Alabama Football: Nick Saban on the Hunt for No. 1 Recruiting Class

Alabama football coach Nick Saban is on a gritty mission to regain the throne as the school all top football recruits want to attend.  Saban implemented the necessary steps to accomplish this feat.

Alabama Football has hit a hot streak in recruiting. Last night, the Tide received a verbal commitment from the number three inside linebacker prospect in the country, Maryland native Shane Lee.

On Monday night, four-star cornerback Christian Williams from Daphne, Alabama also committed to Alabama.

Expect the Tide to receive more verbal pledges this weekend as they will have over thirty visitors during the annual A-Day activities.

Per the 247Sports Composite, Alabama currently has the number four recruiting class in the country. The Crimson Tide now trail Florida State, Oklahoma and Ole Miss.  Last year during this time, Alabama did not even rank in the Top 25 in recruiting.

Ready For Battle

In February, the Tide finished with the sixth-ranked national recruiting class. Pundits and fans across the country wondered aloud how did Georgia pull ahead of Alabama. It appeared that going into prospect’s living rooms expressing that there were 22 players drafted in the first round since taking the reins at Alabama were no longer good enough.

There were reports of negative recruiting against Saban. Coaches were conveying to prospects that Saban would only coach a few more years. Recruits were wondering how much Saban had left in his tank.

Join Alabama Football

Although Saban never admitted publicly that he was disappointed with the ranking of the class, his actions showed differently. Alabama needed to have a more substantial presence on social media.  Remember if it is not on Twitter, it did not happen.

The 66-year-old coach grabbed more energetic coaches with whom recruits could relate. New coaches Josh Gattis, Pete Golding, Jeff Banks, and Karl Scott, are always on Twitter relaying what the culture is like at Alabama.

Next, Bama Cuts premiered. Thank you, Lebron and The Undefeated, for giving Alabama more national attention. The video series is already a social media sensation.

Seeing NFL players Julio Jones, Eddie Jackson, Ryan Anderson, Scott Cochran and Saban rapping in a barbershop about what it is like to play for Alabama are priceless. The recruits see their accomplishments and hear about Saban’s stringent standard, and they begin to wonder. In their minds, they know if they come and compete, they can make it to their next destination: the NFL.

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The players understand Julio Jones, an NFL All-Pro receiver, repeatedly saying he wanted competition. He sought to battle to earn playing time. The old story abour Saban and Julio is when Nick told him “we’ll win with or without you,” Julio became a Crimson Tide lock.

They listen to CJ Mosley saying he didn’t go to Auburn because he could win the starting job as a freshman hands down. Mosley wanted to compete against the best.

Recruits take notice when second-year NFL players Anderson and Jackson mention how much more relaxed practice is in the NFL than it is at Alabama.

(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

Never Again

The debut of the early recruiting period last year caught Saban off guard.  However, Nick is a lessons learned guy.  He will not be beaten on the recruiting trail this season. Coach appears reinvigorated plus unapologetic to all the coaches that out recruited him last year.  Expect more top prospects locked up before the early signing period.

Next: Top 10 Saban Running Backs

Alabama will finish with the 2019 number one recruiting class. All FBS coaches, beware!