Alabama Football: The shrinking Crimson Tide ’21 class raises concerns

The Alabama football 2021 recruiting class is causing concerns for Tide fans. Now with just one verbal commit, the Crimson Tide class is ranked as No. 48 nationally.

Borrowing a line that goes too far back to bother with attribution, the Alabama football, 2021 recruiting class started off slow and has tapered off. With Friday’s announced flip of 4-Star, QB, Drake Maye from the Crimson Tide to North Carolina, the Tide’s 2021 class has just one verbal commit.

Earlier this week, 4-Star, CB, Latrell McCutcheon also de-committed from the Alabama Crimson Tide. The single remaining verbal commit for the 2020 class is 4-Star, LB Deontae Lawson.

Under Nick Saban, Alabama football has never been at just one commit, nine months out from a Signing Day. Crimson Tide fans are concerned. For some, the concern borders on serious apprehension. SEC schools have 45 players verbally committed, led by the Florida Gators with 13 verbals. Nationally, seven programs have seven or more verbal commits. Clemson has nine and Ohio State has 10.

There are many reasons why Alabama football fans should not panic. Reason one is Nick Saban, which requires no elaboration. A second reason is the flip from Drake Maye was almost inevitable. He is highly touted. So much so, coming in to sit behind Bryce Young for years was not going to happen. Don’t forget, Maye committed to Alabama football before Bryce Young flipped from USC to the Crimson Tide.

Another reason not to worry is Saban’s recruiting machine has had slow starts before. Saban is not fond of accepting commitments unless guys are sure. Even with his caution, circumstances evolve and players change their minds. There is also Saban’s requirement that a player who has not been tested at a Tide camp cannot commit.

Coming off a February Dead Period, the process will pick up. Other SEC schools are not that far ahead of the Crimson Tide. Mississippi State has four verbals and the Tennessee Vols have five. No other SEC school, except Florida, has more than three verbal commits.

Alabama football is in contention for 15 or more players in the current 247Sports Composite Top 150 players. Crimson Tide fans can exercise patience and turn attention to player development in the 2020 roster. Alabama football continues to be the recruiting force it has been throughout the Saban era.

Who will pull the trigger next for the Crimson Tide? Any answer would just be a guess. One thing is for sure. By mid-summer, there will be no worry over how many verbal commits.