Five-Star DT Ishmael Sopsher (Amite, LA)
Considering: Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Ole Miss, Oregon
The battle for the top-ranked defensive tackle prospect in the country appears to be down to Alabama and LSU, as most battles for the top-ranked players in Louisiana have come down to since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007.
Sopsher has long been considered as an LSU lean, with the Crystal Ball turning up purple and gold almost every time it was peered into. Recently, however, momentum has shifted with the last five Crystal Ball picks favoring the Crimson Tide, turning what looked like a sure LSU win into a hotly contested battle between now and National Signing Day in February.
Sopsher is going to take his time throughout this process, and doesn’t plan on making his decision known until signing day, but it is noteworthy that recent momentum has drastically shifted toward Tuscaloosa.
At 334 pounds, Sopsher is a bit bigger than your modern Nick Saban nose-tackle, with Saban trending more toward leaner and quicker guys in the middle of the defense instead of the traditional nose-guard. Quinnen Williams occupied the position this season a shade under 300 pounds; Da’Ron Payne manned the middle before him at just a hair over 300.
Sopsher is athletic enough to move despite the weight, but he’d likely be slimmed down if he came to Tuscaloosa. He played defensive end in high school and showed a knack for rushing the passer, so concerns over his lateral agility are probably overblown.
This one is probably too close to call with so much potentially changing between now and February, but he is trending toward Alabama at the moment. With Williams likely heading to the draft, the Crimson Tide will be able to offer the opportunity for some immediate playing time in 2019; that, along with the recent track-record of defensive linemen in the NFL, might be enough to entice Sopsher to spurn in-state LSU and sign with Alabama.