4-star DB Jake Pope couldn’t say no to Alabama Crimson Tide
Buford (Ga.) High four-star safety Jake Pope came out of the month of June with North Carolina as his leader. That was after official visits to Alabama, Notre Dame, Ohio State and North Carolina. An unofficial visit to Georgia was sprinkled in there as well.
It was a stressful July for Pope after a vacation early in the month. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior went back and forth between Alabama and North Carolina much of the month, and that carried into August.
It was a couple of weeks ago that Pope made the decision on the Crimson Tide. It was a decision that’s now official after his commitment.
“I just kept having talks with my dad, looking for things to separate one school from the other,” Pope said. “I just kept coming back to Alabama being in the SEC, Alabama’s player development and the competition on their team. That is what is really came down to for me.”
It was hard for Jake Pope to say no to North Carolina
Jake Pope left Chapel Hill feeling at home. Pope loved the environment at North Carolina and he can see himself happy as a Tar Heel.
“Coach Mack Brown is one of the most genuine coaches I have ever talked to or been around,” Pope said. “He is a great person, a great coach and he is doing great things at North Carolina.”
Coach Brown wasn’t the only North Carolina coach Pope thought highly of.
“Coach (Jay) Bateman and coach (Dre) Bly are two of the best coaches. I love what coach Bly did in the NFL, how he coaches and we had a good connection.
“Me and coach Bateman have one of the best relationships I have with any coach. I think we will keep that going. We just get each other, so it was a hard decision.”
Pope does plan to take in at least one North Carolina game this season.
Pope just couldn’t turn down Alabama
Buford High is about winning. Jake Pope has won two state titles in high school, he plays baseball, and Buford has one of the top programs in the country, so Alabama’s success played into this decision.
Pope’s high school has double-digit Power 5 players, and he welcomes the competition Alabama can present.
“I want to play for championships, I want to be part of a great team and I know that is what Alabama is about,” Pope said. “I love competition and I will get that at Alabama. There are great players at North Carolina, too, but I feel Alabama is best for me. It is very similar to Buford.”
North Carolina made a strong run. The ACC program gave Pope a lot to think about, but he said Alabama was the right school for him.
“I just kept coming back to Alabama,” Pope said. “I literally was 50-50 a lot of the summer, but every time I broke it down and looked for reasons to pick one school, it came back to Alabama.
“Alabama produces legends. Alabama has great players. It is the best program in the country and I cannot wait to be part of it.”