip Safe, ConnectEdu, National Transcript Center and Xap.
• Before registering for classes for your senior year, check with your high school counselor to determine the number of core courses that you need to complete your senior year.
• Take the ACT and/or SAT again, if necessary. The NCAA Eligibility Center will use the best scores from each section of the ACT or SAT to determine your best cumulative score.
• Continue to take college-preparatory courses.
• Check the courses you have taken and the courses you plan to take to be sure they are on your school's List of NCAA Courses.
• Review your amateurism responses and request final amateurism certification on or after April 1 (for fall enrollees) or October 1 (for spring enrollees).
• Continue to work hard to get the best grades possible.
• Graduate on time (in eight academic semesters).
• After graduation, ask your high school counselor to send your final official transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center and our College/University of choice with proof of graduation. The NCAA Eligibility Center accepts transcripts electronically through Docufide/Parchment, e-Scrip Safe, ConnectEdu, National Transcript Center and Xap.
• An "official" transcript is one that is sealed, notarized, and sent by your school.

Eligibility Requirements

If you want to participate in athletics or receive an athletics scholarship during your first year, you must:

• Graduate from high school;
• 4 years of English;
• 3 years of math (Algebra 1 or higher);
• 2 years of natural or physical science (including one year of lab science if offered by your high school);
• 1 extra year of English, math, or natural or physical science;
• 2 years of social science; and
• 4 years of extra core courses (from any category above, or foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy);

Note: Courses with similar content may be deemed duplicative by the NCAA Eligibility Center.

• Earn a minimum required grade-point average in your core courses; and
• Earn a combined SAT or ACT sum score that matches your core-course grade-point average and test score sliding scale (for example, a 2.400 core-course grade-point average needs an 860 SAT score).

Time Limitation on Core Courses

• You must complete the 16 core-course requirement within four consecutive academic years (i.e., eight semesters) from the start of ninth grade.
• Students graduating early (in less than eight semesters) must still meet core-course requirements.
• Prior to full-time collegiate enrollment, you may use one additional core-course unit that was completed within one year after high school graduation but prior to your first full-time collegiate enrollment.
• You will be required to provide a transcript with grade and credit from this school.
• If you have taken more than 16 core courses, the NCAA allows you to use your best 16 core courses when calculating your core GPA (as long as you use four English, three math, etc.).
• In addition to the core course changes, beginning in 2016 the sliding scale is increased as well. For example, under the old standard, a 2.5 core course GPA required a 820 SAT whereas under the new standard, a 2.3 GPA requires a 1000 SAT.

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GET LOUD! Recruiting Visitors for Alabama-Mississippi State

Some important visitors will be in Tuscaloosa for the Bama-Bullies game.

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The October 22 game against Mississippi State in Tuscaloosa will have a few prospects in the Bryant-Denny Stadium.

OFFICIAL VISITOR

4-star DL Daevin Hobbs from Concord, NC, ranked #95 overall in 247’s composite. 247 alone ranks him No. 37. On3.com has him at No. 23. It is unclear why his composite is lower. He will be on OV To T-town this weekend. He plans to announce his decision on November 25 between Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia with UNC, Michigan, and Ohio State also making his final six.

4-star DL Jordan Hall (Jacksonville, FL) #118 overall - It is unclear how serious this prospect is about the Crimson Tide but we should find out after the weekend. Most “experts” have him as a UGA lean. This will be his first OV and then he visits Ohio State Nov 25.

Texas CB commit High 4-star Malik Muhammad (Dallas, TX) #38 overall - It has not been confirmed if his visit will be official or unofficial. He committed to the Longhorns over the summer but may have some second thoughts. He has a trip planned for Texas A&M the following weekend, Oct 28.

THEY’RE BAA-AAACK

The 5-star package deal of LB Qua Russaw and DL James Smith are expected to be in town as unofficial visitors.

Ole Miss 4-star LB commit Suntarine Perkins (Raleigh, MS), #94 overall - should also be there. Word is he wants to flip but he is getting a great deal of sh!t pressure from his @surely rational@ home-staters.

If you are into looking ahead to future classes, the following croots will also be on hand for the game.

2024 5-star QB Julian Sayin (Carlsbad, CA) - The No. 1 recruit in California is returning for his second unofficial visit all the way from the left coast on his own dime. He may announce his decision within the next few weeks.

2024 4-star LB Jordan Lockhart (Bellflower, CA) - Ole Miss commit attends St. John Bosco.

2024 4-star LB Sterling Dixon (Mobile, AL)

2024 4-star WR Braylon Burnside (Starkville, MS)

2025 QB K.J. Lacey (Saraland, AL)

More From Roll 'Bama Roll

• Alabama finalizes roster, picks up Penn State Safety King Mack, and Sparty OL Geno VanDeMark
• Jumbo Package: How well will Alabama navigate a brutal schedule this fall?
• Keep it Rollin’ R10:
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McKenzie 3-star junior Marquez Taylor taking unofficial visit to Alabama football on Saturday

McKenzie running back Marquez Taylor will be taking an unofficial visit to Alabama on Saturday to see the Crimson Tide host Southern Miss. 

"I think coach (Nick) Saban has an outstanding program, and one of the best in college football for sure and it means he takes care of the players," McKenzie coach Wade Comer said. 

Taylor, a junior, has a three-star rating from Rivals.com. He is being recruited by Alabama said he also likes the possibility of an offer down the line. 

"If Alabama offers me that will bring up my ranking and everything and I just love (the idea of) that," Taylor said. "I have been watching them my whole life and they just win championships and I just like that. I know if I go there I am going to win a ring."

Taylor has offers from Tennessee, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Ole Miss, Michigan State and Eastern Kentucky.

