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Published Jan 3, 2018
SEC schools trying to flip Quay Walker
Chad Simmons
Rivals
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.Quay Walker has been very quiet about his recruitment for the last few months. He committed to Alabama in June, with somewhat of a surprise announcement, but has not been considered a strong Tide commitment since late summer.

Walker has remained in contact with Auburn and Georgia since his commitment and now Florida and Tennessee with recent coaching changes have put themselves in this race.

Walker has not decommitted from Alabama, but he does not plan to take an official visit there, so the odds of Nick Saban keeping this one may not be in his favor right now.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: "I am still committed to Alabama, but all the schools are really even for me," said Walker. "I really like coach [Jeremy] Pruitt, so him leaving for Tennessee is a factor for me looking around and taking visits."

SCHOOLS IN THE MIX: "I am still considering Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and Auburn. I do not have a No. 2 school right now. All will be even until after I take my official visits and see what it is like."

OFFICIAL VISIT WILL BE KEY: "When I go on my official visits I will be looking for coaches I can trust and how I connect with the team. I am going to Auburn January 12, Georgia January 19, Auburn January 26 and I am not sure on February 2 yet. It may be Tennessee. I don't plan to take an official visit to Alabama because my mom has already been there."

FLORIDA: "Florida is a school that I have been liking. It is my dream school and not many people know that. The old staff never stopped recruiting me, but the new staff has come on hard. Trey Dean is in my ear, so we will see where it goes when I get there."

TENNESSEE: "I have known Kevin Sherrer (Defensive coordinator) for a while now and we have a good relationship just like me and coach Pruitt do. He has already been down to see me and he is a reason I am looking at Tennessee."

GEORGIA: "I love Kirby Smart and the kind of coach he is. I have been talking to them a lot and the environment there is great. Justin Fields is on me hard too, so I like Georgia."

AUBURN: "I have a great connection with the Auburn coaches and with Big Cat (Markaviest Bryant) there, I know a lot about them. I have visited there a lot and they have never stopped recruiting me."

ALABAMA: "They have a great team every year, but with Pruitt leaving and I am hearing rumors about coach [Derrick] Ansley (Defensive backs) too, so I have some questions. They also have great depth at linebacker, so that is something else I am looking at. I still am a commitment, so nothing has changed yet."

RIVALS REACTION: This is going to be one to watch between now and February 7. Walker is going to take visits, he is going to have coaches from numerous schools in his home in the coming weeks and there will be a big decision made early in February? Will he stick with Alabama? It does not look good for the Tide right now, but if they convince Walker to take an official visit there, then that could swing things back in their favor. The one to watch closely is Tennessee with Pruitt at the top and Sherrer and Chris Rumph both assistants that have strong relationships with Walker. Georgia has been lurking here and the Bulldogs got Walker on campus for a game late in the season and Smart's program could be the one challenging Alabama at this time. This one is still far from over.

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