1. Alabama
Unsurprisingly, the team in position for the biggest finish is a familiar face in Alabama as the Crimson Tide look to solidify their top-ranked recruiting class.
Alabama missed out one of its biggest targets in Kayvon Thibodeaux, but the Crimson Tide could potentially land three more five-star prospects during the early signing period to run away with the No. 1 class, and make a strong push toward the best class in the history of the internet recruiting era.
Of Alabama’s 24 current commitments, 19 are expected to sign early, and they are favored to flip four-start safety Jordan Battle from Ohio State just a couple of weeks after flipping five-star safety Dax Hill from Michigan.
Hill represents the second five-star prospect to commit to Alabama during this cycle, joining defensive end Antonio Alfano from Colonia, New Jersey.
There’s a good chance Nick Saban and company walk away with three more five-stars tomorrow with their three top targets announcing.
Alabama leads in the Crystal Ball for all three: RB Trey Sanders, ILB Nakobe Dean, and OT Evan Neal.
Sanders and Neal are former Alabama commitments who have seemingly remained Crimson Tide leans, although they are holding off furious chargers from Georgia and Miami respectively for the IMG teammates.
Dean appears to be 50/50 between Alabama and Georgia, and what he decides to do is anybody’s guess, but the Tide has recently overtaken the Bulldogs, as well as Ole Miss, for the lead according to the Crystal Ball.
As good as the early signing period could be for Alabama, National Signing Day could be just as profitable with five-star DT Ishmael Sopsher, four-star OLB Henry To’oto’o, four-star DE Khris Bogle, four-star CB Noa Pola-Gates, and they could be in position to flip five-star Florida State commitment Akeem Dent between now and February as well.
It seems like Nick Saban is finally getting the ball rolling on the recruiting trail in Tuscaloosa, which means the upstart Crimson Tide might finally break through.