Alabama Football: Tight End commit pushes Tide to No. 1 class

Back to No. 1 in Team Ranking, can Alabama Football hold off Ohio State for top, ’21 class

The Alabama Crimson Tide gained a tight end verbal commit on Tuesday. Robbie Ouzts, 3-Star from South Carolina had been at the top of the Tide’s tight end board for months. His addition takes the Alabama football, 2021 recruiting class to 21 verbal commits.

Adding Ouzts was not a big boost in the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings, but it was enough to edge out Ohio State for now. The Buckeyes are a close second, with 19 verbal commits.

Even though, Ouzts is rated as the No. 589 player in the ’21 class, he matches Crimson Tide attributes for the position. Alabama Crimson Tide tight ends must be good blockers and for any significant playing time, they must be able to catch the football. The Alabama football staff likes the way Ouzts does both. National recruiting experts rate another 26 tight ends higher, but few of them were players the Crimson Tide pursued. Ouzts is known for punishing blocks and the ability to catch the football with his hands. He is not a Jahleel Billingsley type tight end. Instead, think if a young guy who relishes playing Rob Gronkowski style football.

Who’s Next in the Alabama Football 2021 Class?

The Alabama football staff may be in no hurry to finish the 2021 class. There are no more than four or five spots left. Many elite players are holding off, hoping to take official visits. It is not known if ‘officials’ will be allowed this fall. Some schools are getting quite ‘creative’ hosting multiple players for campus tours, packaged to be unofficial visits. There is no sign the Crimson Tide wants to push the NCAA rules as some others (LSU, for one) have done.

Depending on how far back official visits are pushed by the NCAA, the December Early Signing Period may not be as pivotal as past years. More elite recruits may be willing to wait for the traditional Signing Day in February.

The Crimson Tide staff will hold some places, perhaps all the way until February. The guys the Tide will be inclined to wait on, if necessary, are 5-Stars, Tunmise Adeleye (DE), Amarius Mims (OT), Ga’Quincy McKinstry (CB), J.T. Tuimoloau (DE), Maason Smith (DT) and Camar Wheaton (RB). Also on the Tide’s must-get, if there is room list are 4-Stars, Terrion Arnold (DB), Brian Thomas Jr. (WR), Xavian Sorey (LB) and Shemar Turner (DE).

The Crimson Tide will not add them all, even if it had the available slots. Except for Turner, there is disagreement among recruiting experts over where the Tide stands with each of the elite recruits. A fair consensus is the Crimson Tide has a chance for all of them. Even 5-Star, defensive end, Korey Foreman could be added to the ‘in-play’ Crimson Tide list.

There is a long way to go, and for now, things may slow to a crawl. Alabama football fans cannot know how the Tide will finish with what recruits, but there is no wavering in the expectation of a No. 1 class.