Alabama wins fifth consecutive recruiting national title

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — National Signing Day should probably be a national holiday, and even though it’s not (yet), the fact that it is upon us is cause for celebration among all college football fans.

While USC closed the gap in the recruiting rankings on Tuesday, CBS Sports Network recruiting analyst Tom Lemming says there’s no way Alabama loses the top ranking on National Signing Day.

“When you look at pure talent, Alabama will remain No. 1,” Lemming said. “The fact is, when you look at overall classes, no one can catch Alabama.”

With seven early enrollees and 16 solid verbal commits, Alabama has all but locked up its fifth consecutive recruiting national title. Lemming, who will be on CBS Sports Network’s Signing Day coverage Wednesday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. ET hosted by Adam Zucker, said that Alabama’s class is extraordinary, and could have a few players who immediately compete for a starting spot.

“I think Blake Barnett could push for the starting role at quarterback,” Lemming said. “It’s hard to say for a true freshman and probably won’t happen, but he’s got that kind of ability. This kid is big, he’s fast, he’s got a great arm, he’s got a lot of confidence. He’s a big-time ball player.”

Other than Barnett, Lemming said five-star cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick, five-star early enrollee safety Deionte Thompson and five-star cornerback Kendall Sheffield could have an impact right away because of Alabama’s desperate need in the secondary. But these players will have to compete for playing time with those already at Alabama, including Marlon Humphrey and Tony Brown who are two five-star corners from last year’s class.

“It just depends on who gets there and who shows the confidence and who shows the ability to pick up their defense right away,” Lemming said. “[Alabama] has the best secondary in the country right now coming in with this class.

“The best players are going to play, but they’re going to have to find spots for all these guys because they’re all impact ballplayers. Now they’re going to have six impact players in the secondary, so they’ll have to rotate them to keep them happy.”

While Alabama already has a cavalcade of incoming talent, it also remains in the running for more top-ranked recruits who have yet to announce their intentions. CeCe Jefferson, the five-star defensive end from Florida, is supposedly choosing between Florida and Ole Miss, but could be a coup for Alabama. Daylon Charlot, a four-star wide receiver, and Isaiah Prince, a four-star offensive tackle, are also still in the running for Alabama on signing day.

There’s a reason for all of this success in recruiting at Alabama and Lemming credits it to Saban having the best recruiting pitch in the country. They can offer recruits a chance at a national championship, a chance at the NFL, and a university with plenty of talent — on and off the field.

“They mail the kids pictures of real pretty cheerleaders or girls walking on campus then they show the facility pictures, then they show the NFL players,” he explained. “That’s the thing that most schools want to use, but no one’s had Alabama’s success when it comes to NFL players and facility-wise. They’re the best in the country.”

And the primary reason that Alabama has been so consistently successful at recruiting is Saban himself.

According to Lemming, Saban demands such a high level of effort on the recruiting trail that some coaches can’t handle it.

“He makes everybody a better recruiter,” Lemming said. “He makes sure that the work ethic is the same as his. He doesn’t ask anybody to do anything he won’t do, which is working 24 hours a day on recruiting. You have to make sure your hobby isn’t golf, it’s recruiting.

“That’s why there is sometimes some turnover because a lot of the guys can’t keep up the same pace that Nick does and they want to go where it’s a little bit easier and not quite as intense as it is at Alabama. But the reason why it’s intense is the reason why he’s got five straight recruiting titles under his belt.”