Alabama Football: Tide rips Ishmael Sopsher out of LSU’s backyard

In a stunning recruiting victory, Alabama Football beat out LSU for four-star defensive tackle Ishmael Sopsher, marking another big win for Nick Saban in LSU’s backyard.

Four-star defensive tackle Ishmael Sopsher out of Amite, Louisiana pulled a stunner on National Signing Day, spurning long-regarded favorite LSU to sign with Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Sopsher has long been thought to be an LSU lean, with him and his brother Rodney Sopsher looking to be a package deal to Baton Rouge. Instead, Sopsher followed in the footsteps of many of Louisiana’s most talented players over the last few years and heads east to Tuscaloosa.

Sopsher joins Baton Rouge native Christian Harris from the state of Louisiana in this class, but Saban has a long tradition of plucking elite prospects from the state he once called home. Sopsher and Harris join the likes of Landon Collins, Eddie Lacy, Cam Robinson, and Tim Williams to go along with current Tide players such as Devonta Smith, Christopher Allen, Shyheim Carter, and Phidarian Mathis.

Sopsher bulks up an already impressive defensive line class for the Crimson Tide in the 2019 cycle, an area that Saban discussed as a major need for Alabama. There was obvious talent on the defensive line this past season, but a lack of depth hurt down the stretch, particularly with some players dealing with nagging injuries.

The lack of depth shouldn’t be a problem going forward with the addition of Sopsher joining blue-chip prospects Antonio Alfano, Justin Eboigbe, DJ Dale, Byron Young, and King Mwikuta. Alabama will likely be calling upon a few of these guys to contribute right away as true freshman.

Sopsher figures to factor into the competition at defensive tackle with the departure of Quinnen Williams to the NFL. With Williams gone, rising sophomore Phidarian Mathis is the only player in the middle with much game experience, opening up the door for a player like Sopsher to be in the rotation in 2019.

Sopsher is a more traditional nose-tackle at 330 pounds than what Alabama has grown accustomed to with Williams and his predecessor Da’Ron Payne, but he’s a powerful player with quick feet that helps him disrupt opposing running games.

Sopsher typically requires two blockers to keep him occupied, which should free up other players to swarm to the ball. It might take a year in Scott Cochran’s strength-and-conditioning program before he’s ready to play extended snaps, but there’s a path for some early playing time for the coveted nose tackle.

Sopsher’s signature gives Alabama their 26th player in the 2019 class, and locks up the No. 1 class in the country despite a strong charge from Kirby Smart and Georgia.