- Thread starter
- #1
JTEGGER
T-Bird
BOL caught up with national recruiting analyst JC Shurburtt to get the inside scoop on Alabama’s recent wide receiver commitment, Chris Black.
Chris Black became Alabama's 15th commitment in the class of 2012 on Friday.
How many times have you seen Black in person?
I’ve probably seen him over ten times if you count camps, school visits, combines, 7-on-7’s, and actually watching him in pads.
What was your initial impression of Black after you saw him for the first time?
The first time I saw him was at the Under Armour Combine in Jacksonville and he was still a freshman going into his sophomore year. I know some of the coaches at First Coast and they said, “Keep an eye on our freshman receiver.” It was a pretty talent-laden camp and he dominated. He was one of the best young route-runners I’ve seen. He’s very natural with his hands and was kind of a no-brainer.
What are your thoughts now that you’ve seen him develop over time?
Black’s gotten better every time I’ve seen him. Probably the first thing is that he’s gotten bigger and stronger, so you can tell he puts in the work in the weight room. I think he’s probably faster in a straight line than he was back then, but I’ll tell you, he ran a 4.49 or a 4.5 as a rising sophomore at the combine. It’s not like the kid’s slow.
What is Black’s body type?
He’s wiry, but he’s strong enough to get off of the press. Wiry, slippery, and elusive are all words I would use to describe Black. I think a lot of people want to sit there and wonder why he’s five-stars because he’s a 5’11, 175 or 180-pound receiver and isn’t a 4.3 guy. He’s a 4.5 guy and he’s quick enough to make people miss in the open field and be gone.
Black joined fellow Sunshine State prospect Eddie Williams as Alabama's two 2012 five-star commitments.
At what position does he project?
I think he can play anywhere. Alabama has a real multiple offense and I think people kind of assume that they just line up and grind it, but if you watched them play last year, they got in a lot of four and five wide sets. Darius Hanks’ position is one that comes to mind, depending on who Alabama has on the outside. Black’s a guy that can make plays in the open field like Marquis Maze. I think he’s more that type of a receiver in Alabama’s offense than a Julio Jones.
What are some areas Black could work on to improve his game?
He could work on gaining strength and just focus on fine-tuning his game. He’s an advanced route-runner now, but when you get to the next level, the DB’s are a little more intimidating. I just think taking every aspect of his game to the next level. He’s a good kid, and he’ll work hard and stay humble.
What’s the buzz about Black around the First Coast program?
They think he’s best receiver in Florida. He’s a huge part of their team and what they do. He’s their number one offensive weapon and makes their system go. They have other good receivers that complement him well, and that frees him up and allows him to make plays. In my opinion, he’s the best offensive player to come out of First Coast since Jermaine Thomas went to FSU.
Where does he stack up in the state of Florida?
We have Black as the top receiver in the state. When you talk about the top receivers in Florida, it’s Chris Black, Avery Johnson, and Angelo Jean-Louis. And a kid like Amari Cooper out of Miami Northwestern is starting to gain some traction. What set Black apart for me is that he’s more complete. I think he has more explosion than those other guys in the open field. I don’t think he might be as fast in a straight line as Avery Johnson, but I think he’s more explosive and elusive in the open field and plays the position at a higher level. I’m not one that’s usually going to rank a 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver as a five-star. Anybody that’s followed my career knows that I tend to give the big guys a little more credit unless the prospect’s like Robert Woods from 2010, who is just a burner and baller. But I’ve seen so much from Chris Black and he’s impressed and improved every time. He’s got some elite tools and there’s a lot to like about him.
What do you know about the type of person Black is off the field?
He’s just a good kid. He’s a hard worker and is humble. It was a pleasure every time I spoke with him. Throughout the decision, I think he weighed a lot of things and took a lot of things into account. He did it the right way. He didn’t commit to one school and then show up on another’s campus wearing the gear of a school he’s not committed to. He’s not big on the hype and is a humble kid. Most kids that come out of First Coast are like that, but I don’t think any high school has put out a string of perfect kids. Chris Black is a super kid, but again, I’m not guaranteeing that any kid will never get in trouble, because they’re high school kids. But I think his work ethic is really top notch and think that will pay off for him at Alabama.
