On the Defensive side of the ball, the losses are not quite as significant.  DE Marcell Dareus is the biggest loss.  Dareus will probably be a top 5 pick in the NFL draft, and someone will have to step up and take his place as a pass rusher.  The other two losses are DE Luther Davis and LB Chavis Williams, but I think there is plenty of talent to replace these two guys.

Needs Met:  All needs met.  I could stop right there, but I will go a little further.  Alabama signed a great offensive class, and it starts up front with the 4 O-linemen signed in this class.  Obviously 2 of the 4 really stand out.  JUCO OT Aaron Douglas is already on campus, and he has the best chance to be the starting LT next year.  However, Bama signed the #1 OT in the nation in Cyrus Kouandjio, and he could push for the starting job.  Bama signed 1 QB and 1 RB in the offensive backfield.  QB Philip Ely is bound for a redshirt his first year, but I am not sure about RB Dee Hart.  I would be shocked if Hart doesn’t redshirt, but he is on campus already, so he could prove something this Spring.  The receiving corps got a big boost by signing 3 WR’s and 1 TE.  Tight end Malcolm Faciane could get some PT next year if he can prove to be a playmaker in fall camp.  Danny Woodson, Marvin Shinn, and Bradley Sylve are the three receivers signed, and don’t be surprised to see one of the three on the field next year.

The defensive class signed might be a little better than the offensive class, because of one guy that could get the defense back to the 2009 level.  They signed 4 D-Linemen, but JUCO NT Jessie Williams might be the biggest position of need.  When Mt. Cody departed, there was no one that replaced him in 2010, and I think Jessie Williams fills that void in 2011.  However, Xavier Dickson and Jeoffrey Pagan add depth at the DE position.  Alabama signed 3 LB’s, and Brent Calloway and Trey Depriest could both play next year.  However, Depriest is already on campus, so that gives him the leg up on PT.  The Tide did not lose any DB’s to graduation, but it looks as if they have signed Mark Barron’s heir apparent.  Hasean Clinton-Dix is only one of 2 DB’s singed, but Clinton-Dix looks like the best Safety in this recruiting class.  I don’t know how much he will see the field this year, but I expect to see him a lot in his second year.

Biggest Get:  Before the Cyrus Kouandjio saga played out, Nick Saban said in an interview, “We did not sign a long term option at left tackle in this class.”  Well after Saturday it looks like Alabama got their long term option.  I know Bama signed LT Aaron Douglas, but Douglas has said he will leave in one year.  That is why Kouandjio is so important.

Biggest Miss:  Nickolas Brassell was a big miss.  Brassell looks like a guy that can play right away, and Bama needs guys that can get offensive production to replace Julio Jones.  Brassell visited the final weekend, and Bama probably would have taken him in this class.

Final Evaluation:  Bama signed 22 guys in this class, and they are stockpiling talent.  According to Rivals.com they have signed the top class 3 of the last 4 years.  I know that games are played on the field, but there are not many teams that have as much talent on their sidelines. 

Final Grade:  A+

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

Hasean Clinton-Dix is an incredible athlete from Orlando, Florida. Dix will play safety in college and he will compete as soon as he sets foot on campus. Now, I know Alabama’s defensive backfield is young, but Dix is an exception who could garner a starting spot quickly in his career at Alabama. The guy is an exceptional talent who has great instincts when the ball is in the air. Be sure to look out for Hasean Clinton-Dix in the Alabama secondary very soon.

Brent Calloway is another commit for the Tide that could have an impact very soon upon arriving in Tuscaloosa. Calloway is set to play linebacker for the Tide, but he is a dynamic running back in high school. He is a stud athlete that will increase the talent level at Alabama. He could get some playing time at the linebacker spot or he could be the next “Trent Richardson” and start playing immediately in the offensive backfield as a freshman. The Tide will obviously try to keep him at linebacker, but you cannot keep that kind of talent off the field very long.

