Linebacker Reuben Foster has committed to Alabama.Reuben Foster, the nation's No. 1 inside linebacker according to Rivals.com and Scout.com, committed Monday night to Alabama.
"I've been loving Alabama since I was a pup," Foster said on Fox Sports South. "Everybody says Coach [Nick] Saban is uptight and mean. He's not uptight and mean. He's just trying to get the job done. Every time I'm with him, he's smiling."
Foster has provided the wildest ride in this year's class, with the 6-foot-2, 228-pounder first committing to the Crimson Tide in July 2011. That was before his junior season at Troup County High in LaGrange, Ga.
He moved with his family, including his daughter, to Auburn, Ala., last April. He switched his commitment to the Auburn Tigers in July, when he read a prepared statement that was nearly identical to that of tailback T.J. Yeldon, who switched from Auburn to Alabama in last year's class.
When Auburn coach Gene Chizik was fired and assistant Trooper Taylor was not retained by Gus Malzahn, Foster reopened his recruitment. He visited Auburn and Alabama this past weekend and said he decided Monday to pick the Crimson Tide.
Show goes on
Georgia is scheduled to hold its signing day news conference Wednesday afternoon, but whether coach Mark Richt is in attendance is uncertain.
Richt underwent a scheduled surgery for a hip replacement Saturday.
"He's in the hospital today, and we really don't know what his status will be," media relations director Claude Felton said Monday. "We're going to have it, but if he can't do it, then Coach [Mike] Bobo and Coach [Todd] Grantham will do it."
Rolling Rebels
The top three prospects nationally according to 247sports.com are defensive end Robert Nkemdiche of Loganville, Ga.; defensive end Chris Jones of Houston, Miss.; and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil of Lake City, Fla.
Ole Miss is in the final two choices for all three players, which would certainly be a recruiting landmark if the Rebels signed all three. The Rebels are solid favorites for Nkemdiche and slight favorites for Tunsil but must pry Jones away from Mississippi State.
Odds and ends
Georgia quarterback Brice Ramsey, an early enrollee, will wear the jersey No. 12 recently vacated by receiver Tavarres King. ... Arkansas picked up a commitment Monday night from Alex Collins of Plantation, Fla., who is Scout.com's No. 3 running back nationally. ... Taylor told the Auburn Plainsman last week that he may take a year away from coaching. ... Georgia outside linebacker Dexter Morant, who Rivals.com rated as the No. 15 defensive end in the 2010 signing class, has left the university due to academics and never played a down for the Bulldogs.