Alabama signees (23)
QB: Ty Simpson
RB: Jamarion Miller, Emmanuel Henderson
WR: Kendrick Law, Isaiah Bond, Shazz Preston, Aaron Anderson, Kobe Prentice
TE: Amari Niblack, Elijah Brown
OL: Elijah Pritchett, Tyler Booker, Dayne Shor
DL: Jaheim Oatis, Khurtiss Perry, Isaiah Hastings
LB: Jeremiah Alexander, Jihaad Campbell, Shawn Murphy
DB: Earl Little Jr., Tre'Quon Fegans, Antonio Kite, Jake Pope
*Former Alabama commitment Walter Bob enrolled at Hutchison Community College in Kansas on January 7.
Players added from the transfer portal (3)
RB: Jahmyr Gibbs
WR: Jermaine Burton
DB: Elias Ricks
I am surprised with less than 24 hours to go until National Signing Day we are even discussing the possibility of the Crimson Tide adding more to its class. Any new addition for Alabama on Wednesday is additional gravy to the 'current' top recruiting class in the country. Alabama signed 23 players in December. The good news Alabama did not have to play the waiting game with any of its commitments until February. We've seen plenty (in the past) hold off from signing in December in order to take officials in January. It was not a concern this cycle.
Alabama has been pretty busy (recruiting-wise) since the conclusion of the early signing period. The staff scoured the country to see if there were any additional high school players it wanted to offer/recruit. Alabama didn't have to go after any one else. It wasn't in a situation where they 'had' to add another player at a certain position. They were going to evaluate and if there were any 'Alabama' caliber players still available they would consider taking.
Two recruits received offers from Alabama in January. It didn't offer 2-3 players at those positions. One tight end and one offensive lineman. We would have seen the Tide extend more offers if it was a concern. One didn't even receive an offer from Alabama until last week. Alabama can walk away tomorrow without any additions and still potentially sign the top class in the country according to Rivals.
I don't know what will happen on Wednesday with Georgia or Texas A&M. The Bulldogs will likely add in-state DL Christen Miller, but not enough to overtake the Crimson Tide. The Aggies pose a little bit of a threat to regain the No. 1 spot. A lot depends on a trio of players- Shemar Stewart, Harold Perkins and Jacoby Matthews. Most are predicting Perkins (former A&M commitment) and Matthews to LSU. However, there is still some optimism on the A&M side regarding Matthews. Stewart is expected to decide between Miami and Texas A&M. Texas A&M will need to land two of the three to overtake the Tide (at least with Rivals).
I know many are so focused on the No. 1 ranking, but there really isn't much separation between the top three. Alabama, Georgia and Texas A&M have separated from everyone else in the country. Alabama currently has the highest star average (4.09) which includes 20 Rivas250 signees. Alabama has also added MONSTER additions to its team in transfers from Eli Ricks, Jahmry Gibbs and Jermaine Burton.
Alabama likely isn't finished with transfers, but possibly a little while before we see any one else announce their intentions. Some may go through the spring before making a decision. Alabama is willing to wait. Its not going to take just anyone. Someone who the staff believes can make an impact, not one who is a serviceable back-up. I expect Alabama to keep its eyes open for any significant players who enter the portal at receiver, tight end and offensive line.
The final two
Alabama had three tight end commitments last month before Jaleel Skinner decided to flip to Miami. It was a decision catching the Tide staff a little bit by surprise even though they became very skeptical in the final 48 hours. Alabama was also a few weeks away from competing in the College Football Playoff. Bottom line- Alabama did not have a plan in place in case one of its tight ends flipped.
It had to go back to the drawing board and decide who was still available and if any were good enough to play at Alabama. The staff evaluate Danny Lewis' film and then attended his basketball game a few weeks ago. It gave the Tide an opportunity to see the 6-foot-4, 260-pound recruit move/run on the court. The athleticism is definitely there, but also may need a year or two to really develop his overall skills at tight end.
