quote:
Grading Alabama’s 2018 defensive signing class

Alabama needed to strike gold with its defensive backs after losing every single starter in the secondary. The Tide landed the nation’s No. 1 cornerback in Patrick Surtain Jr. What a recruiting win that was for Alabama. LSU led for over a year. He’s now going to play for LSU’s rival. The Tide also landed the nation’s No. 1 overall junior college prospect in Saivion Smith, who transferred to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College after spending a year at LSU. Surtain and Smith will likely see the field early next season. Alabama also addded Josh Jobe, one of the best defensive backs in the class who may end up at safety, the top DB in the state of Alabama in Jalyn Armour-Davis, and Eddie Smith, who may end up being the steal of this class.

The Tide needed to add more depth on the defensive line heading into next season, but the team only added 4-star defensive tackles Christian Barmore and Stephon Wynn. Both of those guys have the ability to play early, but the Tide needed at least one more body here. Alabama missed on Bobby Brown, who fiipped from the Tide to Texas A&M on Signing Day and 4-star defensive end Malik Langham, who signed with Florida.

The outside linebacker group this cycle is excellent. Eyabi Anoma is going to be a freak. Jordan Davis has the potential to grow into a defensive end and so does Cameron Latu.

Inside linebacker is where the Tide missed on, and this is where coaching turnover really hurt Alabama. The Tide were going to sign Quay Walker and JJ Peterson if Jeremy Pruitt remained in Tuscaloosa, but Tennessee’s coaching search turned out to be a dumpster fire and it led the Volunteers to Pruitt, eventually. Vernon Jackson wasn’t pushed out of this class, but the Tide knew he wasn’t going to end up in Tuscaloosa. Brandon Kaho was leaning toward Alabama before he signed with Washington. I am not sure what happened there. Alabama did sign Jaylen Moody after giving him a late offer. The team needed at least one inside linebacker, and it got one in Moody.

You can’t forget about Skyler Delong, either. He was identified as the team’s top punter target and Delong flipped from Tennessee to Alabama. He’s likely going to be JK Scott’s replacement.

This post was edited on 2/8/18 at 11:17 am

2 ...

Report Post

Posted by TidalSurge1

Ft Walton Beach

Member since Sep 2016

36467 posts

Posted on 2/8/18 at 11:24 am to TidalSurge1

Tracking and tweaking the roster: Alabama may not be done after National Signing Day

quote:
Even though National Signing Day has come and gone, Nick Saban may not be done adding to his Alabama roster.

Saban dropped a pair of hints about two positions during his press conference on Wednesday night, quarterback and defensive end, and his desire to add some depth.

It may not be possible to make additions who could impact the team in 2018, but Alabama only signed 19 players during the past recruiting cycle.

Although Saban doesn’t release scholarship numbers, the Crimson Tide appears to have 84 players set for the upcoming season. That Alabama was trying to fill three, if not four, more slots on Wednesday may indicate that a couple of departures may be looming after the spring, which isn’t unusual.

Regardless, the coach has some room to maneuver, which is something that the Crimson Tide don’t normally have. Here’s where the roster stands as of now:

Alabama roster breakdown

Quarterbacks: 3
Running backs: 7
Wide receivers: 9
Tight ends: 6
Offensive line: 18
Defensive line: 8
Linebackers: 17
Secondary: 13
Special teams: 3

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by TideWarrior

Asheville/Chapel Hill NC

Member since Sep 2009

11848 posts

Posted on 2/8/18 at 11:47 am to TidalSurge1

quote:
defensive backs

A

I feel the staff got who they wanted and we filled the need except maybe having one more guy in there. The ones we got I think have the potential to be home run signings. S Smith hopefully can step right in.