A season ago, Taylor racked up 1,021 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also added 299 yards receiving and three touchdowns.

Ryan Williams, 5-star WR and former Alabama pledge, sets visit schedule

Ryan Williams is taking his commitment down to the wire after reopening his recruitment. In fact, he is expected to visit a handful of SEC programs leading up to National Signing Day in February.

Originally, Williams was committed to Alabama as a 5-star wide receiver and the No. 2 in-state prospect per the 247 Sports Composite. However, he reopened his recruitment after Nick Saban’s retirement announcement, putting one of the best players in the 2024 recruiting class back on the market.

Since reopening his recruitment, Williams took an official visit to Texas A&M over the weekend. Chad Simmons with On3 Sports is also reporting Williams will take 4 more visits before National Signing Day.

According to Simmons, Williams will take a mid-week visit to LSU (Jan. 17) and a weekend visit to Alabama (Jan. 19). He will also visit Texas (Jan. 26) and Auburn (Feb. 2) prior to National Signing Day.

Five-Star Plus+ WR Ryan Williams will take four more official visits before he signs on February 9‼️ The latest from @ChadSimmons_ : https://t.co/TAA2hMrGtV pic.twitter.com/L2WMFvKBma — On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) January 15, 2024

Williams is certainly a potential difference-maker out of Alabama’s Saraland High School. The 247 Sports Composite rates Williams as the 9th overall player for the class of 2024 and the No. 4 WR in the country.

With the majority of the cycle already wrapped up, Williams’ decision will be one of the biggest to be finalized in February.

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Your Guide to Unofficial Visits

Unofficial visits are a great way for student-athletes to get a feel for different college campuses.

What is an unofficial visit?

Unofficial visits are college visits which are not paid for by the school. These visits are entirely financed by the recruit’s family. Unofficial visits are unlimited, but some rules do apply.

Athletes in most sports and their families are not allowed to arrange unofficial visits with a school’s athletic department (including the coach) until August 1 of the athlete’s junior year.

Families can still go on unofficial visits before August 1 before junior year, but they aren’t allowed to have any recruiting conversations with the coach while on campus. Stay current with the NCAA recruiting calendar .

Insider Tip : Check the school calendar and steer clear of homecoming weekend and other busy dates to avoid paying premium hotel rates.

A key reason to go on unofficial visits is to evaluate if a college is the right fit for you, especially if you’re not yet a junior in high school. Get a campus tour, check out the dorms and get a feel for if you could live there for four years. The best part: Unofficial visits are unlimited and can be taken at any age and at most times throughout the year.

Quick Links

Unofficial visits will be a little different based on your age, desired division level and recruiting journey.

There’s a lot to consider  before you start planning your unofficial visits. How you plan your unofficial visits will be different depending on your goals for the visit, your age and the division level of the school. If you’re visiting DII, DIII and NAIA schools, you won’t be impacted by recent NCAA recruiting rule changes—they are only applicable for DI schools. This means that, no matter your age, you can arrange the unofficial visit with the athletic department or coach, and you can speak with the coach while you’re on campus.

If you’re interested in visiting DI schools, you can’t arrange the visit with the athletic department—or talk about recruiting with the coach while you’re there—until August 1 of your junior year of high school. Men’s hockey can begin scheduling unofficial visits as early as January 1 of sophomore year.

If you’re an upperclassman visiting D1 schools, or a recruit visiting schools at the other division levels, you can use your unofficial visit as a chance to advance your recruiting with the coach at that school. To do so, you need to make sure that the schools you’re visiting offer real recruiting opportunities. Ask yourself each of the following questions before you set up the visit:

• Have you already been communicating with the coach?
• Has the coach approached you or your high school/club coach about setting up an unofficial visit?
• Has the coach reviewed your academic information?
• Has the coach seen your highlight video?
• Have you reviewed the school’s information and determined that it might be the right fit for you?

If you answered “yes” to most of these questions, you’re in a great position. Most importantly, you want to ensure that you have been in communication with the college coach. You don’t want to waste your time visiting a school that may not be a realistic recruiting opportunity for you. To set up your visit, call the coach and let them know you’re interested in seeing the campus. Ask them what dates they would be available to meet you and your family. Some recruits lean heavily on their high school or club coach to help them set up unofficial visits with college coaches.

If you’re an underclassman interested in D1 schools, there are a few different routes you can go. First, you can take unofficial visits to those D1 schools as if you were a regular student. Tour the library and the campus at large. Check out the town. Ask questions, take notes and determine what you like about the campus. This can help you better understand what you’re looking for in a school, so you can refine your target list. Don’t forget to check out some DII, DIII and NAIA schools—you never know what your best fit will be until you explore the different options available!

Insider Tip : There are a few different ways unofficial visits can “pay for themselves.” First, schedule back-to-back visits with schools that are located close to each other. Second, set up visits with schools in cities you’re already visiting. For example, if you have a tournament in the Kansas City area, consider visiting the University of Kansas in Lawrence if you have been in communication with that coach.

Read more: How to Maximize Your Summer Visits

What happens on an unofficial visit

While every school is a little bit different, most coaches will take some time to speak with you and your parents/guardians about the school and their athletic program. Come prepared with questions for the coach and use this opportunity to get them answered. Then, the coach may take you on a tour of the athletic facilities. The rest of the time will be up to you to arrange a tour of the campus and possibly meet with an academic adviser. You and your family may also be invited to attend a home sporting event.

