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Alabama Football Recruiting: Is no QB recruit in 2018 class a problem?

By Ronald Evans

Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9), head coach Nick Saban, and linebacker Ryan Anderson (22) hold up their trophies after the game against the Washington Huskies in the 2016 CFP Semifinal at the Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Washington 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Bo Scarbrough (9), head coach Nick Saban, and linebacker Ryan Anderson (22) hold up their trophies after the game against the Washington Huskies in the 2016 CFP Semifinal at the Georgia Dome. Alabama defeated Washington 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Six months from the Early Signing Period, Alabama football does not lead for any 2018 quarterback recruit. What does that mean?

The standard recruiting recipe for Alabama football and every other team is to take a quarterback in every recruiting class. Currently, none of the major recruiting services have Alabama football leading for any quarterback in the 2018 class.

Alabama football fans become very antsy in any recruiting cycle when the Tide lags behind the top teams. June is not normally a time for panic but that has changed with the new Early Signing Period in December.

With Alabama football, panic is never warranted but concern may be appropriate. Let’s review where Alabama football stands in its 2018 recruitment of quarterbacks.

Alabama football has offered 17 quarterbacks in the 2018 recruiting cycle. With the recent decommit of Matt Corral from USC, four of the 17 are uncommitted.

The others have announced their choices as Auburn; Clemson; Kentucky; Missouri; Notre Dame; North Carolina; Stanford; Tennessee; Texas; UCLA; Utah; Vanderbilt and Washington.

Here are the four with open recruitment:

  • Matt Corral – 5-Star – Recent decommit from USC – new leader is Georgia
  • Tanner McKee – 4-Star – wide open but plans a two-year mission before college
  • Justin Fields – 5-Star – FSU, PSU, Florida and Auburn are leaders
  • Gerry Bohanon – 3-Star – Arkansas, Baylor, Georgia, Louisville, Ole Miss and Mississippi State are ahead of Alabama

Alabama football has offered six quarterbacks in the 2019 recruiting cycle. Five remain uncommitted.

Alabama Crimson Tide Football
Alabama Crimson Tide Football /

Alabama Crimson Tide Football

One of the five is a Tagovailoa, Taulia, Tua’s younger brother. Pretty much the entire Tagovailoa extended family moved to Alabama a few months ago. Taulia will play at Thompson High School in Alabaster this fall.

Missing out on a quarterback in 2018 would not be a disaster for the Tide. The Tide’s current three QB’s should be Tiders again in 2018. Missing a QB in 2018 would mean two would be needed in 2019.

Another Alabama offer is hot prospect Bo Nix from Pinson, AL. Taulia and Bo are currently rated as 4-Star players.

Most Alabama football fans are confident Taulia will choose the Tide. There is good reason for optimism but counting him as a lock is a mistake this far out.

Al.com discussed Taulia’s college plans with his high school coach, Mark Freeman.

"“People are still wondering if he’ll go to Alabama automatically. He wants to be recruited. He wants to be his own guy. We’ll have five or six SEC schools come through here this week.He’s very determined to be his own guy. He loves Tua, but he wants to be his own guy.”"

In January we did this post on Tua and the role models in the Tagovailoa family. We expect the story also applies to Taulia. If Taulia makes a connection with Nick Saban as his older brother has, the younger Tagovailoa will be a Crimson Tider.

Next: Five Greatest Threats to a 2017 Championship

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