Alabama Dismissing Bo Davis Leads to Top DT Marvin Wilson to Drop the Tide
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
News broke on Thursday that Alabama had dismissed defensive line coach Bo Davis over possible recruiting violations. The details have not been shared nor the severity of the possible violations leaving only speculation as to something bigger given Davis’ status as a coach and recruiter for the Crimson Tide. The fallout and potential weight of Davis leaving Alabama’s program did not take long to surface in the 2017 recruiting class.
Reaction to Davis’ dismissal on the recruiting trail was quick with 5-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson announcing on Twitter that he had removed Alabama as one of his top schools upon hearing the news.
Wilson has worked his way into 5-star status as a now 6’4”, 329 pound, three-technique for Episcopal High School. The Bellaire area native has been an emerging talent since his freshman year when he came up with 36 tackles, four sacks, and 15 tackles for a loss. Wilson took a big step forward as a sophomore tallying 67 total stops, 15 sacks, and 19 tackles for a loss.
During his junior season, Wilson helped the Knights to a 9-2 record showing off his athleticism as a rare inside pass rusher with quickness and strength. Despite taking on double- and triple-teams play after play, Wilson does not give up on plays making an impact inside the tackles. For his efforts he has been named an U.S. All-American Bowl participant and has garnered the attention of nearly 30 different Division-I colleges with offers on the table. Programs to extend offers includes Georgia, Houston, Michigan, Florida, UCLA, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Missouri, Ohio State, TCU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, and USC.
Shortly after Davis’ dismissal went public Wilson posted a statement on Twitter reading, “Bo is gone there goes bama in my recruitment.” Alabama’s bad news could be good news for LSU, Florida State, and Texas.
Davis has not taken the recruiting process lightly with unofficial visits to Texas A&M, Florida State, Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas in the offseason. How news of Ole Miss’ recruiting violations in light of Laremy Tunsil’s draft night revelations remains unclear.
Per 247Sports, Alabama currently has the No. 5 ranked 2017 recruiting class. The Tide has had trouble keeping top recruits committed. Four players have decommitted in recent weeks losing D.D. Bowie, Jake Fromm, Cam Akers, and Netori Johnson.
Davis, a LSU alum, had returned to Tuscaloosa in 2013 after spending four seasons as an assistant to head coach Nick Saban from 2007-10. Davis left Alabama spending three seasons as the Longhorns defensive line coach from 2011-13. Davis has been widely lauded as a top collegiate defensive line coach.
Alabama Crimson Tide 2017 Verbal Commit List
RB Najee Harris, 6’1.5”, 210 lbs, Antioch Senior, Antioch, CA
RB Brian Robinson, 6’1”, 215 lbs, Hillcrest HS, Tuscaloosa, AL
OL Alex Leatherwood, 6’5”, 298 lbs, Washington HS, Pensacola, FL
DE Aaron Sterling, 6’1”, 270 lbs, Stephenson HS, Stone Mountain, GA
LB VanDarius Cowan, 6-4, 217, Palm Beach Gardens HS, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
LB Gary Johnson, 6-1, 225, Dodge City C.C., Dodge City, KS
SS Xavier McKinney, 6’1”, 185 lbs, Roswell HS, Roswell, GA
ATH Chadarius Townsend, 6’0”, 180 lbs, Tanner HS, Tanner, AL
Decommitted
WR D.D. Bowie, 6’1”, 200 lbs, Morton HS, Morton, MS
QB Jake Fromm, 6’3”, 200 lbs, Houston County HS, Warner Robins, GA
RB Cam Akers, 5’11”, 209 lbs, Clinton HS, Clinton, MS
OL Netori Johnson, 6’4”, 325 lbs, Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, GA
Photo credit: scout.com; No. 99 Marvin Wilson.