Alabama Football: Nick Saban might set a 5-Star DB record in ’23 class

It is too early for solid predictions on how the Alabama Football, 2023 signing class will finish. So far, the Crimson Tide has just two verbal commits, putting it well behind many other FBS programs.

Recruiting experts often ignore the concept of ‘too early’ in making predictions of prospects to individual schools. Months away from the next early signing period, even a verbal commitment cannot be considered as a lock for any school.

As fans, we can pursue available recruiting information and make our own hunches. This ‘way too early’ Alabama Football, 2023 signing class hunch is – Nick Saban is going to sign his best-ever group of 5-Star defensive backs.

Going back to the 2008 Alabama Football singing class, Nick Saban has signed 11, 5-Star defensive backs. Two of them, B.J. Scott from the 2008 class and Kendall Sheffield from the 2015 class transferred to other schools. Sheffield ended up at Ohio State after never playing a down for the Crimson Tide. Scott transferred to South Alabama.

Including Sheffield, seven of the 11 had or are having good NFL careers. Those former Crimson Tide defensive backs are Dre Kirkpatrick (2009 class); HaHa Clinton-Dix (2011 class); Landon Collins (2012 class); Marlon Humphrey (2014 class); Minkah Fitzpatrick (2015 class) and Patrick Surtain II (2018 class).

One more, Kool-Aid McKinstry, after having a good freshman season in 2021, is likely to prosper in the NFL after the Tide’s 2023 season.

Nick Saban has another 5-Star defensive back for the 2022 season in LSU transfer Eli Ricks. Ricks also appears destined to have a good NFL career.

With Nick Saban’s history of preparing d-backs for the NFL, it is no wonder so many 2023, 5-Star prospects are interested in the Crimson Tide.

On Tuesday the Crimson Tide received a verbal commit from 5-Star cornerback, Jahlil Hurley. Hurley is the No. 4 rated cornerback in the class and the No. 22 player overall. Multiple recruiting experts are predicting 5-Star, Tony Mitchell (No. 2 CB and No. 14 player overall) will choose the Crimson Tide.

The nation’s No. 1 cornerback prospect, Cormani McClain is planning a trip to Tuscaloosa in March. Nick Saban and his staff are also targeting 5-Stars, A.J. Harris, Caleb Downs and Javian Toviano. Toviano has a brother at Rice and multiple recruiting insiders believe Georgia has a solid lead for Harris.

It will be months before all this plays out. As it does, it will be interesting to see how many 4-Star, defensive back commits the Tide will take, before any of the 5-Stars decide. The Tide’s only other verbal commit in the 2023 class is 4-Star, defensive back, Elliott Washington.

Note: The star ratings in this post are from 247Sports.