Chris Black became Alabama's 15th commitment in the class of 2012 on Friday.
How many times have you seen Black in person?
I’ve probably seen him over ten times if you count camps, school visits, combines, 7-on-7’s, and actually watching him in pads.
What was your initial impression of Black after you saw him for the first time?
The first time I saw him was at the Under Armour Combine in Jacksonville and he was still a freshman going into his sophomore year. I know some of the coaches at First Coast and they said, “Keep an eye on our freshman receiver.” It was a pretty talent-laden camp and he dominated. He was one of the best young route-runners I’ve seen. He’s very natural with his hands and was kind of a no-brainer.
What are your thoughts now that you’ve seen him develop over time?
Black’s gotten better every time I’ve seen him. Probably the first thing is that he’s gotten bigger and stronger, so you can tell he puts in the work in the weight room. I think he’s probably faster in a straight line than he was back then, but I’ll tell you, he ran a 4.49 or a 4.5 as a rising sophomore at the combine. It’s not like the kid’s slow.
What is Black’s body type?
He’s wiry, but he’s strong enough to get off of the press. Wiry, slippery, and elusive are all words I would use to describe Black. I think a lot of people want to sit there and wonder why he’s five-stars because he’s a 5’11, 175 or 180-pound receiver and isn’t a 4.3 guy. He’s a 4.5 guy and he’s quick enough to make people miss in the open field and be gone.
Black joined fellow Sunshine State prospect Eddie Williams as Alabama's two 2012 five-star commitments.
At what position does he project?
I think he can play anywhere. Alabama has a real multiple offense and I think people kind of assume that they just line up and grind it, but if you watched them play last year, they got in a lot of four and five wide sets. Darius Hanks’ position is one that comes to mind, depending on who Alabama has on the outside. Black’s a guy that can make plays in the open field like Marquis Maze. I think he’s more that type of a receiver in Alabama’s offense than a Julio Jones.
What are some areas Black could work on to improve his game?
He could work on gaining strength and just focus on fine-tuning his game. He’s an advanced route-runner now, but when you get to the next level, the DB’s are a little more intimidating. I just think taking every aspect of his game to the next level. He’s a good kid, and he’ll work hard and stay humble.
What’s the buzz about Black around the First Coast program?
They think he’s best receiver in Florida. He’s a huge part of their team and what they do. He’s their number one offensive weapon and makes their system go. They have other good receivers that complement him well, and that frees him up and allows him to make plays. In my opinion, he’s the best offensive player to come out of First Coast since Jermaine Thomas went to FSU.
Where does he stack up in the state of Florida?
We have Black as the top receiver in the state. When you talk about the top receivers in Florida, it’s Chris Black, Avery Johnson, and Angelo Jean-Louis. And a kid like Amari Cooper out of Miami Northwestern is starting to gain some traction. What set Black apart for me is that he’s more complete. I think he has more explosion than those other guys in the open field. I don’t think he might be as fast in a straight line as Avery Johnson, but I think he’s more explosive and elusive in the open field and plays the position at a higher level. I’m not one that’s usually going to rank a 5-foot-11, 175-pound receiver as a five-star. Anybody that’s followed my career knows that I tend to give the big guys a little more credit unless the prospect’s like Robert Woods from 2010, who is just a burner and baller. But I’ve seen so much from Chris Black and he’s impressed and improved every time. He’s got some elite tools and there’s a lot to like about him.
What do you know about the type of person Black is off the field?
He’s just a good kid. He’s a hard worker and is humble. It was a pleasure every time I spoke with him. Throughout the decision, I think he weighed a lot of things and took a lot of things into account. He did it the right way. He didn’t commit to one school and then show up on another’s campus wearing the gear of a school he’s not committed to. He’s not big on the hype and is a humble kid. Most kids that come out of First Coast are like that, but I don’t think any high school has put out a string of perfect kids. Chris Black is a super kid, but again, I’m not guaranteeing that any kid will never get in trouble, because they’re high school kids. But I think his work ethic is really top notch and think that will pay off for him at Alabama.