Wednesday was the first day of spring practice for high schools in the Peach State, and Bama247 was on the road at Mill Creek (Ga.) High School to get our first look at Alabama linebacker commit Luke Metz.

In March, the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder chose Alabama over Ole Miss and other programs.

“Really just always been an Alabama fan,” Metz explained his decision with Bama247 at the time. “Coach (Kalen) DeBoer, coach (Kane) Wommack are a great fit for me. I feel like there is a really good opportunity for me to play early too.”

The Peach State linebacker will return on June 7 for his official visit. He’s looking forward to getting to know Alabama “better and seeing what day-to-day is like (even more).”

Goodman: Will receiver Isaiah Bond regret leaving Alabama for Texas

If anyone was still in denial about the new world of college football, then Isaiah Bond’s transfer from Alabama to Texas ended any and all doubt that the sport would ever be the same again.

Bond was the hero of the 2023 Iron Bowl. His game-winning touchdown reception on fourth and 31 made him an instant legend of Crimson Tide football. He led Alabama in receiving yards in the SEC championship game. After another year in Tuscaloosa, everything was in place for him to carry on the long tradition of Alabama receivers taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Then the unthinkable happened. Bond transferred out of Alabama shortly after Nick Saban announced his retirement from college football.

I’m not going to call Bond a turncoat villain, but it’s fair to say that his decision to double-cross Alabama left the Crimson Tide shaken and the rest of the SEC stirred.

Of all the moves we’ve seen throughout the sport of college football since January, Bond’s decision to leave hero status at Alabama for more NIL money at Texas represents the most jaw-dropping plot twist of the offseason. For me, it was even more shocking than Saban’s retirement.