Alabama Football: Where the Tide stands after the last recruiting weekend

Forget the labels, there is nothing quiet or dead about Alabama football recruiting two days away from National Signing Day. Check out what is trending.

Some Alabama football fans worry National Signing Day (NSD) on Wednesday will be a bust for the Tide. They are gun-shy from the NSD2 reversals last year when Tide commits flipped to other schools at the last minute.

We are not ready to predict just yet in terms of exact signings, but we are confident in saying this Wednesday will not be like last year. Alabama football is believed to have five slots to sign players on Wednesday. It has been rumored the number could stretch to six to make room for a much-needed prospect.

What happened over the weekend in Tuscaloosa

Scheduled visits from Nathan Pickering and Daniel Heimuli did not happen. Pickering is expected to stick with Mississippi State and Heimuli is expected to join Washington.

Three players did make official visits to Tuscaloosa. Two of them were 4-Star defensive linemen, Quashon Fuller and Jaquase Sorrells. Fuller’s tweets after the visit indicated the Crimson Tide has a strong chance to flip him from FSU. The rumored problem with Fuller is his mother is a huge fan of FSU head coach, Willie Taggart. Other rumors are Sorrells may have problems qualifying academically.

The good news is there is widespread belief among recruiting experts that 4-Star defensive lineman, Byron Young will honor his commitment and sign with the Tide. The Alabama football staff wants Young and one more d-lineman and throughout the recruiting cycle, the priority has been Ishmael Sopsher.

Sopsher was a 5-Star until his rating dropped to a 4-Star after some lackluster All-Star game work. Coming from Amite, LA, Sopsher has been one of the cornerstone prospects for LSU. He spent the past weekend in Baton Rouge and LSU insiders are confident. So are Alabama football insiders and the buzz from Sunday night is big ‘Ish’ has decided to leave Cajun Country for T-Town.

The highest profile official visitor in Tuscaloosa last weekend was 5-Star, RB, Jerrion Ealy. Insiders say the visit went very well and the Tide is now a real threat to get Ealy. Tide RB commit, Keilan Robinson visited USC last weekend but insiders are confident Robinson will stick with the Tide.

Several national recruiting experts have concluded 4-Star, ILB, Henry To’oto’o is locked in with the Tide. To’oto’o is expected to hold off any announcement until he signs on Wednesday. The Tide also hopes to close with edge rusher and Tide commit, 4-Star, Khris Bogle. Bogle visited Miami last weekend and he could roll with the Tide or flip to the Gators or Canes.

So based on all available information, Wednesday signings will definitely include Byron Young, Keilan Robinson and Henry To’oto’o. Still current Tide commit, Christian Williams is expected to sign elsewhere, probably LSU.

The remaining two (maybe three) slots will probably be allocated in this order: Sopsher or Fuller (maybe Sorrells); Bogle, Ealy, and-or, 3-Star, TE recruit Brett Seither. Ealy is also strongly considering Clemson and will either also play college baseball or opt to go straight to professional baseball. The Seither decision is expected to come down to the Tide or UGA, with both schools looking to find room.

Another wrinkle is South Alabama grad transfer punter, Carlos Waitman is looking to join either the Tide or Mississippi State. The Tide has a punter on scholarship, incoming sophomore, Skyler DeLong.

Monday is a ‘Quiet Period’ day, followed by the ‘Dead Period’ beginning on Tuesday. Plenty of communication continues during those periods, it is just not face-to-face. A lot could change in the next 48 hours.

As Alabama football wraps up the 2019 signing class, stay connected with Bama Hammer. We will track all the latest updates through Signing Day on Wednesday.