re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition

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More confidence in Ray, Ruggs, Smith

Just a few quick hitters on three guys I expect Alabama to land on Wednesday:

SEC Country received word that LaBryan Ray, a 5-star defensive end from James Clemens High School (Madison, Ala.), did not bring his father or grandmother to his official visit to Florida over the weekend. Why is that important? Those two are arguably the most important people in his recruiting process. Hard to imagine they would not be there if Florida was a school he was strongly considering attending. Family is very important to Ray, especially after his mother’s death when he was 6 years old. Those two have been to Tuscaloosa plenty of times.

We also received word that 4-star wide receivers DeVonta Smith and Henry Ruggs III were in Tuscaloosa this past Sunday. How huge is that to get those guys on campus, on their own dime, just days after Napier left for Arizona State? You better believe that the Alabama staff told Smith and Ruggs that everything was going to be OK moving forward. Them going to Tuscaloosa was the only way to see them face-to-face because the quiet period went into effect on Sudnday, meaning the only contact with recruits could be on a college campus. The importance of them being there on Sunday can not be stated enough.

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