Alabama Football: 5-Star commit J.C. Latham bumps Tide commits up to No. 28

Alabama football gained its first 5-Star commit, offensive tackle, J.C. Latham.

Alabama football received a big boost in team ranking with the verbal commitment of 5-Star, J.C. Latham. When team rankings are updated, the Crimson Tide should move from No. 45 to No. 25 in the 2021 team rankings. UPDATE, the new team rankings have the Crimson Tide at No. 28.

Alabama football fans have been concerned and some outright worried about the 2021 class. The Crimson Tide has lagged behind Ohio State, Clemson, Florida and LSU. More shocking is the Tide also trailed Tennessee, USC, North Carolina and Michigan. Less kindly put, more accurate than ‘trailed’ would be ‘lagged far behind.’

Recently we discussed how some recruiting misses in the 2017-2019 classes contributed to defensive weaknesses in 2019. The 2020 class gave the Tide a needed boost. The 2021 class is expected to do the same.

Last month, Alabama football added a sixth commit. 4-Star, wide receiver, Jacorey Brooks, bumped the Tide up from No. 45 to No. 41, based on the 247Sports Composite rankings. The other Crimson Tide verbal commits are listed below.

On Friday, the 2021 verbal commit list received a big boost. J. C. Latham, 5-Star offensive tackle, committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide over LSU and Ohio State. It is thought, former 5-Star recruit Evan Neal was a factor in Latham’s decision. As was the high NFL Draft selection of Jedrick Wills. Latham had 26 offers including Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Penn State, Notre Dame, Michigan, USC and Wisconsin.

Check out Latham in the video below.

The Crimson Tide is expected to add another three or four offensive linemen in the 2021 class. The top prospects are 5-Stars, Tommy Brockermeyer and Amarius Mims. One Brockermeyer would probably mean two, with 4-Star, James Borckermeyer joining the Crimson Tide if his brother does.

Alabama Football 2021 Verbal Commits

• J.C. Latham, 5-Star offensive tackle, the No. 5 OT and the No. 17 player overall
• Jacorey Brooks, 4-Star wide receiver, the No. 3 WR and No. 38 player in the nation
• Aglye Hall, 4-Star wide receiver, the No. 13 WR and the No. 74 player overall
• Deontae Lawson, 4-Star inside linebacker, the No. 5 ILB and the No. 114 player overall
• Kaine Williams, 4-Star safety, the No. 6, S and the No. 156 player overall
• Ian Jackson, 4-Star outside linebacker, the No. 15 OLB and the No. 235 player overall
• Anquin Barnes, 3-Star defensive tackle, the No. 33 DT and the No. 479 player overall

After Latham, who becomes the next Crimson Tide commit? An optimistic guess is Dallas Turner. Turner is a 4-Star weakside defensive end, the No. 2 WDE and No. 46 overall.

Nick Saban has changed his recruiting pitch. Change does not mean Saban and Alabama football are falling behind.

If Turner is not next, it could be several other players. Don’t be surprised if the 2021 verbal commit count is a dozen players by August.  All player and team rankings in this post are provided by the 247Sports Composite.