Aaron Suttles
TideSports.com Senior Writer
There was a simple, matter-of-fact backdrop around the University of Alabama football complex on Wednesday, the high holiday in recruiting known as national signing day. Not somber but definitely not the electric environment one might expect following another top haul on the recruiting trial.
Alabama's 24-member class "solved some needs" head coach Nick Saban said, highlighted by bring in a stellar defensive back group of five players.
The secondary remained an issue at times in 2014 and Saban sought to remedy with a group that includes five-star cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick, safety Shawn Burgess-Becker (four stars), safety Ronnie Harrison (four stars), cornerback Kendall Sheffield (four stars) and safety Denote Thompson (four stars).
There within exists a lot of clay to mould for new Alabama defensive backs coach Mel Tucker. Though he's only been with the team for about a week, the new coach has already made an impression.
"He's a great coach," Harrison said. "He's really passionate about his players. He's been in the League for a long time. He knows a lot. He coached under Coach Saban a couple times before he went to the NFL. He's gonna help get us ready for the next level. He knows what it takes."
Another area of strength in the class came along the offensive line with five signees, including Tuscaloosa's own, Lester Cotton. The group also contains Brandon Kennedy, Richie Petition, Dallas Warmack and Matt Womack. Warmack is the younger brother of former UA offensive lineman and All-American Chance Warmack.
"We're excited about the offensive line players that we have," Saban said. "It was a real emphasis for us to get a couple tackle types, Lester may be able to play tackle, Womack definitely has the length to do that, very impressed with him athletically. We have a diverse group there, which I think is important. I really think the tackle-types is something that we really want to focus on in the future and we really wanted to focus on in this class."
The lack of excitement, at least from the fans perspective and in what Saban termed no drama, stemmed from the fact that Alabama's class, by and large, had been assembled for close to a month.
There were no signing day surprises, no major flips to or from, resulting in a casual, stress-free day around the coaching offices.
The Crimson Tide did land wide receiver Daylon Charlot, a 6-foot, 195-pounder from Patterson, La., on Wednesday, but he'd been a silent commitment to the staff for a while.
"One of the very good things about this class is we didn't have a lot of drama today," Saban said. "These guys have been committed to us for awhile. They've all kind of had their signing day or whatever, announcements, and most of them stuck to it.
"That's not the way to get the most attention from the media but that certainly speaks highly of what a commitment means. I'm really proud of hte players that we got from that standpoint."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1733799#sthash.91wHPwvK.dpuf
TideSports.com Senior Writer
There was a simple, matter-of-fact backdrop around the University of Alabama football complex on Wednesday, the high holiday in recruiting known as national signing day. Not somber but definitely not the electric environment one might expect following another top haul on the recruiting trial.
Alabama's 24-member class "solved some needs" head coach Nick Saban said, highlighted by bring in a stellar defensive back group of five players.
The secondary remained an issue at times in 2014 and Saban sought to remedy with a group that includes five-star cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick, safety Shawn Burgess-Becker (four stars), safety Ronnie Harrison (four stars), cornerback Kendall Sheffield (four stars) and safety Denote Thompson (four stars).
There within exists a lot of clay to mould for new Alabama defensive backs coach Mel Tucker. Though he's only been with the team for about a week, the new coach has already made an impression.
"He's a great coach," Harrison said. "He's really passionate about his players. He's been in the League for a long time. He knows a lot. He coached under Coach Saban a couple times before he went to the NFL. He's gonna help get us ready for the next level. He knows what it takes."
Another area of strength in the class came along the offensive line with five signees, including Tuscaloosa's own, Lester Cotton. The group also contains Brandon Kennedy, Richie Petition, Dallas Warmack and Matt Womack. Warmack is the younger brother of former UA offensive lineman and All-American Chance Warmack.
"We're excited about the offensive line players that we have," Saban said. "It was a real emphasis for us to get a couple tackle types, Lester may be able to play tackle, Womack definitely has the length to do that, very impressed with him athletically. We have a diverse group there, which I think is important. I really think the tackle-types is something that we really want to focus on in the future and we really wanted to focus on in this class."
The lack of excitement, at least from the fans perspective and in what Saban termed no drama, stemmed from the fact that Alabama's class, by and large, had been assembled for close to a month.
There were no signing day surprises, no major flips to or from, resulting in a casual, stress-free day around the coaching offices.
The Crimson Tide did land wide receiver Daylon Charlot, a 6-foot, 195-pounder from Patterson, La., on Wednesday, but he'd been a silent commitment to the staff for a while.
"One of the very good things about this class is we didn't have a lot of drama today," Saban said. "These guys have been committed to us for awhile. They've all kind of had their signing day or whatever, announcements, and most of them stuck to it.
"That's not the way to get the most attention from the media but that certainly speaks highly of what a commitment means. I'm really proud of hte players that we got from that standpoint."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1733799#sthash.91wHPwvK.dpuf
