Alabama will have the second-best signing class in 2024; this will be the lowest-ranked Tide class since 2018.
Even if Alabama football’s 2024 recruiting cycle isn’t over, the early signing window expires on Friday, capping a hectic week. How successful were the Crimson Tide before the focus shifted back to the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl?
The 23 athletes in the class signed their intent letter and turned it in at UA’s Tuscaloosa headquarters. There are eight four-star, thirteen three-star, and two five-star properties. About 19 players, according to Saban, have already joined the squad for sessions; players won’t be eligible until the following fall. Ryan Williams, a Saraland athlete who will sign a contract in February, is the most noticeable absentee.
Including Williams’ five-star status, Alabama is ranked second nationally per 247Sports, behind Georiga. 247Sports evaluates teams’ signees on a bell curve, with more value placed on the best players in each class. The Tide finished with a score of 300.75 compared to the Bulldogs’ 315.22.
While the analysis of the media likely won’t matter within the offices of UA coaches (and it shouldn’t), Alabama’s score would be the lowest in five years, when it was rated 289.94 in 2018. That group included Patrick Surtain II and Jayln Waddle, among others.
The grades
CBS Sports – Brandon Huffman: “Well, look who shined on signing day. The Crimson Tide rose from fourth to second in the rankings, keeping their annual off-field rivalry with the Georgia in play for yet another cycle. Five-star QB Julian Sayin, a longtime commit, was never in play to go elsewhere as the headliner of the class. But where Alabama really does damage is in flipping players, and Wednesday was no different. The Tide flipped four-star RB Kevin Riley from Miami and four-star ATH Aeryn Hampton from Texas.”
Paul Myerberg of USA Today writes, “Sayin, from Carlsbad, California, rejected over twenty-two offers, many of which came from the Crimson Tide’s most formidable SEC rivals, before deciding on Alabama.” Sayin will get a chance to become familiar with the system in a backup capacity, maybe playing in four or more games, with Jalen Milroe’s decision to come back in 2024. In his second year on school, he will compete for the starting position. Five-star cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe, one of the best players in the state, was also added by the Tide.
Bill Bender of The Sporting News: “The recruiting game is still called the same, even though the rules have changed.” The three universities that excel at accumulating talent are Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State. For the past five years, only these three schools have put together recruiting classes ranked in the top five. That hasn’t altered despite the recruiting calendar, transfer portal, and NIL.
Nick Kelly of The Tuscaloosa News: “The Crimson Tide has another outstanding class. Even while it’s not as good as the class that had nine five-star talents the previous season, it’s still a respectable haul on the first day of the early signing period, and there are still more to come.