Lewis committed to Cincinnati in September. He re-opened his recruitment on January 12 a few weeks after Cincinnati lost its offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Mike Denbrock to the same position at LSU. He received an offer from LSU the same day he decommitted from the Bearcats. Alabama offered a week later. Lewis took officials to Alabama, Florida and LSU in the last two weeks.
He isn't one who talks to the media. Everything regarding his final decision has been a guess for all sides. He posted an awkward video of Brian Kelly that went viral after his visit to LSU last week. I am not sure if it helped or hurt the Tigers chances. It probably doesn't matter even though it was cringeworthy to most everyone else in the country. Brian Kelly has been a great recruiter at Notre Dame, but certainly comes across as trying way too hard during his short time at LSU so far. Maybe it'll work?
Lewis didn't arrive on his official visit to Florida until Saturday. It was a short stay in Gainesville. He has been recruited by Billy Napier for the last two years. It seems unlikely, however, he will sign with Florida. This appears (from everything we've been able to gather) as a battle between Alabama and LSU. Both schools are still fighting for him and likely won't know anything until later tonight or Wednesday morning.
Coach Saban, Drew Svoboda and Pete Golding met with Lewis and his family on Friday. He knows Alabama wants him and pushing hard to land his signature. The relationships are pretty new though whereas he at least has a longstanding connection with his position coach at LSU. I have talked to sources on both sides this morning who believe this one is truly a toss-up. Both schools will make final pitches at some point today with Coach Saban expected to talk to Lewis later this evening.
I'll make a final prediction at some point, but I don't expect any prediction on him a confident one. He will announce his decision at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Wednesday AM update: Alabama is very much still in the picture for Lewis as of Wednesday morning. There is a lot of pressure to stay in-state, but the Crimson Tide have made Lewis feel like a top priority in the last few weeks. This one has gone back-and-forth, but Alabama may have the lead this morning.
I have entered a FutureCast in favor of Alabama
Farmer decided to stick with his commitment and signed with Florida. Alabama expressed interest, but in the end only had one available spot. It decided to wait for a final decision on Lewis, and did not press for Farmer to join the class.
QB: Ty Simpson
RB: Jamarion Miller, Emmanuel Henderson
WR: Kendrick Law, Isaiah Bond, Shazz Preston, Aaron Anderson, Kobe Prentice
TE: Amari Niblack, Elijah Brown
OL: Elijah Pritchett, Tyler Booker, Dayne Shor
DL: Jaheim Oatis, Khurtiss Perry, Isaiah Hastings
LB: Jeremiah Alexander, Jihaad Campbell, Shawn Murphy
DB: Earl Little Jr., Tre'Quon Fegans, Antonio Kite, Jake Pope
*Former Alabama commitment Walter Bob enrolled at Hutchison Community College in Kansas on January 7.
Players added from the transfer portal (3)
RB: Jahmyr Gibbs
WR: Jermaine Burton
DB: Elias Ricks
I am surprised with less than 24 hours to go until National Signing Day we are even discussing the possibility of the Crimson Tide adding more to its class. Any new addition for Alabama on Wednesday is additional gravy to the 'current' top recruiting class in the country. Alabama signed 23 players in December. The good news Alabama did not have to play the waiting game with any of its commitments until February. We've seen plenty (in the past) hold off from signing in December in order to take officials in January. It was not a concern this cycle.
Alabama has been pretty busy (recruiting-wise) since the conclusion of the early signing period. The staff scoured the country to see if there were any additional high school players it wanted to offer/recruit. Alabama didn't have to go after any one else. It wasn't in a situation where they 'had' to add another player at a certain position. They were going to evaluate and if there were any 'Alabama' caliber players still available they would consider taking.
Two recruits received offers from Alabama in January. It didn't offer 2-3 players at those positions. One tight end and one offensive lineman. We would have seen the Tide extend more offers if it was a concern. One didn't even receive an offer from Alabama until last week. Alabama can walk away tomorrow without any additions and still potentially sign the top class in the country according to Rivals.
