BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- On this day six years ago, Courtney Upshaw ended his recruitment with just short of eight months remaining until National Signing Day.
"Alabama is where I have always wanted to go in my heart,"Upshaw told Rivals.com. "Coach Saban was very happy when I committed."
Upshaw was the 10th commitment of what would eventually be regarded as one of the best signing classes in recent history. One of 10 members of the 32-man class who would go on to be selected in the NFL Draft, Upshaw was a drama-free addition to class -- the kind coaches love to land early on the recruiting calendar.
Saban has made a habit of this ever since he formulated his first true signing class at Alabama. The class began with Michael Williams, a defensive end from Reform who would eventually be a three-year starter at tight end, and culminated with the Signing Day additions of linebacker Jerrell Harris, defensive lineman Marcell Dareus and five-star wide receiver Julio Jones.
All the while, Saban and his staff were putting in the groundwork that would prove pivotal in landing early commitments for the 2009 class. D.J. Fluker, AJ McCarron, Trent Richardson and Chance Warmack were all committed by early June 2008.
Alabama's 2014 class of commitments stands at nine after three-star defensive tackle Johnny Dwight (Rochelle, Ga.) announced his pledge Monday.
That Alabama's 2014 class stands at nine -- a figure that falls well short of Tennessee's 15 but is about par for the course among the rest of its SEC colleagues -- is right in line with what Saban has done ever since 2008. The Crimson Tide has never had more than 14 or fewer than seven commitments by mid-June.
The early decision-makers rarely receive much acclaim. The national TV cameras only seem to show up for the announcements that are made in the days leading up to National Signing Day.
That shouldn't be viewed as an indicator of how important those particular signings are. Though the spotlight shines brightest on the last few signees, the ones who make up their mind before two-a-days have often provided equally valuable contributions.
Here's a year-by-year look at the players who made their commitment to Alabama before the middle part of June.
Read More Here...
"Alabama is where I have always wanted to go in my heart,"Upshaw told Rivals.com. "Coach Saban was very happy when I committed."
Upshaw was the 10th commitment of what would eventually be regarded as one of the best signing classes in recent history. One of 10 members of the 32-man class who would go on to be selected in the NFL Draft, Upshaw was a drama-free addition to class -- the kind coaches love to land early on the recruiting calendar.
Saban has made a habit of this ever since he formulated his first true signing class at Alabama. The class began with Michael Williams, a defensive end from Reform who would eventually be a three-year starter at tight end, and culminated with the Signing Day additions of linebacker Jerrell Harris, defensive lineman Marcell Dareus and five-star wide receiver Julio Jones.
All the while, Saban and his staff were putting in the groundwork that would prove pivotal in landing early commitments for the 2009 class. D.J. Fluker, AJ McCarron, Trent Richardson and Chance Warmack were all committed by early June 2008.
Alabama's 2014 class of commitments stands at nine after three-star defensive tackle Johnny Dwight (Rochelle, Ga.) announced his pledge Monday.
That Alabama's 2014 class stands at nine -- a figure that falls well short of Tennessee's 15 but is about par for the course among the rest of its SEC colleagues -- is right in line with what Saban has done ever since 2008. The Crimson Tide has never had more than 14 or fewer than seven commitments by mid-June.
The early decision-makers rarely receive much acclaim. The national TV cameras only seem to show up for the announcements that are made in the days leading up to National Signing Day.
That shouldn't be viewed as an indicator of how important those particular signings are. Though the spotlight shines brightest on the last few signees, the ones who make up their mind before two-a-days have often provided equally valuable contributions.
Here's a year-by-year look at the players who made their commitment to Alabama before the middle part of June.
Read More Here...
