Alabama Recruiting Off to a Torrid Start With the Class of 2013

Published: 28th Feb 12 8:16 am
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by Ryan Wooden
SEC Featured Columnist, Golf Featured Columnist
Alabama Recruiting Off to a Torrid Start With the Class of 2013
Kelly Lambert-US PRESSWIRE

Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide have always had a master plan. There’s nothing brilliant about the concept, but in practice it IS absolutely brilliant.

Simply put (but not simply done), Alabama recruiting has been the rocket fuel that has propelled the Crimson Tide to astronomical heights in the world of college football. It doesn’t take a genius to understand that great players are what win football games, yet in Alabama, recruiting could still be considered a science.

The Tide have dominated the Rivals.com team recruiting rankings during the Nick Saban-era, but even more importantly than fictional titles awarded on paper, Alabama has been able to put that talent to use. In 2013, ‘Bama is off to another torrid start on the recruiting front with nine commitments, all of which are in the initial Rivals 250.

By contrast, the entire Pac-12 conference has four commitments in the Rivals 250 combined. Whether or not that’s because of a perceived slight against West Coast players by southern-based recruiting publications is up for debate, but with the success of SEC football as a whole, perception may very well be a reality.

In Alabama, success on the recruiting front is expected. The Crimson Tide are an institution in the Yellowhammer State, and the only true competitions for the state’s best athletes is from Auburn. However, the Crimson Tide have dominated the Southeast in its entirety in the early stages of the Class of 2013.

The Tide have commitments from Florida, Louisiana, Georgia (2) and Arkansas to go along with four commitments from local prospects, and the class is headed up by Georgia linebacker Reuben Foster.

Foster is currently ranked as the second-best player in the country for the Class of 2013. A big, physical linebacker who will likely play as a rush linebacker in Alabama’s 3-4 defense, Foster is tailor-made for the Crimson Tide and he will likely serve as a building block for another No. 1 contending recruiting class.

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