Latest projection is Alabama Football will finish with No. 3 '25 class and SEC No. 1

On Wednesday the Alabama Crimson Tide strengthened its hold on college football's No. 2, 2025 recruiting class. One addition and two subtractions from Alabama's 2025 commits gave the Crimson Tide the top-rated class nationally in average player ratings based on the 247Sports Composite rankings.

First on Wednesday 2025's sixth-ranked Edge, 4-Star Justin Hill committed to the Crimson Tide. Alabama had been battling three Big Ten programs for Hill, Ohio State, Oregon, and USC. Hill spurned the Big Ten schools, including the in-state Buckeyes in a move that must have burned Ryan Day.

Later on Wednesday, Alabama Football lost two previous commits, 3-star, Zymear Smith and 4-star Myles Johnson. Alabama football insiders stated that Kalen DeBoer's staff was not surprised by the exits. The result was the Crimson Tide went from 21 commits to 22 commits, then down to 21, and finally 20 on Wednesday. A hunch is the developments were addition (Hill), and addition via subtraction (Smith and Johnson).

Earlier Wednesday, CBS Sports projected what could become the top four classes nationally when the door closes on 2025 recruiting. The projection was based on a best-case scenario of Ohio State, Alabama, Oregon, and Georgia landing each team's most desirable prospects. Andre Ivins, writing for CBS described the projections as "best-case, dream class scenarios."

CBS used the 247Sports Composite class calculator to project the final rankings of the four programs. Ohio State came out on top at 328.63; followed by Oregon at 321.73, Alabama at 320.85, and Georgia at 312.09. For perspective, the Crimson Tide's highest ranking ever at 328 was the 2023 class. Alabama has finished with higher classes than the projected 320.85 just four times; 328 in 2023; 322.25 in 2022; 327.80 in 2021 and 323.87 in 2017.

CBS projected Crimson Tide 'dream additions' to be four, 5-stars; Caleb Cunningham, Ty Haywood, Kaliq Lockett, and Derek Meadows. Also included were 4-stars, Justin Hill (before he announced), AK Dear, and Ty Jackson; plus 3-star Floyd Boucard.

Justin Hill was also included in the projections for Ohio State and Oregon, so the Tide's pickup closed a gap in the rankings. In addition, the Ohio State projection included a flip of Anthony Rogers from the Crimson Tide to the Buckeyes, plus a flip of Malik Autry from Auburn to Ohio State.

Don't count out Alabama Football finishing No. 1

Even the most informed and astute recruiting gurus do not know how the classes will finish. There is just so much time left until all the players enroll. There is no reason to expect anything but a crazy ride. What Alabama Crimson Tide fans can do is cease worrying about whether Kalen DeBoer and his staff can recruit in the SEC. It is time for the other SEC fanbases to worry about recruiting against DeBoer.

In the updated 247Sports Composite Team Rankings (after the Wednesday changes), Alabama has the No. 1, 2025 class in average player ratings at 94.11.