Jumbo Package: Pandemonium anticipated as 15 month recruiting dead period ends

Happy Tuesday, everyone. Today is June 1, which marks the end of the longest dead period in recruiting history. Things are likely to get a little crazy.

With the NCAA finally lifting the dead period that was imposed due to the pandemic, Saban’s football camps begin Wednesday, and he’ll get in-person looks at prospects again.

“It’s critical,” Saban said. ”When everything went dark (due to COVID-19) the biggest difference last year was that we couldn’t have camps, but most of the guys we were recruiting had at least been on campus, visited the facilities, maybe been in a (2019) camp.

“This year, most of the guys we are recruiting, we haven’t had a chance to know them in person.”

“As soon as [the dead period] expires, there will be pandemonium,” Florida coach Dan Mullen said. “It will be waves upon waves upon waves upon waves of kids coming to visit.”

Throw in the transfer portal and the new one-time transfer rule, and you get the likes of

Arkansas State. New coach Butch Jones said he could have approximately 52 new players on the roster when June 1 rolls around — with the possibility of more being added.

“It’s going to be the ability to adapt to everything,” Jones said “It’s going to be a whirlwind.”

We had hypothesized in these parts that the inability to visit campuses likely worked in Alabama’s favor, as all of the emotion involved with being courted was removed from the decision making process. Every program in the country saw the class that resulted in Tuscaloosa, and you can bet that they will be pulling out all the stops to try and catch up.

Miami OC Rhett Lashlee has some high praise for Alabama.

Lashlee, in 2013, was a finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation’s top college football assistant coach. In that year, his Tigers defeated Alabama 34-28 before losing three straight to the Crimson Tide.

“If you are a competitor, you come to the University of Miami to play in games like this against a program like Alabama to kickoff the season,” he said. “You get all summer to prepare for something and you know right out of the gates where you stand. We are excited about the opportunity.”

In basketball news, Joe Lunardi has Alabama projected as a two seed and Oats has a big fish visiting soon.

Alabama was one of the most exciting college basketball teams to watch in 2020-21, with their elite defense and high-powered three-point shooting offense. Jaden Shackelford returns having averaged 14.0 points per game last season while Jahvon Quinerly comes back after a season where he averaged 12.9 points per game on 43.3% shooting from beyond the three-point line. The addition of guard Nimari Burnett — the No. 32 player from the 247Sports Composite from 2020 — should pay huge dividends as well.

While Alabama could find itself with an open scholarship for 2021-22 should both Primo and Shackelford choose not to return, much of the Crimson Tide’s focus has been on Class of 2022 recruiting, which will accelerate as NCAA restrictions on on-campus visits are lifted June 1.

Jaden Bradley of IMG Academy, rated as one of the top point guards in the nation, is expected to take an official visit to Alabama in mid-June, following an official visit to Michigan next week. One of Alabama’s top 2021 signees, 6-foot-11 center Charles Bediako, was a teammate of Bradley’s at IMG Academy last season.

Last, Danny Kanell is still on #brand.

That dude has managed to make a career out of trolling the SEC. What a world.

That’s about it for now. Have a great day.

Roll Tide.