Alabama Football: With commit No. 21, Tide adds to O-Line depth

Alabama football is not settling by taking another 3-Star offensive lineman in the 2020 class. With few slots left the Tide takes only what it values.

Some Alabama football fans are perplexed every time the Crimson Tide accepts a commitment from a 3-Star recruit who is not a kicker. To many fans, a recruiting juggernaut must be settling for less whenever a lower rated recruit is added.

The key to sorting through such consternation is to focus on who is doing the rating. The Alabama football staff does not recruit based on ratings from Rivals, ESPN, 247Sports or any other entity publishing recruit rankings.

At least two of the organizations listed above frequently provide credible information. So much of their attention is dedicated to the top 200-300 players in each class, information on lesser-known players is sometimes incomplete.

Some historical examples of how well former Crimson Tide 3-Star rated players have developed can be seen here.

The latest Alabama football 2020, verbal commit is 3-Star offensive guard, Xavier Hill. According to the 247Sports Composite, Hill is the No. 469 recruit in the 2020 class. Don’t be fooled by that player ranking. The Crimson Tide staff is very high on Hill and dedicated one of a rapidly diminishing number of available slots to Hill, over higher-ranked 2020 prospects.

The Alabama football staff collects volumes of information on every potential prospect. Some, based mostly on game videos and in-person game attendance by Tide assistants, are offered before visiting Tuscaloosa. It is important to get in the queue early for elite players.

Many other players, no matter how they are ranked by the recruiting services, do not get offers until they attend a Tide summer camp. It is trite but true the cream rises and the lesser fall at these camps. Stand out in the summer in Tuscaloosa and being ranked as the No. 469 player in a class is immaterial.

It is unusual, especially when the Crimson Tide is having such early success in a class, to have three valuable scholarships dedicated to three, 3-Star offensive linemen. Currently, the Tide has three O-line commits for the 2020 class. All three are 3-Star rated.

• Xavier Hill – Rated as the No. 10 player in the state of Mississippi, the No. 27 offensive guard and the No. 469 player in the nation.
•  Damieon George – rated as the No. 61 player in the state of Texas, the No. 36 offensive tackle and the No. 438 player in the nation.
• Seth McLaughlin – rated as the No. 61 player in the state of Georgia, the No. 54 offensive tackle and the No. 653 player in the nation.

Numerous recent reports have stated how sold the Alabama football staff are on Hill and George. That does not mean the same assessment is not given to McLaughlin. His commitment goes back to March and had not been discussed lately.

The best advice for concerned crimson Tide fans – trust in Nick Saban. Xavier Hill held offers from eight other SEC schools, including LSU, Auburn and Florida.