| RECRUIT ⭐️Alabama '24-'25 Recruiting Class ⭐️: 4 ⭐ Zyan Gibson commits to Bama.

[TerryP]

What’s the word on Alexander? I remember when he signed but haven’t heard much on field from him (Keely also)

We would have seen more from him this past season if he wasn't slowed down by injury the first few weeks: his season basically started vs UGA. A lot of ST play: he did really well there.

I expect him to be in the two deep with little doubt.

 

[Secondand26]

We would have seen more from him this past season if he wasn't slowed down by injury the first few weeks: his season basically started vs UGA. A lot of ST play: he did really well there.

I expect him to be in the two deep with little doubt.

What are you hearing about Keely?

 

[Davestwin]

To me, I care less where a player is from as long as the coach believes he is ultimately the best player for that position and he can 100% develop them into the best player for that role. Pete Carroll was able to lock down California (and the West Coast) and produced elite teams from 2002 to 2008. He had a successful system and style of coaching that dominated the CFB landscape from that time period. Ultimately we shouldn't care if DeBoer where he recruits. What matters most is how he is able to develop talent and how he fills his staff with good *coaches. Because those have brought championships to programs.

*I made an asterisk for assistant coaches because that just as much creates a championship environment as the players. The 2015 Alabama team is elite, because it had seven different assistants who became head coaches. One of the most underrated aspects of Saban's coaching was his eye for good assistants. Kirby has built his own tree at Georgia, as has Dabo at Clemson (albeit, Morris was a disaster). DeBoer needs to showcase this ability, because it's just as important as recruiting.

I think I posted this before early signing but in case I didn’t, one of the ESPN recruiting “experts” said if Bama had locked up the instate top 10 Bama’s class would have broken the ESPN record. I’m old and old school but I still believe in the importance of winning the instate recruiting battle with Auburn. I know the portal and NIL have muddled the importance of that a bit but even with those despicable developments kids are more likely to end up close to home if they’re not starting right away. Auburn has a top 5 class and it’s almost all based on them cleaning up the instate talent. Of course, I don’t like losing tidily winks against anything Auburn.

 

[Bammerboy321]

I think I posted this before early signing but in case I didn’t, one of the ESPN recruiting “experts” said if Bama had locked up the instate top 10 Bama’s class would have broken the ESPN record. I’m old and old school but I still believe in the importance of winning the instate recruiting battle with Auburn. I know the portal and NIL have muddled the importance of that a bit but even with those despicable developments kids are more likely to end up close to home if they’re not starting right away. Auburn has a top 5 class and it’s almost all based on them cleaning up the instate talent. Of course, I don’t like losing tidily winks against anything Auburn.

I think there is importance in developing relationships in state and winning battle in state. But at the same time, I see people lose their minds over the thought if DeBoer heavily recruits outside the South East. I do agree that statistically the best players come from here, but at the same time, I think roster development is infinitely more important. I only compare the situation to Carroll, because the narrative is that the best players come from the South, where Carroll was able to dominate the CFB landscape with primarily California kids.

I just think finding your guys suitable for your scheme and style of coaching is just as important as recruiting. So if you believe your style of coaching and scheme fits the developed talent and can lead to success, I could care less where players come from.

 

[BamaFan334]

I think there is importance in developing relationships in state and winning battle in state. But at the same time, I see people lose their minds over the thought if DeBoer heavily recruits outside the South East. I do agree that statistically the best players come from here, but at the same time, I think roster development is infinitely more important. I only compare the situation to Carroll, because the narrative is that the best players come from the South, where Carroll was able to dominate the CFB landscape with primarily California kids.

I just think finding your guys suitable for your scheme and style of coaching is just as important as recruiting. So if you believe your style of coaching and scheme fits the developed talent and can lead to success, I could care less where players come from.

Couple of things here. One, we know Carroll paid a lot of players to come to USC, so he cheated. Not saying he's the only one to do it, but he was caught. The other is there is no difference in him recruiting California (home state) than what people are saying DeBoer should be doing. California was ahead of the game when it came to recruiting players to come to their programs, plus per capita they have a lot more players to choose from compared to the South where things are spread out more. We could never leave the South and have the best recruiting class and results every single year. Yes, a national footprint is something to hang your hat on, and that is a storyline people made a point of with Saban since he had conquered everything on the field and they needed something else to write about, so it led to his nationwide recruiting and his ability to bring out of state students to Alabama and the out-of-state tuition they paid and brought to the university. I'm a DeBoer fan, and I will say without hesitation he better focus on the South or we will struggle. Anyone can express an opposing view of that, but the SEC hasn't dominated football because we recruiting the Mid-West, West Coast, or Northeast more than the South.

 

[TerryP]

What are you hearing about Keely?

As you can see I was (still am) hesitant to wade into these waters. It's not so much about KK specifically as it is about several things about the 'staffing' an results from the line.

Context threw a wrench into his development months ago. "You are an outside 'backer,' and we're looking forward to keeping you a few pounds over that 240 lb mark."

"Nope. Let's change that. Weight, let's add thirty plus pounds...your frame can handle it as we move you from that 'backer role to an edge guy in our 'Bandit' position."

In what I consider to be deserved is the defensive line and their development will be closely scrutinized in the spring. It'll be judged, undeservedly, without a lot of context.

Even with all of these extraneous things happening around him it's hard for me not to see this as somewhat of a burnt year.

 

[Secondand26]

As you can see I was (still am) hesitant to wade into these waters. It's not so much about KK specifically as it is about several things about the 'staffing' an results from the line.

Context threw a wrench into his development months ago. "You are an outside 'backer,' and we're looking forward to keeping you a few pounds over that 240 lb mark."

"Nope. Let's change that. Weight, let's add thirty plus pounds...your frame can handle it as we move you from that 'backer role to an edge guy in our 'Bandit' position."

In what I consider to be deserved is the defensive line and their development will be closely scrutinized in the spring. It'll be judged, undeservedly, without a lot of context.

Even with all of these extraneous things happening around him it's hard for me not to see this as somewhat of a burnt year.

Appreciate the info. You always hear different things. Hoping he stays out of the portal.

 

[UAgrad93]

Instate recruiting IMHO, is only as it relates to your scheme and philosophy. Some kids simply “won’t fit”, so let’s don’t jump on a kid to see him leave next Spring. DeBoer will make inroads and will get what best fits our systems, either offensively or defensively.

 

[mando]

I'm a DeBoer fan, and I will say without hesitation he better focus on the South or we will struggle. Anyone can express an opposing view of that, but the SEC hasn't dominated football because we recruiting the Mid-West, West Coast, or Northeast more than the South.

This `100%... My also earlier reference was we keep putting lipstick on a pig. I also said give Deboer a pass given all the circumstances surrounding year one. I also stated if Bama is not getting these players they are going to our competition and this year it happens to be the Barn. The Barn has struggled but years like this can quickly turn things around. CKD has to get this corrected. Does it mean he only recruits Alabama? Of course not be he needs to own the state with regards to getting the best players in Alabama.