While unofficial visits are a great way to get to know a coach and the athletic program better, they also give you a chance to really experience the college campus. Can you picture yourself living there for four years? Here are a few ways to familiarize yourself with the college campus during your visit:

• Check out the library and sit in on a class.
• Visit the different housing options, both on and off campus.
• Meet your future training staff.
• Eat in the school cafeteria or food court.
• Set up a meeting with an academic adviser.
• Hang out on the campus grounds.

As you’re checking each of these spots off your list, take a couple minutes to write down your thoughts. It might seem trivial in the moment, but as you visit schools throughout the year, they can all start to blend to together. You can always refer to your notes later on when you’re working on narrowing down your target list of schools.

How to schedule unofficial visits

To schedule unofficial visits, you will want to choose which campuses you would like to visit most, pick out free days to make your visits, and then contact coaches directly to schedule your unofficial visits.

Below we expand on our tips for how to schedule unofficial visits with college coaches: 

• Brainstorm which campuses you would like to visit most. Most athletes cannot afford to go on multiple unofficial visits across the country. Therefore, think about 2-3 campuses that you would like to visit that are either within driving distance or a quick flight away. 
• Look at your calendar and pick out some free days. Once you have picked out some free days that you and your guardian(s) are able to go on unofficial visits, try to pair visits together. For example, if you are going to visit the University of San Francisco, then it is also wise to pair that visit with the University of California, Berkeley and see both campuses in one day or in the same weekend. 
• Contact the coaches and schedule unofficial visits. If NCAA rules prohibit coaches from emailing you back or calling you back, then it is time to pick up the phone. Call coaches on the phone and speak to them directly about scheduling an unofficial visit. Remember, if they do not pick up then keep calling back! Notify coaches that you will be near the campus on XYZ dates (the dates you have already picked out) and would like to visit then. Once you have locked down a time to visit one campus, you can move onto the next campus and see if you can schedule two campuses for the same day or for the same weekend. 

Although the recruiting process becomes more serious for juniors and seniors in high school, it is never too early to tour campuses and meet coaches in person.

The more unofficial visits you take, the more likely you will be able to get a sense of the school, team, and coaches. Unofficial visits are a free pass to gain insight into how you feel about coaches and their program as well as how coaches feel about you. View this video to learn more about how to schedule your visits. 

What are the NCAA unofficial visit rules?

According to the NCAA unofficial visit rules, you are allowed to stay on campus with an enrolled student, but there are some specific rules the institution must follow based on its division level. For DI and DII schools, recruits can stay in an enrolled student’s dorm; however, the athlete must pay the regular institutional rate for that lodging. DIII recruits can stay with currently enrolled students in their dorm if that housing option is available to all students who visit the school, athletes and non-athletes alike. DIII schools can also pay for a student-athlete’s housing during an unofficial visit if they provide housing for every prospective student. Your parents/guardians will still need to find their own accommodations.

Questions to ask the coach during your unofficial visit

When you go on your unofficial visit, one of your top priorities should be to ask the coach any questions you have about the school and the program. Before you go, write down your questions and keep adding to the list throughout your visit. When it’s time to talk to the coach, you’ll have your list ready to go, rather than trying to come up with questions on the spot. Here some examples of questions you might want to ask:

• What are the athletic and academic requirements?  You’re probably well-versed in eligibility requirements—if not, read more about  NCAA eligibility requirements . But each coach will have slightly different criteria that they look for in their athletes.
• What kind of academic support does the athletic program offer?  Being a successful student is the most important part of your college career. Make sure that you’ll be set up with the tools you need.
• What commitments do you expect from athletes in the off-season or during holidays?  If going home over the holidays and for summer break is important to you, then you need to know what commitment level is expected during these times.
• What is your coaching and training style?  By this point, you’ve probably played for a few different coaches with various coaching styles. And you probably know what kind of approach works best for you. Remember: The coach has to want you on their team, but you also can choose a team that best fits what you’re looking for.
• Will I be able to meet any current athletes?  It’s important to see the team dynamics, if possible. Do they joke around or are they more serious? Do they hang out on the weekend or do they have separate friend groups?
• What are the training facilities like?  To stay healthy and in shape throughout your tenure as a college athlete, you’ll need access to the right facilities and people.
• What are you looking for in a recruit?  This is your opportunity to find out what spots the coach is trying to fill and ultimately who they want on their team to fill these positions.

What to wear on an unofficial visit

A lot of recruits ask us what to wear, and our best piece of advice is to err on the side of overdressing, rather than underdressing. You want to look neat and clean throughout your entire trip. For men, bring a collared shirt with nice jeans or khakis. For women, skirt, dress, nice slacks or jeans are acceptable. Avoid wearing sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, flip flops and ripped jeans.

Bring athletic clothes and shoes in case you get invited to work out with the team. For all D1 sports—minus men’s basketball—athletes are not allowed to try out for a team during a visit; however, the team captain can organize a team workout, which recruits can join if the coach is not present. Similarly, at DIII schools, recruits can join in an unofficial team workout. For Division I men’s basketball and all DII sports, recruits can take part in tryouts during visits.

After your unofficial visit: The coach follow-up

When you get home, write the coach a “thank you” note. Tell the coach what you liked about the school and thank them for their time. You can also include a brief list of where you’ll be playing next so they can watch you in person. Not only does this show the coach that you are a thoughtful, courteous athlete, but it will keep you top-of-mind as the coach works on creating their roster.

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Official Look At Unofficial Visits

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DawgNation: A Look at Unofficial Visits

Unofficials mean -- and cost -- more than ever.

A father can't put a price on getting to watch his son play college football, but he can put a price on all that it cost to get him there.

For Maurice Smith Sr., that cost has been worth every penny. His son, Sugar Land (Texas) Dulles ESPN 150 cornerback Maurice Smith , is committed to reigning national champion Alabama.

