BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
On Thursday night, Alabama lost in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Everyone outside the SEC rejoiced: The conference that dominated the BCS era would not have a team in the first playoff championship game.
Sporting News college football writer Matt Hayes pointed out that to say the SEC is dead would be utterly laughable.
More specifically, why would anyone think Alabama is going away?
MORE: SN Recruiting Central | 5-star studs, duds past 10 seasons | Best bowl game photos
During Friday’s Under-Armour high school showcase game in Orlando, six players made commitments. Two of them announced — just hours after the Crimson Tide suffered their season-ending defeat — they’ll be suiting up for Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa.
The two players: 5-star CB Kendall Sheffield (the No. 18 overall player according to 247Sports.com) and 4-star DT Daron Payne (No. 41 overall, just missing 5-star status). The rest of the Tide's 5-star haul for 2015 includes QB Blake Barnett, WR Calvin Ridley, CB Minkah Fitzpatrick and S Delonte Thompson.
With National Signing Day one month away, Saban again has the No. 1 rated recruiting class (which Alabama has held since the 2011 signing class) that includes five 5-star players.
Like Jack Nicholson’s Joker questioned after Batman swept in to save Vicki Vale right under his nose in Tim Burton’s Batman: “Where does he get those wonderful toys?”
The answer: wherever he wants.
Since 2009, Saban has signed 30 5-star recruits from 11 states (that’s coast to coast, Florida to California). During the same time frame, the other three playoff participants combined have 29. Florida State has accumulated 17, Ohio State eight and Oregon four.
To be fair, Jimbo Fisher has been head coach at FSU since 2010 (although he was on staff since 2007), this is Helfrich’s second season as head coach at Oregon (he was on staff since 2009) and Urban Meyer arrived in Columbus in 2012.
Saban’s been at Alabama since 2007 and has won at least 10 games since 2008 with three national championships.
Yes, he’s considered the best coach in college football. He’s also an elite recruiter and developer of talent. How many 5-star players have failed to meet the hype when they arrived on campus? It happens everywhere — even Alabama — but Saban’s top recruits have, for the most part, performed to their 5-star designations.
2014
Ratings according to 247Sports.com
OT Cam Robinson: Alabama’s starting left tackle and a Sporting News Freshman All-American.
DE Da’Shawn Hand: Has seven tackles and two sacks in limited time this season.
CB Tony Brown: Has played in 12 of 13 games with 10 tackles.
LB Rashaan Evans: Has 15 tackles in a backup role.
CB Marlon Humphrey: Redshirting
ATH Bo Scarbrough: Hasn’t enrolled yet after attending IMG Academy in Bradenton. Saban previously said he may enroll in January.
2013
RB Derrick Henry: Led Alabama in rushing this season with 990 yards and 11 TDs.
TE O.J. Howard: Caught 17 passes for 260 yards in starting role.
DE Jonathan Allen: Second on team with 11.5 tackles for loss and second with 5.5 sacks.
NG A’Shawn Robinson: Totaled 49 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss.
LB Reuben Foster: Totaled 22 tackles with a sack.
WR Robert Foster: Caught six passes for 44 yards.
2012
S Landon Collins: A Sporting News All-American, led team with 103 tackles and tied for team lead with three interceptions. He’s a projected first round pick in the NFL Draft.
RB T.J. Yeldon: Battled nagging injuries this season, but still ran for 979 yards and 11 scores. He has 3,322 rushing yards (fourth in school history) and 37 TDs (third most) in three seasons. If he returns for his senior season he’ll own most school rushing records.
ATH Eddie Williams: Remember what we said about some not panning out? Williams was arrested and dismissed from the team in February 2013.
2011
OT Cyrus Kouandjio: Playing for Buffalo Bills.
S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: Playing for Green Bay Packers.
LB Trey DePriest: Senior on this year’s team, third with 88 tackles and added 4.5 tackles for loss.Was a Preseason SN All-American.
2010
CB Dee Milliner: Playing for New York Jets.
QB Phillip Sims: Transferred to Virginia and again to Winston-Salem State, where he played quarterback this season.
2009
RB Trent Richardson: Playing for Indianapolis Colts.
CB Dre Kirkpatrick: Playing for Cincinnati Bengals.
LB Nico Johnson: Playing for Cincinnati Bengals.
OT D.J. Fluker: Playing for San Diego Chargers.
If you noticed, that list doesn’t include Amari Cooper, Alabama’s Heisman finalist receiver who shattered Alabama records with 124 receptions, 1,727 yards and 16 TD catches this season.
