2019 Alabama Recruiting Update: Crootin’ Halftime

The Annual Operation Slow Nick Saban Down Dead Period kicked in Monday at midnight, meaning all contact with recruits must cease so that coaches at lesser programs can do such frivolous things such as spending time with their families instead of watching 17-year olds go through blocking drills. This period has become a “halftime” of sorts for the recruiting season which basically kicked off the day after the National Championship Game. The “second half” will commence July 24.

The Crimson Tide staff made great strides with many blue-chippers in June. This past weekend’s annual Champions Cookout and camp were big hits once again. It often says a lot where recruits spend their last weekend before the Dead Period.

Alabama picked up five commitments during the month of June.

[All quoted rankings come from 247sports Composite. Click the links for details.]

JUNE COMMITS

• Quandarrius Robinson OLB Birmingham, AL 6’5” / 217 - #53 overall, top recruit in Alabama.
• Demouy Kennedy ILB Theodore, AL 6’2” / 215 - #73, second-ranked player in the state of Alabama.
• William Anderson Jack/DE Hampton, GA 6’4” / 235 - #91, pass-rushing demon.
• Xavier Hill OG Olive Branch, MS 6’4” / 324 - Only three stars on this interior lineman but he may be the sleeper hit of the season. His lower ranking may be due to the fact that he has only played football for one season and has not been to many camps where he can be seen. He was offered at Bama’s February Junior Day, and had multiple offers including ones from every team in the SEC West, Tennessee, Florida, Mizzou, Nebraska, and others.
• Damieon George OT Houston, TX 6’7” / 345, three stars - Holy mackerel, this dude is BIG! Maybe a future bookend for Evan Neal?

MOMENTUM

Alabama has made quite an impression on several big-time recruits as of late, including a couple of 5-stars.

• Jordan Burch Strongside DE Columbia, SC 6’6’’ / 255, 5-stars #1 - Overall top-ranked prospect was in Tuscaloosa this past weekend with his mom as an unofficial visit. It has been a Clemson/SC battle but Alabama is now in the fight.
• Kendall Milton RB Clovis, CA 6’2” / 220, 5-stars #21 - Spent a couple of days in T-town this past week. The University of Aint-Won-A-NC-Since-1980 has the lead but Bama is in his head.
• Jordan Banks LB Harbor City, CA 6’4 / 245”, 4-stars #186 - There was a good deal of buzz around this versatile defender this weekend. He can play any linebacker position. He could be an Alabama lean.
• Joel Williams CB Baton Rouge, LA 6’1” / 190, 4-stars - The Crimson Tide is looking to add as many as two more corners. Williams has been very impressive in camps this summer and had an unofficial this weekend with his parents. Of course Nick Saban won over his skeptical mom who had heard what a horrible person he was from the BR locals (big surprise, huh?). He decommitted from Florida after receiving the offer from Alabama. He may be the next to commit.
• Nadab Joseph CB Miami, FL 6’2” / 193 - This name may be familiar to you crootin-niks. Joseph was a 2018 4-star who surprisingly “flipped” from the Tide to UGA during the inaugural Early Signing Period. However, it turned out that Alabama was concerned over him not qualifying. This concern proved accurate and he had to go to juco. Now, he is in the same situation with the same two schools looking like his finalists.
• Kristian Story ATH Lanett, AL 6’2” / 198 - This 4-star stands out at QB and safety, and could get a legitimate look at either position. He is supposed to announce his decision on July 18. It very well may be with a “Roll Tide!” attached.
• Zachary Evans RB Houston, TX 5’11” / 200, 5-stars - The top RB in the country was on campus for an earlier camp June 3rd. A fall OV should be in order.
• Phillip Webb OLB Buford, GA 6’3.5” / 224, High 4-star - The 40th ranked player was also on campus June 3rd.
• Camar Wheaton RB Garland, TX 5’11 / 190, 5-stars - Several 2021 and 2022 prospects were present for the cookout this past weekend as well, including the #1 ranked running back for 2021.

A FEW DT’s TO KEEP AN EYE ON

• McKinnley Jackson (6’1.5” / 330), 4-star #115 from Lucedale, MS is easily the top recruit out of Mississippi. He already has a good relationship with Bama DL coach Brian Baker.
• Jacobian Guillory (6’2” / 331) officially visited Alabama June 14 and LSU this past weekend. It could be a two-way race for this 4-star from Alexandria, LA. He doesn’t want to commit until a January 2020 All-American Bowl. Saban probably won’t wait that long.
• Timothy Smith (6’4” / 340) Sebastian, FL 4-star #157 may decide between Bama and UGA.

5-STAR UPDATE

Being from Las Vegas, it is not so easy for 5-star Darnell Washington to just pop into T-town for a weekend. Alabama appears to be leading over UGA and continue to recruit him heavily. He excels at both tight end and linebacker.

SPEAKING OF UGA

For the longest time when top recruits would show interest in Alabama, Auburn would also get a cursory look. Lately it has been Georgia instead. There are very few legitimate Alabama-Auburn recruiting battles and more of the Bama-UGA variety. This development is certainly a result of Kirby Smart’s prowess as a recruiter but also Gus Malzahn deficiencies in that department. The Bulldogs may have lost some high-profile games to the Crimson Tide but they are benefiting from the exposure.

NUMBERS

It’s still early, but it looks like the Crimson Tide could take between 26 and 27 signatures for 2020. The number tends to fluctuate throughout the year. The high number floated around for 2019 was 29 and Bama took 27. This means that Alabama did not need to use any crazy grey-shirts, blue-shirts, or other crootin’ loopholes that would lessen the number for this cycle.

That said, the Tide currently has 20 commits. Even if they hit 27, there is no way they have narrowed their choices down to just seven more recruits. There had been some buzz last week regarding the possibility of a pair of defectors and they came to fruition. 3-star WR De’Rickey Wright announced his de-commitment last week, which was not so surprising. With all due respect, he was not very highly rated. WR Dazalin Worsham made his announcement on Monday. He has 4-stars but is rated 48th at his position and #257 overall. There could be a few more departures in the near future.