Alabama Football Recruiting: Hours away from the Early Signing Period

The Early Signing Period will bring a bump of elite players to the 2020 Alabama football signing class and Wednesday might bring some surprises.

Instead of repeating the status of every Alabama football, 2020 verbal commit and remaining target, this post will focus on recent news and numbers. As it always is, the last 24-48 hours of a recruiting period is filled with final decisions, changed minds and changed plans. Fluid is the operative word.

Bama Hammer has been following the progress and developments in the 2020 class carefully for several months. Alabama football fans should feel secure it will be an outstanding class. On defense, the Crimson Tide has loaded up at linebacker. Elite edge rushers have been added. On offense, the Crimson Tide is bringing in the best quarterback in the nation. Several other positions of need have been filled with new, talented depth. There is so much talent on the way, whatever happens, or doesn’t happen, with new players on Wednesday should not define the class.

Anticipating what will happen on Wednesday must begin with reviewing the numbers. The Crimson Tide has 25 verbal commits. The number expected to sign this week begins at 18-20. Two, (maybe three) players will be delayed over academic qualification concerns. One or two more players may switch to a grayshirt or a blueshirt. Those numbers take the number of available, 2020 class slots to around 5-6.

Next are the remaining targeted players. Among 5-Stars, Jordan Burch, Darnell Washington, Rakim Jarrett and 4-Stars, Phillip Webb, McKinnley Jackson, Arian Smith, Jase McClellan and possibly J.J. Pegues, the Crimson Tide might add three or four players this week. Washington will pick a school and sign, but not announce, until January. Jarrett will not sign and is not expected to announce until February. The same is true for Jackson.

If the Alabama football staff opts for and gets Pegues, assume Washington will go elsewhere. If the Tide staff pulls in Arian Smith, there may not be room for Jarrett. If Jase McClellan flips to the Tide early Wednesday morning, it may indicate the Tide staff knows Burch and/or Webb are signing elsewhere.

Tuesday will be filled with twists and turns. Wednesday may be filled with surprises – or not. On Tuesday night, Bama Hammer will publish our guesses.

A number adjustment we did not address is Signing Period flips from the Crimson Tide. The only apparent risk is 4-Star, DT, Tim Smith to Florida. If any other current commit flips, it will be a mutual decision while making room for someone else.