Alabama formally signed class No. 1 on a college football recruiting cycle for the ninth time in the past 11 years. Crimson Tide entered the traditional 2021 National Signature Day with an incredible 325.46 points on the 247Sports Composite, well ahead of Ohio State 309.46, which was exceptionally strong in its own right.
While this is great, Alabama accomplished an even more impressive feat later in the day by officially closing the highest-rated recruiting class in college football history at 327.91.
The Alabama class had 13 of the nation’s 90 best players ever signed on National Signature Day. He officially signed the five-star running back Camar Wheaton and was committed to the four-star defensive back Terrion Arnold before the end of the day, giving the team 15 of the country’s 90 best players in a single recruiting class. (There is also the 91st ranked player, defensive side Monkell Goodwine, signed.)
There is an incredible Seven five potential stars, including the country’s two main offensive tackles: JC Latham and Tommy Brockermeyer. Tide has guard # 2 at Terrence Ferguson and center # 1 at James Brockermeyer. They also have four of the 10 largest wide receivers at JaCorey Brooks, Agiye Hall, Christian Leary and JoJo Earl.
Defensively, this class is also not sloppy. Alabama has the number 1 cornerback at Ga’Quincy McKinstry and the weakest defensive side at Dallas Turner. He receives defensive tackle No. 3 at Damon Payne, as well as linebackers No. 3 and No. 9 at Deonte Lawson and Kendrick Blackshire, respectively.
This recruiting class is not only the best in 2021 by a good margin, but also the best rated ever, as it currently stands.
Alabama surpassed the record that stood for a decade – eons in recruitment time – the Florida Gators’ Class of 2010. Organized by coach Urban Meyer, one of the best recruiters of all time, and offensive coordinator Steve Addazio, who was to Meyer, who took a sabbatical after almost giving up after the 2009 season, the Florida class of 2010 had an impressive 324.62 points. Alabama is three points ahead with 327.91.
The 2010 Florida group had 13 of the nation’s top 90 players committed, which is where Alabama started on Wednesday before adding its two additional signatories. Two players in this class of Gators, defensive striker Ronald Powell and striker Dominique Easley, ranked first in their positions. Four others came in second and three others came in fourth.
This was the last class Meyer signed before his brief retirement. The class didn’t win titles, but individually, many of the players became longtime NFL holders, so it’s fair to say that much of the lack of success was due to the culture and training during their time there.
As for Alabama, it may not be done.
The defensive end is a position that will not be closed even on the National Day of Signature of the Tide, since JT Tuimoloau, of five stars, will not decide for some time, since he wants to make visits in the spring. Tuimoloau is the No. 1 overall player in the Top247. Alabama and Ohio State are firmly in the mix, according to Brandon Huffman of 247Sports.
Crimson Tide also has the current third class of all time, a group familiar to college football fans: Alabama’s 2017 haul. The main members of the class included Tua Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, Devonta Smith, Najee Harris, Alex Leatherwood, Dylan Moses, Jedrick Wills, Xavier McKinney and Mac Jones, just to name a few. This class instantly helped deliver a national championship in 2017 as real freshmen, and those who stayed just won another one in 2020.
Chris Hummer of 247Sports convincingly argues that Alabama’s 2017 class is the most successful in the history of the era of recruitment rankings. On a larger scale, Saban on Wednesday will sign his sixth place in the top 10 most highly rated classes of all time.
Recruitment is never a guarantee of success, but not recruiting at an elite level practically guarantees that a team will not win everything. It is a game of probabilities, and the chances of such a good class not producing at an incredible level are very small.