When the University of Alabama hired Nick Saban to be its next head coach on January 3, 2007, Saban had about a month to pick up the pieces of what was becoming Mike Shula’s fourth class.
In a month, Saban took the class all the way to No. 10 in the Rivals.com rankings.
For his 2008 class, however, Saban has had an entire year and has used every single minute of it to his advantage, landing one of the top three classes in the country.
Saban has not only reclaimed the state after it almost slipped to Auburn University and the rest of the SEC, but he has also reached out to other states and has begun to take them over as well.
Before Saban, top recruits such as JaMarcus Russell and Pat White were leaving the state for other schools. Now, Saban is keeping that home grown talent inside the Alabama state lines.
Alabama has landed all of the top-five recruits from the state, including all-everything WR Julio Jones, and 14 of the top 20 from the state of Alabama overall. In a year in which the state of Alabama boasted some of its best talent ever, the Tide has kept it under wraps.
Additional big names from inside the state are OL Tyler Love and athlete Burton Scott, both of whom are rated with five-stars along with Jones.
The upside of Scott and Love is that their commitments came very early in the process and they continued to aid the Tide to get this great class. Both came down to visit unofficially multiple times to help with recruiting and Scott took visits with other prospects who were considering Alabama in hopes of swaying their opinion.
Not only was Saban dominant in-state, but the second-year Tide coach also branched out nationwide and pulled in 14 out-of-staters to be a part of this class that includes over 30 players.
Alabama managed to pull three of the top five guys out of Tennessee, gained huge strides in getting two players out of Florida, neither of whom were expected to leave the state, and then the best cornerback out of Mississippi.
The prized players from out-of-state are quarterback Star Jackson from Florida, Barrett Jones from Tennessee, and Alonzo Lawrence from Mississippi.
Jackson is no doubt the Tide’s quarterback of the future, and fans are ready for him to hit the field as early the Tide’s opener against Clemson. He is listed as a pro-style quarterback according to rivals, but Jackson also has the ability to run the ball effectively.
10 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Ryan T about 1 year ago
Good job recruiting, BAMA.
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Smith J. Howard about 1 year ago
Yeah, this class scares me as a Tennessee fan and Auburn follower. Good write up Nic.
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Leon Wynn about 1 year ago
As an Auburn fan and Julio-hater, I can only hope that a few Tide players catch the flu, for four years.
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Timothy Croley about 1 year ago
Good article Nic. Keep the Bama stuff coming.
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john brewer about 1 year ago
let's do some math. after yesterday alabama will have 116 football players on scholarship assuming the 32 or 33 make it into school. 116-85=31. which 31 currently in the program will lose their scholarship if all recruits make it into school? or which 31 of the 33 recruits which signed a loi will have to wait at prep school etc. just a question.
georgia with their 23 recruits yesterday have exactly 85 players on scholarship.
florida has if you can believe it exactly 70 on scholarship after yesterday. not wasting time and scholarships on marginal sytudents and projects. i hate the florida gaytors but that is impressive.
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Nic Gulas about 1 year ago
John, kids graduate. Scholarships open up year after year. C'mon dude, please tell me you knew this. Thats why there are 25 scholarships available every year for a signing class give or take a few depending on if a coach had gone over in the past. Saban has all 25 because of the restrictions that were placed on Shula and then has backloaded two guys to last year's class because they are already enrolled so that is 27. Some will make it in on the Bryant Scholarship and some may have to grey shirt. Saban has a plan, and dont worry, all 32 of them have a good chance to qualify and make it to campus and make it miserable for your team in about 2-3 years.
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Daniel Huggins about 1 year ago
Well, I'd guess the weakest/un-needed 31. As a Bama fan, I love the options. Yeah, I know, sucks for the 31 that get dropped, but this isn't little league - not everyone gets to play. It's the spirit of competition, Darwinian of sorts. Beautiful, really.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
its good 2 see other fans are good sports about it. I hate auburn and tennessee but I'll pull for a sec team any day over another conference. ROLL TIDE ROLL
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john brewer about 1 year ago
nic, no no no. go to scout.com- alabama- fb recruiting-eligibility
you know about the 85-25 rule. 85 scholarship players total no more than 25 in a year unless scholarships are dropped by school, transferred or quits. i was just asking you since you are an alabama fan and in the know.
20 graduated this year. next year you have 22 seniors -31 jrs-14 sophs-29 freshmen on scholarship including red shirts. if you add 32 from this recruiting class then who will not get or will lose their scholarship this season. remember scholarships aren't 4 year rides anymore. just one year deals.
oh and i saw a typo, saban didn't over sign loi due to scholarship restictions, alabama has been back at 85 for 2 years. but i know you knew that before the typo. you are right he has a plan and some current players won't be happy.
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Scotty Scotto about 1 year ago
Alabama has broke it down on why they could recruit 32 players. 2 were back dated to 2007, 4 will gray shirt, 2 are not expected to qualify. The Tide loses 24 players on scholarship. That is thirty two. The Tide Recruited 32.
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