Alabama may not have won the national championship on the field this time, but yet again they win the most important off-field championship. The Crimson Tide again bank the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite, and are in the top three for the 10th year in a row.
Bama just had the highest-rated Signing Day class of its 7-year No. 1 streak
One partial reason: the Tide were able to take an especially large class this year.
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The class has 29 commits in it, although there are three who may not end up signing in this specific recruiting class. While it is true that Ohio State’s average player Composite score is just a touch higher at 94.47, the Tide win out with quantity here, bringing in one more five-star, four more four-stars, and two more three-stars than the Buckeyes.
This is the highest-scoring recruiting class Alabama has ever had, with an overall Composite score of 322.53. Ohio State finished with a class score of 310.97.
The elite players are, well, elite.
The Tide bring home three of the best Composite high school players in the country at their respective positions, and the No. 2 running back in the country is the crown jewel of the class.
Najee Harris is a monster running back who is the same height and only four pounds smaller than Bo Scarbrough. He can flat-out play.
No. 1 offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood comes in the fold as well, as a massive lineman who plays well at his 6’6 size.
We don’t typically talk about offensive linemen in terms of explosion out of the stance and agility in the phone booth because usually that’s reserved for their defensive counterparts. But that is a strength of Leatherwood’s game. His body doesn’t unfurl like one of the slinkys you played with as a child; it stays coiled and ready to rock somebody.
Oh, and they got a quarterback too.
Nick Saban raved about Tua Tagovalloa’s character on ESPN late in the day, saying that every time that he went to church, Tagovalloa went with him. Last summer, we shot a video in which the standout QB got to talk about his faith.
The last No. 1 position player to sign is the top DE in the country, LaBryan Ray. He was the only one of these to announce his decision on Signing Day, as the other three above enrolled early. Ray gives the Tide yet another incredible defensive lineman that the Tide can stash and develop to roll in and replace the NFL talent they churn out every season.
Ray is a listed 6’4 and 260 pounds, and his mix of oomph and quickness makes him a moldable and attractive prospect for everybody. He could project as a three- or five-technique. Ray’s been dealing with a torn labrum but expects to have that fixed up soon enough.
On Signing Day, Bama also added a couple of blue-chip receivers in Henry Ruggs and Devonta Smith, in addition to players like No. 3 overall WR Jerry Jeudy, who’s already enrolled.
And the Tide are reportedly basically lining up 2017 four-star Jarez Parks for 2018. He’s accepting a delayed scholarship, according to reports, though this class would still rank No. 1 if it didn’t include him.
With all that being said, of course, Saban found a way to complain about the class saying saying that “other than corner I thought we did a nice job all around.” It’s true that the Tide only signed one cornerback this season, and he was a three-star.
Looks like that means Saban will just have to top this class next year.
