Alabama Football: Loaded in-state ’23 recruiting class a great opportunity

With five verbal commits for Alabama football from the ’22 recruiting class, the Tide trails other schools. Nick Saban is always patient and Crimson Tide fans have no reason to be concerned about the 2022 class.

It is expected the NCAA will remove most of its COVID-driven recruiting restrictions by June. When that happens, all schools, not just Alabama will be playing catch-up. Some coaches will take a verbal from a highly rated recruit with little reservation. Saban is more selective and with no school camps allowed last summer, this June and July will see an influx of players to Tuscaloosa.

The delay in progress on the 2022 class does not mean work on the 2023 class can be pushed back. In the ’23 class, the state of Alabama is blessed with seven of the currently rated (from 247Sports Composite) top 65 players in the 2023 class. These top seven players, with an in-state connection to the Crimson Tide, are highly coveted. It is not likely Nick Saban will sign them all. Before the class is finalized, there may not be room for all of them. At the same time, all of them may be too good to miss.

An abundance of in-state talent for Alabama Football in ’23 class

The top two targets believed to favor Alabama Football are the No. 1 defensive tackle and the No. 1 cornerback in the class.

• Peter Woods: 5-Star; No. 1 Defensive Tackle; No. 2 Player Overall – Thompson High School, Alabaster AL
• Tony Mitchell: 5-Star; No. 1 Cornerback; No. 11 Overall – also Thompson High School

The next group is four elite prospects with Crimson Tide offers. It is not known how much they are leaning to the Crimson Tide.

• James Smith: 5-Star; No. 2 Defensive Tackle; No. 6 Overall – Carver High School, Montgomery, AL
• A.J. Harris: 5-Star; No. 2 Cornerback; No. 21 Overall – Glenwood High School, Phenix City, AL
• Jahill Hurley: 5-Star; No. 4 Cornerback; No. 27 Overall – Florence High School, Florence, AL
• Keldric Faulk: 4-Star; No. 8 Strongside Defensive End; No. 65 Overall – Highland Home, AL

Another top player from the state of Alabama is 4-Star, Kelby Collins of Gardendale, AL. Collins is rated as the No. 5 Strongside Defensive End and No. 44 player overall. He is a top Crimson Tide target but does not yet have a reported offer from the Alabama football staff.

Another top 20 player, in the ’23 class, is being recruited from IMG Academy. Though not from the state of Alabama, 5-Star Samuel M’Pemba, the nation’s top-rated Athlete, said recently he grew up as an Alabama Crimson Tide fan.

The Crimson Tide has no verbal commits in the 2023 class. Not many other schools do either, though Florida State and Georgia have three each.