Alabama Recruiting: Not Done Yet

Here we sit one week before National Signing Day and hardly anyone is talking about recruiting. This is the new normal with the establishment of the Early Signing Period.

Most major programs have followed Nick Saban’s lead in making the ESP their de facto NSD by signing as full a class as possible. The February day is left for just the top prospects and other stragglers. While Alabama has a class of 25 signees + a greyshirt + firm commit Camar Wheaton, they are not done yet. They could sign three more or they could sign none. Either way, they have sewn up the top class once again. @Too bad the dynasty is over.@

FINAL THREE

• J.T. Tuimoloau SDE Sammamish, WA - Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon, UW - There is still radio silence out of the nation’s #2 prospect’s camp. The buzz is that he may not announce next Wednesday. Truth is, recruits can wait until August 1st to decide if they so choose. J.T. won’t take that long but if he waits too long, Saban will likely move on.
• Terrion Arnold S Tallahassee, FL - Florida, Alabama, UGA - This 4-star safety has stated that he will definitely announce on Feb. 3. Does that mean he has decided? ¯\_ツ_/¯ Honestly, it doesn’t feel like he will join the Tide.
• Brian Thomas WR Walker, LA - Alabama, Texas A&M, LSU, UGA - Another recruit keeping a tight lip, this 4-star is expected to announce his decision on NSD. he may be hte best chance for Alabama to add anyone else.
• Mystery Recruit - No buzz on this front this year.

NEW RANKINGS

Rivals has finally updated their rankings. The biggest beneficiaries are EDGE Keanu Koht, DB Kadarius Calloway and DB Devonta Smith who all earned a fourth star. Koht skyrocketed all the way up to #42. Calloway is right behind him at #51 after his showing at the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Classic.

JoJo Earle fell just short of a fifth star, but moved up 13 spots in the final rankings to #41 overall according to Rivals.

Rivals gives five Alabama recruits five stars. They are JC Latham, Tommy Brockermeyer , Dallas Turner, Ga’Quincy McKinstry, and Camar Wheaton. Only 30 prospects were honored with this ranking. [SIDE NOTE: Texas coaxed a visit out of Tennessee running back Eric Gray - further evidence of their non-interest in Wheaton.]

Due to this development, 247sports should be updating their secret composite algorithm rankings soon.

AFTER NSD

The Crimson Tide staff has been working on the 2022 and 2023 classes since this time last year. 5-star 2022 running back Emmanuel Henderson (Hartford, AL) announced a few days ago that he plans to announce a decision on March 13. Bama is a BIG favorite.

The lawsuit-fearing NCAA continues to push the Dead Period as it approaches its one year anniversary. Normally, Alabama would be having a Junior Day in February but the Dead Period is currently set at April 15, 2021. This past recruiting cycle was okay because the Tide staff already had plenty of scouting and visits from prospects, but it is going to be increasingly difficult to evaluate players if the no-contact mandate continues to be pushed back.

ROLL TIDE

#NSD21