Alabama Football Recruiting: Where the Tide stands with eight final slots

Less than a week until the NCAA ‘Dead Period’ Alabama football recruiting likely has eight open slots. Check out the top remaining candidates for the 2018 class.

It is crunch time for Alabama football recruiting. There are now fewer days until the Dead Period than there are open slots in the 2018 class. Almost all the remaining top prospects are not scheduled to announce until Feb. 7th (National Signing Day 2 or NSD2).

An estimate of eight remaining slots includes one blueshirt for 2018. There are no additional blueshirts or grayshirts currently projected but that could easily change. If no more ‘shirt’ options evolve the class will finish with eight more signees and possibly two walk-ons.

Bama Hammer follows all available sources for recruiting information. We have no inside information from recruits or coaches. We sort through often conflicting reports and only pass along what believe to be the most accurate information. Alabama football fans who closely follow recruiting know rumors are rampant, while facts are limited. All we can offer are carefully constructed beliefs.

Which players finish out the 2018 class?

It is easier to begin with which prospects are out and who we believe may drop out soon.

• Kevontae’ Ruggs – Henry Ruggs’ younger brother is a 3-Star LB/S. We believe his only path to Alabama football was a grayshirt. He recently committed to Ole Miss.
• Kelvin Joseph – 4-Star, Safety. After a weekend visit to LSU, Joseph has shut down his recruiting. That almost assures he will sign with LSU. Alabama was not expected to have room for Joseph.
• Olaijah Griffin – 5-Star CB. The recent visitor to Tuscaloosa is expected to stay on the West Coast for college. An available open slot was also in doubt for Griffin.
• J.J. Peterson – 4-Star OLB. We expect Peterson to follow Jeremy Pruitt to Tennessee.
• Tyler Friday – 4-Star DT. The Tide has not given up after Friday committed to Ohio State. A flip to the Tide is not likely.

Here are players most likely to choose other schools.

• Quay Walker – 4-Star LB and Tide commit. A flip to Tennessee or Georgia may happen.
• Vernon Jackson – 3-Star ATH/LB and Tide commit. A flip to Texas A&M is likely. Alabama may not discourage the flip due to limited open slots.
• Julius Irvin – 4-Star Safety. Irvin will announce on Jan. 31st. Tide coaches really like Irvin but most recruiting experts see him picking a West Coast school.

That leaves 15 players for the eight available slots. It is possible two of the 15 might accept walk-on status.

• One slot for a QB for either 3-Star Brock Purdy, 4-Star, Brevin White or 4-Star, James Foster. It is rumored White might accept a walk-on slot.
• Two slots for defensive lineman, 4-Star Bobby Brown and 4-Star Malik Langham. Brown is a Tide commit but Texas schools are trying hard to keep him in-state. Langham is getting a lot of late pressure from Tennessee, Auburn and Florida.
• One slot for offensive linemen, 5-Star Nicholas Petit-Frere or 4-Star Penei Sewell.
• Two or three slots for wide receivers, 4-Star Jaylen Waddle, 4-Star Justyn Ross and 4-Star Jacob Copeland. Most recruiting experts see the Tide as leaders for Waddle and Ross.
• Two or three slots for cornerbacks, 5-Star Patrick Surtain Jr., 5-Star Tyson Campbell, 5-Star Isaac Taylor-Stuart and 3-Star Eddie Smith. Alabama football is the apparent leader for Surtain Jr. and in a good position for the three others. Some insiders believe Tide coaches are so high on Smith, room would be made for him even if two of the 5-Stars pick the Tide.
• Austin Jones – Graduate transfer Placekicker. It is rumored Jones will consider Alabama as a walk-on if necessary. UPDATED – Early Monday evening, Jones accepted a walk-on slot.

In this final rush to NSD2 (Feb. 7th) there will be many changes. Alabama football also has a few fallback options should the need arise.

Next: The best 3-Star recruits in Crimson Tide football history.

Bama Hammer only reports on one recruiting cycle at a time. However, early indications are that 2019 prospects could lead Alabama football to another No. 1 recruiting class.