Alabama Football: Nick Saban Throws a Curve and Steals Wake Forest QB Commit

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) Nick Saban threw the media a curveball and took Alec Morris, an Allen, Texas senior at Allen High School. He was able to throw a curveball because Morris was already off the radar as he had already committed to Wake Forest.

When you're one of the top recruiters in the country and you discover a talent you want that others haven't yet discovered, suddenly every eye in the country falls on that young man.

Even Coach Mike Leach said, on his Sirius Satellite radio show, that if Nick Saban had offered some 3-star he hadn't heard of, he wanted to take a look at him and see why he missed him, especially if it's in his area.

So Saban put off his offer on this young man until he had seen for himself what he was capable of at a summer camp in Tuscaloosa. He made the offer and got a quick yes from Morris.

The media was making a lot of fuss over the fact that Alabama still did not have a quarterback, but Saban obviously was not flustered. First of all he already has a redshirt freshman QB in the wings in Phillip Sims and a redshirt sophomore quarterback in A.J. McCarron ready to take snaps for the foreseeable future.

Saban didn't have to sign a quarterback in 2012, but the one they got is one of those that many passed on because he was only a 3-star QB. Saban, however, saw a young man that is a true pro style passer like he likes, but who has the feet and legs to escape a rush and run like a dual threat QB.

He's also a heavily built 6'3'', 235-pound quarterback who can shrug off tacklers, lower his head and shoulders and bully his way for those final yards to get a first down or a touchdown. Last season, as a junior signal caller, he had eight rushing touchdowns, shrugged off many sack attempts and showed he could take a hit as well.

He has great touch on the ball, especially on the deep balls. He has the arm strength to zing the out patterns, as well.

He has been working with Kevin Murray, a former Dallas-Ft.Worth metroplex Offensive Player of the Year in high school and the former Aggie QB who broke most of Texas A&M's passing records and became the Southwest conference's all-time touchdown leader before he left.

Murray runs a business called Air 14 Quarterback Academy in Lewisville, Texas where he grooms future quarterbacks. He knows what this young 17-year-old is capable of once he fully matures.

He told C.W. Star of TheOldCoach.com that, "Alec is a tremendous athlete. What people don't realize is he played AAU basketball up until last year and I think the sky is the limit once he matures physically," Murray said. "Alec is young, just turning 17, but is big, strong and smart."

"Alabama is a great choice and what Saban said about Alec is an indication that a lot of schools missed on him," Murray continued. "Alec has a tremendous upside and his ability to play under center is important for his future. I'm a big fan of Alec Morris and have watched his progression over the last 12 months as an indicator of where he can go." (end of quote)

Last season, Morris threw for 2,533 yards and 22 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Coaches feel his game will be much better this coming season, ending this year, and his high school career, as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation.

If so, Saban has proved that can dig up the gold that many have missed and that may be the real reason why he continues to win at the torrid pace he does.

Others may fret about who signs who, but Saban keeps an even keel about his work, unconcerned what others are doing, but simply focusing on what his own goals and objectives are.