ANDREW BONE: Recruits lining up to get a glimpse of the Crimson Tide

University of Alabama games on Saturdays have become a hot ticket for high school football prospects as unofficial visitors. Recruits were lined up several deep on the sidelines prior to kickoff against South Carolina last wekend.

Three players among the crowd were in Tuscaloosa as official visitors.

Alabama welcomed two of the official visitors already committed to the Tide — Cade Foster, Scout.com four-star kicker from Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas, and Austin Shepherd, Scout.com three-star offensive guard from North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Ga.

Both players will graduate in December and enroll at the Capstone next January.

The third visitor was Johnavon Fulton, Scout.com four-star cornerback from Manning High School in South Carolina. Fulton also plans to graduate in December, but has not made a decision on what college he will attend. He plans to decide between Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and LSU. It appears the decision will likely come down to Alabama, Florida and South Carolina.

Foster wouldn't bet against Alabama for Fulton.

'I would be very surprised if John Fulton committed elsewhere,' Foster said. 'He seemed to really enjoy himself. When we went to coach Saban's house he was having a great time.

'The trip went great. I grew up going to TCU games. Their big games were 30,000 people, and seeing 100,000 people in Tuscaloosa was something else. The whole state is crazy about Alabama football.'

Shepherd, who had a teammate (JaWuan James) de-commit from Alabama, enjoyed his experience in Tuscaloosa.

'I spent a little bit of time with coach (Joe) Pendry before breakfast (Saturday morning),' Shepherd said. 'We talked a lot. He talked about how he could use me and how it's going to benefit me by coming in early.

'I talked to coach (Nick) Saban a lot as well. He was saying how glad to have me and excited to get me there. We talked about life in general.'

Several of Alabama's top commitments were spotted in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night, including Demarcus Milliner, Scout.com five-star cornerback from Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook; Nick Perry, four-star safety from Prattville High School; Jarrick Williams, four-star safety from Blount High School in Prichard; Corey Grant, four-star running back from Opelika High School; Jalston Fowler, four-star fullback from Vigor High School in Prichard; Blake Sims, four-star safety from Gainesville High School in Georgia; Harrison Jones, three-star tight end from Evangelical Christian School in Cordova, Tenn.; Jay Williams, three-star punter from Thomasville High School; Wilson Love, three-star defensive tackle from Mountain Brook High School; and Brent Calloway, 2011 Scout.com National 100 outside linebacker from Russellville High School.

Deion Belue, Tide commitment in the class of 2010, went away impressed especially with Marquis Johnson. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier tested Johnson all night with his highly-touted wide receiver, Alshon Jeffrey, a former Southern Cal commitment who switched and signed with his home-state Gamecocks. Jeffery had a big game against Kentucky the previous week with seven receptions for 138 yards and three touchdowns, including a one-handed catch in the end zone.

'The defense shows up to play every game,' Belue said. 'I was real impressed with No. 24 (Johnson). He did really good. He stepped up his game.'

Harrison Jones was impressed with several players, including his brother, starting right guard Barrett Jones.

'(Mark) Ingram's performance was pretty ridiculous,' Jones said. 'He had 246 yards rushing. That was really impressive. He definitely played like a man. Barrett did a good job. It's still impressive to see him out there starting for the No. 1 team in the country.'

A couple of other senior prospects in Tuscaloosa included Dimitri Orr, Scout.com two-star defensive end from Oxford High School, and Demont Buice, three-star running back from Gaston High School in Gadsden.

Orr has given a commitment to Arkansas, but may be on the verge of switching to Auburn or Florida State. The Tide has not offered at this point.

Buice, who suffered a broken ankle a couple of weeks ago, is Clemson commitment who remains solid with the Tigers. The LSU Tigers have turned their attention towards Buice as well. Alabama has not offered a scholarship.

Several prospects for the class of 2011 who were in abundance for the Tide's homecoming. These players will become household names for the recruiting junkies.

Alonzo Harris, running back from Gadsden City High School; Jacquese Kirk, cornerback from Walker High School in Jasper; Broderick Hall, quarterback from Paul W. Bryant High School; Quan Bray, running back from Calloway High School in Hogansville, Ga.; Jahmel McIntosh, wide receiver from Cleveland High School in Mississippi; and Devin Bowman, running back from Ridgeland High School in Rossville, Ga.

Harris has received offers from Alabama and Tennessee. He is eager to return this Saturday to see the Tide and Vols battle in the nationally-featured 2:30 p.m. game on CBS.

'The visit to Alabama was fun,' Harris said. 'I liked the wildcat formation. Mark Ingram had a great game. He is a role model for me.'

Jahmel McIntosh left Tuscaloosa with the Crimson Tide as his favorite.

'The game was crazy,' he said. 'The fans were so wild. The Quad was crazy before the game. They love barbecue, ‘Roll Tide' and the fight song. When Mark Barron returned the interception for the touchdown, I could feel the stadium shaking. It was a great atmosphere.'

Alabama will host another big group of prospects this weekend. At least three official visitors have confirmed trips to Tuscaloosa: Ahmad Dixon, Scout.com five-star safety from Midway High School in Waco, Texas; Jordan Hicks, Scout.com five-star outside linebacker from Lakota West High School in West Chester, Ohio; and Alabama commitment Alfy Hill, Scout.com four-star defensive end from West Brunswick High School in Shallotte, N.C.

Visit TideSports.com and Scout.com for Andrew Bone's recruiting coverage.