But by the time the four-star prospect made that decision in June, his father was out more than a few pennies.

The Cost Of Unofficial Visits

The Smith family knows first hand how expensive unofficials are. After traveling from their Houston home to visit Alabama (twice), LSU (three times), Texas (twice), Baylor (once), Texas A&M (four times), Oklahoma (once), Nebraska (once) and Utah (once), the bill adds up. Quickly. Here is what the Smith family spent on visits:

Flights : $6,092.40 Hotels : $2,516.55 Rental cars : $940.97 Food : $3,151.25 Gas : $1,810.70 Total : $14,511.87

-- Max Olson, HornsNation

"With planes, gas, hotels and rental cars, it's cost at least $14,500," Smith Sr. said. "So yeah, it was a little bit."

Dad has unofficial recruiting visits to thank for all that missing money.

Unofficial visits have become the currency of today's college football recruiting world. They keep the modern recruiting machine running all year long.

They give recruits and their families a way to bypass the NCAA's rigid recruiting visit rules. Prospects can, with few exceptions, visit a college campus at any time of the year. They can stay as long as they'd like and can see and do whatever they please.

There's only one catch: The school can't pay for any of it.

These days, that doesn't seem to be a problem for the parents of top recruits. This is the new norm, a necessary means to landing scholarship offers and securing their sons' future. So the nation's best and brightest are racking up unofficial visits at prolific rates.

Smith made multiple trips to Texas, Texas A&M and LSU. He checked out Baylor and nearly committed during his Oklahoma visit. He even flew out to Nebraska and Utah.

"We were just willing to do it," his father said. "The sacrifice we made for him to really know where he wanted to go was worth it."

In the end, two trips to Tuscaloosa sealed the deal. By then, Smith had taken a total of 15 unofficial visits.

The nation's top recruit, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson defensive end Robert Nkemdiche , took at least that many visits before picking Clemson. Reuben Foster (Auburn, Ala./Auburn), No. 2 in the ESPN 150, has taken more than 20 unofficial visits since the start of his junior season.

"That's just how it is," said Vernon Hargreaves III , the nation's top cornerback. "You've got to narrow your choices down."

Long gone are the days when recruits waited for their five all-expenses-paid official visits, permitted at the start of their senior season, to start checking out college campuses.

Through the middle of August, 225 recruits ranked in the ESPN 300 have committed, including 107 members of the ESPN 150.

That's 75 percent of the nation's top recruits, and they're not the only ones who value unpaid trips. Lightly recruited prospects need as much face time with college coaching staffs as they can get. For them, relationships can lead to scholarships.

The ever-increasing speed of the recruiting cycle is raising the stakes for college coaches and has made early unofficial visits more of an expectation than ever before.

First there are junior days in February and March, then trips to spring games in April and May. Add in camps, combines and extra campus visits and you get an offseason that's not getting any cheaper and doesn't give recruits -- or their recruiters -- much time off.

And college coaches are beginning to take notice. In June, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer publicly criticized the NCAA's visit policies during a high school camp in Detroit.

"It is one of the problems I have now with collegiate athletics. It's almost anti-student-athlete where they have to come to us for camp," Meyer told ESPN.com. "How many kids can afford to fly or drive that far?"

Cooper Bateman is grateful he's one of the few who can. The Alabama quarterback commit and his parents embarked on a seven-day road trip in April from their home in Salt Lake City into SEC country.

Bateman took unofficial visits to LSU, Alabama, Auburn and Florida during his spring break. The tour required a total of four flights but proved invaluable for the No. 6 ranked signal caller.

"With all the money that it takes to get out there and see those places," Bateman said, "my parents looked at it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we were going to take full advantage of.

"But there was a lot of money spent. I have to thank my parents from the bottom of my heart."

Hargreaves III waited until July for the bulk of his unofficial visits. The five-star Tampa (Fla.) Wharton standout took trips to 10 schools in the span of 11 days.

He started with Oregon, Stanford and USC. Then Hargreaves made his way across the country, hitting Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Clemson and Alabama along the way.

"I have about 45 offers, and all of them want me to come visit," Hargreaves said. "You have to make some of them, just to see what you like and don't like. If you don't go at all, you'll probably pick the wrong school."

By the time he finally got home, Hargreaves knew he had no need for his official visits. He committed to Florida on July 26.

There are many reasons why recruits like unofficial visits, but one of the biggest ones is official visits can't last any longer than 48 hours, and thus their itineraries are meticulously planned. It's not that way on unofficial visits.

"On official ones, they just show you all the good stuff that they want you to see," Hargreaves said. "With unofficials, you see everything. Anything you want to do, you just have to ask."

Visits Have NCAA's Attention

The NCAA isn't sleeping on the issue of visits.

Impermissible benefits given during unofficial visits have led to sanctions from the organization against Miami, Florida and South Carolina in the past year. Concerns about who exactly is paying for these unpaid visits has helped make the NCAA take interest in the topic.

To address the modern flaws in college recruiting, the NCAA started a specialized football group within its national enforcement office last year.

The group is comprised of six investigators focused on researching recruiting and agent issues. Their mission is to develop relationships with a wide range of players in the recruiting world to get a better pulse on today's problems.

"The unofficial visit issue is one that has definitely been identified as a problem," said Rachel Newman Baker, an NCAA managing director of enforcement. "Not just how are prospective student-athletes funding multiple unofficial visits all over the country, but who's going with them? And what are the interests of those people who are going with them?"

Does a top recruit taking a high number of unpaid visits raise the NCAA's suspicions? Not necessarily.

