re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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1. A new No. 1 is coming

The streak has to end eventually. Alabama has had an unprecedented run with seven consecutive No. 1 recruiting classes according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, but this is the year it comes to an end.

Currently Alabama is sitting at No. 62 nationally and No. 11 in the SEC. To be clear, that's nothing to worry about for Alabama fans. Nick Saban will bring in one of the best recruiting classes in college football this cycle, good enough to keep competing for national titles on the field. But when it comes to national championships on the recruiting trail, Alabama may be ceding too much of a lead to the Buckeyes to overcome in this cycle.

Ohio State has 10 commitments to Alabama's two in the class of 2018. Of the 10, only two are ranked outside the Top100 according to the 247Sports Composite, and all are four- or five-star prospects. The Buckeyes are teed up with more on the way. OT Jackson Carman, DE Micah Parsons and CB Anthony Cook are all five-star prospects that are Crystal Ball favorites to land in Columbus with others knocking on the door.

Conversely, Alabama isn't a Crystal Ball leader for any current 247Sports Composite five-stars. Unlike last year when we knew throughout most of the process that guys like Henry Ruggs III, Devonta Smith and LaBryan Ray were borderline locks to end up in Tuscaloosa, the natural ties to five-stars aren't quite there for Nick Saban.

Alabama's commit list will grow in the coming weeks and months as the staff starts to accept commits during its camp evaluation process. There will be some December and January flipping that takes place, too. But Urban Meyer is too good to let it slip away this year.

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