Alabama Football Recruiting: Meet the Crimson Tide's 2015 Class
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Grading recruiting classes against each other can be a fickle thing.
Alabama, for example, at the end of national signing day 2015 had the No. 1 class as rated by ESPN. 247Sports, Scout and Rivals gave Alabama the No. 2 spot behind USC, which surged behind several signing day pickups.
But, the 247Sports Composite, “a proprietary algorithm that compiles prospect ‘rankings’ and ‘ratings’ listed in the public domain by the major media recruiting services,” has Alabama on top, edging out USC by the slightest of margins, despite having two fewer members than the Trojans. It also says Alabama’s average rating per player was the highest in the country.
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Nick Saban reminds us every year what we’re all thinking right about now. In the end, none of those specifics really matter—who edged out whom for the No. 1 class. As long as you’re at or near the top, you’re pulling in the players needed to compete at the highest levels of college football.
And so it went on Wednesday.
“We're certainly pleased with our guys but predicting how a young person is going to do academically and athletically in college by giving them some rating when he's in high school is not very scientific,” Nick Saban said, standing behind a podium in his crimson blazer after a largely uneventful signing day.
“We try to use science to create things that are very subjective in terms of what someone's performance is going to be, and I don't think that's really possible. There's no scientific way to know what the achievement of any person is going to be in anything they try to do. It's impossible.”
Whether Alabama is one or two, there is a lot to be excited about. It pulled in six 5-stars, according to that composite score, and filled a lot of needs.
Let’s jump right in and meet the 2015 class.
Instant Impact?
While Alabama is losing the most talent on the offensive side, the better bets for playing time in this 2015 class are on defense, specifically at safety.
Saban said in his signing day press conference that the biggest focus on defense was linebackers and secondary.
Safety is where he could use the most immediate help, and he scored well.
Deionte Thompson and Ronnie Harrison, his two 4-star safety signees, are already on campus as early enrollees. Both have a good shot at some sort of defensive playing time, with Alabama losing Landon Collins, Nick Perry and Jarrick Williams after this season.
“I think I have a good opportunity to start playing next year,” Harrison said. “I just have to learn the playbook and come in and work hard every day.”
Thompson shared the same sentiments.
“It’s one thing to talk about it and it’s another thing to go out there and do it,” he said. “It’s just about me working hard, being dedicated, being patient and remaining humble. I’ve been humble through the whole process. Spring practice will be my first college practice, and I probably won’t get adjusted to the speed the first day. But I want to learn as much as I can learn and if my number is called to play this year I want to contribute.”
Thompson and Harrison would be your best best for playing time right now, either on special teams or otherwise, in 2015.
Offensive Cornerstones
In addition to beefing up the offensive line, Alabama added three skill position players who could form a formidable trio in years to come.
Quarterback Blake Barnett, wide receiver Calvin Ridley and running back Damien Harris are all 5-stars with game-breaking ability.
Barnett himself spoke specifically about those two when asked about his impressions of the class.
“Those are guys who are going to make a big impact I believe in the next couple of years. Top recruits,” he said. “And I know that both of them have extremely great work ethics and good heads on their shoulders. Their mindset and their preparation for college football is going to make them successful.”
Ridley and Barnett have already teamed up once before at The Opening in Beaverton, Oregon. Gary Laney of AL.com noted their chemistry and timing when Ridley was running routes for Barnett.
Harris was a late add to the class, committing to Alabama over his home-state Kentucky Wildcats.
Together, they could become cornerstones of the Crimson Tide’s offense in the future.
Defensive Difference-Makers
Besides safety, Alabama added a handful of stud defenders who are poised to be stars.
For the second year in a row, it signed two 5-star cornerbacks, grabbing Minkah Fitzpatrick and Kendall Sheffield. That gives Alabama insane depth behind last year’s 5-stars, Tony Brown and Marlon Humphrey, while Cyrus Jones and Eddie Jackson are the likely starters in 2015.
On the defensive line, 5-star Daron Payne was a big get from in-state rival Auburn. He can be a game-changing player inside like Josh Chapman, Jesse Williams or Terrence Cody.
And then there are those linebackers Saban talked about.
Adonis Thomas, Joshua McMillon and Keaton Anderson will give depth to a unit that is a little thin right now with the loss of Trey Depriest.
Here’s a full look at Alabama’s 2015 signing class:
| Name | Position | Height/weight | Hometown (High school) | Star rating |
| Blake Barnett | Quarterback | 6'4.5"/200 lbs. | Corona, CA (Santiago) | 5 |
| Bo Scarbrough | Athlete | 6'2"/225 lbs. | Tuscaloosa, AL (Northridge) | 5 |
| Minkah Fitzpatrick | Cornerback | 6'1"/198 lbs. | Jersey City, NJ (St. Peters Prep) | 5 |
| Damien Harris | Running back | 5'11"/205 lbs. | Berea, KY (Madison Southern) | 5 |
| Daron Payne | Defensive tackle | 6'2"/235 lbs. | Birmingham, AL (Shades Valley School) | 5 |
| Calvin Ridley | Wide receiver | 6'0"/170 lbs. | Pompano Beach, FL (Monarch) | 5 |
| Kendall Sheffield | Cornerback | 6'0"/181 lbs. | Missouri City, TX (Fort Bend Marshall) | 5 |
| Mekhi Brown | Defensive end | 6'4.5"/222 lbs. | Columbus, GA (Columbus) | 4 |
| Shawn Burgess-Becker | Athlete | 6'1"/185 lbs. | Pompano Beach, FL (Monarch) | 4 |
| Daylon Charlot | Wide receiver | 6'0"/193 lbs. | Patterson, LA (Patterson) | 4 |
| Lester Cotton | Offensive guard | 6'4"/325 lbs. | Tuscaloosa, AL (Central High School) | 4 |
| Desherrius Flowers | Running back | 6'0"/204 lbs. | Mobile, AL (Vigor) | 4 |
| Ronnie Harrison | Safety | 6'3"/205 lbs. | Tallahassee, FL (Florida State Univ. School) | 4 |
| Hale Hentges | Tight end | 6'5"/230 lbs. | Jefferson City, MO (Hellas) | 4 |
| Anfernee Jennings | Defensive end | 6'3"/256 lbs. | Dadeville, AL (Dadeville) | 4 |
| Brandon Kennedy | Offensive guard | 6'2.5"/295 lbs. | Wetumpka, AL (Wetumpka) | 4 |
| Joshua McMillon | Outside linebacker | 6'3"/239 lbs. | Memphis, TN (Whitehaven) | 4 |
| Richie Petitbon | Offensive guard | 6'4"/301 lbs. | Washington, DC (Gonzaga) | 4 |
| Deionte Thompson | Safety | 6'2"/181 lbs. | Orange, TS (West Orange-Stark) | 4 |
| Dallas Warmack | Offensive guard | 6'1.5"/306 lbs. | Atlanta, GA (Mays) | 4 |
| Adonis Thomas | Outside linebacker | 6'3.5"/229 lbs. | Lawrenceville, GA (Central Gwinnett) | 4 |
| Keaton Anderson | Outside linebacker | 6'1"/215 lbs. | Florence, AL (Florence) | 3 |
| Jonathan Taylor | JUCO defensive tackle | 6'4"/335 lbs. | Wesson, MS (Copiah-Lincoln C.C.) | 3 |
| Matt Womack | Offensive tackle | 6'7"/320 lbs. | Senatobia, MS (Magnolia Heights School) | 3 |
Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information comes courtesy of 247Sports.
Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.
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