"I don't think you can just say, 'If you're taking 20 unofficial visits, the enforcement staff is going to be looking at you,'" Newman Baker said. "It's more based on if there's information that a booster is funding those unofficial visits."

To Newman Baker, the issue of unofficial visits is one of many needs to be addressed. College football is ever-changing and many of today's problems flat-out didn't exist when the NCAA first drafted its recruiting manual.

The organization is reviewing how its bylaws meet the needs of the overall recruiting landscape. That includes visits, yes, but also the rules on calling and texting between coaches and recruits and the overall calendar by which the system is run.

Or, as Kenny Bigelow , who's No. 9 in the ESPN 150, put it: "On official visits, there's going to be a whole lot of sucking up from people wanting you to commit. On unofficials, people are just doing their own thing."

The nation's No. 2 defensive tackle is glad he avoided it all by committing to the Trojans last November. The way Bigelow sees it, waiting to take official visits before deciding would've led to a long, taxing recruiting process.

"I could've waited, but why have such a distraction on your senior year?" said the Elkton (Md.) Eastern Christian Academy star. "You've got to take the SAT, the ACT, take all your classes, get through the season, prom. It's all a distraction. To get it out of the way was a big problem off my back."

There may be one way for the NCAA to aid the modern recruit: Open up the visit calendar.

Permit the use of official visits in the spring and summer. Or allow five officials in the spring and five more in the fall.

Or, to take things a more practical step further, let recruits use some or all of their official visits during their junior season.

Bateman said he feels that's the most feasible solution. He and the rest of the nation's quarterbacks feel pressure to commit long before their senior season -- 119 have already made pledges, including 47 of the top 50.

Nearly all of them now have no need for four of their paid visits.

The early-decision expectations once placed only on quarterbacks has spread to the rest of the recruiting world, and the NCAA rulebook has yet to catch up.

Rachel Newman Baker, an NCAA managing director for enforcement, said the issue of unofficial visits has been identified as a problem by the NCAA and discussions are ongoing about ways to adjust the official and unofficial visit system.

"Trying to get those [recruiting] rules up to speed, and at a place that works with what's going on in the real world, is something that is going on right now," Newman Baker said.

Newly implemented renovations to the NCAA's basketball recruiting rulebook offer a hint at what could be on the way for football. Basketball recruits can now begin taking official visits on Jan. 1 of their junior year.

"Those coaches seem to be overall very pleased with where they ended up," Newman Baker said. "I think you very much can expect the same thing to happen with football here in the near future."

Still, it's hard to envision changes that would curb the trend of early commitments or the rampant use of unofficial visits. Many elite recruits have already started taking them before they've even played their junior season.

"That, to me, is a little overboard," Maurice Smith Sr. said. "Once you get an offer from a school now, they really want you to go spend money."

But he'll keep spending, because the opportunity to get recruited is a rare and incomparable experience. Just don't call it priceless.

The art of wowing a prospect

LOS ANGELES -- The John McKay Center has added a much-needed wrinkle to USC's on-campus recruiting, and prospects are noticing the shiny new toy.

The early returns should bring a smile to coach Lane Kiffin's face. A pair of Trojans commits who recently visited campus, including Mission Hills (Calif.) Alemany receiver Steven Mitchell , are downright giddy about USC's new $70 million athletic facility.

"The inside," Mitchell said, "is like heaven."

Recruiting pitches, as well as the program's use of the unofficial visit, are being updated. USC has always used its vast football tradition, private-school education and favorable locale as selling points. Now there is another appealing factor.

During an ever-evolving era, when having a state-of-the-art facility is not only important but necessary, the 110,000-square-foot McKay Center has become the Trojans' wild card, leaving some recruits wide-eyed.

"There's iPads in the lockers," offensive line commit Nico Falah said, grinning. "It's top-notch."

The unofficial visit is no longer just a brief meet-and-greet, but a serious pitch. Being a guest at one of USC's patented practices have been an integral part of unofficial visits, with recruits often left astonished at the intensity level and tempo of it all.

"We got to see all the receivers and their practices are pretty live," Mitchell said. "That's what I like about it."

USC has made good use of unofficial visits, and that only figures to improve with the emergence of the McKay Center.

Added importance at Penn State

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Unofficial visits have taken on a whole new level of importance at Penn State.

Recruits no longer have to reflect on just academics, playing time and the coaching staff. They have to look at the sanctions -- and look past any stain this program might have.

The Nittany Lions' staff has to overcome this handicap some way, and unofficial visits are one way it can combat that.

The staff wants prospects to look at the team as a family, so it wants those potential players to feel right at home. On unofficial visits, recruits are treated like part of the team. They watch practice, attend team meetings and chat with coaches. The sooner they feel like part of the team, the sooner they might commit to be part of that team.

"Recruiting's about relationships," coach Bill O'Brien said recently. "It's about making sure there's a trusting relationship between ourself and the person we're recruiting. It's about fit."

Four-star tight end Adam Breneman (Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff) wasn't certain about heading to Happy Valley until speaking with O'Brien face-to-face. He said he's traveled to Penn State "double-digit" times on unofficial visits, and he's already taken on a leadership role by broadcasting his love of Penn State through the media and on his Twitter account.

"It just helps get more comfortable with things," Breneman told ESPN about the visits.

Penn State will have an uphill climb for at least the next six years when it comes to reeling in prospects. So, if a recruit wants to come to Penn State on an unofficial visit, the Lions likely won't turn him away.

"I've been there three times," said three-star linebacker Brandon Bell (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest). "And it got better each time."

That's exactly what Penn State's counting on.

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Need an account, already have an account, official vs. unofficial.

By Max Olson, HornsNation

The NCAA addresses official and unofficial visits in bylaws 13.6 and 13.7 of the Division I Manual. Here's a look at the significant differences between the two types of campus visits.

