Alabama Crimson Tide Football Recruiting Update: Few Spots Remaining

2020 has been the weirdest college football season since World War II and recruiting has never been weirder. Since the Captain Trips panic broke out in March, the NCAA instituted a Dead Period that has been extended multiple times and is currently prolonged through January 1. With the Early Signing Period beginning on December 16, that means many prospects will sign with schools without having had an official visit and in some rare cases without even seeing the campus in person.

Long before some Chinese bat bit Tom Hanks, Nick Saban’s plan was to have this and future classes completely signed, sealed, and delivered by the end of the ESP, and that has not changed. While there are a few elite recruits he is willing to wait on, he really wants this thing wrapped up ASAP.

To date, the Crimson Tide have 21 newcomers committed plus one greyshirt from the last class that will count towards this class. There may be room for as few as 3 or 4 more commits for this 2021 class.

LIKELIEST CANDIDATES:

(EE = Early Enrollee)

• Ga’Quincy McKinstry (Pinson, AL) #23 EE - 5-star CB tweeted that he will announce his commitment on October 25, but we’ll see. He has said that wants to be a dual-sport athlete with basketball. Alabama’s Nate Oats and Auburn’s Bruce Pearl among others have gone along with this game with basketball “offers”, but it’s doubtful that they are anything more than the equivalent of a preferred walk-on offers as an opportunity to make the team. Many of the crootin’ “experts” had him leaning to Auburn but now swaying back to Bama. My feeling all along has been that he is just screwing around and has always intended to sign with Alabama.
• Terrion Arnold (Tallahassee, FL) #161 EE - 4-star safety is not expected to announce anytime soon. He has most mentioned Alabama, Florida and Georgia but the Dawgs may be looking at a bronze medal.
• Xavian Sorey (Graceville, FL/IMG) #64 EE - Although a Floridian, Sorey’s hometown is about three miles from the Alabama border just south of Dothan. He too is looking at Alabama, Florida and Georgia with most prediction pointing towards the Crimson Tide. The 4-star linebacker will probably take his time in deciding.
• Shemar Turner (DeSoto, TX) #117 - Alabama has long looked like the favorite for this 4-star DE, but many “experts” in Texas think it’s an in-state battle between Texas and Texas A&M. We have seen this scenario before with Lone Star DL recruits like Bobby Brown, McKinnley Jackson, and DeMarvin Leal choosing to be also-rans with the Aggies instead of winning rings with the Tide. For awhile it looked pretty certain Turner would sign with Alabama but now it is less clear. He still wants to visit schools before he decides. If so, it will have to be on his dime.

WILL TAKE BUT LESS LIKELY

• Brian Thomas (Walker, LA) #62 - 4-star WR appears to be favoring LSU over Alabama. But the longer the 2020 season goes on and he has not announced, the more you have to think Bama is making up ground. Thomas is the only remaining WR that the Tide is considering. If he opts elsewhere, they will not be looking for a replacement.
• Tunmise Adeleye (Katy, TX) #32 - After smartly decommitting from Ohio State, many believed this DE was a slam dunk to Alabama, especially with his high school teammate Jalen Milroe committed to the Tide. But it just feels like he ends up somewhere else.
• Maason Smith (Houma, LA) #19 - Bama will take him if he wants to commit but he’s looking like he’ll be heading to Baton Rouge. Proximity to home could be the main reason.

DON’T BELIEVE IT

• 5-star OL Amarius Mims is supposed to announce his commitment today, Wednesday - on a date totally orchestrated by Kirby Smart. Poor Alabama. They’ll have to settle for the Brockermeyer twins, Latham, and Ferguson.
• DEs Korey Foreman (Corona, CA) and J.T. Tuimoloau (Sammamish, WA) are the top two overall prospects for 2021. They both have Bama as a finalist but that just looks like it is for show. Don’t get your hopes up.
• A running back. 5-star Camar Wheaton (Garland, TX) is a loooong long shot. Instead, it appears the Tide will not be taking any RB this go-round.

2021 COMMITS

Alabama has 15 Early Enrollee, so far.

1. Tommy Brockermeyer OT Fort Worth, TX 6’6”/288 #5 247sports composite. EE
2. JC Latham OT Chicago, IL (IMG) 6’6”/305, #7 EE
3. Damon Payne DT Belleville, MI 6’3.5”/297 #17
4. Jacorey Brooks WR Miami, FL (IMG) 6’3”/180 #29 EE
5. Dallas Turner DE/OLB Ft. Lauderdale, FL 6’4”/235 #44
6. TJ Ferguson OL Fort Valley, GA 6’4”/300 #47 EE
7. Christian Leary WR Orlando, FL 5’9”/190 #60 EE
8. Agiye Hall WR Valricio, FL 6’2”/183 #68 EE
9. Jalen Milroe QB Katy, TX 6’1.5”/192 #82 EE
10. Monkell Goodwine DE/OLB Fort Washington, MD 6’4/260 #89
11. Deontae Lawson LB Mobile, AL 6’3”/215 #102 EE
12. Kaine Williams S Marrero, LA 6’2”/190 #153 EE
13. Kendrick Blackshire LB Duncanville, TX 6’2”/245 #153 EE
14. James Brockermeyer OG/OC Fort Worth, TX 6’3” 273 #184 EE
15. Ian Jackson LB Prattville, AL 6’1”/210 #233 EE
16. Kadarius Calloway DB Philadelphia, MS 6’0”/210 #263
17. Tim Keenan DT Birmingham, AL 6’2”/325 #362
18. Devonta Smith CB Cincinnati, OH 6’0”/185 #410 EE
19. Khyree Jackson CB Upper Marlboro, MD 6’3”/197 #3 juco player
20. Anquin Barnes DT Montgomery, AL 6’5”/310 #508
21. Robbie Ouzts TE Rock Hill, SC 6’4”/240 #595 EE
22. * Caden Clark TE Akron, OH EE - Greyshirt.

[Side Note: Basketball Early Signing Period is November 11, 2020.]