Even if Alabama football’s 2024 recruiting cycle isn’t over, the early signing window expires on Friday, capping a
hectic week. How successful were the Crimson Tide before the focus shifted back to the College Football Playoff
quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl?
The class
The 23 athletes in the class signed their intent letter and turned it in at UA’s Tuscaloosa headquarters. There are
eight four-star, thirteen three-star, and two five-star properties. About 19 players, according to Saban, have already
joined the squad for sessions; players won’t be eligible until the following fall. Ryan Williams, a Saraland athlete who
will sign a contract in February, is the most noticeable absentee
After Georiga, Alabama is ranked second nationwide by 247Sports, taking into account Williams’ five-star rating.
The top players in each class are given greater weight in 247Sports’ bell-shaped evaluation system for teams signing
new players. In the end, the Tide scored 300.75 while the Bulldogs scored 315.22.
Although the media’s analysis won’t really impact in UA coaches’ offices (and it shouldn’t), Alabama would receive its
lowest score in five years, having been scored 289.94 in 2018. Among others in that group were Jayln Waddle and
Patrick Surtain II.
The scores
Brandon Huffman of CBS Sports said, “Well, look who shone on signing day.” The Crimson Tide moved up to the top
of the rankings, extending their yearly rivalry off the field with Georgia for another season. As the highlight of the
class, five-star quarterback Julian Sayin has been committed for a long time and was never considered to transfer.
However, Alabama’s greatest damage comes from player flips, and this was evident on Wednesday. Four-star RB
Kevin Riley from Miami and four-star ATH Aeryn Hampton from Texas were traded by the Tide.
Paul Myerberg of USA Today writes, “Sayin, from Carlsbad, California, rejected over twenty-two offers, many of
which came from the Crimson Tide’s most formidable SEC rivals, before deciding on Alabama.” Sayin will get a
chance to become familiar with the system in a backup capacity, maybe playing in four or more games, with Jalen
Milroe’s decision to come back in 2024. In his second year on school, he will compete for the starting position. Five-
star cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe, one of the best players in the state, was also added by the Tide.
Bill Bender of The Sporting News: “The recruiting game is still called the same, even though the rules have changed.”
The three universities that excel at accumulating talent are Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State. For the past five years,
only these three schools have put together recruiting classes ranked in the top five. That hasn’t altered despite the
recruiting calendar, transfer portal, and NIL.
Nick Kelly of The Tuscaloosa News: “The Crimson Tide has another outstanding class. Even while it’s not as good as
the class that had nine five-star talents the previous season, it’s still a respectable haul on the first day of the early
signing period, and there are still more to come.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
