Higgins: More than just a bump for Saban

Just wondering when an SEC football coach is going to turn in Alabama coach Nick Saban on an apparent recruiting violation.

Saban obtained a commitment from Memphis Mitchell receiver Keiwone Malone, a high school junior.

The only problem is that other than a "bump" - which is an accidental "hello, how are ya?"- a coach can't have direct contact with a junior at the time that Saban did (before signing day for seniors on Feb. 4). That's a dead period (no contact) according to NCAA rules.

Judging from the quotes given by Malone to the Commerial Appeal's Jason Smith, there was a face-to-face meeting and a selling job by Saban.

Mitchell High didn't have any seniors that were being recruited by Saban, so his visit wasn't for that purpose.

And it had to be more than a bump. When's the last time you heard a kid receive a scholarship offer and commit on a bump?

The SEC office had no comment on the matter, other than to explain the bump rule. This wasn't a bump by the Sabanator. This was full-contact recruiting.