Alabama Football: The good news and the bad news from Signing Day

More good than bad for Alabama football while signing 15 players on the first early Signing Day. The Tide moved up to the No. 6 class in the nation.

Alabama football added 14 new players on the first day of the Early Signing Period. Technically 15 players signed, including 2017 grayshirt player, Jarez Parks. Since Alabama football had two carryover blueshirts from last season, Hunter Brannon and Joseph Bulovas, eight more 2018 slots are open.

Including Parks, the Tide added (1) 5-Star; (11), 4-Star and (3) 3-Star, recruits for the 2018 class.

Good News on Positions of Need

• Cornerback – (3) 4-Star players Saivion Smith; Jalyn Armour-Davis and Josh Jobe
• Defensive End – (1) 5-Star: Eyabi Anoma and (5) 4-Stars: Jordan Davis; Jarez Parks; Stephon Wynn; Jordan Davis and Cameron Latu
• Defensive Tackle – (1) 4-Star: Christian Barmore
• Punter – (1) 3-Star (and the No. 2 Punter in the nation): Skyler DeLong

Other Important Signees

• Wide Receiver – 4-Star Xavier Williams and 3-Star Slade Bolden
• Offensive Line – 4-Star Emil Ekiyor and 4-Star Tommy Brown
• All-Purpose Back – 3-Star Jerome Ford

Signing Day Misses and Surprises

• 3-Star ATH and projected Tide LB, Vernon Jackson delayed his signing until February.
• As expected, but still a disappointment, 5-Star Brenton Cox chose Georgia.
• Not a surprise but 4-Star OL, Penei Sewell delayed his decision to February.
• Another non-surprise DT, Bobby Brown delayed his decision.
• CB, Jaycee Horn, who was not a take yet for the Tide, signed with South Carolina
• As expected QB Emory Jones signed with Florida.
• Defensive end, Andres Fox who was not a Tide take, chose Stanford

Signing Day Disappointments

• 4-Star CB commit, Nadab Joseph flipped from the Tide to Georgia. Balanced against this development are the remaining CB options. Alabama will continue to recruit 5-Stars, Tyson Campbell and Patrick Surtain Jr, as well as 4-Star Issac Taylor-Stuart. Nick Saban wants to sign two more cornerbacks. There is an unconfirmed report that Alabama backed off Joseph at the very end.
• 4-Star TE, Dominick Wood-Anderson picked the Tennessee Vols. The recruitment of Wood-Anderson has been a circus, mostly of his choosing, and while the Tide was the perceived leader, there was no assurance. Many fans who followed the process closely are relieved the probable, future NFL star went elsewhere.

What about a QB?

• Until a few days ago, most recruiting insiders expected 4-Star Emory Jones to flip from Ohio State to the Tide. Instead, he chose Florida. Though it was no surprise to Tide coaches, going into 2018 with only three scholarship QB’s has not been Saban’s plan.

Next: 2018 Signing Class

The Early Signing Period is not over. Players can sign on December 21st and 22nd. The situation is fluid and can change quickly but no additional Tide prospects have indicated an intention to sign early.

In terms of the remaining eight slots, the Alabama football staff is still recruiting around 15 top players.