It was Alabama vs. history entering National Signing Day, with the No. 1-ranked class, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Team Rankings, already decided following the Crimson Tide’s 325.95 points amassed during the Early Signing Period. The question on Wednesday was not whether Nick Saban and company would hold off Ohio State, rather would it hold onto that positioning, the highest ranking ever generated, surpassing the 2010 Florida Gators’ score of 324.67.
Spoiler alert: it did. And along the way wrapped up its ninth top-ranked class in 11 cycles.
The only way the Crimson Tide couldn’t have finished with a record-breaking score was if five-star running back commit Camar Wheaton didn’t sign with UA. Any drama that came along with that was quickly quelled as the nation’s No. 33 ranked prospect inked with the Tide bright and early Wednesday morning.
If you brought up the Crimson Tide finishing with the greatest class ever signed on paper last March, you would have likely been laughed out of the room. After five-star quarterback Drake Maye flipped to North Carolina, leaving Bama with just one commitment in its class, well outside the Top 50 in the rankings, the outlook didn’t appear as rosy in the spring. There was no question Alabama would eventually assemble one of the top classes in the country, but top class ever? Not so fast.
Then came the summer surge.
Alabama reeled off a series of commitments from late April to mid August, five of which graded as five-star recruits — wide receiver Jacorey Brooks, offensive tackles JC Latham and Tommy Brockermeyer, edge rusher Dallas Turner, and defensive tackle Damon Payne. Alabama was firing on all cylinders filling its needs at wide receiver, offensive and defensive line, and elsewhere. This all while not having any in-person contact with prospects due to the pandemic.
Pick a position and you could argue that Alabama assembled the most talent of anyone this cycle in that grouping.
Quarterback: Top100 signal caller Jalen Milroe
Alabama pivoted at the quarterback position after losing Drake Maye and flipped one-time Tide lean Jalen Milroe from the Longhorns, dealing another blow to former head coach Tom Herman and staff. Despite Steve Sarkisian taking over in Austin, Milroe had already signed with the Tide and wasn’t looking to make a change again anyway.
Running back: Five-star ball carrier Camar Wheaton
Alabama signed three backs in 2020, two of which flashed at times during the 2020 season in Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams. The program will also welcome back Brian Robinson and former five-star ball carrier Trey Sanders, as well as Keilan Robinson who opted out of the 2020 season. The Tide will have no shortage of options at the running back position, and you can bet Wheaton will only elevate the competition level in new running back coach Robert Gillespie’s meeting room.
Wide receiver: Five-star Jacorey Brooks, four-stars JoJo Earle, Christian Leary, and Agiye Hall
A cycle the Tide needed to hit on elite talent at the wide receiver position and the UA staff did not disappoint, signing the most impressive wide receivers class since 2017’s haul of talent that will end up producing three first rounders when it’s all said and done. Need a replacement for Jaylen Waddle, another first rounder out the door? Look no further than Leary or Earle, two dynamic athletes with speed to burn. Both Brooks and Hall give UA that big-bodied mismatch that’ll become good friends with whomever wins this spring’s quarterback battle between Bryce Young and Paul Tyson.
Tight end: Three-star Robbie Ouzts
Ouzts doesn’t have the flashy five- or high four-star ranking, but he doesn’t care. Flying under the radar, Ouzts gives UA a versatile option the can split out and make plays or create holes blocking on the line of scrimmage.
Offensive line: the Nos. 1 and 2 tackles in the country in Tommy Brockermeyer and JC Latham, elite interior lineman Terrence Ferguson, the nation’s top center in James Brockermeyer, and four-star guard Jaeden Roberts out of Houston.
Alabama dipped into the state of Texas to secure commitments from two Longhorn legacies in the Brockermeyer brothers, who had plenty of reasons to head to the 40 acres. It beat out perceived favorite Georgia for Terrence Ferguson, a Top100 talent, as well as signed four-star guard Jaeden Roberts after the St. Louis native had second thoughts on Auburn during the Early Signing Period.
Defensive line: Five-star defensive tackle Damon Payne, Top100 lineman Monkell Goodwine, and in-staters Tim Keenan and Anquin Barnes.
It’s not a Nick Saban recruiting class without at least one five-star along the defensive front. The Tide replenished its reserves in the trenches, and will have plenty of talent for its 2021 rotation in the wake of Christian Barmore’s NFL Draft declaration.
Linebacker: Five-star edge rusher Dallas Turner, 247Sports five-star inside ‘backer Deontae Lawson, elite edge rusher Keanu Koht, four-star inside ‘backer Kendrick Blackshire, and four-star outside linebacker Ian Jackson
A year removed from signing the top linebackers class in America, you could make the argument the Tide repeated that feat in 2021. Will Anderson has already established himself as a household name throughout the country, you could expect similar things from Turner and co. with the talent this group possesses.
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 four-star safety Kaine Williams
Cornerback was another area of need for UA in 2021 with Patrick Surtain II off the to the league. Alabama hit a home run at the position, recruiting talent that bolsters depth considering each can play any position in the secondary. Jackson and McKinstry could arguably push to start Year 1.
Perhaps as impressive as the overall group of talent is when looking at the overall body of work, how UA accomplished the feat and where the program dipped into is arguably just as noteworthy.
The Tide not only utilized its in-state talent pool, but went to Florida and Texas to secure each respective state’s top talent. In the Lone Star State, Bama signed four of the top 13 players, including the top prospect in Tommy Brockermeyer. In Florida, UA signed five of the top 15 prospects, including the No. 1-ranked recruit in the Sunshine State, JC Latham.
Alabama may not be done just yet either on National Signing Day with 247Sports five-star safety Terrion Arnold set to announce between Alabama, Georgia, and Florida at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN2. Adding Arnold would give UA a score of 327.91. And don’t forget about the top overall prospect in the Top247, five-star defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, who could add on to the total. He’s not announcing until the spring.
So despite the somewhat slow start to UA’s 2021 recruiting haul, Nick Saban and staff once again proved victorious, setting a mark that will likely not to be matched anytime in the near future.
