[Bamabeachlivin]

The University of Alabama football coaching staff has put together a great recruiting class and will have an opportunity to finish with the top class in the country (or very near) on National Signing Day in February. It is not a secret coach Nick Saban knows how to recruit, but no one probably expected these results in less than a year on the job. Except, maybe, Nick Saban.

The current ranking of the class of 2008 has the Tide as the fourth best class in the country with the ranks changing on a daily basis. Alabama was sitting in the top three, but a four-star commitment to Miami during the weekend bumped the Hurricanes up a spot.

Scout.com ranks Alabama’s wide receiver class as the best in the nation with the defensive linemen rated second. The running back class is ninth, offensive line is 10th and defensive backs, 13th. The linebacker and quarterback class is not ranked in the top 20.

A big reason for the linebackers not ranked higher is due to a few players ranked as defensive ends have been recruited to play the linebacker position. Alabama has one quarterback commitment, and he is rated a four-star prospect.

Alabama has a total of 26 commitments which is second in the nation behind Miami who has 28. The Hurricanes also have eight commitments listed as “soft verbal” with the Tide’s all considered solid commitments until they schedule a date to take other official visits.

Two of Alabama’s commitments are counted towards the 2007 class. Chris Jackson (McDonough-Henry County, Ga.), four-star wide receiver, and Corey Smith (Bunker Hill-Musselman, W.Va.), two-star kicker, will both enroll in January.
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[JRL]

Saban will deliver if given the chance. I expect to see Bama on top or near the top of the SEC West in 2009 or 2010 if all the players are what they are precieved to be.

Rivals has Bama ranked from # 1, 2, 3 or 7 based on the sort criteria. I throw out the total numbers rank as that is more a reflection of a thin roster. The key is average scores and 4 star guys - imho - and Bama is # 1 in 4 star guys and # 7 in average scores.

Recruiting is really a roll of the dice - all you need to do is look at LSU and their best RB - Hester - he was a 2 star recruit in most rnakings.

[Stoney]

Saban does have a knack of spotting a jewel in the rough. Let's hope he does a better job of getting his message across to the team and gets them to buy in.