Alabama 2014 Football Recruiting Update

On Sunday, offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher became the 18th commitment to Alabama's Class of 2014. Add Iowa to the other 18 states that Nick Saban and staff have invaded and conquered in the last two years.

* You can add Mexico to the list if you want to include preferred walk-on punter Adrian Lamothe.

Below is a quick rundown for 2014 recruiting by position:

QB - David Cornwell is probably the only QB taken.

RB - Bama is focusing solely on Leonard Fournette, one of the top prospects in the nation. It will be hard to wrest the New Orleans native away from LSU. If the Tide does not get him, do not expect them to take another back.

WR - The Tide will likely take only one more pass catcher with many possible candidates (Cameron Sims, Johnnie Dixon, Malachi Dupre, wild card?). However, they will not sign just anyone just to get a second WR for this class. Juco kick returner Tyreek Hill is also a possibility.

TE/HB - The numbers are getting really tight (18 commits for 25 spots) and Isaac Luatua's kid brother Tyler Luatua may have waited too long to commit. It's starting to look like the Tide may not take a tight end in 2014. We'll see...

OL - Now that Bradley Bozeman reverts back to the class of 2013, Pierschbacher makes it four O-linemen in this class. Even so, there is still room for the nation's top tackle in Cameron Robinson (another Louisiana man who has Bama and LSU neck-in-neck) and possibly even a sixth OL. The Tide is also looking at St. Louis 4-star Brian Wallace (6-6/303) [need Missouri for the map!], Auburn de-commit Joshua Casher, and Ohio State commit Marcelys Jones who has publicly said his idol is Chance Warmack. Urban Meyer might have another breakdown if this kid flips to Alabama.

S - Safety is a position that Saban's recruiters have amped up focus on as of late. 4-star Ronnie Clark (6-2.5/205) is looking like a strong Bama lean. The staff is working hard to flip Ole Miss commit C.J. Hampton [need Mississippi!] but getting prospects out of the Magnolia state is so difficult for some reason.

CB - This is purely an IMHO but I have to believe that 5-star Marlon Humphrey is a silent commit who just wants to wait until February so he can do the whole hat-switcheroo press conference thing. He is a super-stud and it would be a disappointment and surprise if he didn't wear Houndstooth on 2/5/14. 4-star Jalen Tabor is also a possibility.

LB - With four linebackers committed, a fifth will have to be a big-time prospect. 5-star Raekwon McMillan from Hinesville, GA is somehow hypnotized by whatever Ohio State has to offer. This one might go down to the February wire.

DE - 5-star Lorenzo Carter (6-5/230) projects as a Jack-linebacker in the Bama system. The Norcross, GA senior has a long list of suitors but the Crimson Tide, UGA, and Florida look like the finalists. Another 5-star Da’Shawn Hand (6-4/250) is in a similar situation deciding between Alabama, Michigan, and the Gators. The Rivals #1 prospect says he will decide on November 14th. For the record, that is the Thursday after the Bama-LSU game. Florida hosts Vandy and Michigan has Nebraska in Ann Arbor.

DT - Sadly, it is looking like 5-star Matt Elam is leaning towards the home state Kentucky Wildcats over Alabama. Such a waste. We may see a wild card pick here.

* February 5, 2014 is a long ways away and crazy things can happen. Guys will flip and you may get someone on NSD that you totally did not expect (like A'Shawn Robinson). I am sure the UA staff has a few cards left up their sleeves.