re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition

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What else Alabama needs on the recruiting trail

The last two months for Alabama have been hectic for the Crimson Tide on the recruiting trail. Of the team’s 14 commitments, 11 of them have pledged to Alabama in either April or May.

Alabama has the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, and I don’t think the Tide are going to finish below the top spot in this cycle after failing to finish No. 1 in 2018, which was the first time since 2010.

With 14 commitments, I believe there are 12 to 13 spots remaining. I still haven’t gotten clarity on whether Layne Hatcher, the quarterback who flipped from Arkansas State to Alabama over the weekend, is on scholarship right now. He may be offered one if either Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa or Mac Jones transfers.

But here’s a look at other players still in the mix for the Tide.

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Running back

All the skill positions are very unclear right now, and we may not have any clarity until the team hosts its camp sessions in June. Remember, with the new recruiting calendar, almost all of July, which is when the team used to have its recruiting camps, is a dead period, so no recruits will be allowed to have face-to-face contact with coaches.

Trey Sanders, the nation’s No. 1 running back who was once committed to Alabama, remains in the mix for the Crimson Tide. Sanders recently spoke with SEC Country. You can read that update here. I still think there’s a long shot to regaining his commitment after talking with sources at other schools. Jerrion Ealy, an Ole Miss commit, is still considering Alabama. He may be the team’s best option. Quavaris Crouch, a 5-star athlete, is being recruited as a running back, although he’s leaning toward playing linebacker. Several schools I’ve spoken with believe he has a better future on the offensive side of the ball. Keilan Robinson, a 4-star prospect from Washington, is also a name to know.

The team has also been trying to get in the mix for John Emery Jr. He doesn’t seem too interested in Alabama right now.

With several other positions of need, I think Alabama is going to end up taking only one running back this cycle.

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Tight end

Hudson Henry, the nation’s No. 1 tight end, visited Tuscaloosa in April, but it wasn’t enough for the Tide to make his top 5 list that he just put out. It’s not the end of the world. It’s likely he follows his brothers and father to Arkansas.

Keon Zipperer is a top target for the Tide, but he’s likely going to stay in the state of Florida and play his college football there.

Ethan Rae was offered recently and put Alabama in his group of top schools but not much is known about him right now.

I can’t see the team taking more than one tight end this cycle.

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Defensive line

Like the offensive line, the defensive line class is going to be excellent, too. The team has commitments from 4-star prospects Antonio Alfano, Rashad Cheney Jr. and DJ Dale.

There are so many other defensive linemen who are high on Alabama right now such as Nathan Pickering, Byron Young, Jaren Handy, Faatui Tuitele, Ishmael Sopsher and Demarvin Leal.

I think six will be the number of defensive linemen the Tide sign. I’m not sure if Cheney’s spot in this class is going to remain safe if four or more of the names above want to join.

Tuitele, a 5-star defensive tackle from Hawaii, could end up being the team’s next commitment. He’s planning on making a decision before the start of his senior season. Alabama should be considered the favorite after Southern California was excluded from his top schools list.

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Defensive back

Alabama has commitments from 4-star cornerback Christian Williams and 4-star defensive back Brandon Turnage. Williams is planning on taking an official visits, but he won’t change his decision.

Turnage is also committed, but I don’t think he’s going to end up staying in this class, regardless of his comments saying he’s locked in with his decision.

Other defensive backs to know are Noa Pola-Gates, Jaylen McCollough, Jeffery Carter, Marcus Banks and Akeem Dent.

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Kicker

Alabama has a commitment from Will Reichard, the nation’s No. 2 kicker. He’s locked in with his decision.

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WELLINGTON, FL — Top-100 overall athlete  Mark-Antony Richards has been looking forward to his recruiting process since the early part of 2016.

His older brother, Ahmmon Richards, was in the heat of his recruitment at the time, with Alabama, Auburn and Miami giving him the full-court press. The U.S. Army All-American receiver took trips to all three schools before choosing the Hurricanes, but an in-home visit from Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban left a lasting impression on his wide-eyed sibling.

“Seeing Nick Saban walk through my house had me like, ‘Whoa.’ I couldn’t believe he was there to see my brother,” Richards told SEC Country. “[Miami coach] Mark Richt, too. You watch them on TV growing up and you never really think it’ll happen to you. But when they came into my house, I told myself, ‘I want them to come back again.’”

That they will. Richards is one of the nation’s most coveted athletes in the Class of 2019, with colleges recruiting him for both sides of the ball. He checks in as the No. 5 athlete in the 247Sports composite, and Rivals ranks him as the top all-purpose back in the country.

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“First play, he put his foot in the ground and took off,” Abel said. “I looked at our JV coach and said, ‘Yeah, he’s not going back down. He’s staying with us.’ We’ve had a great relationship ever since and he will be a four-year varsity player, just like his brother.”

And like his brother, Mark-Antony’s recruitment is expected to come down to the wire. He plans to announce his top 10 this summer and already those schools written down in his phone. “I’m not ready to release it yet,” he said with a smile.

Richards added that he will make his commitment after his senior season. He’s still in the process of figuring out what position he wants to play and which schools have the best scheme for his desired spot.

“That’s the most stressful part of being an athlete. My dream was to play running back in the NFL and in college, but sometimes you have to open your mind. When Ohio State tells you, ‘You’re a superstar corner,’ it really makes you think.

“You see [former OSU cornerback] Denzel Ward get drafted in the first round and you think, ‘I can do the same thing.’ But I’m trying to figure out what position I’m going to play. I’m still kind of undecided.”

Auburn and Miami are recruiting Richards for both sides of the ball, though the Hurricanes initially wanted him as a defensive back. Florida is selling Richards on being used like former Gators WR Percy Harvin, and Georgia also wants him as a receiver.

“There’s a lot of coaches who want him to play defense and a lot of coaches who want him to play offense,” Abel said. “I’m going to tell you wherever he goes, he could do either or. That’s not up to me, but the college coach and him whenever he picks a school.

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