Nick Saban to Atlanta RB: You can’t sign with Alabama until 2013
Loading ...One of Georgia’s top running backs said that was told by Alabama’s Nick Saban this weekend that he will have to wait until next year to sign with the Crimson Tide.
Justin Taylor of North Atlanta High School has been committed to Alabama for nearly a year, last February becoming the No. 7 pledge for this year’s class. The 5-foot-11, 208-pounder missed his senior season with a knee injury.
A couple of weeks ago, Taylor and his high school coach, former NFL RB Stanley Pritchett, both said they were informed by Alabama assistant Chris Rumph that it was likely that Taylor would not be able to sign with the Crimson Tide this February.
Alabama’s 2012 recruiting class is currently ranked as No. 1 in the nation by Rivals.com. Alabama has 27 commitments and is in the running for a few more elite prospects. The Crimson Tide is also accused of being one of the most frequent offenders in the practice of “over-signing” – which is when a college signs more players than they have scholarships available. (Click to go to website)
Alabama's Nick Saban still has seven Georgia players that will sign on Feb. 1 after telling Justin Taylor to wait until next year (AP photo)
Back to Taylor: He took his official visit to Alabama this weekend and had the chance to sit down for a face-to-face meeting with Saban:
- How did Nick Saban explain it to you? “Coach Saban said he wished he would’ve been able to tell me this in August instead of now. He said the only reason he can’t sign me is because he can’t sign 26 people. They can only sign 25 people. He said he was going to sign me with the next class. But he also said he would sign a piece of paper to show that they are keeping their word – they are going to sign it and they want me to sign it to make sure I know I still have my scholarship.”
- When did Alabama first tell you that you couldn’t sign with them this February? “Coach Rumph actually told me about two weeks ago. Well, he called my coach, who told me, and then I called Coach Rumph. This weekend was the first time that they really broke it down like that. This was the first time I heard it from Coach Saban.”
- What do you think happened? “Coach Saban just said I’m the 26th commitment. I would be the 26th signee. I guess he went and picked up somebody else. He said I make 26 and they only get 25. They talked about bringing me in next January.” [Note: Alabama has 27 commitments]
- What was your reaction? “I’m cool with it, as long as I get to Alabama and play. And, as long as I have more time to recover and get solid.”
- What will do you do this fall? “He said I’m going to stay in Georgia. They are going to find me a job. I’m going to work. I’m going to physical therapy at least seven days per week. I guess I will work, go to physical therapy and get strong … I will come in with the class of 2013. I’ll get there with the early group so I can do winter workouts and spring football.”
- What about this piece of paper that you said Saban would sign? “Coach Saban is going to sign his name on a sheet of paper saying that I still have my scholarship. It was just for me. It’s to say they really still want me.”
RB Justin Taylor has been committed to Alabama for nearly a year (Photo courtesy of 247sports.com)
- What is the status of your knee injury from August? “I’m good right now. I’ve already had the surgery and everything. I’m running right now. They want me to be 100-percent healthy. They said it takes at least a year [to recover]. They said yeah, some can bounce back in 5-6 months. But the only people who bounce back in 5-6 months are the ones in college because there are on campus and they have that physician to be there seven days per week. I don’t have that. I only work out two days per week with my physical therapist.”
- Do you think you could play this fall? “I feel like I could play this fall.”
- With Saban saying you cannot sign with Alabama this year, will that make you look at other colleges? “I’m going to go ahead and stick with Alabama. I mean, I’m committed to them. They committed to me. They want me. I know they want me because that’s what they are telling me. If they didn’t want me, they wouldn’t let me keep my scholarship, They could’ve taken it when I first got hurt. If any other college wanted me, they would’ve hit me up. I haven’t really heard from anybody since the injury.”
- What other schools were recruiting you the hardest? “Tennessee came through and I only talked to them one time. They gave me a number and the number didn’t even work. There was South Carolina and Georgia. They both stopped talking to me because I was committed to Alabama.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND
- State’s top uncommitted prospect does NOT make UGA visit; Good news for Georgia Tech?
