Alabama Football Recruiting: Introduction to National Signing Day

The NCAA found a way to make the recruiting season even more annoying by moving it forward an additional two weeks BEFORE the conference championship games. Now all programs and coaching staffs have just three days after the end of the regular season to get everything together… I hope you’ve been recruiting during the season!

For Alabama, this will be coach Kalen DeBoer and GM Courtney Morgan’s first recruiting class, which will set the tone for their tenures. Securing the signing of Ryan Williams in less than a month was a great start and one that will shape the 2024 season – so what happens this week will be huge. We’ll also learn a lot about DeBoer’s vision for the team this offseason as we see everything that changes on the roster, as this first one was largely a roster he inherited rather than molded.

As of Monday, Alabama has 22 total commitments, making it one of the best recruiting classes in the country.

Tide is ranked No. 2 in both the 247Composite and On3 industry rankings, just behind Georgia. However, there are six fewer total commitments at Alabama, and the average ranking per recruit is a good bit higher than at UGA. It looks like Alabama could get two to three more commitments to round out the class. It won’t be a huge course, but DeBoer will likely focus a little more on the portal than in years past.

attack

quarterback

Keelon Russell: 5 stars, #2 overall.

Ruseel is the crown jewel of the recruiting class. There are no signs that Russell is anything other than 100% with Alabama and could very well overtake Bryce Underwood to go No. 1 overall after his demonstrably crazy senior season.

Run back

Akylin Dear: 4 stars, #52 overall

Jace Clarizio: 3 stars, #467 overall

Dear is a huge pickup from Mississippi. Jace Clarizio is a guy who transferred out of Michigan State out of the blue right before Thanksgiving and no one noticed. It’s unlikely that Alabama will look for more RBs

Wide receiver

Lotzeir Brooks: 4 stars, #217 overall

Brooks is a guy that On3 views as a top-70 prospect and isn’t as highly rated by the other services. Still, Alabama is definitely looking to add more WRs.

5-star Caleb Cunningham recently decommitted from Alabama to Ole Miss, but the guy has changed his mind several times in the last year so he’s still a possibility. Current LSU commit Derek Meadows is rumored to be a strong candidate to transfer to Alabama.

Don’t be surprised if DeBoer and the staff mention a name or two that we haven’t talked about here at all.

Tight end

Caleb Edwards: 4 stars, #139 overall

Marshall Pritchett: 4 stars, #330 overall

With two strong players, don’t expect Alabama to want to add any more tight ends. Edwards is playing basketball this winter, so he won’t enroll early and may not sign right away.

Offensive line

IOL Michael Carroll: 5 stars, #14 overall

IOL Micah DeBose: 4 stars, #219 overall

IOL Mal Waldrep: 3 stars, #508 overall

OT Ty Haywood: 5 stars, #22 overall

OT Jackson Lloyd: 4/5 stars, #33 overall

This is a huge list of OL commitments. Carroll visited Colorado a few weeks ago and a lot of people panicked, but nothing has happened since then and he reportedly dropped his recruitment after an Iron Bowl visit, so the IMG product appears to still be on board with the Tide.

5-star OT Ty Haywood has reportedly decided not to sign tomorrow and predictions of a move are mounting. Michigan seems to be the one with all the smoke now. The general consensus is that Alabama has prioritized Lloyd and Carroll for NIL allocations and Haywood plans to move on.

Jackson Lloyd is a 5-star hotel from On3, but just falls out of the top 32 because the other services aren’t as well on board yet.

Either way, if Alabama loses Haywood, this is probably still the best OL class in the country. With him it’s gravy.

Defensive line

DT London Simmons: 3 stars, #443 overall

DT/DE Steve Mboumoua: 3 stars, No. 18 overall (JUCO)

Mboumoua was part of last year’s class but had to spend a year in Southwest Mississippi, where he was one of the best JUCO players in the country and is expected to make it to Alabama this time.

This is a position that Alabama is likely looking to expand. Cincinnati commit Timothy Griffin is a top target for the Tide. Alabama appears to have lost ground on five-star Justus Terry since last spring, and while Antonio Coleman could return to Alabama for a third time at any time, that ship has likely sailed for the coaching staff. Additionally, keep an eye out for someone we haven’t heard from yet.

edge

Justin Hill: 4 stars, #54 overall

Kevin Henry: 4 stars, No. 2 overall (JUCO)

Hill has been a vocal supporter of Alabama’s recruiting efforts and appears to be 100% convinced. Henry is a former Oklahoma signee who spent a year at JUCO and is now returning to the SEC.

Alabama can probably do well with those two guys, but when the right edge rusher is recruited down low, you never say no to more rushers.

Linebackers

Darrell Johnson: 4 stars, #132 overall

Luke Metz: 4 stars, #346 overall

Abdul Sanders: 4 stars, #374 overall

All three of these guys committed early last spring and appeared to be selected by Kane Wommack. Metz in particular received many offers from top programs after Wommack identified him.

It’s unlikely Alabama is looking to anyone else here.

Cornerback

Dijon Lee: 5 stars, #23 overall

Chuck McDonald: 4 stars, #76 overall

Lee and McDonald are both from California, with McDonald continuing the pipeline from Mater Dei High School. Alabama probably wants to add someone else here. Birmingham product Na’eem Offord unfortunately appears to be linked to Ohio State.

There have been rumors that Auburn 4-star Donovan Starr could be close to transferring to Bama after the staff gave him the full treatment during the Iron Bowl. I also saw Ole Miss commit, Maison Dunn was mentioned but there isn’t much on him.

Security

Ivan Taylor: 4 stars, #65 overall

Taylor was a big addition. Alabama wants one or two more safeties. Former commit, Derrick Smith, is still being recruited, but he seems committed to playing wide receiver at Auburn.

Alabama has also been recruiting Anquon Fegans for what feels like four years, but that seems like a long shot after his older brother left the club without ever playing.

Specialists

Punter Alex Asparuhov: 3-star player #5

The successor to James Burnip.