Alabama Football: 2018 Class Signee, 5-Star Eyabi Anoma
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football added one of the top players in the nation to the 2018 Signing Class, 5-Star Eyabi Anoma from Baltimore, MD.
The Alabama football 2018 Signing Class got a major boost by adding 5-Star weakside defensive end, Eyabi Anoma. The Anoma story is unusual because he has only played two years of high school football.
Before transferring to Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, Anoma was a basketball player. His previous school did not have much of a football program so Eyabi concentrated on basketball instead.
His basically 18-month path from football unknown to high school superstar is uncommon. Based on the 247Sports Composite, Anoma is a 2018 5-Star, the No. 1 player in Maryland, the No. 2 rated WDE and the No. 7 Overall player in the nation.
Alabama football had one big advantage in recruiting Anoma. Eyabi and Terrell Lewis, who is also from Baltimore, are good friends. Speaking about Lewis, Eyabi said,
"He’s like a big brother to me. He’s been watching my games and we talk about what I need to work on."
Eyabi’s recruitment was a team effort for Alabama football coaches. Mike Locksley was the leader since he is from Maryland. Jeremy Pruitt and Tosh Lupoi were very active. Nick Saban also focused considerable attention on Eyabi. Speaking about the Alabama coaches, Eyabi explained,
"They’re just realistic. I don’t like coaches telling me you’re going to come out and start off the bat. I don’t want nothing given to me. I don’t want anything promised. I got this where I’m at by working hard and trying to dominate every time they give me an opportunity to. That’s what I want to do in college. If I come there and earn the spot that’s different. I don’t want to go there and have anything given to me because nothing has ever been given to me."
Reading Eyabi’s attitude about hard work and earning what is achieved, it’s easy to see why Nick Saban and the other Tide coaches are so excited he will join the Tide. Anoma will play either defensive end or outside linebacker for the Crimson Tide. At 6-feet-5 and 230 pounds, he will need to add some bulk to reach his clearly high college football potential.
Eyabi received a total of 17 offers. The main competitors losing out to the Crimson Tide were Michigan, Maryland, Georgia and Florida.
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Despite all the attention given to 5-Star recruits, no one player makes or breaks a signing class. Even so, after the exit of Jeremy Pruitt and the constant ‘Saban will retire soon’ chatter from opposing coaches, pulling in Eyabi was big for Alabama football.
Alabama football fans welcome Eyabi Anoma to the 2018 Crimson Tide.