February 7, 2018 – Not the average Alabama football Signing Day
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football fans don’t know what to expect on Wednesday. That’s because this Signing Day is very different from the last seven.
Alabama football fans had grown accustomed to little drama on National Signing Day. For the past few years, there have been few signing day surprises. The Crimson Tide finished with the No. 1 signing class in the FBS for the past seven recruiting cycles, based on the 247Sports Team Rankings.
The biggest change in 2018 is Alabama football has almost no chance to win the Team Rankings contest again. The Tide is currently ranked No. 6 and late success will likely push it up to No. 3. The addition of the ‘Early Signing Period’ changed more than just the calendar. Approximately 75 percent of all 4-Star and 5-Star prospects signed in the early period. Going into the last few days of the 2018 cycle, only 30 players in the Top 100 of the 247Sports Composite are unsigned.
Alabama football fans are excited to know the Tide is in the mix for 11 of the unsigned 30. It could be more if the Tide had more than eight available slots.
Alabama football is expected to fill most of its most pressing roster deficiencies. Defensive linemen and defensive backs are top priorities. The 2018 class needs for defensive linemen will be met if Bobby Brown does not flip to Texas A&M and Malik Langham signs with the Tide as expected
The 2018 defensive back class is already good and could become great. Just adding one of the possible three 5-Stars would be outstanding. Most insiders predict the most likely one is the No. 1 rated CB in the 2018 class, Patrick Surtain Jr.
Maybe no QB in the 2018 class
Alabama football went after high profile QB prospects and came up short. Given the current Tide depth chart at QB, guys like Emory Jones and Justin Fields were never likely to sign with the Tide. Some recruiting experts say the Tide could have gained 4-Star QB James Foster has it accepted a commitment weeks or months ago. Foster might still be an option but that is unlikely.
Unless the Tide can sign 3-Star Brock Purdy there may not be a scholarship QB added. Even with Purdy, playing time opportunities are more available at Iowa State, Boise State, UCF and perhaps Texas A&M. Some Alabama football fans believe a mistake was made not choosing Jarren Williams. After his decommit from Kentucky, Williams was very interested in Alabama. The Tide staff prioritized Emory Jones instead and Williams ended up at Miami.
Having fewer than four QB’s on a roster troubles Nick Saban. What troubles fans, even more, is being an injury and a transfer away from just one scholarship QB. Until Wednesday, Alabama football fans will have to rely on the old refrain that ‘Nick has a plan.’
Next: 30 Greatest Games in Alabama Football History
In case anyone is wondering about the ’30 Greatest Games’ link above, it will be edited soon. We just have to decide where to put the 2017 national championship win on the list.