Official visits • Five official visits permitted. Each school may only receive one. • Visit can't be taken until opening day of classes in senior year of high school. • Football program permitted maximum of 56 official visits. • Official visit can't exceed 48 hours starting when recruit arrives on campus. • Transportation, lodging, meals, entertainment expenses for recruit and parent or legal guardian paid for by school. • Test score, high school transcript and NCAA eligibility center verification required before visit. Unofficial visits • Recruits are permitted unlimited visits at their own expense. • Can be taken at any time of the year except during dead periods. • No limits to length of visit. • School may not provide or pay for transportation to and from campus. • No permissible entertainment except three passes to a home game. • No test scores, transcript or eligibility center verification required.

Florida: The key to it all

By Derek Tyson, GatorNation

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Some colleges emphasize the importance of receiving official visits from prospects they are recruiting, but for the University of Florida, nothing is more important than getting prospects on campus for unofficial visits.

Just how important are unofficial visits to the Gators? Consider that 17 of Florida's 20 2013 verbal commitments committed to the Gators within a week of unofficially visiting the school.

For the full story, check out GatorNation .

FSU: Noles know what they mean

By Corey Dowlar, NoleNation

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Seminoles' coaching staff is known to be personable, and so is head coach Jimbo Fisher. That evidence may lie in the top-five recruiting classes they've landed recently according to ESPN's rankings.

Because the NCAA restricts head coaches from going out on the road, save for their one allotted in-home visit down the stretch, these unofficials give Fisher a rare chance to make an impression on a face-to-face basis. And it gives him a chance to see if he will make an offer or not, he has said before.

In this new, sped-up atmosphere of recruiting that FSU lives in, unofficial visits and getting their top targets on campus could be arguably the most important facet of the process.

For the full story, check out NoleNation .

Georgia: Coaches keeping busy

By Radi Nabulsi, DawgNation

ATHENS, Ga. -- With slightly less than six months to go until national signing day, the University of Georgia has 26 verbal commitments for the 2013 class. By next week the Bulldogs could be looking at 30. Of course, not one of those committed players has taken an official visit to Georgia -- but all have been to Athens, Ga., at some point during their recruitment. Georgia's director of recruiting and assistant head coach Rodney Garner knows the value of those unofficial visits.

"Unofficial visits now are just so critical," Garner said. "When I first got in it there weren't many unofficial visits in the summer. You may have had four or five kids come in at some point in the summertime but it wasn't anything like it is today. Since signing day here in February, there have only been two or three weekends where we did not have kids on our campus. It has just totally changed to where it is 365 days a year."

For the full story, check out DawgNation .

LSU: Setting the tone

By David Helman, GeauxTigerNation

BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU is in the midst of fall camp, and the season still sits two weeks away. But while the current team has yet to take a live snap, the next batch of signees is already almost complete. The Tigers' 2013 class is currently sitting pretty with 22 of a possible 25 commitments already on board.

Whatever the time table, there's one common denominator: LSU has landed 22 verbal commitments without the aid of an official visit to a home football game. The explanation, like so many others in the digital age, is the increased speed of communication.

"With social media and technology and YouTube and the different videos, kids are able to show off their highlights and game tapes. The accessibility is more available and frequent than ever before," said Frank Wilson, the Tigers' running backs coach and recruiting coordinator.

For the full story, check out GeauxTigerNation .

Michigan: Getting creative

By Tom VanHaaren, WolverineNation

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Since recruits aren't allowed to take official visits before their senior season starts, programs like Michigan have gotten a lot more creative with unofficial visits and getting families on campus.

The Big House BBQ is probably the most notable event the Michigan coaching staff holds. There is no camp involved; it's simply a BBQ and a fun event for prospects and their families to get to know the coaching staff.

The event has no pressure to compete and gives one-on-one time for the parents and coaches to interact. It also gives the prospects time to interact with committed players and find out why they chose Michigan. It's an easy way for the Wolverines to accelerate how comfortable a prospect feels about their program.

For the full story, check out WolverineNation .

Ohio State: The U word

By Scott Kendrick, BuckeyeNation

COLUMBUS, Ohio --Say the words "unofficial visit" to Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and you might be in for a long conversation on what is wrong with the recruiting process.

Meyer isn't against them per se, as he's picked up his fair share of commitments from unofficial visits. He just doesn't like the dent they put in the wallets of families with prospective athletes.

Athletes have to pay for unofficial visits themselves as the NCAA allows only five official visits -- paid for by the institution -- during the athlete's senior year.

"It is one of the problems I have now with collegiate athletics," Meyer told WolverineNation's Michael Rothstein when he was at The Sound Mind Sound Body Academy camp in Detroit in June. "It's almost anti-student-athlete where they have to come to us for camp. How many kids can afford to fly or drive that far? This is so unusual. I can't believe we're allowed to do this [the camp]."

For the full story, check out BuckeyeNation .

Oklahoma: Why fight it?

By Bob Pryzbylo, SoonerNation

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma coaches know football recruiting has changed. It's no longer seasonal; it's a 365-day per year process. They know it, and they're not fighting it. Because if they did, they would be left behind, especially as it pertains to unofficial visits.

It's still common to rack up commitments on official visits during the fall, but the unofficial visit is threatening to replace that. OU has been getting commitments on unofficial visits, and the official visit is now more about solidifying those commitments.

"Unofficial visits are everything now," said OU offensive coordinator Josh Heupel. "You look at all the kids committed before their senior year. They're doing everything on their own. Recruiting has become year-round. Kids are committed before September."

For the full story, check out SoonerNation .

