Eddie Vanderdoes loves Alabama visit: can Tide land five-star defensive tackle recruit?

Out of Placer (Calif.) Auburn High School, Eddie Vanderdoes is one of the most sought after recruits in the country.

At 6'3, 300 pounds, rated five stars, and by some the top defensive tackle nationally, Vanderdoes has offers from every major school, and has narrowed his list to USC (to which he was once committed), UCLA, Washington, Notre Dame and Alabama.

It is the last school, the National Champion Crimson Tide, that had the last shot at Vanderdoes.

And though most every recruit would want to visit Tuscaloosa, Alabama sent a coach for an in-home visit to make sure Vanderdoes was still coming, as other schools tried to dissuade him from making the trip.

Coach Rumph coming over at 5 for an In Home and to see what's planned for this big weekend coming up!! #RTR 🐘🐘🐘

— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) January 29, 2013

It worked

Up bright and early getting ready to head out here soon to see what's goin on in T-Town...ROLLTIDEROLL BABY! 🐘🐘🐘. #BAMA ?!?! 🏆🏆🏆

— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 1, 2013

About to get on my plane.. #RTR

— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 1, 2013

Out here in Denver getting ready to board for T-Town!! #RTR

— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 1, 2013

And Vanderdoes loved the trip.

Man I love it out here in T-Town. Idk why everyone was saying I wouldn't love the South haha I fit in perfect here. #RTR

— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 2, 2013

People are real out here to, VERY nice and down to earth.

— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 2, 2013

Perhaps people had told him that a California kid would not fit in well in the South?

Vanderdoes got a chance to pose with one of Alabama's recent Heisman Trophies.

Me next to this trophy. twitter.com/EddieVanderdoe…

— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 2, 2013

Haha never a bad day having brunch at Coach Sabans house then getting to ride his Golf cart down to his lake #rtr

— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 2, 2013

Golf cart rides, kids love 'em.

Met Donta Hightower too. Big as HELL

— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 2, 2013

Yes, the former Alabama linebacker is huge.

Bamas lifting/conditioning program is crazy

— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 2, 2013

Perhaps Hightower lifted a lot at Alabama, or something?

Haha I'm done for tonight, dinner in the stadium so that should be pretty cool.

— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 2, 2013

Linemen love food.

Great time in T-Town now time to head back to the 530.

— EV4™ (@EddieVanderdoes) February 3, 2013

The Tide seems to have a real shot at landing Vanderdoes, though I currently project him to choose UCLA.

Distance matters in recruiting more than anyone wants to admit, because it's one factor schools cannot control. And for that reason, I think Vanderdoes elects for the UCLA Bruins over Alabama, Notre Dame, or recommitting to USC.

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For more on Tide football recruiting, visit Alabama's Roll Bama Roll.