roc thomas

Oxford running back Roc Thomas is committed to Auburn. (Mark Almond / File)

Thursday marks the end of the NCAA's "dead period" in the recruiting cycle, meaning that for the first time since December, college coaches are back out on the road visiting recruits. Alabama's newly-revamped coaching staff will spread out across the South to visit both committed players and uncommitted targets, starting with one of the most decorated stars in the state of Alabama.

According to a report from

, new Crimson Tide offensive coordinator

Lane Kiffin

hit the road early Thursday to visit Oxford running back

, who was

on Wednesday. Thomas, who has been committed to Auburn since August of 2013, took some unofficial visits to Tuscaloosa last spring and summer but has not wavered in his commitment to the Tigers thus far.

Other key visits set to take place on Thursday include Tide assistant

Lance Thompson

heading to Kentucky to meet with massive defensive tackle

ahead of his scheduled official visit to Tuscaloosa this weekend, and Alabama defensive coordinator

Kirby Smart

heading to Auburn to visit five-star outside linebacker/safety

.

Evans' father Alan spoke to AL.com last week about Smart's relationship with the Evans family.

"Coach Smart has been recruiting Rashaan really since he was in middle school," Alan said. "It's a relationship that goes back a long ways and it's one of the big reasons why Alabama has been one of Rashaan's top schools all along."

Stay tuned for more updates on Crimson Tide recruiting throughout the day as Alabama's coaches hit the recruiting trail to begin the final stretch of the 2014 recruiting cycle.