re: Class of 2027 Football Recruiting

2020 and 2021 had some really great players but they had quite a bit more bust or missed-a-signing in them.

2022-2023 were just not great classes. 2024 is still writing its story and I think could end up being like 2006 and 2007 were for Saban. If we make a run its because the '25 and '26 classes are big time but the '24 class has a lot of glue and a few stars.

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DeBoer inherited the #1 talent composite roster even post transfers.

The reality of the 2024 season is the defensive playcalling shite the bed in two games and in the other two the quarterback didn’t know what day it was so he decided to turn it over six times.

Saban went 8-0 with that roster in SEC play and DeBoer had a multi touchdown lead on Georgia at half. The roster was never the issue.

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Saban is also the greatest coach of all time and had the added luxury of Kool-Aid, Turner, Arnold, Burton, Latham, Eboigbe, etc. Over 40 players, essentially half of that roster, either went pro or transferred following the 2023 season and Saban's retirement.


And yes, the GOAT did go 8-0 with that roster but he also struggled with South Florida a week after they were blown out by Western Kentucky. He was absolutely embarrassed by Texas at home (a team Deboer beat with Washington's talent). He needed a literal once in a lifetime miracle to beat a 5-7 Auburn team one week after they were blown out by New Mexico State. He was one play away from being upset at home by a 4 win Arkansas program. He needed an onsides kick to seal the deal against a mediocre Aggy.

So it's easy to see why people believe the talent Deboer inherited wasn't as loaded as the "experts" say it was. Now if he inherited that 2020 roster...

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And yes, the GOAT did go 8-0 with that roster but he also struggled with South Florida a week after they were blown out by Western Kentucky. He was absolutely embarrassed by Texas at home (a team Deboer beat with Washington's talent). He needed a literal once in a lifetime miracle to beat a 5-7 Auburn team one week after they were blown out by New Mexico State. He was one play away from being upset at home by a 4 win Arkansas program. He needed an onsides kick to seal the deal against a mediocre Aggy.

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That 2023 team overachieved given how they performed throughout the season. Even though we finished the regular season 11-1 and 8-0 in conference play, I don't think there was a man on this board who thought they stood much of a chance against Georgia in Atlanta. We struggled in just about every game that season. The only conference opponents that didn't give us too much trouble that year were Mississippi State and Kentucky. Though the LSU game was never in doubt I don't think.

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Jacorey Brooks was drafted after putting up 1K yards at Louisville Burton, Brooks, Bond (even with SA allegations) and Holden were all drafted

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Burton was a transfer, not a part of the draft class. I already pointed out that Brooks was not a bust but forgot Bond. Holden was a bust for us. I don’t care about his production elsewhere especially since it didn’t lead to him being a productive NFL player. Brooks didn’t make a 53-man roster after a good 2024 season.

Some of these transfers went on and did some modest productive college contribution elsewhere but they didn’t here so that’s a bust for us. Brooks had a recognition worthy season after leaving and that’s the one. Bond hurt himself by leaving.

As long as a player can beat the charges, the NFL doesn't give two doo doos what you've done. Jimmy Johnson used to say some team would've drafted Charles Manson if he could run a 4.3 40.

I'll be curious to see what happens with Henry Ruggs when he gets out of prison either this year or next. I'm sure a few teams will bring him in for a work out, especially if he has maintained his blazing speed. The NFL isn't big on "second chances" though. Reuben Foster had his career ended largely because he was accused of SA. The fact she later recanted her story didn't seem to matter.

Ehh, Reuben had his career ended because after the accuser schtick he was injured (again) and he brought her to a team hotel where she pulled another stunt like that.

It was the fact he kept her around and kept getting himself into trouble that did him in

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The #1 JUCO prospect in the nation Alius Mayo is set to announce his commitment 8/2

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Committed to Cal today

Thought bama was favored to land him?

No one is saying or implying it was a “gutter roster” just that it was not up to previous Saban standards, therefore it is unreasonable to demand historic Saban results. The fact is - that is undeniable. And IMO, it was not close and their 9-3 reg season record was commensurate with that talent - maybe a game better. Saban himself was just a few plays away from 9-3 himself the year before with some atypical escapes from mediocre teams.

That’s not taking into account the turmoil that accompanies all transitions, especially when it involves completely different schemes on both the O and D, and the unexpected loss of ~45 players. Also, the shock of losing the GOAT. And being stuck with a QB whose skills were completely incompatible with your O. Were there coaching mishaps? Probably, but IMO, they did a nice job going 9-3.

The fact that they went 10-2 in the regular season and won a playoff game, the first in the 3 year history of the CFP should have made him a finalist for the COY. FSU was the only real blemish and it was bad, but not as bad as many made it out to be.

RW was 17 year old and Bernard was a transfer from UW and only played rotationally as their #4 WR there.

Also, you are making my point for me….BOTH those guys you listed were brought in by CKD not Coach Saban.

The WR core consisted of Kendrick Law, Hale, Prentice, Scott snd everyone of them left with the exception of Rico Scott.

What Saban roster had ZERO NFL draft picks, not 1st rounders, but not drafted at all at WR, RB, or TE like the group CKD inherited in 2024?

I truly believe CNS knew he was on his way out soon and the clock started ticking the year Jimbo signed the “greatest class ever” with the 9 five-stars. That Class included Shemar Turner, Shemar Stewart and Anthony Lucas who were all heavy Bama-leans/locks before Jimbo and NIL bought them away.
Coach Saban was so angry about it that he called out Jimbo at his Signing Day press conference and said Jimbo paid for those players (which obviously he did).

