After Isaiah Bond’s verbal commit on Tuesday, Alabama Football again has the No. 1, 2022 Class. The current number of 21 verbal commits leaves little room for additions next week. What can be expected is considerable movement between now and the end of the Early Signing Period.
It is not known if the Crimson Tide will stick with 25 for this class, or possibly stretch it to 26 or 27. In some ways, the 85 scholarship limit is the toughest number. So far, Xavier Williams, Marcus Banks, Pierce Quick and Jackson Bratton have chosen the transfer portal option. Several more current players may later join them. Reaching the 85 scholarship limit does not have to be resolved for months.
Will any of the current 21, Crimson Tide commits flip in the next week? Specific players cannot be guessed in advance, but odds are higher there will be some attrition rather than none. Some attrition might actually be a plus, with so many elite, undecided players available.
For the sake of discussion, let’s presume the ’22 class will have 26 or 27 players. With some anticipated attrition, that leaves around six or seven slots to yet be filled.
Most likely Alabama Football ’22 class additions
What follows are the best hunches gained from reading lots of tea leaves. As always, even the top recruiting experts do not know what will happen.
- Marvin Jones Jr.; 5-Star edge rusher and the No. 22 player overall in the 2022 class. The competition for Jones is fierce, but following Will Anderson Jr. has to be a major attraction.
- Anthony Lucas; 4-Star defensive lineman and the No. 50 player overall. Lucas is a high priority for the Crimson Tide but it must hold off Texas A&M to land Lucas.
- Khurtiss Perry; 4-Star defensive lineman and the No. 74 player overall. Other SEC schools have chased the in-state player hard, but rumors of him not signing with the Tide appear to not be credible.
- Kendrick Law; 4-Star wide receiver and the No. 3 Athlete in the ’22 class. Brian Kelly is fighting to keep Law and 4-Star wide receiver Shazz Preston (No. 3 WR) home in Louisiana. The Crimson Tide likes them both, but will have room for only one. Law is the best bet, but it could be Preston.
- Earnest Greene; 4-Star offensive lineman and the No. 40 player overall. Georgia was long believed to lead for Greene, but that appears to have changed.
- One or two (maybe three) from this group of four: 5-Star, defensive back, Domani Jackson; 5-Star, offensive lineman, Kiyaunta Goodwin (UK commit); 4-Star linebacker, Shemar James and 4-Star cornerback, Earl Little Jr. There is no foreseeable circumstance where Nick Saban would not make room for Domani Jackson.
Whatever happens in the Early Signing Period, look for Nick Saban to handpick one or two top players from the Transfer Portal. Georgia Tech running back, Jahmyr Gibbs is a possibility to follow the Alabama football success of Jameson Williams and Henry To’oTo’o.
Note: Player ranking in the post are from the 247Sports Composite
The December, Early Signing Period might be moved in later years. Nick Saban was never a fan of it taking place during the season.