Alabama Football: Recent recruiting misses only a blip for Nick Saban

Some Alabama Football fans have grown concerned with recent misses in recruiting. There is no need for an overreaction. In the title of this post, we described those misses as a blip – as in a ‘minor’ and ‘temporary’ bump in the smooth path of progress. For Nick Saban, they are not even that.

Alabama Football, with the exception of some late disappointments in the 2018 signing class, is rarely stymied. Nick Saban turns surprise developments into opportunities. No time is wasted by the distraction of a high school player choosing another school. Sometimes he decides to continue recruitment of the player. Saban and Alabama Football have a strong success rate at flipping commits from other schools.

Still, Alabama Crimson Tide fans have had three recent disappointments. Late cancellation of a Tuscaloosa visit by J.T. Tuiolomau shocked many fans. The trip to T-Town was to be J. T.’s last campus visit and the Tide appeared to be in the driver’s seat.

When we published No JTT, no Problem for Tide, it was with confidence Nick Saban had the same perspective. Years ago, the Alabama Football program badly needed Julio Jones to choose the Tide. Nick Saban, taking an approach not followed by many coaches, informed Julio the Tide would win with or without him.

Alabama Football Will Win With or Without You

Alabama Football will win without J.T. Tuiolomau, and Terrence Brooks who announced for Ohio State, and Shemar James who committed to Florida. The pursuit of James will continue until Nick Saban settles on someone else, as good, or better.

Another good idea for Crimson Tide fans is to not just look at a recruit’s ‘star’ rating. Most 3-Star players who join the Tide are valued higher by the Alabama Football staff. Over the years, there have been many examples of lower-rated players becoming Alabama Crimson Tide stars.

When the Crimson Tide and other top programs offer a 3-Star player, it often means the rating sources have undervalued the player. One such example will contribute to the Tide in the coming season. 3-Star rated in the 2021 class, Robbie Ouzts was the lowest-rated player who joined the Crimson Tide. The 247Sports Composite had Ouzts as the No. 627 in the class. The young man showed in the Tide spring game he is much better. Ouzts should be a solid contributor, playing as a true freshman.

For most elite teams, like the Crimson Tide, recruiting is structured to fill roster needs. Potentially elite players are pursued and Nick Saban never faces a shortage of them being interested in the Crimson Tide.

What’s next in pickups for the Tide? July should have a few commits, but if not, no worries – Nick Saban’s got this.