Alabama Football: Next for 2020 class Crimson Tide recruiting

Recruiting the 2020 class has predictably slowed for Alabama football. Let’s review what commits could happen next and who the Tide will wait on.

A lull in 2020 class results should not concern Alabama football fans. August is another NCAA-designed period of reduced contact. The pace will pick back up when official visits are allowed again at the start of the regular season.

Alabama football already has an outstanding 2020 class. It is ranked No. 2 in the 247Sports Composite. The class is officially at 22 verbal commits. Alabama football recruiting experts say the correct number is 21. The expert opinion is 4-Star, safety commit, Javier Morton will not be in the class.

Trying to project what will happen next is made especially difficult by the few available slots. A few top guys may wait until December. One or two may even wait until February to make a decision.

Two who could be next

Cornerback prospect, 4-Star Joel Williams is scheduled to announce his decision on Sept. 9. Williams has plenty of top programs chasing him but most recruiting experts believe the Crimson Tide is pretty far in front for his commitment.

We think Nick Saban wants to add another cornerback in the class. The guy could well be former 4-Star and now community college transfer, Nadab Joseph. Joseph has great size for a corner at 6-feet-2 and 190-plus pounds. The Alabama football staff wanted him in the 2018 class but backed away due to concerns over academics. He signed with Georgia but the Bulldogs were unable to get him cleared academically.

One who has cooled

Xavian Alford, 4-Star safety appeared to be near an announcement to the Crimson Tide a few weeks ago. It appears competing schools have confused him by claiming the Tide’s 2020 class already has six safeties. One, that is incorrect information and two, if the young man is concerned about competition, will the Tide staff cool on him?

The Tide will wait for

This list of names has not changed much over the last several weeks. The Crimson Tide staff will wait on 4-Star QB, Bryce Young, 5-Star TEs, Arik Gilbert and Darnell Washington, 5-Star RB, Zachary Evans and 4-Star LB, Phillip Webb. In a similar hold, we think, is 4-Star LB, Jordan Banks. The Tide is in a strong position for Banks but he may have to wait for a confirmed slot.

In addition to the players above, we believe the Alabama football staff wants to take two more defensive linemen and another wide receiver.

Will the 2020 class finish ranked No. 1? Clemson has a sizeable lead with only 18 commits but the Tide can still finish No. 1.