Alabama Football Recruiting: Twists and turns not necessarily stumbles

Six months away from the Early Signing Period, the Alabama football 2018 class is building slowly. With fewer slots, every twist and turn is not a stumble.

Less than a month ago, Alabama football extended a 2018 offer to Emmit Gooden. Per 247 Sports, Gooden is the “No. 2 JUCO defensive tackle, and No. 8 overall JUCO player in the country.”

Gooden has been described as elite though it is good to remember college football is littered with former elite recruits who failed to become elite players.

Gooden stated he “just about dropped a tear” when Nick Saban offered over the phone. Gooden said the Tide was certainly in the top group of the dozen offers he held at the time.

On Sunday, Gooden committed to Arkansas. Gridiron Sports reported Gooden’s decision was influenced by Razorback coach Bret Bielema.

"“He’s very up front and very real. Even if I wouldn’t have chosen Arkansas, he would have still had kindness for me as a player. You can’t do anything but respect that, and I wanted somebody like him to coach me.”"

This is Gooden’s third college commitment.  In high school, he chose Mississippi State and Tennessee.

When the Arkansas commit news broke, Alabama football message boards lit up with consternation. With the 2018 class few in numbers, Tide fans were stunned the Hogs could pull an elite player over the Tide.

But there is more to the story.

The two days before Gooden’s commitment, another JUCO defensive lineman was in Tuscaloosa for a player camp. The player was Caleb Tremblay from Napa, CA. Tremblay has an interesting story.

Coming out of high school he weighed 200 pounds and according to Scout.com had few college options.

"Tremblay strained the MCL in his right leg the week of his first game, so the recruiting interest fell off for him … “I was just barely 200 pounds and no one was really after me, so I took a year off and worked out and just sorta got myself focused on things and what I wanted to do.”"

Knowledgeable Alabama football insiders said Tremblay’s Tuscaloosa camp performance vaulted him up the Tide’s 2018 recruit board. Some suggested Tremblay was so impressive he jumped over Gooden on the Tide’s wish list. At 275 pounds now, he is projected at defensive end, but sources state Tide coaches believe he can play inside as well.

Tremblay fully qualified academically coming out of high school. He can choose to not play JUCO this fall and have three years of eligibility left. There is no indication he will make that choice. Plus competition for his signature has taken off the last few weeks.

It is very unlikely Tremblay’s camp performance and Gooden picking Arkansas are related. The Tide is always prepared for the fickle minds of young players. Other players are waiting for the chance to prove they are elite.

Identifying player attributes and talent and giving players a chance to later become elite is the strength of Alabama football. Losing an “elite” recruit to Arkansas or anyone else is not a big deal.

Next: 30 Great Crimson Tiders who were 3-Star recruits

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