Breaking down College Football’s top 10 recruiting classes in 2022

2. Alabama — Signees: 25; Blue-chip ratio 92

The skinny: Alabama’s 2022 recruiting class isn’t quite as good as the historic haul the Crimson Tide landed in 2021 but it was an incredible group of signees all the same.

There were 17 recruits signed that ranked in the top 100 overall and four five-star prospects — two on the offensive side of the ball, as well as two on defense. Alabama got two elite edge rushers (Jeremiah Alexander and Jihaad Campbell), an elite offensive tackle (Tyler Booker), and a quarterback it beat out Clemson for (Ty Simpson).

Gems: EDGE Jeremiah Alexander (5-star, No. 15), QB Ty Simpson (5-star, No. 22)

It’s hard to envision a better scenario in recruiting than signing the No. 1 edge rusher and the No. 1 quarterback but that’s exactly what Alabama did according to the On3 consensus rankings — the only rankings that account for 247, ESPN, Rivals, and On3.

Simpson seemed destined for Clemson before Saban flipped him, keeping the quarterback pipeline stocked with elite talent. Simpson can sit for a year and be ready to take over in 2023 after Bryce Young moves on to be the No. 1 pick.

Sleepers: DL Isaiah Hastings (4-star, No. 143); TE Danny Lewis (3-star, No 573)

Again, with Alabama there are really no true sleepers, and believe it or not, Hastings and Lewis are two of the lower-ranked recruits. Hastings was a great find and the Tide focused on him after missing on some other targets such as Walter Nolen. Hastings is 6-foot-4, 290, and can play all along the D-line. He also has barely scratched the surface. Lewis is a three-star recruit but is the recruit Brian Kelly danced for, so that tells you all you need to know about his talent as a late-riser. Yet, the moves weren’t enough which is almost as hilarious as Kelly’s dance.