We’re less than 24 hours away from National Signing Day, and there’s still a lot of uncertainty surrounding Alabama’s finish to its 2018 recruiting class.
What we do know is that the Crimson Tide can sign 23 players this cycle, according to a source close to the program, who confirmed that number on Sunday night. Alabama currently has 14 signees and four commitments. Before we get to the predictions on who we believe is going to fill the class, our educated guesses are based on 4-star linebacker commitments Vernon Jackson (Texas A&M) and Quay Walker (Georgia or Tennessee) flipping. If that happens, that would mean Alabama has seven spots to fill come Wednesday.
Here’s who we are projecting to fill Alabama’s signing class:
*indicates they have already signed
QB: None
Alabama will not sign a quarterback in the 2018 class. The Crimson Tide landed a
commitment from a preferred walk-on from Braxton Barker, who is the son of former Alabama quarterback Jay Barker, on Monday night. Barker will not get an athletic scholarship and will not count against the team’s scholarship numbers in the 2018 class.
RB: Jerome Ford*
Jerome Ford signed with Alabama during the early signing period. The Tide will not sign another running back on Wednesday.
WR: Xavier Williams*, Slade Bolden*, Justyn Ross, Jaylen Waddle
Xavier Williams and Slade Bolden signed during the early signing period.
For several months, it seemed like the state of Alabama’s No. 1 prospect, Justyn Ross, was going to play his college football for Clemson. That has changed as we’ve gotten closer to Signing Day.
Alabama started to feel good about Ross a little over a month ago, even after his primary recruiter, defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley, left for the Oakland Raiders. Offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, who Ross already had a good relationship with, stepped in and took over the recruitment of the Under Armour All-American. We’ve also been told that Ross is impressed with new wide receivers coach Josh Gattis and his ability to develop top talent at Penn State.
Ross told SEC Country earlier this month at the Under Armour Game that his grandmother wants him to choose a school in Alabama, while his mother likes Clemson, but she’ll be fine with whichever school he chooses.
Jaylen Waddle was silently committed to Alabama for several months. When Texas A&M hired Jimbo Fisher, Waddle started leaning toward the Aggies. But in the past couple of weeks, Alabama sources have started to regain the confidence they had throughout the fall.
TE: Michael Parker, Glenn Beal
Michael Parker is expected to receive a blueshirt or greyshirt on Wednesday. He’s fine with whatever the plan is. He’s locked in with the Tide.
SEC Country received word on Sunday that Glenn Beal does, in fact, have a committable offer. Tennessee and Texas A&M are Alabama’s biggest competitors to land Beal. He was close to committing to the Aggies on several occasions, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him wind up at Texas A&M.
I do know that Saban is a big fan of Beal’s game. He views Beal as a jumbo athlete who could end up playing defense. We’ll see whether his official visit to Tuscaloosa last weekend is enough for him to end up at Alabama.
OL: Tommy Brown*, Emil Ekiyor*
Tommy Brown and Emil Ekiyor signed during the early signing period. Alabama is recruiting 5-star tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere and Penei Sewell, who will make their decisions on Wednesday. I don’t expect Alabama to land either prospect.
DL: Christian Barmore*, Stephon Wynn Jr.*, Bobby Brown, Malik Langham
Christian Barmore and Stephon Wynn signed during the early signing period.
Bobby Brown took an unofficial visit to Texas A&M this past weekend. I do not think he’ll flip to the Aggies. There’s definitely some cause for concern there because he was committed to Texas A&M and a lot of his friends are attending the school. But, in the end, I think he sticks with Alabama.
Malik Langham took an official visit to Auburn, his favorite school growing up, this past weekend. While that is a cause for concern, Alabama had a big lead over Auburn and Florida heading into his trip.
Alabama wants to add at least one more defensive lineman to its current group of signees in Christian Barmore and Stephon Wynn plus commitment Bobby Brown, who visited Texas A&M this past weekend but I expect him to stick with the Tide. Langham is the only uncommitted target that Alabama is still considering at this point.
Langham told SEC Country on Sunday why he would choose Alabama.
“Everything. You know, with Alabama, they’re a championship team,” Langham said. “[Defensive line] Coach [Karl] Dunbar and [co-defensive coordinator Tosh] Lupoi have a great relationship with me. Them just being close to home, in-state school, and it’s the focal point of college football.”
LB: Eyabi Anoma*, Jordan Davis*, Cameron Latu*, Jaylen Moody
Eyabi Anoma, Jordan Davis and Cameron Latu signed during the early signing period.
I expect current linebacker commitments Vernon Jackson (Texas A&M) and Quay Walker (Georgia or Tennessee) to flip on Wednesday.
Jaylen Moody received an offer from Alabama last week. As stated above, if Jackson and/or Walker end up flipping, then Moody is going to get the green light to commit.
Moody may only need one of them to leave this class because Glenn Beal isn’t a certainty to sign with the Tide.
DB: Jalyn Armour-Davis*, Josh Jobe*, Saivion Smith*, Eddie Smith, Patrick Surtain Jr.
Jayln Armour-Davis, Josh Jobe and Saivion Smith signed with Alabama during the early signing period.
Eddie Smith, the cousin of championship hero DeVonta Smith, was offered by Alabama earlier this month and immediately became a priority target for the Crimson Tide.
On his official visit a few weeks ago, Smith told SEC Country that he spent lots of time with Nick Saban, who told the recruit about the opportunity he would have if he chose the Tide. Smith said knowing that Saban would be coaching him gives Alabama an advantage over Mississippi State and Tennessee, which are his two other finalists.
Going into Wednesday’s decision, how would Smith classify Alabama’s chances of landing his signature?
“They have a great, great, great shot,” Smith said. “It’s going to be a tough decision. All I can do now is pray and talk to my family about it and trust God is going to guide me to the right school.
“Winning a national championship is every recruit’s dream. You go to Alabama and you’re going to have a great, great shot at it. Holding that crystal ball trophy is like a dream come true. I really want to win a championship when I’m in college. It’s a big goal of mine. I’m one step closer to my dream.”
This is another recruitment that could go either way come Wednesday. I do think that Patrick Surtain Jr.’s recruitment is going to come down to Alabama and LSU, despite him taking an official visit to Miami this past weekend.
Alabama has chipped away at LSU’s lead over the past several months. Several sources on Alabama’s side of things and sources in South Florida have felt like the Tide hold a slight edge now.
“I’ve been looking at it like they’re [Alabama] losing a lot of defensive backs, so there’s a high chance I can come in and compete and play as a freshman,” Surtain said earlier this month. “On the LSU side, they’re losing a lot of defensive backs, too, and I look at it like I have the chance to compete and play at a high level.”
It has to be noted that Surtain has strong family ties to Louisiana and has been to LSU frequently throughout his recruitment. It’s going to be a tough battle, but I think Saban beats out Ed Orgeron on the recruiting trail.
P: Skyler Delong*
Skyler Delong signed with Alabama during the early signing period.
