About

The all new CRIMSON CONFIDENTIAL is built on a partnership with ESPN and other top college sites dedicated to the distribution of real news based on factual reporting. No 'teases' to lure you into buying a subscription. Just real Alabama sports news based on facts gathered by our own team of reporters, under the direction of Erik Stinnett and our editorial staff.

ERIK STINNETT - SENIOR WRITER

Erik Stinnett, a Tuscaloosa native, has served as a staff writer for Crimson Confidential since July 2008. He recently joined former Alabama coach Gene Stallings in co-authoring a chapter in the book, Twelve and Counting: The National Championships of Alabama Football, which was released in the spring of 2009. Prior to joining Crimson Confidential, Stinnett served four years as a regular contributor for ‘Bama magazine. In 2006 he wrote the script for “Chasing History and a Hound,” part of Paul W. Bryant Museum’s Crimson Classics series, and in 2005 he assisted Kirk McNair with the book, What It Means To Be Crimson Tide. Prior to that, Stinnett worked six years as a sportswriter.

WILL MATTHEWS - SENIOR RECRUITING ANALYST

Will Matthews is from Ozark, Alabama and currently resides in Demopolis where he coaches football on the high school level. Matthews currently evaluates and instructs prospects in football camps, combines, and clinics throughout the state. He has coached and evaluated some of the top offensive and defensive linemen in the southeast over the past few years. Graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in history and a writing minor, Will has found much success in the evaluating of prospects entering the college level. After graduation, he began working and studying the ins and outs of high school football. Matthews first started coaching with former Florida State and Alabama recruiting coordinator Ronnie Cottrell. Under Cottrell, Matthews learned about recruiting, evaluating, and the overall concept of developing relationships with players and coaches. His next job would bring him to the tiny town of Ariton, Alabama where he was the offensive coordinator for the Ariton High Purple Cats. While at Ariton, Matthews coached current Alabama commitment Craig Sanders. Matthews worked with Sanders for an entire year, and in the process, Sanders developed into one of the top defensive end prospects in the country. Matthews also instructed him along some of the top defensive linemen throughout the region in the NIKE Combines 2008. Recently he evaluated and instructed players such as Brandon Moore, Quinton Dial, Chance Warmack, Anthony Orr, and numerous others that are currently on SEC rosters. After Ariton, Matthews moved to Demopolis Alabama to persue a maters degree at the University of West Alabama in nearby Livingston. He spent last year as the defensive coordinator of the Linden High Patriots. He helped lead Linden to a 10-0 regular season, region championship, #2 final state ranking, and a semifinal appearance before losing to the eventual state champion Sweetwater Bulldogs. He coached ASWA Super 12, 1A player of the year Maurice Tate in 2008, who has committed to Alabama State University. Matthews has also been working in recruiting recently as an analyst and evaluator at Scout.com/South.