LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – A lot of the sideline and team hotel chatter among players this week at the 2013 Under Armour All-America game has been the upcoming BCS National Championship game between Notre Dame and defending champion Alabama.
Auburn commitment Carl Lawson picked Alabama to win the national championship.
While the prospects committed to the Fighting Irish and Crimson Tide have commented plenty on the January 7 game in recent weeks, uncommitted and prospects committed to other schools also weighed in this week.
Defensive end Robert Nkemdiche (Loganville, Ga./Grayson)
“I got Alabama because they are a winning program and they are used to playing games in the SEC. Notre Dame could also pull out the victory. Manti Te’o is a great, great player and that whole front seven is the real deal. So I’m not sure.”
Defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Vienna, Ga./Dooly County)
“I got Alabama. It’s the SEC. Maybe like 28-17 or 21-17. It will be a good game.”
Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee)
“Alabama. They are going to be a little more physical than Notre Dame, but I think Notre Dame might out smart them. It will be a close game, but I got Alabama in the end.”
Outside linebacker Matthew Thomas (Miami, Fla./Booker T. Washington)
“Roll Tide. I like Alabama. I think Bama has more athletes than Notre Dame. Alabama, they just live for this. I think it will be like 28-17 or something like that. I’ll be watching. It should be a great game.”
Auburn commitment Carl Lawson (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton)
“Umm, Bama. Bama again. Just the way they play defense. Notre Dame is back on the rebound, but I’ll take Bama. I don’t know anything about college football compared to others.”
Penn State quarterback commitment Christian Hackenberg (Fork Union, Va./Fork Union Military)
“Bama. I think that Notre Dame’s front seven is going to be the best Bama has seen, but I also think Bama’s defense will be the best Notre Dame has seen.”
Georgia quarterback commitment Brice Ramsey
“I’ll take Alabama. I think they’ll be able to run the ball against Notre Dame like they did against Georgia, and they have a pretty decent passing game too.”
Georgia commitment Shaq Wiggins says "Nick Saban owns it."
Outside linebacker Kendell Beckwith (Jackson, La./East Feliciana)
“I got to go with Alabama. That’s one of my top two teams. That’s my reason, but I do think they are just better at the end of the day.”
USC running back commitment Ty Isaac (Joliet, Il/Catholic)
“I don’t know. I’m going to ride with the Irish. I think they have a really good defense. People make the argument that they have won close games against not really good teams, but they have won close games. And I think they will win one more.”
Florida running back commitment Kelvin Taylor (Belle Glade, Fla./G;ades Day)
“Alabama, SEC man. It’s going to be a great game. Both teams are hard hitting teams. You can’t anything away from Notre Dame, but Alabama has had a month and Eddie and Yeldon back there at running back are freaks. Alabama has Nick Saban, and he’s a great coach. Coach Kelly is good too at Notre Dame. I think it’s going to be a great game, maybe Alabama by a field goal or touchdown. I think Alabama will wear them down late with the running game.”
Oklahoma running back commitment Keith Ford (Cypress, Texas/Cypress Ranch)
“That’s a hard one. I’ve always watched Alabama. They are always number one or two it seems like, but I’ve got to go with Notre Dame. I just feel it. Yeah, Notre Dame.”
Safety Tony Conner (Batesville, Miss./South Panola)
“I’m going with Roll Tide. I mean, Alabama has been in the BCS Championship what seems like every year. They are just like South Panola. Coach Saban hasn’t lost in the game, and he doesn’t take too many losses, so I’m pretty sure he’s hyped up for this one.”
LSU defensive tackle commitment Maquedias Bain (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./University School of Nova)
“Notre Dame, hands down. Manti Teo is a beast man. I would like to meet that dude one day. Their defensive tackle, number 9, is a best too. I just think they are going to take it with their defense.”
Georgia cornerback commitment Shaq Wiggins (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek)
“Alabama. Number one defense in the nation, maybe the world. Nick Saban owns it.”
Wide receiver Sebastian LaRue (Santa Monica, Calif.)
“I’m going Notre Dame just strictly because they got something going this year. They have great chemistry and I think that’s the biggest thing when you play this game. Everybody has to be on the same page, and I think Notre Dame has that. You know, Alabama has got a great program. Nick Saban is a great head coach, but Notre Dame just has it working together in all three phases of the game.”
LSU defensive tackle Greg Gilmore (Hope Mills, NC/)
“You know, I’m actually going for Alabama because of that running game. You see who Notre Dame has played and who Alabama has played, but then again you watch LSU and Clemson last night and it makes me feel like Notre Dame has a better chance.”
Defensive end Elijah Daniel (Avon, Ind.)
“I got Alabama, even thought I think Notre Dame can win. I got Alabama simply because it’s Nick Saban, and it’s Brian Kelly’s first time. Alabama has also been three of the last four years, and simply because I think it’s just different at Alabama since Nick Saban went there.”
- Gerry Hamilton
- National Scouting Director - 247Sports