Oregon: Proof is in the visit

EUGENE, Ore. -- For a school like Oregon, it is often either a deal-maker or a deal-breaker.

If a prospect visits Oregon from across the country on his own dime, it usually means the interest is more than sincere. In recent years, that interest has turned into a commitment quite a few times.

In 2010, the Ducks signed three prospects from across the country, due in large part to their ability to visit the campus over the summer.

Dior Mathis from Michigan, James Scales from North Carolina and Issac Dixon from Florida each made it out to Oregon before their senior seasons had begun. All three followed up with official visits and eventually signed with the Ducks.

For the full story, check out DuckNation .

Texas: Tales from the road

AUSTIN, Texas. -- Jake Raulerson and Durham Smythe had it easy. Or it least that's how it looked.

Texas offered early. Both committed early. Their recruitment ended, and they haven't looked back.

But reaching that decision came with its costs.

They are both in-state recruits who don't live far from Austin, but both recruits' families learned that playing the recruiting game isn't cheap.

For the full story, check out HornsNation .

Washington: Get 'em on campus

SEATTLE -- For Washington's coaching staff, a pivotal part of the recruiting plan is getting kids on campus.

The Huskies are selling something that requires personal attention, a connection that is formed through face-to-face meetings.

Talk to head coach Steve Sarkisian, recruiting ace Tosh Lupoi and recruiting coordinator Johnny Nansen and they will all say the same thing.

"If we get the parents and the recruit here, we have a really good shot at winning the kid," Nansen said.

For the full story, check out HuskyNation .

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Alabama football recruiting reset: Early signing period expectations for the Crimson Tide

Alabama ’s College Football Playoff preparation began over the weekend, and more than half of its 2024 recruiting class will take part in Playoff practices.

Per On3, 13 signees comprise the initial early enrollees: On offense, it’s quarterback Julian Sayin, tight end Caleb Odom and offensive linemen Casey Poe, Joseph Ionata and William Sanders. On defense, it’s linemen Jeremiah Beaman and Isaia Faga, linebacker Sterling Dixon (who will not be participating due to injury) and defensive backs Zabien Brown, Jameer Grimsley, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr, Rydarrius Morgan and Peyton Woodyard.

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Three others — defensive back Jaylen Mbakwe and linebackers Cayden Jones and Justin Okoronkwo — are expected to enroll in January after playing in national all-star games. Also of note: Okoronkwo, a Germany native, is the first European prospect to be invited to and play in the All American Bowl (formerly known as the U.S. Army All-American Game).

How Alabama landed Germany's No. 1 American football prospect

The recruiting dead period begins on Monday and the early signing period runs Wednesday to Friday. For Alabama’s verbal commits, there should be little drama. The other remaining prospects who will not be enrolling early — receivers Amari Jefferson, Rico Scott and Ryan Williams; tight end Jay Lindsey and defensive lineman Quinton Reese — are all solid commitments. Right now, Alabama’s recruiting class is ranked No. 4 nationally in the 247Sports Composite. The Crimson Tide have finished outside the top three only twice since 2010 (2010, 2018), but it’s still possible they could move up.

With this past weekend being the last before the dead period, Alabama hosted several recruits, ranging from official visits for both committed prospects and players currently committed elsewhere to transfer portal visits to unofficial visits for elite 2025 prospects, including quarterback Bryce Underwood — the No. 1 player in 2025, according to the 247Sports Composite — and fellow 2025 five-star DJ Pickett, a defensive back. There was also some movement within Alabama’s current roster.

The week ahead is trending in the direction of more additions to Alabama’s team via the 2024 recruiting class. There’s always the chance that the Tide peek into the transfer portal, but those needs could be mitigated with signing day wins — for example, last year’s flip of Kadyn Proctor from Iowa nullified the need for a transfer offensive tackle.

There are several storylines to watch ahead of the early signing period that will affect how Alabama rounds out its 2024 roster. Here’s what to watch for:

Dust settles on initial Alabama portal entrants

One of the biggest developments over the weekend was redshirt freshman offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett ’s reported intent to enter the transfer portal, then decision to return to the team. Pritchett told On3’s Hayes Fawcett : “Transferring is not in my best interest. I apologize for any and all inconveniences. I’m 100 percent locked in. Roll Tide!” The initial announcement was a bit of a surprise considering the opportunity for playing time in 2024, but Pritchett is back with the team, and his retention should be viewed as a win.

As for other players who left Tuscaloosa for the transfer portal: wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks committed to Louisville and defensive lineman Anquin Barnes committed to Colorado. Alabama is unlikely to have more portal entries until after the season.

A wild card commit

As previously mentioned, Jefferson, Scott, Lindsey and Reese are solid in their commitments and are expected to enroll in the summer. The wild card is Williams, who recently reclassified to the 2024 class (and is now the highest-ranked prospect in Alabama’s class) and will sign in February. He took an unofficial visit to Auburn this past weekend and could visit other schools before signing. On the field, Williams continues to prove his mettle as one of the nation’s best receivers. One day after reclassifying, he committed to play in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game, which took place this past Saturday. He was the game’s MVP with eight catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

🥶🥶🥶! pic.twitter.com/37jCeHUW4w — 𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧 “𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝” 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝟏 (@Ryanwms1) December 17, 2023

Merry Flipmas to all, and to all a Roll Tide?

Alabama hosted a pair of running backs committed elsewhere over the weekend: four-star Kevin Riley ( Miami ) and three-star Jadan Baugh (Arkansas). If this 2024 class has any weakness, it’s at running back, where there are zero commitments, and the potential departures of Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams create a serious need at that position. This is a case of a high school commitment nullifying a transfer portal need: If Alabama could get one or both of Riley and Baugh to flip, then it would fill out its 2024 running back room. Riley in particular is a prospect of interest, as he is a Tuscaloosa native.

