Alabama Football: Surging Crimson Tide to No. 5 in 2022 class commits

The slow build in Alabama Football 2022 recruiting sped up in July with four new verbal commits. Adjusting to the unusual recruiting calendar disrupted by COVID took time for Nick Saban and the Alabama football staff.

The Sunday announcement of 4-Star linebacker, Shawn Murphy to the Crimson Tide, boosted the Tide’s, 2022 commits to the No. 5 class in the 247Sports Composite. Murphy is rated as the No. 66 overall player, nationally in the Composite. Rivals rates Murphy higher; a 5-Star and the No. 26 overall player, nationally. Murphy had a bunch of offers and chose the Tide over Ohio State, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma and Florida.

In the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings, the Alabama Crimson Tide is well within range of overtaking three of the teams ranked higher. Ranked at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 are Penn State, Notre Dame and LSU. The Crimson Tide has a total of 12 commits, compared to 15 for LSU, 19 for Notre Dame and 21 for Penn State. Ohio State sits as the current No. 1 with 17 commits.

The average quality of the Tide’s commits is No. 1 among all teams. Calculated by 247Sports, the average player rating for Tide commits is 95.16. Behind the Tide in average player ratings is Ohio State at 94.37; Georgia at 93.68; Clemson at 93.56; LSU at 92.22 and Oklahoma at 92.12.

Alabama Football, Defensive Coordinator, Pete Golding is on a recruiting hot streak. Golding is ranked No. 4 among all assistants nationally. The often-maligned Crimson Tide assistant is the lead recruiter, or actively involved as a second recruiter, for five of the Tide’s 12 commits. All five are Composite-rated 4-Stars and four are among the Top 93 prospects overall in the 2022 class.

More Alabama Football Announcements?

Will there be more Tide commit announcements between now and the start of fall camp on Aug. 5? After the annual Champions Cookout on July 31, two or three guys may go public with commitments. Other top targets will likely hold off for campus visits after the season starts.

How are other SEC schools doing with 2022 recruiting? Bryan Harsin and the Auburn Tigers remain in the SEC recruiting cellar with a No. 63 Team Ranking. The Aubies recently made a big deal about adding a 4-Star running back. Damari Alston is the Tigers’ second 4-Star, in a committed group, heavily populated by 3-Star recruits. The Tigers’ top 4-Star, Holden Geriner is No. 239 overall. Alston is No. 300 nationally.

Tennessee and Ole Miss are lagging at No. 41 and No. 48 respectively. Florida at No. 34 and Kentucky at No. 31 are so far being out-recruited by Vanderbilt at No. 29. Trailing the Alabama Football No. 4 class are Georgia at No. 7; Texas A&M at No. 14; South Carolina at No. 16; Missouri at No. 18; Arkansas at No. 19 and Mississippi State at No. 27.

Every recruiting cycle that starts slow for Saban and the Tide, fans fret. Rest assured, no fretting is necessary.