Crimson Tide
*EE = Early Enrollee
** Rankings per 247 Sports
Class Analysis:
Nick Saban isn’t new to the SEC or its recruiting methods, and this year, he may have assembled the best class during his tenure.
On the offensive side of the ball, it appears that Saban wasn’t happy with his current depth at center, recruiting three different centers, and even going so far as Iowa to get Pierschbacher. Despite the haul at OC, the highlight recruit on the line is five star OT Cameron Robinson, who has a college ready frame and high amount of physicality.
Outside the OL, the highlight for the offensive group is five star Bo Scarbrough. To put it simply, Scarbrough is an absolute beast, and should have an outstanding career with the Tide. He has great measurables and speed that allow him to play a multitude of positions, from running back to wide receiver. This should be a talented group for first year Offensive Coordinator Lan Kiffin to work with.
Defensively, there isn’t a more highly touted group than Alabama’s. This group is headlined by multiple stars, including Tony Brown at cornerback, Da’Shawn Hand at defensive end, and Marlon Humphrey also a cornerback. Given that the Tide run a base 3-4 defense, it explains the focus on recruiting linebackers as opposed to the defensive line.
After examining this class, it’s obvious why the Tide have the best class in the West.
Top Impact
Recruits:
On the offensive side of the ball, the freshman with the biggest chance to contribute early is Bo Scarbrough. As stated above, Scarbrough is a versatile player who Saban will have trouble keeping off the football field. He might not see much time at running back given that T.J Yeldon and Kenyon Drake will likely get the lion’s share of the carries, but Kiffin will find some way to get him on the field. He could also make a huge impact on special teams as a kick or punt returner given his explosiveness.
Defensively the top impact recruit is Da’Shawn Hand. The Tide have talent stacked at every position, but they have been missing a dominant defensive lineman, but that’s what Saban has gotten with Hand. Hand has very good speed, with a recorded 40 yard dash of 4.6 seconds. In addition to being quick, he has a college ready frame. The only thing that will stop Hand from seeing the field is learning the defensive scheme.
Underrated:
My pick here is Christian Miller, because even though he was a highly recruited linebacker, he is usually overshadowed by the other prospects in his class. Miller has good height for an outside linebacker, standing at 6ft 4in. Although he is a little on the light side, which time in the weight program can fix, he is very physical and hard-nosed. He will need some time to work on his open field tackling, but he is a solid prospect and will be a good linebacker for the Tide.
Video courtesy of MaxPreps High School Sports.