Alabama Football: 2021 recruiting class could take off soon
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football is in a strong position with its 2020 recruiting class, allowing more attention to shift to the 2021 class.
Alabama football only has two verbal commitments for the 2021 class. Nick Saban sometimes pumps the brakes with a charged-up prospect, telling them to be sure before they commit to the Crimson Tide.
Other schools are less cautious, perhaps trying to tie down as many guys as possible, knowing in advance some will change their minds. Miami currently has 12 verbal commits. The Crimson Tide has only two.
It is a long way (17 months) to the 2021, NCAA Early Signing Period. Bama Hammer normally does not begin tracking a ‘next class’ until the ‘current class’ of verbal commits is settled. This year is different. Nick Saban has fully adjusted to the new recruiting calendar. By necessity, he must accept commitments from some players before their junior year of high school football has been played.
The two current 2021 Crimson Tide commits are top players. Coming onboard first was 4-Star cornerback, Latrell McCutcheon from Austin, TX. Jeff Banks and Karl Scott latched on the McCutcheon before the Longhorns or the Aggies made him a priority.
Latrell has good size at 6’1″ and 175 pounds. He has more than a dozen offers including Arizona, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Baylor, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
Latrell attended a Crimson Tide camp in June and accepted an offer quickly. The Crimson Tide offered him the month before, and almost immediately after, he received a Texas and Oklahoma offer.
While McCutcheon is ranked higher in the early 247Sports Composite at No. 78 nationally, the other Tide commit is the one creating the most buzz.
Of course, the other commit is a quarterback. He is 4-Star Pro-Style QB, Drake Maye. Maye is rated as the No. 107 recruit in the 2021 class and the No. 7 Pro-Style QB.
The Alabama football staff intends to take two QBs in the 2021 class. Recruiting insiders projected that higher-rated 4-Star (No. 74) Dual-threat, Jalen Milroe was close to committing to the Crimson Tide when Maye announced. There has been some chatter the Alabama football staff believes Maye has the greatest potential of the two young men.
It is too soon to know if Milroe will react by focusing on other schools. Maye is more athletic than many Pro-Style QBs. Plus, the youngster could easily grow into a 6’4″ and 230-pound body. He is a dual sport guy, not yet giving up basketball to concentrate on football.
Crimson Tide fans are excited to think of him concentrating on just football. The highlights below are against the top competition in North Carolina high school football.
The other thing Alabama football fans would like Maye to concentrate on is recruiting other top players. He could prove to be an attraction for wide receivers and other offensive players.