Much has been written about Missouri's ability to recruit players from the Southeast since the Tigers' entry into the SEC, but on Sunday the Tigers discovered the recruiting trail can be a two-way street.
Alabama landed a commitment from tight end Hale Hentges, the No. 56 player in the ESPN 300 and the No. 2 player in Missouri.
Hentges selected the Crimson Tide after landing scholarship offers from more than 30 other schools, but in the end he picked Alabama over the in-state Tigers. For Alabama, it's another addition to what already ranks as the best 2015 recruiting class, and for Missouri it was a significant recruiting defeat.
The Tigers do have a tight end commitment in next year's class in Daniel Imatorbhebhe, but Hentges is the second best tight end in the country and lives only 30 minutes from Missouri's campus.
Hentges, who is 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, caught 61 passes for 940 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior. He said he was recruited to play H-back at Alabama by tight ends coach Bobby Williams.
"I felt an amazing sense of home during the two visits I took down there," Hentges said. "I wanted to play in a pro-style offense that featured tight ends, so it was a great fit for me. Alabama has developed a great tradition for tight ends over the past couple of years. They're sending a lot of guys to the NFL, and that excites me."
Hentges said he's "100 percent solid" on Alabama and wouldn't take visits to other schools. He is Alabama's 16th commitment for 2015 and 15th ESPN 300 recruit.
His commitment further cements the Tide's grip on the nation's top recruiting class. Penn State ranks second with eight ESPN 300 prospects.
Hentges is the first prospect from the state of Missouri to commit to Alabama during the Nick Saban era.
