Rumors are swirling about the top Alabama Football targets for a 2023 class quarterback. The rumor getting the most traction is apparently more fact than fiction. It involves a massive NIL deal for a 2023, 5-Star recruit.
The source is the highly credible Stewart Mandel. Check out Mandel’s tweet from two days ago.
From last night: A 2023 recruit signed an NIL agreement yesterday that could pay him more than $8 million (!) over four years.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) March 12, 2022
I got a peek at the contract. Here’s how a school’s NIL collective is inducing recruits without putting it in writing. https://t.co/5VjdA6MlOc
Though not confirmed it appears the recruit is Alabama football, 5-Star target, quarterback, Nicholas Iamaleava. Additional rumors are the offer comes from the NIL collective associated with the Tennessee Vols. An additional rumor is the collective having made the offer, is associated with Oregon, and not Tennessee.
If the rumor about the player and the potential deal prove to be accurate, count Nick Saban out on signing Iamaleava. It takes no source of inside knowledge to know if money is the most important thing to a recruit or a recruit’s family – Nick Saban does not want that player.
Alabama is thought to be in a strong position with 5-Star, Arch Manning. The Crimson Tide staff is also pursuing Texas A&M verbal commit, 4-Star, Eli Holstein. Though physically stronger, Holstein is compared to Mac Jones in passing ability, with excellent accuracy that includes deep balls. He is not a lock for the Aggies. The state of Louisiana player was recently in Tuscaloosa for a couple of days.
Pete Golding is the lead recruiter for Holstein but Bill O’Brien and Nick Saban will certainly have key roles. The anticipation in Tuscaloosa is the young man will return again for an official visit.
Quite a few Alabama fans are hoping in-state, Briarwood Christian, QB, Christopher Vizzina might choose the Tide. Vizzina has impressive high school numbers but his team does not face much top opposition. Though he has worked out for the Crimson Tide in the past, he is not believed to have a Crimson Tide offer. Clemson, Florida, Ole Miss and Notre Dame are reportedly pushing hard for Vizzina, and he recently also received an offer from Ohio State.
Must Alabama Football sign a ’23 QB?
Nick Saban wants to sign a top quarterback in every class, but a 2023 QB is not essential. With Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson ready to win the job of replacing Bryce Young in 2023, an elite 2024 QB is more important than one in the 2023 class.
That reasoning does not apply to Arch Manning. Until the recent rumors about Iamaleava, it did not apply to him either.
Signing Arch Manning would be great for the Crimson Tide. If not, Alabama fans should be pleased if the Tide’s ’23 QB signing is Eli Holstein instead.