- Atlanta RB “still committed” to Alabama but considering options
- Ex-Atlanta Falcons coach Jim Mora lands another Atlanta recruit for UCLA
- Georgia QB flips to ACC school after pep talk from new coach
- Nick Saban to Atlanta RB: You can’t sign with Alabama until …. 2013
- Josh Harvey-Clemons’ grandpa predicts “photo finish” between UGA and SEC rival
- Will Vanderbilt DE recruit flip to UGA after visiting Bulldogs?
- OL commits to Georgia Tech; cancels official visit to Florida Gators
- Nephew of ex-NFL star Dexter Manley commits to new ACC member
- RB Mike Davis goes public with his “secret” commitment; Guess who??
- Todd Gurley: Analysis of UGA’s newest recruit and … remember Tim Worley?
– By Michael Carvell, AJC Recruiting Blog
Got an item? mcarvell@ajc.com
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- BOOKMARK the NEW AJC Recruiting homepage here
- Want to see a list of all the players in the state of Georgia who have either been offered by or are committed to D1 schools? It’s looong. Go here.
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1,130 comments Add your comment
Blackoutanyone?
January 16th, 2012
12:30 pm
MARK RICHT PULLED THIS KIDS OFFER WHEN HE BUSTED HIS KNEE!!!! What part of that don’t you idiots understand.
SHAME ON BAMA
January 16th, 2012
12:31 pm
Ward never committed to UGA early. Not the same.
Saban is a cheater!
BD
January 16th, 2012
12:31 pm
Here’s your fact, JoeLee. This kid was the 7th commitment of the class and had never even heard the term greyshirt until 2 weeks before NSD. Now he’s being told he’s “#26.”
Still waiting for one, just ONE, Bama fan to stand up and admit this practice by your coaching staff is abhorrent. Don’t worry, I’ve already counted you out.
the big poppa
January 16th, 2012
12:32 pm
Alabama can not “get him a job”, that is illegal under NCAA regulations. The kid is still technically a recruit.
Jeff
January 16th, 2012
12:32 pm
The pure jealousy on here amazes me. This young man was informed before signing day and he can choose to sign with any school he wants. It sounds like he would rather wait until he can sign with Bama and that is his choice. Every school offers upwards of 40 players a season understanding they will only get a percentage of the offers as commitments. These kids can change their commitment on signing day if they choose. Coming off a knee injury, this was a very prudent decision by Saban.
SHAME ON BAMA
January 16th, 2012
12:32 pm
Commit vs. offering are different dude. Wake up from your moms basement.
Roll Tide
January 16th, 2012
12:33 pm
BD…we have already counted you mutts out too…counted you out on never winning another title.
Tdawg
January 16th, 2012
12:33 pm
pittsburghGeorge, the difference is that Georgia never offered the kid. Alabama did and now they are reniging. No shocker there. The situation with the kid from Moultrie was not the same as some of the poster’s on this site is lying about. He knew the deal with Georgia before hand. He was not offered a scolarship and then Georgia renig on it, like Bama did to this kid and will do to at least 3 or 4 more before the all is said and done. Bama fans will tell you that Saban is a smart and crafty man. I tend to believe what I see. Saban is a man of low moral charater and a liar to boot Why parents keep sending their kids to this sharlitan is truely astounding to me.
really??
January 16th, 2012
12:34 pm
“Maybe if they would get a real coach instead of Mark I’m a christian Richt then they might win something.”
So CMR is a bad coach in your opinion because he is Christian? Do you realize that the Christian Mr. Richt is 3-1 against Bama?
SHAME ON BAMA
January 16th, 2012
12:34 pm
No other team is recruiting because we committed to BAMA. Is career is ruined because of Saban.
Would like hear where Saban plans to get him a job.
where is ESPN
January 16th, 2012
12:35 pm
with this story? never mind. they have a vested interest in making sure that the SEC does well with recruiting speaking of which.,,,
the ESPN recruiting show is nothing more than an ad for the ‘best football conference in the usa’ … the SEC,
yea right.
