TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama football team closed its signing class with a flourish, picking up two coveted linebackers to help complete another top-rated recruiting haul.
Five-star linebackers, and in-state prospects, Ben Davis and Lyndell “Mack” Wilson made their announcements for the defending national champion Crimson Tide on Wednesday. It added a little suspense to the final product even if neither decision came as much of a surprise.
It’s the sixth-straight year Alabama has landed the nation’s top signing class according to composite rankings of recruiting websites compiled by 247Sports, thanks to a resounding finish.
“I always seem to answer questions about rankings and ratings and I say this every year: Every coach stands up and says, ‘We got the players we wanted and the players we needed, we had a great recruiting class,’ all that kind of stuff, but I think it’s more important that we get players who are committed to doing the things that they need to do to develop in your program and to grow and develop in your program, personally, academically, and athletically,” Alabama coach Nick Saban told The Tuscaloosa News. “Because these guys have never played college football before, and that’s something that they’re going to have to grow and develop into.”
Alabama signed five players both on the offensive line, including five-star tackles Jonah Williams and Charles Baldwin, and in the secondary plus four defensive linemen.
Kendell Jones, a defensive tackle, and Terrell Hall, a defensive end, are the other five-star prospects in the class.
“They didn’t get everybody they wanted, which people think Alabama always does, but they closed very strong,” said Mike Farrell, national recruiting director for Rivals.com told The Tuscaloosa News. “I wasn’t really surprised by anything,” Farrell said. “The amazing thing about Alabama is they’re still No. 1 and they whiffed on some guys they really wanted like A.J. Brown and Jeffery Simmons.”
The Crimson Tide reloaded a defensive line that must replace A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed and got two four-star running backs with Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry and backup Kenyan Drake gone. Alabama picked up a couple of highly rated junior college linemen, Baldwin on offense and Jamar King on defense.
The 25-player calss is from 12 states and Washington, D.C. Seven of the players are from the state of Alabama, while four more are from Texas and three are from Mississippi, including West Point High School standout offensive lineman Scott Lashley.
As listed by position, the Crimson Tide add to their roster five offensive linemen, five linebackers, four defensive backs, four defensive linemen, two running backs, two wide receivers, two tight ends, and one quarterback.
Other things to know:
Top 25 Class: Yes.
Best in class: Davis of Gordo, Alabama. The 10th-rated player nationally and top inside linebacker, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Best of the rest: Williams (enrolled), Wilson, Baldwin; RB B.J. Emmons, DB Nigel Knott.
Late additions: Davis, Wilson, DB Shyheim Carter, Knott, DE Terrell Hall, King.
One that got away: OL Landon Dickerson (to Florida State).
How they’ll fit in: Davis, whose father Wayne is Alabama’s all-time leading tackler, and Wilson could help fill the void left by All-America middle linebacker Reggie Ragland. There’s room for instant contributions elsewhere, too, including at safety and on the defensive line.
Alabama signees
Charles Baldwin, ol, 6-5, 310, Asa College, Brooklyn, New York
Christian Bell, lb, 6-4, 220, Hoover (Ala.) HS
Deonte Brown, ol, 6-4, 350, Austin HS, Decatur, Alabama
Shyheim Carter, ath, 6-0, 190, Kentwood (La.) HS
Raekwon Davis, dl, 6-7, 325, Meridian (Miss.) HS
Ben Davis, lb, 6-4, 240, Gordo (Ala.) HS
Trevon Diggs, wr/ath, 6-2, 185, The Avalon School
Gaithersburg, Maryland
B.J. Emmons, rb, 6-0, 220, Freedom HS, Morganton, North Carolina
Miller Forristall, te, 6-5, 220, Cartersville (Ga.) HS
Terrell Hall, lb, 6-5, 245, St. John’s HS, Washington
Jalen Hurts, qb, 6-2, 205, Channelview (Texas) HS
Joshua Jacobs, rb, 5-10, 200, Mclain HS, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Shawn Jennings, db, 6-1, 220, Dadeville (Ala.) HS
Kendell Jones, dl, 6-5, 350, Shoemaker HS, Killeen, Texas
Jamar King, dl, 6-5, 285, Mendocino CC, Detroit
Nigel Knott, db, 5-11, 180, Germantown HS, Madison
Scott Lashley, ol, 6-7, 325, West Point HS
Jared Mayden, db, 6-0, 198, Sachse (Texas) HS
Chris Owens, ol, 6-3, 315, Lamar HS, Arlington, Texas
Aaron Robinson, db, 6-1, 185, Deerfield Beach (Fla.) HS
T.J. Simmons, wr, 6-2, 195, Clay-Chalkville HS, Pinson, Alabama
Quinnen Williams, dl, 6-4, 265, Wenonah HS, Birmingham, Alabama
Jonah Williams, ol, 6-5, 290, Folsom HS, Folsom, California
Lyndell “Mack” Wilson, lb, 6-2, 240, Carver HS, Montgomery, Alabama
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