Alabama Football: OL, TE, DL Early Signing Period prediction

Alabama Football is hours away from nailing down another No. 1 recruiting class. In some position groups, no surprises are expected during the Early Signing Period. In three position groups; the offensive and defensive lines, along with tight ends, final outcomes can bring considerable drama.

In each of the three position groups, the Alabama football team has needs to fill. Meeting those needs through incoming freshmen is important, but more roster additions may also come later through the Transfer Portal.

What follows in the second of three Early Signing Period, prediction posts. The first in the series covered QB, RB and WR position groups.

Note: All player rankings in this post are from the 247Sports Composite

Alabama Football 2023 Offensive Line

Alabama football goes into the Early Signing Period with four verbal commits listed below.

• 4-Star, Offensive Tackle, Wilkin Formby; No. 8 OT and No. 77 player overall in the 2023 class. Formby has a short trip to campus from Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa. He is already practicing with the Crimson Tide.
• 4-Star, Offensive Tackle, Olaus Alinen; No. 15 OT and No. 189 overall
• 4-Star, Offensive Tackle, Miles McVay; No. 18 OT and No. 200 overall
• 4-Star, Interior Offensive Lineman, RyQueze McElderry; No. 23 OT and No. 375 overall

All four of the recruits will sign on Wednesday, but adding them is not enough. The Tide’s carryover from the 2022 roster to 2023 is just seven offensive linemen. Only one has any significant game experience at tackle.

Early on Wednesday morning, Alabama Football expects to greatly improve the OL position group by signing 5-Star, OT, Kadyn Proctor. Proctor is rated as the No. 2 OT and the No. 12 player overall in the 2023 class. After being committed to Iowa for months, the Bama Hammer prediction is Proctor will flip to the Crimson Tide.

Alabama Football 2023 Defensive Line

The Crimson Tide’s defensive line also needs replenishment, though not to the extent of the offensive line. There is no exact count of returning defensive linemen for next season. The count could be as high as 11. More numbers are needed and as importantly, the Tide needs more impact players. The three recruits below will sign on Wednesday.

• 4-Star, Defensive Lineman, Jordan Renaud; No. 7 DL and No. 62 overall. Renaud will need more weight before becoming an impact player. He could be a linebacker, but his frame will easily handle the weight needed to play defensive end
• 4-Star, Defensive Lineman, Hunter Osborne; No. 17 DL and No. 144 overall
• 4-Star, Defensive Lineman, Edric Hill; No. 24 DL and No. 180 overall

Early Signing Day DL Prediction

The big prize is 5-Star, James Smith, the No. 2 DL and the No. 18 player overall in the class. A hard late push by Auburn has caused concern, but consistent with months of predictions by others, Bama Hammer is predicting Smith will sign with Alabama.

Other defensive linemen are a possibility, but one day out, none are predicted to sign with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Alabama Football 2023 Tight Ends

The Crimson Tide is expected to have a solid core of returning tight ends. In the Early Signing Period, the Tide will sign 4-Star, Ty Lockwood; No. 13 TE and No. 235 overall. The Alabama staff has been working to flip 4-Star, Luke Hasz from Arkansas, but the Bama Hammer prediction is Hasz will stick with the Hogs.

At a later point, the Tide may add transfer CJ Dippre, and perhaps an additional transfer tight end.

Note: Edge position recruits are included in a later linebacker and defensive backs post.