Alabama Football: Tuscaloosa, Do we have a problem?
By Ronald Evans
Twenty-plus years ago the movie Apollo 13 had the famous line, “Houston, we have a problem.” Looking at Alabama football 2018 recruiting, is it time to ask, “Tuscaloosa, Do we have a problem?”
Using the Rivals Network’s rating system 2018 Team Ranking, Alabama football is No. 54 in the nation.
Yes, that is a very young looking Tom Hanks and we chose the video to emphasize rather than alarm. Alabama football under Nick Saban is a recruiting machine and the yield in 2018 will be another highly ranked class.
Nonetheless, 2018 will be different. The first 2018 athletes to sign will do so in late December, rather than early February. There will still be a second signing day in February but no one knows how many players will opt to sign in the Dec.20-22, 2017 window.
Due to the change, the 2018 recruiting cycle will have more and new unknowns. What we don’t know, but are willing to guess, is that the new accelerated calendar is not a good time for any program to be behind schedule.
Another fact in the known column is Alabama will not sign 25 or more players in the 2018 class. With current blueshirts and grayshirts, Alabama football will have room for maybe 22 players.
Fewer slots and a compressed schedule. No wonder Nick Saban is not happy with the change. Here is what we reported last week on Saban’s opinion of the early signing period.
Where does Alabama football stand as of May 21, 2017? Let’s review the details based upon the ESPN 300 ranking of 2018 recruits.
138 of the ESPN 300 players have already committed. Alabama has two commitments, both in the ESPN 300. Here is a list of the top schools and current ESPN 300 commits.
- Miami – 12 commits
- Ohio State – 10 commits
- LSU – 9 commits
- Penn State – 8 commits
- USC – 6 commits
- Clemson, Tennessee, Nebraska and FSU – 5 commits
In terms of total 2018 commits, Miami has 17. LSU has16, Penn State has 13, Notre Dame has 11. Ohio State, Tennessee and Nebraska each have 10 commits. Again, Alabama has two.
Let us be clear, it is not the time to conclude there is a problem that will prevent Alabama football from signing a Top Five recruiting class. Tuscaloosa could explode with a flurry of new commitments in the coming days or next few weeks.
Alabama football recruits very selectively. Just a few months ago the Tide did not have room for Jarez Parks, rated by 247sports as the No. 95 ranked player in the 2017 recruiting class.
When the prizes being chased are the most elite players in the nation, a program is not behind, seven months before the first signing day of the 2018 recruiting cycle.
Next: 5 Best SEC QB's not named Jalen Hurts
What is Nick Saban’s plan? From Charlie Potter of 247sports.
"“we want to get 22 good players that have good character, that want to commit to the same kind of things that we do here at Alabama to help them be successful as people, as students and as players.”"
“Tuscaloosa, Do we have a problem?” Not as long as Nick Saban is leading Alabama football. No matter how often the rules are changed.