Alabama Regains College Football Recruiting Crown with 2021 Class
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
For those emotional scared by Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide winning their sixth national championship in his 14 seasons in Tuscaloosa in 2020, there is more heartbreak ahead. After finishing the 2020 recruiting cycle ranked No. 2 nationally, Alabama regained their perch atop the college football talent world after a one-year absence pulling in the most talent in the FBS ranks.
In one of the top recruiting hauls ever, Alabama signed seven five-star players, 16 four-stars, and four three-star talents outdistancing Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, and Clemson.
The listing of five-stars ensures Alabama’s offense will continue to be among the best in the Power Five classification for years to come. Getting one cornerstone offensive tackle is a feat in any class, Bama got two in JC Latham out of IMG Academy (FL) and Tommy Brockermeyer from All Saints Episcopal in Fort Worth (TX). Helping score the rock is another IMG standout, five-star receiver Jacorey Brooks. To punch it into the end zone, the Tide has that covered with Lakeview Centennial (TX) five-star Camar Wheaton.
Under Coach Saban, Alabama’s defense has long been feared. The young 2020 group slipped on the field to 32nd nationally allowing 352.2 yards per game. The fresh wave of amazing defenders give promise to rule the SEC gridiron with guys like five-star corner Ga’Quincy McKinstry (AL), end Dallas Turner (FL), and tackle Damon Payne (MI).
Seeing Mac Jones lead the nation in passing yards, completion percentage, and QB Rating, four-star Texas gunslinger Jalen Milroe is on his way to add more talent to the roster behind 2020 five-star Bryce Young. Three other receivers ready to reproduce the career of Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith are Agiye Hall, Christian Leary, and JoJo Earle.
The offensive line was further solidified with four-star center James Brockermeyer, brother to Tommy, Georgia guard Terrence Ferguson, and Texas guard Jaeden Roberts.
The pressure off the edge will be intense with ends Keanu Koht and Monkell Goodwire. Out of the linebacking corps, in-state talents Ian Jackson and Deontae Lawson along with inside backer Kendrick Blackshire make an incredible trio. Eating up the linemen to free the linebackers are a pair of in-state three-stars in Tim Keenan and Anquin Barnes.
The big National Signing Day add was landing four-star John Paul II Catholic safety Terrion Arnold. On Tuesday, Arnold was ranked 106th nationally in the 2021 class, but on Wednesday he was promoted to the 50th best, the third best defensive back in the nation.
In all, Alabama signed 12 offensive players and 14 defenders. The state’s lending the most players were Texas (7), Florida (7), and Alabama (5). The class covered 10 different states with 14 early enrollees.
Photo credit: twitter.com; Nick Saban gets Gatorade bath
Pingback: National Signing Day: Which College Football P5 Conferences Landed the Most Talent - Recruiting News Guru