Alabama Football: Sunday recruiting update with two top visitors

During the last big recruiting push before the season starts, Alabama football was happy to get a couple of top 2020 targets to Tuscaloosa.

As of early Sunday morning, Alabama football had not picked up any new 2020 commits during Champions Cookout II. That could change before the short open window for in-person contact closes again for a month, on Aug. 1.

The weekend’s best news so far has been the visits of two high priority, Crimson Tide targets for the 2020 class. In Tuscaloosa for the Cookout were 5-Star, TE prospect, Arik Gilbert and 4-Star OLB prospect, Phillip Webb. Not only are the two players highly valued by programs nationwide, they play positions of need for the Alabama football, 2020 roster.

Both young men are Crimson Tide takes and both will be, if necessary, given time to make up their minds. Over the last month or so, it was believed the Tide’s chances were greater with 5-Star, TE, Darnell Washington. The weekend visit by Gilbert, reportedly along with his father, may signal a big change. The Tide staff would likely make room for both Washington and Gilbert if the opportunity arose. Some recruiting insiders believe the two will not attend the same school.

Whether Eyabi Anoma had permanently exited Tuscaloosa or not, Webb is a high priority. Anoma’s indecision makes Webb an even higher priority.

Officially the Crimson Tide has 22 verbal commits in the 2020 class. Based on estimates by credible insiders, a better count is somewhere between 19 and 21. If the current list of commits, who will sign with the Tide, is 20, then probably eight more slots are available.

Who would Alabama football take today?

We have already mentioned Gilbert and Webb. Add these names to a take list.

• Jordan Burch, 5-Star, DE
• Justin Flowe, 5-Star, ILB
•  Zachary Evans, 5-Star, RB
• Kayshon Boutte, 4-Star, WR (LSU commit)
• McKinnley Jackson, 4-Star, DT
• Joel Williams, 4-Star, ATH (CB)
• Elias Ricks, 5-Star, CB (LSU commit who plans a fall official visit)
• Bryce Young, 4-Star, QB (USC commit)

Given how tight the numbers could be this fall, the Alabama football staff might decide to not take another quarterback in the 2020 class. At any rate, it appears the staff would only add Young and stick with the returning roster (plus Kristian Story) if Young sticks with USC.

Another10 names might become takes at any point. If Boutte does not flip, Xzavier Henderson, 4-Star WR is a name to watch. The Tide staff will also not give up on Jacquelin Roy, 4-Star, DT and recent LSU commit.

Note: All the player star ratings in this post are from the 247Sports Composite.

While it is still a long time to December, teams who don’t lock down most commits before the season are way behind. The February Signing Day has fast become almost insignificant.