The Grinch
January 16th, 2012
12:36 pm
Roll Tide
January 16th, 2012
12:21 pm
Hey dad, remember this illustrious NC:
1941 — The 1941 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, coached by Frank Thomas, completed the regular season 8–2–0. Alabama’s squad finished 3rd in the Southeastern Conference.[90] After losing to Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, [87] Alabama finished the regular season ranked #20 in the AP Poll.[91] Alabama was one of 10 teams chosen for post-season competition when they were invited to play Texas A&M in the January 1, 1942 Cotton Bowl Classic. Coach Thomas’ team defeated the Aggies 29–21 to finish the season 9–2–0. The outstanding players of the game were Holt Rast, Don Whitmire, and Jimmy Nelson.[87] The squad was selected national champions by the Houlgate Poll and published in the nationally syndicated Football Thesaurus.[88] The 2009 NCAA Record Book cites the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Texas Longhorns, and the Alabama Crimson Tide as the three teams selected as national champions in 1941.
Gotta love the Houlgate poll. You were 3rd in the Southern Conference with 2 losses and ranked #20 nationally. Then after a bowl win the prestigious Houlgate poll named you #1. BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Make My Day
January 16th, 2012
12:36 pm
Jim McDade
January 16th, 2012
12:18 pm
Alabama is despised by everybody in the sports world, with the exception of Bama fans. Bama fans have an inflated and grossly distorted view of how they and their institution are perceived. Alabama has spent most of the years since the Stallings era either on NCAA probation or under the “watch” that follows probation. Their coaching searches after Stallings was “fired” were always a comedy of errors, even when the unpopular Saban fell into Mal Moore’s lap after Saban was rejected by the Dolphin nation. Harvey Updyke, the recent sodomy video, and almost countless cases of slap-onb-the-wrist punishment for Bama players who never fail to struggle mightily to form poorly chosen words into a coherent sentence, all contribute to the accurate perception that the words student and athlete cannot be used together when describing the win at all philosophy that consumes the Alabama nation. The Crimson Tide is a nasty stain on the image of both college athletics and higher education that needs to be removed by shutting down Alabama athletics for at least a decade by imposing the death penalty..
No, it is called jeolousy.
By the way, the same two guys responsible for lowering the boom on Alabama have their own issues. One at Miami who allowed massive payoffs over multiple years and the other one representing Jim Tressel in front of the infractions committee.
Life is good and winning championships is what cures it all. Of course you UGA fans have waited 30 plus years to only fail each and every year while living through the words “Jan Kemp” and “Jim Harrick” for the past 25 of them.
Thank god for women’s gymnastics, and tennis at UGA or your sports programs would be at Division II levels.
Ga. fan
January 16th, 2012
12:36 pm
Bama even tries to cheap on their NC’s. They have 7 and they now claim 14. SEC fan just laugh at bammers when they lie about their championships. These clowns cheat at everything.
SHAME ON BAMA
January 16th, 2012
12:37 pm
Stay focused people: THIS IS ABOUT BAMA AND HOW THEY CHEAT!
Stay on topic.
The Grinch
January 16th, 2012
12:37 pm
Roll Tide
January 16th, 2012
12:21 pm
And who could forget this memorable moment. Lose the bowl game and win the NC. BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
So using the same logic, LSU should be named the NC for this season.
1964 — The 1964 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, coached by Bear Bryant, completed the regular season 10–0–0, winning the Southeastern Conference championship. Alabama was led by quarterback Joe Namath. Alabama was then invited to play the Texas Longhorns in the January 1, 1965 Orange Bowl. Coach Bryant’s team lost to the Longhorns 21–17 to finish the season 10–1–0. The outstanding player of the game was Joe Namath.[87] The 1964 Alabama football team was selected national champions by the AP Poll and the Coaches’ Poll prior to bowl games.
Just Joe
January 16th, 2012
12:38 pm
…getting an unsigned recruit a job with the promise of him signing next year = huge violation…
Roll Tide
January 16th, 2012
12:38 pm
How many do you have mutts?