One of the most surprising developments of the weekend was Ohio State commit and five-star defensive lineman Eddrick Houston making an unofficial visit (his official visit was in June). He also visited Clemson a few days prior to his trip to T-Town. A flip doesn’t feel imminent, but it’s notable that Alabama got the last in-person encounter before the dead period begins. Defensive line is another area of need, as Alabama hosted three defensive linemen/edge players from the transfer portal over the weekend: Fadil Diggs (Texas A&M), LT Overton (Texas A&M) and Trey Moore ( UTSA ).

Another prospect to watch is five-star WR Perry Thompson, formerly an Alabama commit, who flipped to Auburn over the summer. Alabama remained in contact and Nick Saban, defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and position coach Holmon Wiggins completed an in-home visit with Thompson last week. Despite his commitment to Auburn, Thompson posted a graphic announcing his signing at Foley High School that featured him in both an Auburn and Alabama jersey, which adds to the speculation. He visited Auburn over the weekend.

At foley high school in the library @ 10 all media welcome 🎥 pic.twitter.com/d6Es9datKF — perry “uno” thompson (@fhsperryt1) December 12, 2023

Last, but certainly not least …

There are a few uncommitted prospects that Alabama also was able to leave a final impression with before the dead period. Offensive lineman Favour Edwin, edge Jayshawn Ross and defensive lineman Steve Mboumoua are expected to announce their college choices this week.

Edwin, a three-star prospect also considering Auburn and Florida, took his final official visit with Alabama during the Dec. 11 weekend. A projected tackle, Edwin fits a position of need.

Ross — a four-star considering Kansas State , Oklahoma, Tennessee and more — picked up an Alabama offer in October and has visited a handful of times, including an official visit in November and an unofficial over the weekend.

Mboumoua, a four-star international prospect from Quebec, has taken only one official visit: to Alabama during the Dec. 11 weekend. He’s visited Alabama three times overall, and the Crimson Tide should be seen as the favorite.

(Top photo: Johnnie Izquierdo / Getty Images)

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Kennington Lloyd Smith III is a Staff Writer for The Athletic covering Alabama football. Kennington most recently covered University of Iowa football and men's basketball for the Des Moines Register. He is a three-time state press association award winner in feature writing, enterprise writing and podcasting. Kennington attended The University of Georgia and originates from Atlanta, GA. Follow Kennington on Twitter @ SkinnyKenny_

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Carmel high offensive lineman earns invitations to visit alabama and usc.

Carmel High School offensive lineman and four-star recruit Jackson Lloyd will visit the University of Alabama and the University of Southern California.

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Two of college football's most storied programs, the University of Alabama and the University of Southern California, have invited Carmel High School offensive lineman Jackson Lloyd on official recruiting visits.

Lloyd has been deemed a four-star recruit by 247Sports.com. The junior plays tackle for the Padres. He is listed at 6 feet, 7 inches, and 290 pounds and has earned both All-League and All-County honors in consecutive seasons. According to 247Sports, Lloyd is the 16th-ranked offensive tackle in the country.

Lloyd's visits to Tuscaloosa and Los Angeles are scheduled for the summer. This month, Lloyd will take a trip to Columbus, Ohio, for an unofficial visit with the Ohio State Buckeyes.

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Report: Alabama Lands Wake Forest Cornerback DaShawn Jones from Transfer Portal

Hunter de siver | may 8, 2024.

• Alabama Crimson Tide

The Alabama football team added former Wake Forest cornerback DaShawn Jones from the transfer portal on Wednesday evening, per On3's Hayes Fawcett .

"BREAKING: Former Wake Forest DB DaShawn Jones has Committed to Alabama, he tells On3 Sports," Fawcett wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). "The 6’0 180 DB totaled 37 Tackles, 3 INT, & 2 PD in 2023. 2 year starter for the Demon Deacons. Will have 2 years of eligibility remaining."

The Alabama Crimson Tide played host to Jones this past weekend and by all accounts, the redshirt sophomore enjoyed his visit. Jones enjoyed his visit so much that Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported on Saturday that he was expected to announce his decision to transfer to Tuscaloosa soon...and now he has.

Jones becomes the third incoming Alabama transfer in the spring window, as he joins former Miami Ohio kicker Graham Nicholson and former Charlotte safety Kameron Howard.

The Crimson Tide also got cornerback Domani Jackson from USC and safety Keon Sabb from Michigan out of the transfer portal during the winter window and both appear to be in line for significant action this fall. Additionally, two other pure safeties are in Alabama's 2024 class, including Red Morgan and Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.

Alabama has lost several defensive backs to the transfer portal, most recently in safeties Tony Mitchell (still in portal) and Peyton Woodyard, who later committed to Oregon.

Alabama enters this season with an interesting defensive backfield. Malachi Moore returns for his super senior season, but the rest of the unit is full of inexperienced athletes or transferees.

The rest of the Crimson Tide safeties are all highly recruited prospects who have yet to see significant playing time.

HUNTER DE SIVER

Hunter De Siver is a graduate from the University of Alabama, earning a degree in sports media. During his time in Tuscaloosa, Hunter distributed articles covering Alabama football, basketball, and baseball for WVUA 23 TV and discussed these topics on Tide 100.9 FM. Hunter also generated articles highlighting Crimson Tide products in the NFL and NBA for BamaCentral. Since graduation, he's been contributing a plethora of NFL and NBA stories for FanNation and is a staff writer at MizzouCentral, Cowbell Corner and is back at BamaCentral.

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