"Quicker than fast."

"I just love it there," said Trey DePriest the No. 1 linebacker in the country. The Tide signee enrolled early and already on the Tide's campus.

Trey DePriest
Scout.com Rating: Five-star
Scout.com Rank: No. 1 Linebacker
Size: 6-foot-2, 230-pounds
Hometown: Springfield High School Springfield, Ohio
Projected Position: Middle Linebacker
Stats: DePriest was second on the team in tackles as a senior with 117, made eight and a half sacks, and three interceptions, two returned for touchdowns. He averaged 39.6 yards per punt and was used on offense in short yardage packages rushing in six touchdowns.

Commit Date: 7/30/2010
Recruiting Competition: Ohio State, Michigan

Why Alabama: "I just love it there. That is where I felt the most comfortable. They love you, but it's a different type of love. That's just where I felt like I needed to go. I think the future is very bright down there."

Strengths/Improvements: "I try to be a leader on and off the field. I played outside linebacker up until my junior year. I am more comfortbale now playing in the middle. I need to continue to work on my flexibility and staying consistent."

Coach Quotes (Springfield Head Coach Rick Robertson): "When I first saw him play I really didn’t think he was that special. I just didn't see it. I thought he needed to spend more time in the weight room. Then, at a 7-on-7 we had, he made a play that I don’t think I’ve ever seen in all my years of coaching, and I thought to myself, ‘that kid’s got it.'

"He has a close relationship with his family, so I thought he’d probably stay in-state at the beginning. They encouraged him to do what's best for him, and I think he just felt at home at Alabama.

"His friendship has continued with Vinnie [Sunseri], and I think they’re planning on being roommates as incoming freshmen.

"We had two big games at the end of the year which we needed to win. Trey came to me and said ‘give me the ball coach’, and I didn’t argue with him. He rushed for close to 100 yards and helped carry us to a playoff berth. Trey’s the consummate team player.

"The Monday after we lost in the play-offs ending our season Trey was in the weight room by himself. Then he started running around the track. He's very self-disciplined. You don’t need to tell Trey to do work. He does it on his own. That’s how seriously he took playing in the Under Armour game which was coming up and the up-tempo life he's sure to see at Alabama.

"We used him at outside linebacker and blitzed him a lot which resulted in eight and a half sacks. To reference Bill Bradley’s book “A Sense of Where You Are”, Trey has great instincts on the field of where he needs to be. He plays the game with considerable intensity, a rare understanding of the game, and displays unlimited potential."

Richard Stover contributed to this report.

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Scout.com says: Has the frame of a middle linebacker, but he shows the flexibility and change of direction to be able to play on the outside in space. Quicker than fast, ideal for a linebacker. DePriest at times plays too high, but he’s strong enough that he’s gotten away with it in high school. He's a tenacious pass rusher who has a knack for timing the snap and beating a blocker out of his stance. Shows good balance as a RB."-Scott Kennedy