Alabama Football Recruiting: Tide commits rise as tight numbers get tighter

Alabama football is in great shape for an exceptional 2019 Signing Class. Tide verbal commits rise in rankings while the competition for the few remaining open slots heats up.

It is almost recruiting crunch time for Alabama football. The NCAA Early Signing Period begins on Dec. 19. With a current class of 21 verbal commits, the Alabama Crimson Tide has few open spots. Depending on whether there is any attrition among the 21, the number of open slots is seven or eight. There is also a possibility of a grayshirt or two opening up slots.

There are two conclusions that can already be made about the 2019 class. Alabama football will finish in the top three in team rankings. The odds are probably higher for No. 1 than No. 3. Alabama football is currently No. 1 as tracked by the 247Sports Composite. And, secondly, Alabama football will not have room for some great prospects.

Based on the latest player rankings from the same source, the current Crimson Tide class keeps improving. Check out the recent changes for Alabama football 2019 verbal commits.

• 4-Star, SDE, Antonio Alfano moved up to the No. 3 at his position and the No. 44 player overall.
• 4-Star, SDE, Justin Eboigbe moved up to No. 5 at his position and No. 66 overall.
• 4-Star, SDE, Byron Young moved up to No. 6 at his position and No. 87 overall.
• 4-Star, safety, DeMarcco Hellams moved into the Top 100 as the No. 97 player overall.
• 4-Star, WDE, Kevin Harris moved up to No. 5 at his position.
• 4-Star, WDE, King Mwikuta moved up to No. 6 at his position.
• 4-Star, Pro-style QB, Taulia Tagovailoa moved up to No. 5 at his position.
• 4-Star, Pro-style QB, Paul Tyson moved up to No. 8 at his position.

Who among the current group of 21 verbal commits might not end up in the 2019 class? Tennessee and Miami are trying hard to flip Justin Eboigbe. The Alabama football staff is fighting hard to hold him. Eboigbe’s stock has risen so fast recently, a few recruiting experts believe his potential is nearly as great as the No. 2 overall player in the class, Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Tide still wants Thibodeaux, but if he picks another school on Dec. 15, holding on to Eboigbe is even more important.

The other player who might end up elsewhere is 4-Star, CB, Christian Williams. LSU is working hard to land Williams. There have been rumors some in Paul Tyson’s family are worried about a loaded QB roster. Insiders say Tyson is solid to the Crimson Tide.

What’s next for the remaining seven or eight slots?

The Alabama football staff is working hard to flip defensive backs, Jeffery Carter and Jordan Battle. Carter is a 4-Star CB and Top 11 player committed to Texas A&M. Battle is a 4-Star safety and also a Top 100 player who is committed to Ohio State.

Uncommitted 4-Star, WDE Khris Bogle is a top Tide priority. Bogle is a good bet to become the Tide’s next verbal commit. There are nine Top 40 players on Nick Saban’s Big Board. They are:

• 5-Star, Nolan Smith – No. 1 overall. Smith is committed to Georgia and a flip is not likely
• 5-Star, Kayvon Thibodeaux – No. 2 overall. He will announce on Dec. 15.
• 5-Star, Trey Sanders – No. 6 overall who will announce and sign in December.
• 5-Star, Ishmael Sopsher – No. 7 overall who will not announce until February. A spot will be held for the Louisiana DT, as the Tide tries to pull another top recruit away from LSU’s back door.
• 5-Star, Darnell Wright – No. 11 overall. Tennessee probably leads for Wright.
• 5-Star, Nakobe Dean – No. 15 overall. Dean is the top ILB prospect. He will announce and sign in December.
• 5-Star, Clay Webb – No. 19 overall. A surprise battle for Webb among the Tide, Clemson and Georgia.
•  5-Star, Evan Neal – No. 25 overall. The Tide leads for the OT who will sign in December and enroll early.
• 4-Star, Henry To’oto’o – No. 38 overall. The LB will announce and sign in December and he has a spot even if the Tide pulls in Nakobe Dean.

Another 12-15 players could have been highlighted in this post. Some of them may become higher priorities in the ebb and flow of future announcements. One of them is visiting this weekend, 4-Star TE, Keon Zipperer. It has been thought there was no room for another TE in the class. That may have changed with Irv Smith’s NFL Draft prospects zooming upward.

So what other teams are kicking butts and taking names in college football recruiting? Right behind Alabama football are TAMU, UGA, Oregon, LSU and Clemson.