Published February 4, 2011 - 5:35pm
NEW: Discuss this topic in the Google+ community for SEC fans.
In the world of college football recruiting there are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired. The pursued represents the nation’s best high school football players. The pursuing, busy, and tired represents Nick Saban and the Alabama staff. Nick Saban has made quite the career out of his tireless efforts on the recruiting trail. Depending on your point of view Saban is Napoleon, Nick Satan, or the second coming of Bear Bryant. You may question his methods in recruiting, but no one can question his results. Love him or hate him, Nick Saban produces on the recruiting trail and on the field.
So how does Nick Saban get it done at Alabama in the post Logan Young era? Well, Saban says he keeps his focus on the process, not the results. Resting on your laurels in college football puts you on the fast track for a lovely trip to Memphis for New Years Eve, or maybe the occasional trip to the Eat More Chicken Bowl. That’s why Saban doesn’t stop to enjoy his victories, he just presses forward to the next challenge. Focus on the process: recruiting, developing and coaching the best athletes in the country. For Saban, the process continues to produce results. The latest result is a fourth straight top 5 recruiting class for the Crimson Tide.
Once again, the class of 2011 is comprised only of blue-chip recruits. The Tide landed two 5 star recruits and fourteen 4 star recruits. There remains a possibility that Alabama could sign one or two more 5 star prospects, Jadeveon Clowney and Cyrus Kouandjio. Despite an enviable amount of starters returning from the 2010 campaign, the Tide signed several players who have a chance to make an immediate impact next fall. Here is a breakdown of the 2011 signing class.
Biggest Get:
Demetrius Hart, RB, Orlando, FL: The 5 Star running back possesses great agility, elusiveness and field vision. He has the potential to get a lot of carries behind Trent Richardson next fall.
Biggest Surprise:
Jeoffrey Pagan, DE, Asheville, NC: It seems Pagan was committed to everyone over the last several months. The former Florida Gators and Clemson Tigers commitment surprised everyone on signing day by inking with the Crimson Tide.
Biggest Sleeper:
Jabriel Washington, DB, Jackson, TN: The small but shifty athlete sported a who’s who offer list from top programs all over the country, but somehow has been overlooked by fans and media alike. Look for Washington to become a playmaker for the Tide in the near future.
Mock Depth Chart using 2011 Signees Only
OFFENSE:
- QB: Phillip Ely, Tampa, FL
- RB: Demetrius Hart, Orlando, FL: 5 star
- RB:
- OL: Aaron Douglas, Yuma, AZ: 4 star
- OL: Ryan Kelly, West Chester, OH
- OL: Isaac Luatua, La Mirada, CA
- OL:
- OL:
- TE: Malcolm Faciane, Picayune, MS: 4 star
- WR: Marvin Shinn, Prichard, AL: 4 star
- WR: Bradley Sylve, Port Sulphur, LA: 4 star
- WR: Danny Woodson, Mobile, AL: 4 star
DEFENSE:
- DE: Quinton Dial, Scooba, MS: 4 star
- DE: Xzavier Dickson, Griffin, GA: 4 star
- DT: LaMichael Fanning, Hamilton, GA: 4 star
- LB: Brent Calloway, Russellville, AL: 4 star
- LB: Trey DePriest, Springfield, OH: 4 star
- LB: Vinnie Sunseri, Tuscaloosa, AL
- LB:
- DB: Hasean Clinton-Dix, Orlando, FL: 5 star
- DB: Chris Jones, Adamsville, AL: 4 star
- DB: Jabriel Washington, Jackson, TN
- DB:
Additional Signees:*
- DE: Jeoffrey Pagan, Asheville, NC: 4 star
- DE: D.J. Pettway, Pensacola, FL: 4 star
- DT: Jesse Williams, Yuma, AZ: 4 star
*Note: the signees spot on the depth chart is not indicative of who the better prospects are. This depth chart was simply made for the purposes of seeing how the class was balanced position by position. Some positions on the depth chart are left open because there were not enough recruits to fill those spots. Others, like DL had excess recruits
Can I get a ROLL TIDE?!?!?
whatever the outcome will be, Nick will put another football team together no matter how the cards fall…..he is a very nice man and he is a great great Coach with a lot of hand gestures……….I like that…and …….he’s going to do what he sees in his eyes that will make Alabama football Roll ! #1 Alabama fan in ALL aspects, Mary Anne Iser Burdette.
ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who’s ready to sign Cyrus Kouandjio and Jadeveon Clowney?
Not a chance. We’ve got Cyrus… you’lll see on Monday.
Dude you know alabama gonna get him.. why would he go to the garbage auburn when he can go to the dominate alabama
Newton left, Auburn is a sinking ship, bama is a rising power, I don’t know why he even has to think about it
Um have YOU looked on facebook lately? Um Cryus already FAXED his letter to Alabama. He is going to the place where his brother already is. It is A DONE DEAL. GET OVER IT!!!! ROLLLLLLLL TIDE@@@@@@@@
congradulations coach a job very well done once again. 4 straight top 5 recruiting classes is just about unheard of. you make me proud to be a bama fan for over 40yrs. thank you once again and ROLL TIDE ROLL.
Yeah we got some good recruits but it all winds down to each play when it happens. A lot can happen from now until then. Whether we get the other two or not (not sure we would want ppl who have commitment issues) wouldnt matter. It’s all in the work that’s put in by each individual to work as a team and how much they want it. Saban knows how to pick them for sure, but I want to see how well they do on the big boy level. Roll tide!
Good point. Miami has top ten recruiting classes almost every year (until this year). Yet they haven’t done anything since 2002. It’s all about developing the talent once it gets on campus. That’s why teams like Virginia Tech, Iowa, TCU, Boise St, etc can compete at the highest levels without ever having top ten classes. They not only do a great job of evaluating talent, but they get the most out of them once they get on campus.
Case in point: Over the past four recruiting seasons, prior to this one*, Auburn’s classes have been rated #4, #19, #20 and #7. Yet they went 14-0 and won the BCS Championship. Over the past four recruiting seasons, prior to this one, Auburn’s BCS opponent, Oregon’s classes have been rated #13, #32, #19 and #11. Yet they dominated their competition like no team has since the 1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers. Over the past four recruiting seasons, prior to this one, Alabama’s classes have been rated #5, #1, #1 and #10. Yet they finished 10-3 and 4th in the SEC West. Over the past four recruiting seasons, prior to this one, Georgia’s classes have been rated #15, #6, #7 and #9. Yet they finished 6-7, losing to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl.
It takes more than highly ranked classes to build a championship caliber team. It takes fitting the right players in the right position, great coaching, chemistry and a good deal of luck.
*This year’s class was unavailable for competition last season. Only the four most recent classes that were available for 2010 competition were used.
You said it all there Johnny, “It takes more than highly ranked classes to build a championship caliber team. It takes fitting the right players in the right position, great coaching, chemistry and a good deal of luck.” I guess that is what you can say about Auburn this year, right? I mean you said it right there. I guess we will all have to see about it this coming season. But to me what says it all is Cryus jumping ship from Auburn to Alabama. Isn’t he like the second one to do that???? ROLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDEEEEEEEEE
You said it Johnny. I don’t know what’s funnier though?? You comparing this years Oregon Ducks to the 1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers?? Or an auburnt fan telling the nation on what it takes to win national titles?? HA!! I’ve heard it all now.
And, let me be the first to welcome Mr. Cyrus Kouandjio to The Capstone. Welcome Cyrus and good luck on your future career at the University of Alabama.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Auburn coaches told Cyrus how he would have to compete for a starting job and one would not just be handed to him. Cyrus wanted no part of that and decided to go to Bama based on the promises of Saban. He’s better off at Bama, he wouldn’t be able to handle it at Auburn. P.S. My parents tried to make me go to Bama as well and I said BS, I don’t want to be a loser the rest of my life. Some kids just can’t stand up to their parents and follow their heart.