📡 Congrats to UGA, Bama, Oregon, and LSU on signing the No. 1 recruit this year: 4 different recruits can claim to be 2019’s No. 1. Who’s the best?

[SEC Sports]

 

[18Champs]

Why Antonio Alfano should be No. 1
Alfano is the No. 1 strong-side DE in the 2019 class and the nation’s No. 5 prospect per both the247Sports Composite and Rivals. But he is the No. 1 prospect in the 247Sports (non-composite) ranks.

The Colonia (New Jersey) prospect early enrolled at Alabama after signing during the Early Signing Period in December. He was committed to the Tide since May 2018, picking Bama over Penn State and Georgia.

If Alabama’s coaches could be guaranteed a virtual clone of Jonathan Allen (2013-16), they’d be over the moon. That is essentially what the Tide is getting in Alfano. Allen was 6’4, 269 coming out of high school. Alfano is 6’4, 274 as of late December. That is tremendous size, but what truly made Allen special, and what will make Alfano special, is the ability to stay outside as a five- or six-technique, as opposed to having to move inside to defensive tackle. Most players this size cannot do that

It takes unique athleticism to be able to “play up,” as opposed to having to move inside as a player becomes bigger and stronger. Allen left Alabama at 296 pounds, and Alfano should be able to do the same. When you see Alfano in person, it’s just different. He moves like a player who is 244, not 274. He has heavy, violent hands. He plays hard. A legitimate three-down impact player, he is perhaps the surest thing in the 2019 recruiting class.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Shouldn't this be the part where they go back and show all the other consensus #1 picks worthy of the position? It's never been more than subjective thinking to start with. I'm thrilled to get one honestly. When it comes to recruiting we all are keeping score, you know?

 

[94 Grad]

I really don't care who is the #1 recruit... I would rather have the #1 draft guy in 3 years

 

[rick4bama]

I would rather have a 2-3* player that will work his heart out to start for Bama! Then a 5* one that think he going to start because he a 5* signing for to play for Bama! But that just me. When these kids started this cap thing, it got out of hand!

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Seen a lot of #1s never work out....
Seen a lot of 3 * s. Kick ass.......
When these guys go from a big boy to a man....
Strange things happen....
And when they get around a group of different people influencing them...strange things happen....
So.....lets see..... xciting to get a #1 though.... and a lot has to do with those players around them.... and he sees it still has to be worked for...and willing to do the work

 

[TUSKtimes]

I would rather have a 2-3* player that will work his heart out to start for Bama! Then a 5* one that think he going to start because he a 5* signing for to play for Bama! But that just me. When these kids started this cap thing, it got out of hand!

As well as Bama recruits nationally I realize there is zero reason for me to be hypercritical of our coaching staff. And I'm not, just more curious than anything. But given we are going to miss on recruits and that's always a certainty, why not have players from the state of Alabama lined up and ready to close the gap? Do I personally believe that it just means more for our local kids to be wearing the Crimson? Yes, yes I do. JP Wilson was trying to describe yesterday what it was like for him to wear the colors of his home team and it's always a reminder that it just means more for our instate younguns. I got to believe that meaning more is reflective of team chemistry and on-field results.

Which brings me to Christian Williams and why we didn't stay on him harder after the early signing period. I don't get it. Bringing in only 3 recruits wasn't what coach Saban had in mind when he scolded the press about running recruits off after ESD, cause we aren't finished. Having local kids as credible backups, especially when they can play with the best of them is difficult to understand. Through it all, with Bama being almost THE college football team nationally, we get talent and plenty of it. But filling our roster with in-state kids is important too. Do our high school coaches appreciate the way we are going after high ranking instate guys?

 

[94 Grad]

As well as Bama recruits nationally I realize there is zero reason for me to be hypercritical of our coaching staff. And I'm not, just more curious than anything. But given we are going to miss on recruits and that's always a certainty, why not have players from the state of Alabama lined up and ready to close the gap? Do I personally believe that it just means more for our local kids to be wearing the Crimson? Yes, yes I do. JP Wilson was trying to describe yesterday what it was like for him to wear the colors of his home team and it's always a reminder that it just means more for our instate younguns. I got to believe that meaning more is reflective of team chemistry and on-field results.

Which brings me to Christian Williams and why we didn't stay on him harder after the early signing period. I don't get it. Bringing in only 3 recruits wasn't what coach Saban had in mind when he scolded the press about running recruits off after ESD, cause we aren't finished. Having local kids as credible backups, especially when they can play with the best of them is difficult to understand. Through it all, with Bama being almost THE college football team nationally, we get talent and plenty of it. But filling our roster with in-state kids is important too. Do our high school coaches appreciate the way we are going after high ranking instate guys?

I’m going to guess our coaches go after the best player they can for each open spot regardless of where they are from.

Being from the state of Alabama May have some relevance in evaluation, but in the end after evaluation of all areas if player X from Florida is a better athlete than player Y from Alabama... we’re going to take player X first... period.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I’m going to guess our coaches go after the best player they can for each open spot regardless of where they are from.

Being from the state of Alabama May have some relevance in evaluation, but in the end after evaluation of all areas if player X from Florida is a better athlete than player Y from Alabama... we’re going to take player X first... period.

True enough. But Christian Williams wasn't a backup plan. And with so many recruits fence-straddling in the 2nd signing period why not keep him onboard? I say on board because he went to Miami and not LSU. Some kids are going to that special place regardless of location. CW flipping late to the Hurricanes tells me, even late in the process he's still looking for a home. All of this is the assumption that this was Bama's idea and not CW, but I don't know that. I just hope that Alabama high school coaches don't feel that in-state kids are a priority.