📝 Antonio Alfano earns No. 1 player ranking from 247Sports

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There’s a new name atop the 247Sports Rankings: Antonio Alfano.

The 5-star defensive lineman and Alabama enrollee has been crowned the top recruit in the country by 247Sports in its final rankings update releasing this week.

After earning his fifth star and the No. 8 spot in the 247Sports Rankings back in November, the Colonia (N.J.) standout — with his high school season over — set out to earn the No. 1 spot with a strong showing at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

“I want to finish No. 1,” Alfano told BamaOnLine at the All-American Bowl check-in. “That’s my goal, that’s always been my goal. I think I can do that this week — prove to everyone why I’m No. 1.”

He did just that dominating almost every rep he took at the event earlier this month. Coupled with a mind-boggling senior season stat line of 76 tackles including 28 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, six forced fumbles and three pass breakups, the move to the top spot was more than warranted.

After making the All-Lobby Team at the All-American Bowl, checking in at just over 6-foot-4, 274 pounds with 34-inch arms and 11-inch hands, Alfano dominated from the jump, earning Alpha Dog honors to start the week.

“It’s telling when a prospect can come into an All-American setting and dominate not just look better than his peers but significantly better,” 247Sports Director of Scouting Barton Simmons said after the start of All-American Bowl practices. “Alabama signee Antonio Alfano didn’t just look better than his peers — he was significantly better. 247Sports already considers Alfano as the No. 8 player in the class of 2019, much higher than his 247Sports Composite ranking. His standing could raise after this week.”

Alfano made his way to Tuscaloosa following his time in Texas earlier this month and has already enrolled and started workouts with the program.

The East Coast standout figures to be in the rotation early at the Capstone, even with Raekwon Davisopting to come back for his senior season. The Tide lost two starters on its defensive line in Quinnen Williams and Isaiah Buggs. Bama signed an elite defensive line class to add depth to its rotation.

"I’m excited to get down and start working out with the team and stuff," he said earlier this month. "I want to see what they’re about, working out with the No. 1 team in the country and seeing why they are so dominant. I’m excited to get started.”

Alfano is one of four 5-star signees in the Crimson Tide’s 2019 class. He joins running back Trey Sanders (14), cornerback Jeffery Carter (30) and offensive tackle Evan Neal(32). The latter pair are first-time 247Sports 5-star recruits.

 

[Google News!]

Inside Antonio Alfano's rise to No. 1 overall prospect

An Alabama Crimson Tide early enrollee emerges as the 247Sports No. 1 overall prospect in the Class of 2019. Defensive lineman Antonio Alfano of Colonia (N.J.) was announced Tuesday as the new No. 1 prospect in the country ahead of Nolan Smith, Demarvin Leal and Derek Stingley.

Alfano is the fourth New Jersey recruit in six years to finish inside the 247Sports Top 10. He joins Rashan Gary in 2016 as No. 1 overall prospects. Alfano is the first Colonia defensive lineman to go to a power-five school since Eric LeGrand signed with Rutgers in 2008.

What gave Alfano the nod at No. 1?

“What this boiled down to for us was, what’s he missing? He had every box checked,” Simmons said during the 247Sports rankings reveal broadcast. “He’s 6-foot-4, 275 pounds. He’s got 11-inch hands, which is huge, 34-inch arms, a 4.8 40 (yard dash), which is freakish at that size, a 37-inch vertical jump. So all of the testing numbers are there. Okay, turn on the film. The film is phenomenal. His numbers, 10 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, dominates competition everywhere he’s been.

“Then he goes into the All-American Bowl. Truly, you couldn’t block him. He’s got versatility. He can play on the defensive end in any scheme. He can be a 4-3 D-end, a 3-4 D-end. He could blow up physically and become an interior guy, a true 3-technique. He could be, right now, probably effectively play a 3-4 outside linebacker as a stand up, edge rusher. I just think there’s so much to like.”

Take one look at the NFL Draft crop for 2019 and you can see why there is such a focus on the defensive line. From Clemson’s loaded line to Quinnen Williams to Rashan Gary, Nick Bosa, Ed Oliver, Jeffery Simmons and beyond, there is a premium on defensive linemen at the next level. If Alfano lives up to his early expectations, he could join them soon.

“We asked coaching staffs that didn’t land him,” Simmons said. “Can you tell me what we’re missing on Alfano? What is his flaw? We couldn’t come up with one. It’s Nick Bosa-ish profile for Antonio Alfano. Robert Nkemdiche is another comp we’ve made. I really believe that he’s got a chance to be a really unique player at Alabama.

“ … When we look ahead to the NFL Draft, defensive line is the position we see drafted No. 1,” Simmons said. “If there was something that we were missing on Alfano, if we could come up with an on-the-field flaw, we may have gone with Leal. We may have gone with Stingley. We may have gone with Nolan Smith. But we just couldn’t find that flaw to give us the nudge to somebody else.”

Alabama ranks No. 1 overall in the 247Sports Composite rankings in 2019 class after an impressive early signing period. The Crimson Tide already have 15 signees enrolled in classes, nine more signed and four verbal commitments.

Inside Antonio Alfano's rise to No. 1 overall prospect

 

[EasyTider]

Also #1 overall need from a position standpoint next year. Huge to have him as early enrolle! Cochran can put 20-25lbs of bulk muscle and this kid will be in the rotation on the inside as a true freshman.

 

[Tidestalker]

BEAST. Just what we need!!! RTR

 

[The Old Man and the Tide]

He has joined a possibly inauspicious list.

 

[bamachine]

He has joined a possibly inauspicious list.

True that the number one player has been a crapshoot over the years. That said, Bama has a higher success rate with the top talents than other programs. The 5 stars that sign with Bama make it into the NFL in the first three rounds at triple the rate of 5 stars that sign everywhere else.

 

[No Huddle]

Robert N. did not work at all in HS. Not on the field, in the classroom, or in the weight room. One coach we know very well looked at his transcripts and asked why all the 70s (In GA below a 70 is failing). Robert said I passed. Robert left the room and the coach said if he won't work in the classroom he won't work on the field.