Crimson Tide almost never even got into the Alfy Hill chase

Alabama almost never even got into the mix for Alfy Hill.

“They had one last weekend when kids could come down there, and I was out of town, but one of our coaches decided to take him to Tuscaloosa as a birthday present,” said West Brunswick High coach Jimmy Fletcher a few minutes ago.

Hill, whose birthday is July 18, was blown away by the visit.

“I wasn’t even thinking about Alabama,” he said after Fletcher put him on the phone. “It was just more than I ever expected. I just didn’t expect it to be as nice as it was, in every way. And I liked the idea of playing in the SEC.”

Hill liked the academic support program, and he liked the fact that Alabama will use him as its Jack Linebacker, a sort of hybrid who will both rush the passer and drop into coverage, depending on the situation.

I said that should not be a problem with his 4.6-second speed in the 40, and Hill paused. “The last time I did a 40, my time was 4.49,” he said.

Keep in mind, this is a guy who is 6-foot-4 and a tricep or two over 250 pounds, which makes such speed ridiculously fast.

“They only have one other guy at the position,” Hill said. “The coaches said I should be able to get on the field next year as a freshman.

Hill said Alabama had been his leader for “a couple of months,” but the deal was sealed last week when he talked it over with his mother and received her approval.

Fletcher, of course, has watched this whole thing unfold.

“Both schools did a good job recruiting him,” Fletcher said, “But Alfy was amazed at just how important football was at Alabama. The support is phenomenal; football is king there.’

--Stan Olson