BD
January 16th, 2012
12:38 pm
Keep propagating the Bama fan standard, Roll Tide. The win-at-all cost approach of your head coach suits the general intellect of your fan base quite well. The rest of the world’s normal human beings pity you. You wouldn’t understand. Nor would any other imbecile decked out in crimson.
The Grinch
January 16th, 2012
12:39 pm
Make My Day
January 16th, 2012
12:36 pm
Hey Harvey, don’t you have some trees to go poison?
really??
January 16th, 2012
12:39 pm
The negative hate keeps getting worse and worse by the Bammer fans because they are feeling the heat! Fact is, people argue with yelling (capital letters) and negative spewing because they know that they are wrong. In most cases people that are right laugh it off and move on. Not the case with the Bammers on here.WOW!
Let’s talk about how CMR is a bad coach because he is a Christian.
This article is not about CMR, it’s about Saban shafting a gentleman that was committed to Bama since last year.
But by all means, keep protecting him.
NICK SABAN CAN SQUEEZE YOU IN SOMETIME NEXT YEAR, GIRL
January 16th, 2012
12:40 pm
[...] AJC has the whole story of Justin Taylor’s, um, “Thenshirting,” the process by which Saban told him they were out of spots, but would be happy to sign him in the [...]
dean
January 16th, 2012
12:41 pm
I don’t care how many titles they win. I would never want to be Bammer, Auburn or LSU. Football is secondary. Get your priorities straight!
SHAME ON BAMA
January 16th, 2012
12:41 pm
That contract and job are legal practice at BAMA.
Where is the NCAA?
Keep on cheating on BAMA!
Roll Tide
January 16th, 2012
12:41 pm
Did St. Richt take the team to church yesterday?
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
January 16th, 2012
12:42 pm
“The negative hate keeps getting worse and worse by the Bammer fans because they are feeling the heat!”
What in the hell are u talking about? Alabama fans could care less about UGA. We are still celebrating our second national championship in three years.
Keep on hatin’ losers
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
January 16th, 2012
12:43 pm
“I don’t care how many titles they win. I would never want to be Bammer, Auburn or LSU. Football is secondary. Get your priorities straight!”
….. and this sir is why you are a loser.
really??
January 16th, 2012
12:43 pm
@Roll Tide
It’s obvious that you have never stepped foot in a church before and it shows by your lack of integrity. Pretty much sums up your character. No wonder you could care less about saban’s actions.
SHAME ON BAMA
January 16th, 2012
12:43 pm
This story needs to go viral!!!
Please make it happen!
This has got to stop, kid is ruined because of BAMA!
The SEC, Saban, Must be Stopped. - HawkeyeNation Forum
January 16th, 2012
12:43 pm
[...] The SEC, Saban, Must be Stopped. It's just pathetic, the lengths they go to. I seriously question how bright this young man is. Saban is out of scholarships (27 commits), but offers to sign a paper promising to give this kid a s… [...]
Alabama 49 Mich State 7 Mich State 33 UGA 30
January 16th, 2012
12:44 pm
Fire Bobo!
Fire Willie!
Tdawg
January 16th, 2012
12:44 pm
Blackoutanyone? Mark Richt never backed out of a comitment from any kid. That makes you a liar. If this kid had comitted to Richt, then Mark would have honored it. It make’s absolutely no sense to keep open a spot for a recruit that wouldn’t commit to your school and if that kid got hurt then it was his fault that he never accepted the offer in the first place. The comparison’s are not even close. Are you that ignorant? It’s pretty hard to back out of a committment when the kid never committed. Wouldn’t ya think?
BD
January 16th, 2012
12:45 pm
“I wish I was able to tell you this in August instead of now.”
Are you kidding me, Coach?
Is there not a SINGLE Bama fan who is willing to speak out against what’s going on over there? So disgusting…
Paul in NH
January 16th, 2012
12:45 pm
13.2.3.2 Prior to Completion of Senior Year—Athletics Award Winners
An institution may employ a prospective student-athlete who is an athletics award winner in any department outside of intercollegiate athletics, provided the employment is arranged through normal institutional employment procedures
This rule refers to employment on campus. How the heck is Taylor going to be employed in one of the departments / divisions of the University of Alabama if he is going to be in Atlanta rehab’ing his leg?