Coach Saban’s recruiting was propped up by guys like Dezz Ricks and other DB’s (who all ended up transferring) from 2022-2024. They had absolutely no one on the Dline (Beaman and Faga were the only 2 signees in two classes), and that’s why missing on Turner, Stewart and Lucas really stung CNS so badly, and I believe that’s when he realized he was no longer going to get the caliber of players he had been getting for 15+ years, and we all knew he wasn’t going to stick around to lose 4-5 games playing with inferior talent.

The 2023 defense was EXTREMELY good. One of CNS’s top5 best he produced here at Alabama, but they are also the most over-looked bc of how pitiful the offense was.

CNS was already relying on transfers at WR, and guys like Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice wouldve never been on scholarship let alone on the field in any other WR corps at Bama from 2008-2022.

Milroe at QB, Roydell Williams and McClellan/Jam at RB…..it was just BAD.

The LOADED defense drug that offense kicking and screaming all the way to an SEC title and close to a national title.

Bama lost 9 of the 11 starters, and 11 out of the 13 if you include Base/Nickel/Dime off that star-studded 2023 defense.

The defense was absolutely gutted with only Malachi Moore and Lawson as returning starters.

So for CKW to finish in the top10 nationally in Scoring defense in his first season as DC at Bama in Year 1 with so many young players and transfers was remarkable by any stretch.

Bama went 9-3 in 2024, and just 1 win away from the Playoffs with that team. and I’ve never seen a player give a game away to the degree that Milroe did against Tennessee that season. Everyone remembers his pick-6’s/meltdown vs OU that would’ve clinched a spot in the Playoffs in Year 1, but it was actually the debacle vs UTjr that was FAR WORSE and cost them 10 wins and a spot in the Playoffs.

Bama’s defense shut Tennessee’s offense at the first half (#1 scoring offense in the conference), along with forcing THREE turnovers deep in UT territory. Milroe proceeded to throw a pick on 1st and goal from the 2 on a fade ball somehow and fumbled a snap. That game should’ve been over at halftime just by the QB getting out of the way.

He followed that up with the worst half of his entire career in the 2nd half of that game and UTjr ended winning on a late TD.

That game was DOMINATED by Alabama and should’ve clinched a 10-2 season with a FARRR less talented roster than the 11-1 team the year prior under CNS that featured six 1st round picks and 3 2nd rounders plus Caleb Downs and Trey Amos who transferred and were future 1st rounders that also started on that 2023 team.

The only players leftover with any experience at all were:
- Tyler Booker
- Kaden Proctor
- Milroe
- Robby Outz
- Tim Keenan
- Jihad Cambell
- Lawson
- Malachi Moore

And that is all. The starting lineup in 2024, CKD’s 1st year featured 12 first year players in the program, and ONE 1st round Draft pick.

Comparing the 2023 roster in CNS’s last season to the 2024 roster CKD inherited is painful to even attempt.

2023 (defense only): 6 1st rounders 3 2nd rounders (including Amos and Downs who transferred after 2023).

2024: Entire team: 1 first rounder.

That sums it up pretty good.

Then you throw in the fact that CNS was a defensive HC and CKD is an offensive-minded HC who was stuck with Milroe, and had to bring in a 17 year old TF and his 4th WR from UW to lead the offense, and it only made the challenge greater.

It’s CRAZY to me that CKD was just ONE Milroe meltdown away (Tennessee or OU) away from going 10-2 and reaching Atlanta and the Playoffs in Year 1, with that team, which would’ve netted him SEC COTY in my opinion. Then of course in Year 2, he DID accomplish both those things along with defeating OU in the Playoffs.

This upcoming season will be the first time CKD has HIS own QB and skill players. The defense had been steady-eddy for two years and is responsible for the majority of the team’s success these first two years…..they’ve allowed less yards AND points than Georgia since CKW took over two years ago, while also forcing the 7th most turnovers in the country.

This year:
Hubbard, Z Brown, D Lee, Z Mincey, Sabb, Taylor, Morgan, Jireh Edwards combine to give Bama the best Secondary in the country and that’s not really debatable after finishing 3rd nationally in pass defense and returning every starter.

The Dline is FINALLY back to having the size and depth to play the 3-4 Under Front that CKW has evolved to. Last year Faga had to play a 0/Shade/2i at 287lbs for example.They are big and deep. Also Yhonzae Pierre gives them a 1st round pass rusher.

CKW is similar to Venables at OU (only SEC team to allow fewer points than Bama these past 2 years), in that they both like smaller, faster LB’s who can cover. That’s why Jefferson excelled in this defense. Woodson is a converted Safety and Bray Hubbard is used at LB in obvious passing situations. Also, X Griffin was the top LB in the nation last year, and Duke Johnson is another thumper who can really run.

I will GLADLY eat all the crow in the world if I’m wrong, but I’m telling you, this is the best Bama team since 2021-2022, and 10-2 is their floor with 11-1 being more likely. The offense is finally in place for CKD to run what he wants to and what he did at UW (lots of downfield passing/explosive plays), and the defense only needs to do what they’ve been doing….but they can actually improve due to the experience and the personnel on the DL actually fits the scheme and isn’t undersized my 25lbs across the board like they have been.

CKD is 18-0 when the offense has produced 23 points.

They will produce 23 or more points in all 12 games this year.