Alabama Crimson Tide Recruiting: The Rich Get Richer with Dee Liner and Reuben Foster

Naysayers discrediting the importance of National Signing Day need look no further than Nick Saban and Alabama Crimson Tide recruiting. BCS champion three of the last four seasons, Alabama has ranked No. 1 in Rivals.com rankings the same number of years. And with the crop inking their letters of intent today, a fourth top rated class appears to be rolling on into Tuscaloosa.

The rich get richer, indeed. Five-star linebacker Reuben Foster officially became a member of the Crimson Tide, dispelling speculation he could again change his commitment. The Auburn, Ala. product was once a commit to Alabama rival Auburn, going so far as to have the Tigers’ logo tattooed on him. Perhaps he can have that changed into a larger portion of a mural of some kind — maybe the Alabama elephant stampeding over the AU?

He dressed as Saban for his official signing on Wednesday morning (h/t @SEC_Logo):

Joining Foster to end speculation on National Signing Day was four-star defensive lineman Dee Liner. Liner was another one-time Auburn prospect, but opened his recruitment last month. Liner said on Wednesday that his change of heart stemmed from the shake-up in Auburn’s coaching staff — specifically, the departure of Trooper Taylor.

Foster expressed similar sentiment when he announced his verbal pledge to the Tide on FOX Sports South on Monday night.

With yet another top tier class on its way to Alabama, you just know someone out there will lament the one that got away. Saban can’t sign them all — even with rampant allegations of over-signing — and benefiting is Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.

Meyer landed highly sought after safety Vonn Bell, plucking the five-star prospect from SEC country; Georgia, specifically. Bell was considered Alabama, as well as Tennessee. OSU’s addition of Bell makes the Buckeyes Rivals.com’s No. 2 ranked signing class as of this writing. Meyer is experienced in SEC trench warfare — can he parlay his knowledge into the necessary recipe to wrest away control of the BCS championship from the SEC? This is one of the primary questions that this National Signing Day leaves us with an arduous six-plus months until the 2013 season.