Alabama Football: Crimson Tide recruiting cruising toward a top class

Two weeks ago, Alabama football fans were dismayed when in-state 5-Star, defensive lineman, Peter Woods committed to Clemson. At that point, the Tide’s 2023 recruiting class was building to a good, perhaps very good class. But, in the minds of some Crimson Tide fans, it was not looking like a top five class.

Given No. 1 recruiting classes are more the norm than the exception for Alabama Football, Crimson Tide fans were frustrated and concerned. It appeared Nick Saban’s unwillingness to use NIL, other than as it was intended, was not working.

Much has changed in the two weeks since the Peter Woods announcement. Three more verbal commits have been added to the Crimson Tide, 2023 class. The most recent is 4-Star, offensive lineman, Olaus Alinen. As recently as a week ago, many recruiting experts thought Miami was going to win out for Alinen. The young man is from Finland but plays high school ball in Connecticut. He took official visits to Tuscaloosa, Oregon, Miami, Ohio State and Georgia. In the end, he was sold on Nick Saban and called Alabama  “his dream school.”

A few days earlier the Tide landed a 5-Star rated kicker from Chicago, Conor Talty. A couple of days later, video showed Talty on a practice field making a series of 50-yard and 60-yard field goals. He is also a punter.

The biggest boost since the Woods’ decision came from 4-Star, running back Justice Haynes. Alabama landed one of the top running backs in the class, who most recruiting experts believed would stay in-state with the Georgia Bulldogs.

The additions to the Tide’s list of 2023 verbal commits bumped Alabama to No. 8 in the 247Sports Team Rankings and to No. 4 in the On3.com Consensus.

More to come soon for Alabama Football

In the next few days, the Crimson Tide is expected to add 4-Star, defensive lineman, Hunter Osborne and 5-Star safety, Caleb Downs. Either of a pair of 4-Star linebackers, Malik Bryant or Sunterine Perkins (a flip from Ole Miss) are expected to add to the Tide’s commit list.

In the coming weeks, 5-Star running back, Richard Young and 4-Star, offensive lineman, Miles McVay are expected to announce for the Crimson Tide.

The annual summer cookout is July 30, and the event usually triggers commitments. In short, Alabama football recruiting is doing so well, it now looks as though the floor is a top three class, with the ceiling another No. 1 class.

The college football world was wrong again when earlier this summer many said NIL would bring an end to Nick Saban’s recruiting successes.