Alabama Football: New commit added to ’21 class but restrictions cause mystery

Alabama football added 4-Star, wide receiver Agiye Hall to the ’21 class but visit restrictions are impediments to building momentum in the class.

Alabama football recruiting has crept along so slowly, Crimson Tide fans are alarmed. Nick Saban added a verbal commit Saturday afternoon, taking the tentative haul for 2021 to three players.

Crimson Tide recruiting was lagging before the pandemic shut down schools and all in-person contact between players and coaches. No doubt every bit of digital wizardry is being used to connect with recruits. However, the way Nick Saban recruits Alabama football players is vulnerable to the pandemic restrictions.

Like all schools, the Crimson Tide has scouted players, prospects and targets. The offers coming out of those groups almost always require a player to attend a Tide summer camp for final evaluations. So far, the University of Alabama has no 2020, summer camp plans. Although he would be loath to show it, the lack of Tide camps must be a major challenge for Saban.

His vaunted Alabama recruiting machine is based on those on-campus player evaluations. and there is really no way to replace them. Nick Saban will not let frustration and stubbornness keep him for adapting. How effective Crimson Tide recruiting will be after adapting is not known.

In terms of 2021 recruiting, the glass is not half-full, but a positive perspective is warranted. The new addition to the 2021 class is 4-Star, wide receiver, Agiye Hall. Hall is the No. 63 player and the No. 10 WR in the nation. He helps fill a major position of need for the Crimson Tide.

At 6’3″ and 195 pounds, Hall can be a matchup problem for cornerbacks. Timed having 4.5 speed, he is fast enough to be a deep ball threat. Check out his video highlights below.

As the video shows, he has good hands and is evasive after catches. Agiye Hall has the physical tools to contribute early in his Tide career.

Hall joins 4-Star, inside linebacker, Deontae Lawson (No. 7 ILB nationally) and 3-Star, defensive tackle, Anquin Barnes in the 2021, Crimson Tide verbal commits. Barnes is currently rated as the No. 22 player in the state of Alabama and the No. 33 DT, nationally. Those ratings will go up for the lesser known 300-pounder who moves well for his size. A good guess is Barnes will become one of the state of Alabama’s ten best players in the 2021 class.

All recruiting rankings in this post come from the 247Sports Composite.

With Hall’s announcement, the Alabama football 2021 class zoomed up to the No. 39 class in the nation.

Alabama football has one verbal commit for the 2022 class. He is weakside defensive end, Jeremiah Alexander.