'09 AL CB Gerald West (Alabama Verbal)

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Mobile (AL) Davidson High School

Ht: 5-foot-11
Wt: 165 lbs
Forty: 4.4 secs
Class: 2009 (High School)

Scout Bio:

2007: West recorded 36 tackles and three interceptions as a junior.

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2/11

By. S. Robertson. West claims offers from Alabama, Auburn, LSU, and Mississippi State.

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WholeHogSports.com - THE RECRUITING GUY : UA eyes Alabama cornerback

Talented cornerback Gerald West is receiving strong interest from Arkansas, which already has two Davidson athletes — wide receiver London Crawford and defensive end Demario Ambrose — on the roster.

The Hogs are one of eight schools that have offered scholarships to West. Auburn, Alabama, Mississippi State and Florida State are among the others. West has visited Alabama and Auburn, but he said he wants to visit all the schools that have offered him. “Those are definite,” he said. “This summer, I plan to make as many camps as possible.” Davidson Coach Fred Riley said West is not lacking athletic ability. “This is my 27 th year to coach and I coached 10 [years ] on the college level, and Gerald West is the fastest kid I’ve ever timed consistently in the 40 [-yard dash ],” Riley said. “He runs some 40 times that you look at your watch and say I’m not telling him what it said. He’s just run some times that are just phenomenal.” West, 5-11, 168 pounds, 4. 36-second speed in the 40, recorded 25 unassisted tackles, 11 assisted tackles and 3 interceptions last season for the Class 6 A Warriors.

Crawford could play an important role in helping the Razorbacks win over West.

“I really don’t know much about Arkansas,” said West, who has a been timed at 4. 10 in the pro-shuttle. “I just know they picked up London Crawford and London was a bigtime wide receiver down here. I talked to London the last time he came down. He was telling me Arkansas has good facilities and they offer you good academic help. He said it’s a good environment to put yourself in and it’s a real good football program.” West said he believes it’s essential for a cornerback to play the ball like a receiver. “I feel like every time the quarterback is throwing the ball, he’s actually throwing it to you,” said West, whose father James Johnson played running back for Mississippi State in the early 1990 s. “You have to have the mentality that the quarterback is throwing it to you. I believe you can go get anything. That’s the main thing I have on my mind.”

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5/28

By S Robertson. Florida and Southern Miss have offered. Though he claims no favorites, West says Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, and South Carolina are all near the top of his list.

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6/22

From the Alabama site. West grew up a fan of Deion Sanders, and patterned his game off of him. Alabama is his leader right now, and he says it feels like family there.

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Quick Feet, Good Hips By Allen Wallace
National Recruiting Editor
Posted Jul 3, 2008



"I really like Nick Saban," cornerback Gerald West said. "Me and him got along real good. He really shows that he cares and always asks me about my family and stuff. I also think that he's one of the best at coaching cornerbacks and I think I could learn a lot from him." West plans on attending his second Alabama camp on July 21 and he's looking forward to seeing the Tide play this season.
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CrimsonConfidential.com - Mobile's West picks Alabama

West, who will play at Faith Academy this fall after transferring from Davidson High School, chose the Crimson Tide over more than a dozen scholarship offers. His four finalists also included Auburn, Arkansas and Southern Miss.

"I just got off the phone with coach Nick Saban," West said. "He was very excited about it and he said he's really looking forward to me coming up there. He said he likes my footwork and my change-of-direction. He said he's looking forward to coaching me.

"I feel great about. I have no regrets. I feel like this decision is best for me. My family can come up and watch me play every game. I'm really happy about that."

The 5-foot-11, 160-pound West is the first defensive back to commit to Alabama for 2009, and the fourth defensive player overall. He totaled 36 tackles and three interceptions in 2007.

West is the son of J.J. Johnson, the former Mississippi State running back. At Alabama, West will get the chance to work first-hand with Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, a longtime defensive backs coach who helps defensive coordinator Kirby Smart instruct the defensive backs in every practice.

"That was a big part of my decision," West said of Saban's involvement with his position. "He's the best DB coach around."

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ESPN - College Football Recruiting On the Trail 2009

'Bama pledge Gerald West not done yet
Cornerback Gerald West, an Alabama commitment, isn't finished with the recruiting process yet. He was having difficulty traveling to different schools early in the process, but that has changed. His father, J.J. Johnson, a former Mississippi State running back, will be leading the way.
West told ESPN affiliate Web site BullDawgJunction.com, "It's not really a total go now (his commitment to Alabama), now that I got the transportation. I am looking forward to taking some visits, looking at the depth at each position and that type of stuff."
He added, "I want to take a visit to LSU and Arkansas and Mississippi State. Them are basically my main three."
West also shared what he's seeking, "I am going to be looking at their academic programs, their academic facilities. I'll be looking at the depth at the position and just checking out the environment, because when you are in an environment, you want to feel like you are at home."