In one of the wildest coaching carousels of recent memory, several high-profile coaches changed locations in the last few days. With the Early Signing Period just two weeks away (Dec.15), there is much to do and so little time to take care of it all.
For new coaches, the first job will be to convince the current players on the roster that he wants back to stay. Then he will have to re-recruit all the committed prospects. Next in the pecking order will be the uncommitted. Many of the decisions will be based on what each player brings to the table and whether they fit their schemes. What worked for one guy, may not work for the next.
LSU
Almost as soon as Brian Kelly took the Tigers job, many observers were wondering if he was a proper culture fit for LSU. Kelly is a 180 degree swing from the personality of Ed Orgeron. Furthermore as far as anyone can tell, Tuesday was probably the first time Kelly had ever been in Tiger Stadium.
Will recruits warm to the stoic business-like Kelly the way they did the glib boisterous Orgeron? Wide receivers Kendrick Law and Shazz Preston are both Louisiana products who are torn between Alabama and LSU. Baton Rouge natives CB Austin Ausberry and DL Quency Wiggins. are also outside possibilities for Alabama.
SOUTHERN CAL
5-star CB Domani Jackson had been committed to the Trojans since January. In early November, he took an official visit to Alabama and decommitted from So Cal a week later. Some folks are wondering if Lincoln Riley’s move out west would bring Jackson back. He could be swayed due to the proximity to his Los Angeles area hometown, but a relationship between Riley and Jackson was never really strong with Oklahoma not being among his three finalists of Bama, Michigan, and Southern Cal.
FLORIDA
When Dan Mullen was sent packing, 4-star WR Isaiah Bond decommitted from the Gators soon thereafter. Alabama immediately became the favorite for his signature. We all like Billy Napier here at RBR, but can he really sway Bond away from the allure of the Capstone?
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma is truly scrambling to find a replacement head coach. Riley’s departure was not the best timing for them. The only true battle between the Crimson Tide and Sooners is 5-star OL Devon Campbell. However, Texas is in the fight too for their home state man. Campbell may not decide by the Early Signing Period.
NOTRE DAME
Even before a peep of Brian Kelly’s departure became public, the Tide has been eyeballing Irish commit DB Devin Moore. As of Tuesday afternoon, the 3-star safety is no longer committed to Notre Dame. Alabama has an excellent chance for his signature if they can get him to visit. Florida is also a player for the Sunshine State prospect.
KENTUCKY
Mark Stoops has stated that he is not leaving Lexington, but we’ve heard that tune from others before. He is still a candidate for Notre Dame and Oklahoma. Should he leave, the Tide could profit in UK Commit Kiyaunta Goodwin. The five-star offensive lineman is highly coveted by the Crimson Tide.
TCU
Three-star running back Anthony “Ajay” Allen is currently committed TCU but has an official visit to Tuscaloosa lined up for the weekend of Dec. 10. The Monroe, LA resident does not have an offer from Alabama at this time.
TRANSFER PORTAL
The loosened transfer rules enacted by the NCAA has changed college sports landscape forever. In April, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors ratified the adoption of a measure that will allow athletes in all sports to transfer once without sitting a season. Crimson Tide football is one of many programs who capitalized on the measure by picking up wide receiver Jameson Williams from Ohio State and linebacker Henry To’o To’o from Tennessee. As Alabama cashes in on those investments, the new question is not “will they take more next year?” It’s “who will they take next year?”
There are a few familiar faces currently in the transfer portal. The Tide could be looking at some of these potential candidates.
Georgia Tech all-purpose back Jahmyr Gibbs is an offensive coordinator’s dream. He can run the ball, catch passes, and return kickoffs. On the All-ACC team released on Tuesday, Gibbs was named first-team all-purpose back, second team specialist, and third team running back.
| RUSHING | RECEIVING | SCRIMMAGE | KICKOFFS | ||||||||||||||
| Year | G | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD | ATT | YDS | TD | LNG |
| 2020 | 7 | 89 | 460 | 5.2 | 4 | 24 | 303 | 12.6 | 3 | 113 | 763 | 6.8 | 7 | 8 | 205 | 0 | 75 |
| 2021 | 12 | 143 | 746 | 5.2 | 4 | 35 | 465 | 13.3 | 2 | 178 | 1211 | 6.8 | 6 | 23 | 589 | 1 | 98 |
| Total | 19 | 232 | 1206 | 5.2 | 8 | 59 | 768 | 13.0 | 5 | 291 | 1974 | 6.8 | 13 | 31 | 794 | 1 | 98 |
Alabama gave the former 4-star a long hard look two recruiting cycles ago, but could not seem to find room for him with Trey Sanders and Keilan Robinson from the previous class, and Roydell Williams, Jase McClellan and Kyle Edwards in the 2020 class. Who knew the misfortunes that would befall the Tide running back room in 2021?
It seems logical to believe that the Tide would be looking to bolster the running back corps and Gibbs would bring extra skills to the table that the Tide has been missing with the departure of Jaylen Waddle.
Nope
Despite some reports, it appears that Alabama is not too interested in adding LSU DB Eli Ricks. The same goes for TCU running back Zach Evans, Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler and UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel. More evaluation will probably come after National Signing Day in February.
THANKSGIVING FLIP
Bama fans had much to be thankful for last week upon hearing the news of 4-star Jamarion Miller’s commitment to the Crimson Tide. According to Rivals, Miller is “a powerful back who can shed tacklers, run between the tackles or get outside, and he can also catch the ball out of the backfield.” Watching his highlight reel, he might remind Tide fans of Damien Harris.
The former Texas commit is a 5’10”/200 pounder from Tyler, TX. 247sports composite ranks him the #102 player in the nation and seventh best running back. He joins Emmanuel Henderson who is #28 and top-rated back of the Class of 2022.
