Alabama Football: Nick Saban reviews National Signing Day
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football finished National Signing Day with a No. 6 team ranking. Nick Saban reviewed the class and said at least one more player will be added.
National Signing Day did not go the way most Alabama football fans expected. Recruiting insiders and coaches were surprised. On Tuesday night and even Wednesday morning, some top prospects told Tide coaches they would sign with Alabama and chose other schools hours later.
As it currently stands, the 2018 Signing Class includes 22 scholarship players. The Team Rankings for 2018 signees shows only 19 players because there are three 2017 players using 2018 scholarships.
In an afternoon review, Nick Saban made these comments about the 2018 class.
"I think we solved a lot of needs in this class … I really don’t think we struck out anywhere."
Saban did admit the recruiting plan was for one more defensive lineman and another inside linebacker. The Tide only signed two interior defensive linemen and one inside linebacker. Saban suggested the Alabama football staff will continue to evaluate if any available players might meet those needs.
Specifically addressing not signing a quarterback in the class, Nick said,
"Alabama will have another quarterback join the team in some sort of way, but (he) can’t comment on it right now."
We do not know if he is referring to a JUCO player or a graduate transfer. Alabama football insiders have said the Tide coaches chose this option rather than using a scholarship for Josh Purdy or James Foster. Purdy signed with Iowa State and Jimbo Fisher added Foster to his new Aggies roster.
Tide signed its top two prospects on Signing Day
Although Alabama football fans are disappointed in missing out on three or four top players, two very big names were signed. 5-Star Patrick Surtain Jr. gives the Tide a freshman cornerback who can play in 2018. Rated as the No. 1 CB in the class, Patrick has tremendous potential. Along with Eyabi Anonma (No. 4), Surtain Jr. (No. 6) gives the 2018 class two of the top six players in the nation. Both players can become future Crimson Tide superstars.
4-Star wide receiver, Jaylen Waddle was the Tide’s top offensive priority. Ranked as the No. 5 wide receiver in the nation, Waddle will compete for a staring role in 2018.
Alabama football could have easily filled the 2018 class. Instead, Nick Saban told several 4-Star players, there would not be room for them in the class. There were higher rated players at positions of more need Nick wanted to pursue. It did not work out as Alabama football fans wanted. But there is no reason to jump to negative conclusions. In 2018, Alabama football will again have the most talented roster in college football.
Next: 30 Great Tide Players who were 3-Star Recruits
For Alabama football fans wondering about where other top Tide prospects signed: Malik Langham chose Florida; Justyn Ross chose Clemson; Bobby Brown chose TAMU and Nicholas Petit-Frere chose Ohio State.