The correlation between team recruiting rankings and national titles is hard to argue against.
Advertisement
The Tide’s eventful signing day once again produced one the highest-rated class in the country according to 247Sports, but the understated Saban wasn’t ready to crown them champions of anything just yet.
Analysis: There was some anxiousness heading into National Signing Day for the Crimson Tide as they entered Wednesday’s extravaganza with only 16 commitments, but man, what a finish for Alabama. Jim Harbaugh landed a five-star in defensive tackle Rashan Gary out of Paramus, New Jersey, the number one defensive tackle in this class. MI also landed 17 four-star recruits with guys like Devin Asiasi from Concord, California (#3 Tight End-Y) and Ben Bredeson out of Hartland, Wisconsin, the #4 offensive tackle in this class.
Wilson previously mentioned Florida as a favorite, but Georgia emerged as Alabama’s main competition by signing day.
Part of the day’s melodrama centered on FSU securing a pair of four-star defensive linemen in Brian Burns and Shavar Manuel, who flipped his decision from the rival Florida Gators to the Seminoles.
“I don’t know if that’s what kids base their choices on, but it can’t hurt it. Winning national championships, Alabama recruits itself now”.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior out of Gordo High School in Alabama stuck to his roots by picking Alabama Wednesday morning.
To begin the overtime period, Mississippi State scored four straight points, but the Tide evened the score at 73-73 and went up 76-74 thanks to a three-point play by Obasohan with 2:05 to play. “He just wants to make sure I’m comfortable with the situation wherever I go”.
Hamilton finished his sophomore season with 27 tackles in helping Alabama win the 2015 national championship.
Assessment (Allen Trieu, Scout.com): The Crimson Tide already had a great class, but it was a strong Signing Day, led by 5-star LB Ben Davis and 4-star cornerbacks Jared Mayden and Shyheim Carter, that pushed Nick Saban’s class to the very top, passing Ohio State along the way for No. 1. He had 19 offers and 10 college coaches came to visit him.
New school. Next level.
“It made me feel good on the inside”, he said. The Longhorns moved from the 30s into the top 10 in the team standings of multiple services. He’s the nation’s No. 71 overall player and the No. 9 corner.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: Family connections played a role in a couple of Wednesday’s big commitments.
The Bruins also signed a strong group of receivers to play with sophomore quarterback Josh Rosen.
Advertisement
The Crimson Tide had their second Heisman Trophy victor in 2015, and so we might all need to watch out for Damien Harris or someone else in 2017, because Trent Richardson had more yards and touchdowns in 2011 than Heisman victor Mark Ingram had in 2009.
