Alabama got some great news on the recruiting trail today when top 50 overall OT Tyler Booker committed to the Tide from IMG Academy. The football powerhouse out of Florida has become quite the pipeline for Nick Saban and company. From 247sports:
“A big man that’s all of 6-foot-5. Carries 325 pounds better than most. The voice and leader of IMG Academy. Initially viewed himself as a defensive lineman before making the full-time transition to the offensive side of the ball. The type of blocker that likes to play well through the whistle. Has come a long way over the past year or so and is more than capable of winning at the point of attack with a well-timed punch. Latches onto his target and is able to quickly find some leverage before steering would-be tacklers out of the way. Agile enough to get outside the tackle box and open up run lanes, at least at the high school level. Must get more consistent in his pass sets, but has shown that he can protect the corner with a relatively smooth kick step. Spent junior season working primarily at right tackle. Does have some additional length in the arms, but could find himself getting snaps at one of the two guard spots in college, if needed. Well respected by almost everyone in Bradenton and has drawn rave reviews from the strength staff at the national powerhouse. Will likely need some seasoning, but has the required traits – and mindset – to emerge as a multi-year starter for a Top 25 program. Has a chance to make the NFL like his uncle, Ulish Booker.”
Booker, ranked as the #5 OT and #39 overall player on the 247 Composite, follows fellow IMG standouts Evan Neal and JC Latham to Tuscaloosa. He chose Alabama over Georgia and Florida, among many others.
Highlights embedded below. Welcome, Tyler.
Roll Tide!
Comments
I'm loving this IMG pipeline to Tuscaloosa!
By TUAMuchTuna on 07.16.21 5:59pm
Whoa whoa wait, this guy is 325 and can take a handoff?
are the days of RTDB returning?
By Hangover123 on 07.16.21 6:18pm
I liked his run blocking and terrible attitude towards linebackers
Looking forward to seeing him develop at Bama into a 1st rounder. RTR!!!
By BamaBone on 07.16.21 6:18pm
Dayum
Even after we just signed 2 elite tackles only a few months ago.
By Bamaburgh on 07.16.21 6:26pm
By Josh Chatham on 07.16.21 6:31pm
For some reason I feel like JC Latham was a 5* left tackle. No big deal now because he is a freshman no star at Alabama…but but but we get all the 5* me thought.
By George111480 on 07.19.21 8:14am
Yeah there’s no way Latham isn’t a 5-star as the 2nd-rated player in the country in the ‘21 class on the 247 Composite. That’s definitely a typo or something.
By Patrick LaFollette on 07.19.21 8:45am
I think there's been a mistake.
A little while back someone told me that the dynasty was over.
By cecil.honeychurch on 07.16.21 6:31pm
I know, right?
By BamaStang on 07.16.21 6:48pm
The dynasty is dead
Long live the dynasty!
By Vault boy on 07.16.21 7:24pm
Someone else said this house was not our house, and our ass was gonna get beat in recruiting.
They also said, in a foreign language, "F*** you."
By OatsAndHoes on 07.16.21 8:01pm
I think the technical term is "Wishful thinking"
By cal n on 07.17.21 12:08am
This class is shaping up nicely!
Elite players at edge rusher, QB, RB (2), tackle, etc.
Our overall class ranking on 247sports is 0.9499. For comparison, last years GOAT class was 0.9500!
By Soggy_Oats on 07.16.21 7:07pm
Would really love to add Walter Nolen, Denver Harris, and Earl Little Jr. to the class as well.
By TUAMuchTuna on 07.16.21 7:11pm
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was...
By BamaStang on 07.17.21 1:51am
Better than last year's class?
They still need more players at OL, WR, DB, etc., but this class is looking very strong and Bama is still in on a lot of highly ranked players. The GOAT just seems to get better every year.
By Flynn314 on 07.17.21 3:54pm
That highlight video is fun times. This kid must smell sweet all the time with all those pancakes… goodness gracious. This is a really good one to have in the class.
By Patrick LaFollette on 07.16.21 7:24pm
Love the fact that he’ll have instant chemistry with Latham
Those two freakish athletes book ending the line will be fun to watch.
By RTR901 on 07.16.21 10:02pm
Yeah and then what if two of the interior guys are… related. We’ve seen plenty of elite tackles play inside because they’re so good they’re still the best option at those spots, and recently.
By Patrick LaFollette on 07.16.21 10:35pm
Definitely needs some more time in the oven
He plays really high and his lateral footwork is going to need improvement — the overall effect is that he’s a little stiff and then a little slow firing off the ball.
I’d like to see what he can do in a zone block scheme too rather than straight man and pin/pull blocks.
But he does play well past the whistle, he finishes his blocks, he puts a hat right on a hat, and if you let him get his hands on you it’s over.
I almost wonder if he wouldn’t project better as a guard.
By Erik Evans on 07.17.21 1:39am
He'll be good in Bill O'Brien's 80-handoffs-up-the-middle offense.
And by "good" I of course mean "bad."
By cecil.honeychurch on 07.17.21 8:53am
A guard at 6’5"?
The NFL types will want him at tackle. They are afraid of tall interior guys who erase throwing lanes for today’s non-6’5" quarterbacks. (But I agree with your assessment, he does play more like a guard on the end.)
By Ricky Muncie on 07.17.21 9:20am
He's played mostly guard in the NFL.
DJ Fluker | 76
OT | Alabama | Miami Dolphins
Ht: 6045c / 6’ 05" | Wt: 339 | Upd: 05/07/2021
By PharmacyBob on 07.17.21 12:11pm
I think you are wrong on this one. The 4 guards on the first and second NFL all-pro teams are (1) Quenton Nelson (6'5"), (2) Joel Bitonio (6'4"), (3) Brandon Scherff (6'5") and (4) Wyatt Teller (6'4").
Coincidentally, the two 6’5" guys are the first teamers and the two 6’4" guys are the second teamers.
By chase17 on 07.17.21 1:15pm
Not sure where to put this so here it is.
I received an email related to my RBR account, from someone claiming to be a marketing intern. They were asking about posting a "high quality" guest post. What is up with that?
My response was "Please if you’re planning on posting those godawful spam posts take them somewhere else."
Thoughts from our RBR overlords please
By bornbama1 on 07.17.21 8:49am