Westlake's Chance Warmack knows all about Alabama fans

Although he has been committed to Alabama and Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban for months, don't think that Westlake offensive lineman Chance Warmack will have a prime seat at Saturday's SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome. NCAA rules will prevent that. "I think there is a rule against being able to give tickets to a game that is not a home game," Warmack said this week. "So I'll probably just watch it at home. That's what I did with the Clemson game at the beginning of the season." But Warmack was at the Iron Bowl last week to witness the Tide's 36-0 domination of Auburn. "It was crazy. I guess that's the best word to be able to describe the atmosphere and how the fans were," Warmack said. "Just crazy." The experience made him even more anxious to get to Tuscaloosa, which he will do in January so that he can participate in spring drills. Still Warmack said Alabama's fanatical fan base won't impact his play next season. "I've always just tried to tune out the fans," he said. "I just focus on what I have to do on the field."

Westlake OL Warmack still solid on 'Bama ... for now

Westlake offensive tackle Chance Warmack says he is sticking by his verbal commitment to Alabama, made several weeks ago. But that hasn't stopped the recruiting calls, and Warmack, an AJC Georgia 150 selectee, is listening. "For the most part, it's still all about Alabama for me, but I'm keeping my options open, " said Warmack (6-foot-4, 320 pounds). "[Schools] are still calling, except for Auburn. They're pretty mad at me." Warmack said he will take three official visits at some point, although he won't say where those visits will be. He said his focus is on adapting to the school's new coaching staff. "I really like my coaches, " Warmack said. "They are really staying on me, trying to make me better."

Westlake seniors drawing recruiting interest

One of the biggest surprise teams of the year could be senior-laden Westlake. The Lions were 5-5 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004. But the 30-plus seniors on the team are primed to turn things around. While offensive lineman Chance Warmack --- an AJC Georgia 150 selectee who has committed to Alabama --- gets most of the attention, several other seniors are getting serious recruiting looks. Running back Jarrett Kyles said he has received "about 40 or 50" letters from Middle Tennessee State. "And they are hand-written notes, too, which is kind of cool, " said Kyles (5-foot-11, 190 pounds), who ran 4.45 in the 40 at Auburn's camp this summer. "Auburn has sent me letters and Georgia Southern, too." Kyles said he thinks an offer will come from MTSU once they see some game film. Many of his fellow senior teammates are in a similar situation, including defensive end/offensive lineman Todd Wilcher (6-1, 240), who is being recruited by Georgia Southern, Indiana, Troy and Ole Miss. "[Georgia Southern] said they were going to come up and see me play, and they want to see some film, too, " Wilcher said. Other Westlake players being heavily recruited include running back Devon Babb (Alabama-Birmingham, MTSU, Savannah State and Troy), defensive back Dwayne Fields (MTSU and Georgia Southern), receiver Robert Jennings (Alabama-Birmingham, East Carolina, Georgia Southern, Troy and Vanderbilt), quarterback Lewis Kindle (Eastern Kentucky, Leon, MTSU, Tennessee-Martin and Troy) and safety Julian Smith (Georgia Southern and West Virginia).