It’s no surprise that Alabama once again sits atop the recruiting rankings just days before teams officially begin to welcome a new crop of players in the fold. As the kids like to say, that’s just how Bama rolls.

Nothing has changed this season. Alabama is No. 1 in the nation with 21 commitments, according to the 247Sports.com composite. Other teams have as many or more commitments. Georgia has 24. Texas A&M has 21. However, nobody has more blue-chip recruits.

Here is a look at Alabama’s class and what is expected to unfold this week:

By the numbers

Overall rank: No. 1
SEC rank: No. 1
5-stars: 3
4-stars: 16

Did they find a future QB?

There’s no question that Alabama has its quarterback of the future based on recruiting rankings. Bama headed north to land 5-star quarterback Ty Simpson from Westview High School in Martin, Tenn. Simpson committed to Bama in February, which essentially shut down his recruitment. The 6-2, 185-pound prospect is considered the No. 3-best quarterback prospect in the country.

Who is the best offensive player?

Simpson, who is rated No. 24 overall in the 2022 class, is the best offensive player based on ranking, but he’s not alone. Ranked at No. 30 in the country, Emmanuel Henderson from Geneva County High School in Hartford, Ala., is a 5-star prospect and considered the top running back in the country. Henderson committed to Bama in March.

Who is the best defensive player?

Jeremiah Alexander is the top defensive prospect committed and the highest-rated commitment overall. The 5-star prospect from Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala., is rated as the top edge rusher in the 2022 signing class. He is also the No. 1 overall prospect in Alabama and the No. 8 prospect in the nation. The 6-2, 235-pound prospect committed to Alabama in July.

What position did they recruit the best?

Alabama seems to have locked down the offensive tackle position for the foreseeable future. The Crimson Tide have 2 high-4-star commitments at that position: Tyler Booker from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and Elijah Pritchett from Carver High School in Columbus, Ga. Booker is the No. 6 OT in the class. Pritchett is No. 7.

Pritchett’s commitment is particularly a good victory for the Tide since the 6-6, 280-pound prospect also considered Georgia. The Bulldogs are always trying to knock Bama off its perch as the top recruiting program in the country. Booker also considered Georgia, along with Ohio State, Florida and Oregon.

What position do they still need to recruit?

Alabama doesn’t really need to recruit any particular position to make its class complete. After a rash of injuries this season, one could argue the Tide needs more quality running back prospects on campus. However, that’s a bit of a stretch. Bama was deep at running back before injuries started mounting. Nevertheless, Alabama has Henderson committed and a handful of other prospects who could end up at running back. Bama is in a perfect position. They have what they need. Now, they can focus on some elite prospects that are still in play or even flipping a commitment from another school, which seems to happen annually. Bama coach Nick Saban will also probably pull an elite player from the transfer portal before his class is complete.

Did they keep the best players home?

Alabama recruits who it wants, regardless of zip code or state abbreviation. The Crimson Tide has keep the top in-state prospects from going elsewhere. Alabama has commitments from 6 of the 9 top prospects in the state of Alabama. All 6 are at least 4-stars.

The Crimson Tide also are in good position to land linebacker Shemar James from Faith Academy in Mobile, Ala., and defensive lineman Khurtiss Perry from Pike Road (Ala.) High School. James and Perry are ranked No. 3 and No. 4 in Alabama, respectively. James is also considering Georgia. Perry is considering several schools, but Auburn and Clemson are thought to be Bama’s chief competition.

It’s quite possible Alabama ends up with 8 of the 9 best players from the state.

Overall, how you should feel about this class …

This may sound a little bit like a broken record, but Alabama should feel very good about this signing class barring some unforeseen circumstance unfolding this week. Bama resides atop the recruiting ranking like its home. That explains why they’ve been so successful on the field.