He was only a 4-star player.
Everyone outside the SEC rejoiced: The conference that dominated the BCS era would not have a team in the first playoff championship game.
Sporting News college football writer Matt Hayes pointed out that to say the SEC is dead would be utterly laughable.
More specifically, why would anyone think Alabama is going away?
MORE: SN Recruiting Central | 5-star studs, duds past 10 seasons | Best bowl game photos
During Friday’s Under-Armour high school showcase game in Orlando, six players made commitments. Two of them announced — just hours after the Crimson Tide suffered their season-ending defeat — they’ll be suiting up for Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa.
The two players: 5-star CB Kendall Sheffield (the No. 18 overall player according to 247Sports.com) and 4-star DT Daron Payne (No. 41 overall, just missing 5-star status). The rest of the Tide's 5-star haul for 2015 includes QB Blake Barnett, WR Calvin Ridley, CB Minkah Fitzpatrick and S Delonte Thompson.
With National Signing Day one month away, Saban again has the No. 1 rated recruiting class (which Alabama has held since the 2011 signing class) that includes five 5-star players.
Like Jack Nicholson’s Joker questioned after Batman swept in to save Vicki Vale right under his nose in Tim Burton’s Batman: “Where does he get those wonderful toys?”
The answer: wherever he wants.
Since 2009, Saban has signed 30 5-star recruits from 11 states (that’s coast to coast, Florida to California). During the same time frame, the other three playoff participants combined have 29. Florida State has accumulated 17, Ohio State eight and Oregon four.
To be fair, Jimbo Fisher has been head coach at FSU since 2010 (although he was on staff since 2007), this is Helfrich’s second season as head coach at Oregon (he was on staff since 2009) and Urban Meyer arrived in Columbus in 2012.
Saban’s been at Alabama since 2007 and has won at least 10 games since 2008 with three national championships.
Yes, he’s considered the best coach in college football. He’s also an elite recruiter and developer of talent. How many 5-star players have failed to meet the hype when they arrived on campus? It happens everywhere — even Alabama — but Saban’s top recruits have, for the most part, performed to their 5-star designations.
2014
Ratings according to 247Sports.com
OT Cam Robinson: Alabama’s starting left tackle and a Sporting News Freshman All-American.
DE Da’Shawn Hand: Has seven tackles and two sacks in limited time this season.
CB Tony Brown: Has played in 12 of 13 games with 10 tackles.
LB Rashaan Evans: Has 15 tackles in a backup role.
CB Marlon Humphrey: Redshirting
ATH Bo Scarbrough: Hasn’t enrolled yet after attending IMG Academy in Bradenton. Saban previously said he may enroll in January.
2013
RB Derrick Henry: Led Alabama in rushing this season with 990 yards and 11 TDs.
TE O.J. Howard: Caught 17 passes for 260 yards in starting role.
DE Jonathan Allen: Second on team with 11.5 tackles for loss and second with 5.5 sacks.
NG A’Shawn Robinson: Totaled 49 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss.
LB Reuben Foster: Totaled 22 tackles with a sack.
WR Robert Foster: Caught six passes for 44 yards.
2012
S Landon Collins: A Sporting News All-American, led team with 103 tackles and tied for team lead with three interceptions. He’s a projected first round pick in the NFL Draft.
RB T.J. Yeldon: Battled nagging injuries this season, but still ran for 979 yards and 11 scores. He has 3,322 rushing yards (fourth in school history) and 37 TDs (third most) in three seasons. If he returns for his senior season he’ll own most school rushing records.
ATH Eddie Williams: Remember what we said about some not panning out? Williams was arrested and dismissed from the team in February 2013.
2011
OT Cyrus Kouandjio: Playing for Buffalo Bills.
S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: Playing for Green Bay Packers.
LB Trey DePriest: Senior on this year’s team, third with 88 tackles and added 4.5 tackles for loss.Was a Preseason SN All-American.
2010
CB Dee Milliner: Playing for New York Jets.
QB Phillip Sims: Transferred to Virginia and again to Winston-Salem State, where he played quarterback this season.
2009
RB Trent Richardson: Playing for Indianapolis Colts.
CB Dre Kirkpatrick: Playing for Cincinnati Bengals.
LB Nico Johnson: Playing for Cincinnati Bengals.
OT D.J. Fluker: Playing for San Diego Chargers.
If you noticed, that list doesn’t include Amari Cooper, Alabama’s Heisman finalist receiver who shattered Alabama records with 124 receptions, 1,727 yards and 16 TD catches this season.
He was only a 4-star player.
