Alabama Football: Staff transitions and final 2019 recruiting

Alabama football has a tremendous 2019 signing class but still needs to close a few names late. Check out the potential impact of assistant coach transitions.

Alabama football loaded up in the 2019 class early signing period and not much work is left in February. It appears four more slots are available above the current class of 24. There has been a little, unverified conjecture, a couple of those signees might not be on athletic scholarships, thereby freeing up two more slots. Those players are Paul Tyson and Will Reichard. We are not sure about the status of the pair, so for discussion purposes, we use a plus-four, rather than a plus-six number.

Alabama football can close with a No. 1 class with as little as two more 4-Star signees. The Crimson Tide is aiming for positions of need rather than a certain number of additional players.

Alabama football fans who have been reading our past recruiting reports may notice our perspective changing with a couple of players. The purpose of this post is to assess who we believe to be six players to fill most pressing position needs and whether staff transitions hamper the Crimson Tide in signing them.

Defensive line remains the position group needing the most roster enhancement. Losing Isaiah Buggs and Quinnen Williams leaves important spots to fill. The 2018 Alabama football defense used less player rotation than is preferred by Nick Saban. There was not enough talent to do otherwise. Senior Johnny Dwight was used in the rotation, bringing the loss of key players to a total of three.

Most of us Alabama football fans have long believed 5-Star, Ishmael Sopsher was the Tide’s key recruit in the 2019 class. There is a long story with Ish and his brother Rodney and the possibility a package deal is needed to sign Ishmael. Rodney is not as good as his younger brother and after dropping out of junior college, he may not even be academically eligible. LSU and Oregon have complied by offering both players. The Crimson Tide has not.

Most needed Alabama football 2019 Commit Target

We now believe 4-Star and Tide verbal commit, Byron Young should be the top remaining priority. Young can play outside or inside, like Buggs and others before him. Most importantly, Young is physically ready and can contribute to the 2019 rotation.

No. 2 Most Needed Target and 2A

It is tempting to choose 4-Star, LB, Henry To’oto’o as the most needed target. Henry can play inside or outside linebacker and inside linebacker is in dire need of depth. But, Ale Kaho and Dylan Moses are likely 2019 starters. T’oto’o could also see the field in 2019 but mainly to prepare him to take over for Dylan in 2020.

The Crimson Tide staff may get Henry’s last official visit, the next-to-last weekend of the recruiting cycle. Nick Saban, accompanied by Tosh Lupoi and Pete Golding is expected to have an in-home visit before the official trip to Tuscaloosa.

The biggest competition for To’oto’o is Tennessee. If Henry stays on the west coast, he has already visited Utah and Washington. If he decides to take another official visit, it will be USC or Oregon. To’oto’o has a great future with comparable skills to Nakobe Dean, and already bigger than Dean.

The fallback option to not closing To’oto’o appears to be 4-Star, LB, Daniel Heimuli. Heimuli would also be a welcome addition to the class. He is a true inside linebacker and is thought to be headed to Washington. He is reported to be considering a last-weekend official to Tuscaloosa, apparently if To’oto’o does not jump on board before then.

No. 3 Most Needed Target and 3A

As mentioned above, Ishmael Sopsher is still a big get. His recruit ratings have slipped some recently based on some slightly less than superstar performance. An increasing number of Alabama football insiders do not see Ish helping much (or any) in 2019.

Nathan Pickering is the best option if no Sopsher. Actually, the 4-Star Pickering might be a better option anyway. The Mississippi State commit is currently scheduled to visit the weekend before Signing Day. Planning to visit and actually showing up in Tuscaloosa has been iffy for Pickering. There is not much dropoff between Sopsher and Pickering (maybe none) and Pickering is more likely to work his way into the 2019 rotation.

No. 4 Most Needed Commit

Alabama football verbal commit, 4-Star OLB, Khris Bogle is potentially a future great player. He can help the Crimson Tide considerably as an edge rusher but will need a lot of added weight before he can become a factor.

What about assistant coach transitions?

It appears clear, Nick Saban does not intend any more defensive staff adjustments until after Signing Day. As the Josh Gattis situation showed, not even Nick Saban can always control the schedule of staff departures.

Will Tosh, Golding, Karl Scott or Coach Kool be part of the 2019 Alabama football staff? Conflicting reports on message boards state each one will stay and go. No one knows, perhaps not even Nick Saban.

Golding has been the primary chaser of Sopsher. Tosh has led the pursuit of To’oto’o. It is interesting Nick, Tosh and Pete are expected in-home with To’oto’o next week. The situation of more potential coaching turnover is far from optimal. It is too fluid to predict. Even Nick Saban’s masterful recruiting skills may not be enough.

Bogle has said the coaching transition and rumors will not impact him. But with the rumors of Kuligowski on the way out and Bogle sitting on Miami’s and Manny Dias’ doorstep, there is cause for concern.

Stay close connected Alabama football fans. The next three weeks will be very interesting.