Comments
"Who knew the misfortunes that would befall the Tide running back room in 2021?"
Loki. Loki knew. that bastard
By Bamafan on 12.01.21 7:39am
Fuck that guy. Thankfully the fAU gods were pissed at this for some reason. They clearly forgot to sacrifice a virgin or infant or cow.
By TrollBamaTroll on 12.01.21 10:42am
If you really believe there are…..
Any virgin infant cows with in a 200 mile radius of Lee county then I’ve got ocean front real estate in Afghanistan for you.
By cbdavis on 12.01.21 5:46pm
Do you really? Shit, it sounds like you're the guy to talk to!
By TiderInTheSouth on 12.01.21 10:34pm
Yep cashiers check will work or crypto.
By cbdavis on 12.02.21 12:50pm
Loki always knows.
By bamafan1972 on 12.02.21 6:07am
Stoops signed an extension with UK last night
Thanks for the updates. Lot of turmoil, more yet to come
By Bocktean on 12.01.21 7:55am
Running back depth
You’d think that by now there would be ample evidence that an aspiring running back can go to Bama, be featured enough to get noticed and be drafted, and excel in the NFL without "burning all the tread off the tires."
By Ricky Muncie on 12.01.21 8:15am
Sprinkles and winning ain't for everybody.
By CrimsonRon on 12.01.21 8:18am
Whats the word with Denver Harris?
We can can get him, Little and Jackson on top of what we have, plus the loaded 23’ class. Dear Odin. It would be nice to get Law, Shazz and Bond. Is that a pipe dream?
By MeltdownThreadsAreNotReal on 12.01.21 8:55am
You know who our coach is right?
We have a chance in anything. Period.
By CrimsonRon on 12.01.21 9:00am
Is he kin to Tex Colorado?
By bamadan72 on 12.01.21 9:22am
Maybe Montana Fouts
By CB969 on 12.01.21 10:15am
The Arizona Assassin???
#AIKINBOTWG
By PiperTJ on 12.01.21 11:49am
Alabama is looking pretty good with Harris but still a ways to go. He may not sign in December
Little almost seems like a lock.
Jackson has eliminated Michigan which is LOL. Their fans were so sure they had locked him up after his official visit there last weekend in -88 degrees and sleet & snow. The thing going against Bama for him is proximity to home.
I don’t know if Alabama gets all three of Law, Shazz and Bond. Maybe two.
Shazz will be tough to draw away. Hopefully, grim-faced Kelly rubs him the wrong way.
Billy Napier is a really good recruiter but his offense is probably more run game oriented. That may help with Bond.
Law has been pretty quiet.
By CB969 on 12.01.21 10:38am
I'd prefer we have at least 4 open spots for the February signing day.
Methinks there will be players we can benefit from at that time.
By TiderInTheSouth on 12.01.21 2:13pm
That seems to be Saban's M.O.
Get what you can in December, sort out what you have after attrition, get a few more in February, and then round it out with a transfer or two.
By CB969 on 12.01.21 6:14pm
Has moving the major signing day to mid-December been
officially ruled as dumb yet? Not only head but assistant coaches moving everywhere, players flooding the "portal", high school playoffs, college conference championship games, college playoffs, and on and on. I know the powers that be did this to stop all the "flips" and help the lesser-than schools when players get time to shop around but this signing date is completely unnecessary and should be put back to when schools and recruits know who their returning coaches and players/teammates are.
By bamadan72 on 12.01.21 8:57am
And THAT is how they bring CFB down to the nfl's drama queen status.
I’m sure there are other measures they’ll unveil, but it’s a start.
Oh and FUCK espn for acting like their preseason bitching and whining should actually matter as far as a certain overrated, sniveling little bastard wannabe program being auto-included in the playoff picture because "muh narrative." Want to know why they switched to a playoff while leaving it up to a scaled-down polling? THAT’S WHY. If the BCS format were retained for a playoff selection, the Cincinnati BengalCatReds would be laughed over to the Fiesta Bowl if they’re lucky.
By TiderInTheSouth on 12.01.21 2:18pm
Maybe I’m biased so I’ll admit that…
because I’m childhood friends with the coach, but I would love for Bama to get Cincy in the first round of the playoffs. First because I like Luke and it would be great for him. Second it would give Bama an easy road to the championship game and show everybody why it should never happen again. Third because F Notre Dame.
By bamafan1972 on 12.02.21 6:18am
This is a lot coming from me considering where he got his first major gigs, but Fickel seems like a decent guy.
I really have no problem with him. I was surprised they didn’t promote him to HC and when I found out he and Meyer hate each other, that raised him in my opinion. Technically, I don’t hate Cincy. What I have a problem with is when espn lobbies for certain schools to be "in the discussion" and lo and behold, it happens when it comes time to overdramatize the committee rankings show.
By TiderInTheSouth on 12.02.21 7:45am
He’s definitely a good dude.
And you are right, despising Urbz just makes him more likeable. He grew up an aOm fan in a C-bus suburb, played there, and is tight with Tressel, so unfortunately he’s probably going to end up the head coach there down the line. I agree with you on the ESPN angle of it. I really despise almost everything they do these days. I occasionally like Gameday (more for nostalgia I think) and the access to the UFC, but other than that I can’t stand them.
By bamafan1972 on 12.02.21 8:15am
When they changed the rule, it seemed to come out of nowhere
Nobody was really clamoring for it. In fact, it was roundly disliked and still is.
My suggestion is to keep December but only for guys enrolling in January.
By CB969 on 12.01.21 6:17pm
That’s not a bad idea.
By bamafan1972 on 12.02.21 6:18am
effects ? affects ?
By Saneone on 12.01.21 10:42am