It was Alabama vs. the history that entered National Signing Day, with the No. 1 ranked class, according to the industry-generated 247 Sports Composite Team Rankings, already decided after the 325.95 points of the Crimson Tide accumulated during the Early Signing period. The question on Wednesday was not whether Nick Saban and the company would hold off Ohio State rather it would stick to that positioning, the highest rankings ever generated, surpassing the 2010 Florida Gators score of 324.67.
Spoiler alert: it did. And along the way, he packed his ninth top class in 11 cycles.
The only way the Crimson Tide couldn’t end with a record-breaking score was if five-star pulled out Camar Wheaton did not sign with UA. Any drama that came with it was quickly quelled when the nation’s No. 33 rank signed with the Tide on bright and early Wednesday morning.
If you had brought up the Crimson Tide and ended up with the best class ever signed on paper last March, you probably would have laughed out of the room. After five-star quarterback Drake Maye flipped to North Carolina, leaving Bama only one bet in its class, well outside the Top 50 in the rankings, but the outlook for the spring didn’t seem so bright. There is no doubt that Alabama would eventually rally one of the best classes in the country, but the best ever? Not so fast.
Then the summer wave came.
Alabama made a string of pledges from late April to mid-August, five of which were rated as five-star recruits – wide receiver Jacorey Brooks, offensive tackles JC Latham and Tommy Brockermeyer, edge rusher Dallas Turner, and defensive equipment Damon Payne. Alabama fired on all cylinders, filling its needs at wide receiver, line of attack and defense, and elsewhere. All this while I had no personal contact with potential customers because of the pandemic.
Pick a position and you could say that Alabama has amassed most of the talent of this cycle in that group.
Quarterback: Top100 Signal Caller Jalen Milroe
Alabama turned to the quarterback position after losing Drake Maye and once turned Tide lean Jalen Milroe of the Longhorns, once again deal a blow to the former head coach Tom Herman and staff. Despite Steve Sarkisian Milroe had taken over in Austin, had already signed to Tide and didn’t want to change anything anyway.
Run: Five-star ball carrier Camar Wheaton
Alabama signed three backs in 2020, two of which flashed in occasionally during the 2020 season Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams. The program is also welcome again Brian Robinson and former five-star ball carrier Trey Sanders, like Keilan Robinson who have opted out of the 2020 season. The Tide has no shortage of options on the running back position, and you can be sure that Wheaton will only raise the level of competition in the meeting room of new running back coach Robert Gillespie .
Wide receiver: five star Jacorey Brooks, four stars JoJo Earle, Christian Leary, and Agiye Hall
A cycle it took the Tide to hit elite talent in the wide receiver position and UA staff did not disappoint, drawing the most impressive class of wide receivers since 2017’s amount of talent that will eventually produce three first rounds as it all said and done. Need replacement for Jaylen Waddle, another first round out the door? Look no further than Leary or Earle, two dynamic athletes with speed to burn. Both Brooks and Hall are giving UA that big mismatch that will become good friends with whoever wins this spring’s quarterback battle between Bryce Young and Paul Tyson.
Tight end: three stars Robbie Ouzts
Ouzts doesn’t have the flashy five or high four star rankings, but he doesn’t care. Flying under the radar, Ouzts give UA a versatile option: they can split and play or create gaps that block the line of scrimmage.
Offensive line: Enter the Nos. 1 and 2 tackles in the country Tommy Brockermeyer and JC Latham, elite interior lineman Terrence Ferguson, into the highest center of the nation James Brockermeyer, and four-star watch Jaeden Roberts from Houston.
Alabama dove into the state of Texas to make pledges from two Longhorn legacies in the Brockermeyer brothers, who had reasons enough to move to the 40 acres. It defeated alleged favorite Georgia for Terrence Ferguson, a Top100 talent, as well as a signed four-star watch Jaeden Roberts after the St. Louis resident had doubts about Auburn during the early signing period.
Defense line: 5-star defense gear Damon Payne, Top100 lineman Monkell Goodwine, and in-staters Tim Keenan and Anquin Barnes.
It is no Nick Saban recruitment class without at least one five star along the defensive front. The Tide has replenished its reserves in the trenches and will have enough talent for its 2021 rotation in the wake of Christian Barmore’s NFL Draft statement.
Linebacker: Five-star edge rusher Dallas Turner, 247Sports 5 star in ‘backer Lawson County, elite edge rusher Keanu Place, four stars in ‘backer Kendrick Blackshire, and four star linebacker outside Ian Jackson
A year away from signing the best linebackers class in America, you could make the argument that The Tide repeated that feat in 2021. Will Anderson has already established itself as a household name across the country, similar things can be expected from Turner and co. with the talent that this group has.
Defensive back: five-star Ga’Quincy McKinstry, 247Sports’ top junior college cornerback in Khyree Jackson, Top247 corner Devonta Smith, four-star athlete Kadarius Calloway, and 4-star safety Kaine Williams
Cornerback was another area UA needed in 2021, with Patrick Surtain II out of the league. Alabama hit a home run on the position, recruiting talent that adds depth, as anyone can play any position in the secondary. Jackson and McKinstry could arguably be pushing to start year 1.
Perhaps as impressive as the overall group of talent is when we consider the overall body of work, how UA achieved the feat and what the program dived into is arguably just as remarkable.
The Tide not only took advantage of the talent pool in attendance, but also went to Florida and Texas to secure the top talent of each state. In the Lone Star State, Bama signed four of the 13 best players, including the best prospect Tommy Brockermeyer. In Florida, UA signed five of the top 15 potential clients, including the No. 1-ranked recruit in the Sunshine State, JC Latham.
Alabama may also not be ready on National Signing Day with 247Sports five-star safety Terrion Arnold set to announce at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN2 between Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Adding Arnold gives UA a score of 327.91. And don’t forget the top player in the Top247, five-star defender JT Tuimoloau, who could add to the total. He will not announce until spring.
So despite the somewhat slow start to UA’s 2021 recruitment drive, Nick Saban and the staff again proved to be victorious, leaving a mark unlikely to be matched in the foreseeable future.