Alabama Falls to Auburn in Recruiting, but Don't Hit the Panic Button

The 2010 Signing Day is done, and unlike in years' past, this one ended with a bit of a thud instead of excitement. 

Alabama lost one of its top recruits to Cal and failed to flip anyone late. 

To make matters worse, cross-state rival Auburn somehow managed to piece together its best class in a generation and beat Saban at his own game.

Even though this will not be known as a top class, this is nonetheless a top-five class that stacks up well compared to the last few.

Talent in the state of Alabama was somewhat down this year, as reflected by Nick Saban reaching out of state more so than in the past: 17 of the signees (63 percent) are from outside the state. 

However, even in years in which Alabama is not highly stocked, controlling the state is still a major priority. Alabama signed six of Rivals Alabama top 10 players, Auburn signed three, and Clemson signed one.

Alabama took the top two players, including the state's only five-star player, Demarcus Milliner. Additionally, one of those signed by Auburn may not qualify, wideout Jeremy Richardson.   

Alabama did not totally dominate the state, but even with the high ranking of Auburn's class, they still trail Alabama when it comes to the state's players.  

Any signing class must be viewed with respect to needs.  

The No. 1 need for Alabama is special teams and defensive backs. 

Thinking back on the championship season, I've seen better offenses at Alabama. I also still believe the 1992 defense was better than this past year's squad.

But Alabama's special teams, when taken as a whole, were better than I have seen at there.  

Even with some midseason breakdowns in coverage and an inexplicable vulnerability to the onside kick, the consistency and accuracy with which Alabama long-snapped, punted,  kicked, and returned kicks was a huge part of the championship. Alabama lost every skill player responsible.

Alabama's Rivals ranking was no doubt hurt slightly by the fact they signed both a punter and kicker, who are always ranked low, even when they are at the top of their game.

Such things are rare as most schools rely on walk-ons for these positions.

Place kicker Cade Foster from Southlake Texas and punter Jay Williams from Thomasville will both get a shot to start as true freshman. Foster is set to arrive this spring, so he has an even better chance.

In the return game, two recruits may get an early look. Defensive back Deion Belue, if he qualifies, could be a dangerous return man. In Belue's high school film, he looks remarkably similar to of Javier Arenas.  

Another player who may get a shot is athlete Corey Grant, from none other than Opelika, Ala. Grant was a running back in high school but may play slot receiver at Alabama. He may be the fastest player in the class, which could make him a threat as a returner. 

With the loss of seven upper classmen from the secondary, Saban went after defensive backs early and often. The results are undeniable.   

Alabama signed the second- and fifth-ranked corners in the nation in DeMarcus Milliner and John Fulton, respectively. Both are over 6" with the speed and skill to be lock-down corners. 

Both players are already on campus and will be competing this spring. THAT, my friends, is meeting needs.

Also at safety, Alabama signed the fifth- and 25th-rated safeties in the nation in Jarrick Williams and Nick Perry, respectively.  

Add to that one of the best junior college corners in the nation Dequan Menzie, and throw in Deion Belue, and you've got a lot of top talent where it's needed. 

Alabama's quest for the perfect Jack linebacker continues with the signing of Alfy Hill.  Hill played defensive end in high school, but the Bama staff has Jack in mind. 

Alabama signed anther defensive end, Adrian Hubbard, who could fit that position, but his fate depends on how much weight he adds relative to his speed.

Brandon Ivory came on late to sign with the Tide. He was not ranked highly by any of the services, but his domination of an all-star game caught Saban's attention in addition to several other top programs. 

Ivory spurned a commitment to Memphis to sign with the Tide. Ivory is a run-stuffing nose guard, who looks like a smaller version of Mt. Cody. 

Two years ago, recruiting was more of an emergency fire drill. Now, with one championship in hand and plenty of talent on campus, it's all about keeping the shelves stocked. 

Alabama was turned down by some this year, but the players who said yes did so knowing they were not taking the easiest path to success. They were told they would have to work harder to get ahead at the Capstone. They listened, and they accepted the challenge.

Other players wanted an easier path. Some will find success, others will learn that the path to success is never smooth or downhill. It's a struggle. Alabama signees know that from Day One. These are the kinds of players who win championships.

There are other great players in this class, like massive offensive tackle Arie Kouandjio, who slides to the dinner table at 6'6”, 330lbs, but I will leave the detailed listing to others.

Though Alabama fans were angered at the loss of Keenan Allen, the real star of this class is already on campus.

Alabama for the second year in a row inked an Elite 11 quarterback, Phillip Sims. The Elite 11 is a quarterback camp held every summer in which the top high school quarterbacks in the nation compete. 

Alabama has signed other highly-ranked quarterbacks in the past, but normally they come from in-state. Sims, from Virginia, is the second-ranked drop back passer in the nation, according to Rivals.

This is not the kind of signal-caller who normally signs with Alabama. Clearly Nick Saban has made Alabama a destination again, just as in years past when players like Joe Namath came to Tuscaloosa to begin their legendary careers. 

Like Fulton, Milliner, and others, Sims is already on campus and will be competing this spring. He's likely headed for a redshirt year in 2010, but his signing sets up what might be a titanic battle for the starting quarterback position next year. 

Stay tuned Tide fans, this is not the end: It's the beginning.