SHAME ON BAMA
January 16th, 2012
12:45 pm
Roll tide: the topic is BAMA and they lie, cheat, and steal.
Get it?
Catch22
January 16th, 2012
12:45 pm
Since some people didn’t read the second NCAA rule that was posted, I will repost it here:
13.2.3.3 After Completion of Senior Year. An institution may arrange for employment or employ any prospective student-athlete (regardless of athletics award winner status), provided the employment does not begin
prior to the completion of the prospective student-athlete’s senior year in high school. (See Bylaw 13.12.1.5.1.)
Hate to disappoint some of you, but it’s a non-issue
really??
January 16th, 2012
12:45 pm
“Alabama fans could care less about UGA.”
And yet here you are talking about UGA when the blog is about your coach.
Harvey "hard a$$" Updyke
January 16th, 2012
12:46 pm
I love how the UGA fans are painting themselves as such wonderful people on here.
Without a doubt the WORST fans in all of college football period.
Delusion, drunken, smack talking slime balls. Ask anyone.
bob
January 16th, 2012
12:46 pm
Hahaha! “Go google Don Shula’s opinion of him”. And he has no reason to be biased.
SHAME ON BAMA
January 16th, 2012
12:47 pm
Football is a game, life is not!
Saban will get his one day. The guy is not right and should be allowed to do this to kids.
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
January 16th, 2012
12:47 pm
The article is about Alabama, that’s why I read it. And I enjoy reading delusional dawg logic.
bob
January 16th, 2012
12:47 pm
LOL that the kid would rather wait a year to play for BAMA than go to Georgia. WOW, our program is on one heck of a roll.
The Grinch
January 16th, 2012
12:48 pm
Oh yes, Mulligan U fans, here’s another lose the bowl game and win the NC championship.
1973 — The 1973 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, coached by Bear Bryant, completed the regular season 11–0–0, winning the Southeastern Conference championship. Alabama was then invited to play Notre Dame in the December 31, 1973 Sugar Bowl. Coach Bryant’s team lost to the Fighting Irish 24–23 to finish the season 11–1–0. The 1973 Alabama football team was selected national champions in the final regular season Coaches’ Poll, which was finalized prior to the post-season bowl games.[88] Because of the controversy after the bowl loss,[citation needed] the Coaches’ Poll began selecting their champion after the bowl games starting in 1974. The post-bowl game AP poll ranked Alabama 4th, and selected Notre Dame as its national champion
If nothing else, Mulligan U being named as NC caused the coaches poll to change the following year.
bhamgman
January 16th, 2012
12:48 pm
My favorite Nick Saban quote” A Commitment is a Commitment”, just more B.$. from Bama.
Paula
January 16th, 2012
12:48 pm
@Catch22 – “an institution may arrange” – how is bammer going to arrange employement for an individual that is not even emrolled in said institution? Are you saying that The Univrsity of Alabama can get a job for someone anywhere in the world? WOw…I’m pretty sure that isn’t what that means.
DP
January 16th, 2012
12:48 pm
Hey Grinch, the final UPI poll was prior to the bowl games until it was changed sometime in the 1970’s. And even with 2 shots at the national championship, one before the bowl games from the UPI and one after bowl games from AP, the Dawgs have only managed ONE since 1942!!!
Dawgs can’t get close enough to national championships to claim them. They have to stick to self proclaimed Dream Teams and PCNS (preseason national championships).
Georgia is the Michigan State of the SEC and can’t even beat the real Michigan State.
SHAME ON BAMA
January 16th, 2012
12:48 pm
Again: stay on topic.
THIS is ABOUT HOW BAMA CHEATS!
Aaron
January 16th, 2012
12:49 pm
WAAAAAAA!!!
WAAAAAAAA!!!
WAAAAAAAA!!
really??
January 16th, 2012
12:49 pm
@Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
Just ask this one question – Are you ok with coaches over signing?
Hank
January 16th, 2012
12:49 pm
“They (Alabama) are going to find me a job”……….really?