Trey DePriest is another big time linebacker commit for Alabama. DePriest hails from Ohio, and he chose the Tide over the hometown favorite Ohio State. Huge pick up, especially since he’s from Ohio. DePriest will add to that linebacking depth immediately, as he is a great talent and very physical at the point of attack. DePriest is a physical specimen, and one can tell just by looking at the kid, he will be special.

The wide receiver position for Alabama was an area where they needed some talented prospects, as Julio Jones is likely to enter the draft this year. Commits Marvin Shinn and Danny Woodson fit that mold. Shinn is 6’3”, 177lbs from the state of Alabama. Shinn is long and lanky with great hands, but he needs to bulk up some before he gets on the field. If he is able to put some weight on, look for Shinn to have an instant impact. Woodson is a 6’2”, 198lb receiver from Mobile. Woodson was the first commit for this class, and he could have a chance to be an immediate impact guy at the receiver position. He can catch everything thrown his way. Both of these kids will battle for playing time next season.

Jesse Williams is a junior college defensive tackle from Arizona that should have an immediate impact on the Tide. I love Junior College defensive tackles. They have played for a year and have had a chance to bulk up as well. Williams has a chance to have an impact like Mt. Cody did in the Tide’s 3-4 defense at the nose tackle position – albeit, he is more athletic and can get around quicker than Cody. Williams will have an impact in 2011.

1. Trey Metoyer is 6’2”, 198lbs from Whitehouse, Texas. He is everything you want in a wide receiver. He has good speed and gets past the jams that defensive backs put on at the line of scrimmage. He is not a real speed guy, but he is a good route runner and is a dynamic possession receiver. Metoyer is currently committed to Oklahoma.

2. George Farmer is 6’2”, 192lbs from Gardena, California. Farmer has a great combination of size and speed. He is a great all around-athlete – just give him the ball in space. Consistency is the key for Farmer and if he can stay consistent, he will be a great player at the next level. He is currently looking at Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee from the SEC along with other schools across the country.

3. Sammy Watkins is 6’1”, 180lbs from Fort Myers, Florida. Watkins has great hands and speed to get him open in the secondary. He plays smart on the football field, has good instincts and can really run routes at his size. He also plays safety for his team. Watkins is currently looking at Alabama, Clemson, and Florida.

4. Charone Peake is 6’3”, 200lbs from Roebuck, South Carolina. He has a great frame and long arms to grab the football out of the air. Peake is very quick off the line of scrimmage and has the ability to get off jams at the line well. Peake is currently committed to Clemson.

5. Jarvis Landry is 5’11”, 185lbs from Lutcher, Louisiana. Landry knows how to catch balls in front of his body and really uses his soft hands to his advantage. Landry can really block along the perimeter in the run game, which is a key asset in any wide receiver’s game. He is currently committed to LSU.

6. Kelvin Benjamin is 6’6”, 210lbs from Belle Glade, Florida. Benjamin has unbelievable size to go along with his athleticism. Some might project Benjamin as a tight end in college, but he is athletic enough to play both. Teams are making him a priority. Benjamin is currently looking at Miami (FL) and Florida.

7. DeAnthony Arnett is 6’0”, 170lbs from Saginaw, Michigan. Arnett is a great route runner. After the catch, he is an east-west guy who can reverse the field in a hurry. Arnett is currently committed to Tennessee.

8. Kasen Williams is 6’2”, 200lbs from Sammamish, Washington. Williams has great size and strength. He can go get the ball in the air over the smaller defensive back. Williams also has the ability to break the first tackle and get in to the secondary. He is currently committed to Washington.

9. Marvin Shinn is 6’4”, 177 lbs from Prichard, Alabama. Shinn has great height and can elevate over the smaller corner. He needs to put on some weight with his thin frame, but he has larger hands and can really catch the football. Shinn is currently committed to the home team of Alabama.

10. Victor Blackwell is 6’0”, 186lbs from Santa Ana, California. Blackwell has great speed. Quick screens and a little bit of blocking and Blackwell will take it to the house. He has very raw talent and tremendous upside. Blackwell is currently committed to USC.