I don't know what will happen on Wednesday with Georgia or Texas A&M. The Bulldogs will likely add in-state DL Christen Miller, but not enough to overtake the Crimson Tide. The Aggies pose a little bit of a threat to regain the No. 1 spot. A lot depends on a trio of players- Shemar Stewart, Harold Perkins and Jacoby Matthews. Most are predicting Perkins (former A&M commitment) and Matthews to LSU. However, there is still some optimism on the A&M side regarding Matthews. Stewart is expected to decide between Miami and Texas A&M. Texas A&M will need to land two of the three to overtake the Tide (at least with Rivals).
I know many are so focused on the No. 1 ranking, but there really isn't much separation between the top three. Alabama, Georgia and Texas A&M have separated from everyone else in the country. Alabama currently has the highest star average (4.09) which includes 20 Rivas250 signees. Alabama has also added MONSTER additions to its team in transfers from Eli Ricks, Jahmry Gibbs and Jermaine Burton.
Alabama likely isn't finished with transfers, but possibly a little while before we see any one else announce their intentions. Some may go through the spring before making a decision. Alabama is willing to wait. Its not going to take just anyone. Someone who the staff believes can make an impact, not one who is a serviceable back-up. I expect Alabama to keep its eyes open for any significant players who enter the portal at receiver, tight end and offensive line.
The final two
Alabama had three tight end commitments last month before Jaleel Skinner decided to flip to Miami. It was a decision catching the Tide staff a little bit by surprise even though they became very skeptical in the final 48 hours. Alabama was also a few weeks away from competing in the College Football Playoff. Bottom line- Alabama did not have a plan in place in case one of its tight ends flipped.
It had to go back to the drawing board and decide who was still available and if any were good enough to play at Alabama. The staff evaluate Danny Lewis' film and then attended his basketball game a few weeks ago. It gave the Tide an opportunity to see the 6-foot-4, 260-pound recruit move/run on the court. The athleticism is definitely there, but also may need a year or two to really develop his overall skills at tight end.
Lewis committed to Cincinnati in September. He re-opened his recruitment on January 12 a few weeks after Cincinnati lost its offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Mike Denbrock to the same position at LSU. He received an offer from LSU the same day he decommitted from the Bearcats. Alabama offered a week later. Lewis took officials to Alabama, Florida and LSU in the last two weeks.
He isn't one who talks to the media. Everything regarding his final decision has been a guess for all sides. He posted an awkward video of Brian Kelly that went viral after his visit to LSU last week. I am not sure if it helped or hurt the Tigers chances. It probably doesn't matter even though it was cringeworthy to most everyone else in the country. Brian Kelly has been a great recruiter at Notre Dame, but certainly comes across as trying way too hard during his short time at LSU so far. Maybe it'll work?
Lewis didn't arrive on his official visit to Florida until Saturday. It was a short stay in Gainesville. He has been recruited by Billy Napier for the last two years. It seems unlikely, however, he will sign with Florida. This appears (from everything we've been able to gather) as a battle between Alabama and LSU. Both schools are still fighting for him and likely won't know anything until later tonight or Wednesday morning.
Coach Saban, Drew Svoboda and Pete Golding met with Lewis and his family on Friday. He knows Alabama wants him and pushing hard to land his signature. The relationships are pretty new though whereas he at least has a longstanding connection with his position coach at LSU. I have talked to sources on both sides this morning who believe this one is truly a toss-up. Both schools will make final pitches at some point today with Coach Saban expected to talk to Lewis later this evening.
I'll make a final prediction at some point, but I don't expect any prediction on him a confident one. He will announce his decision at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
Wednesday AM update: Alabama is very much still in the picture for Lewis as of Wednesday morning. There is a lot of pressure to stay in-state, but the Crimson Tide have made Lewis feel like a top priority in the last few weeks. This one has gone back-and-forth, but Alabama may have the lead this morning.
I have entered a FutureCast in favor of Alabama
Farmer decided to stick with his commitment and signed with Florida. Alabama expressed interest, but in the end only had one available spot. It decided to wait for a final decision on Lewis, and did not press for Farmer to join the class.
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