Another signing day has passed in college football, and the University of Alabama has once again finished the day with the best class in the nation.
But what else is new? The Crimson Tide has built a dynasty in part by stockpiling talent Feb. 5. This year was no different. The Tide’s class was rated the best on both ESPN.com and Rivals.com. It was the third year in a row the Tide has topped ESPN’s class rankings, an amazing feat considering the competition they face for every potential recruit they hope to sign, not only in their own region but from programs throughout the country.
Many are tabbing the 2014 Alabama freshman class the most talented group in a long line of impressive classes the Tide has brought in under head coach Nick Saban. Among the Tide’s class on offense is the second ranked athlete, Bo Scarbrough, the seventh ranked athlete, Ronnie Clark, the eighth ranked wide receiver, Cameron Sims, and the fourth ranked pocket passer, David Cornwell.
Each will have the opportunity to step in and contribute early on in their careers, particularly Cornwell, who will compete for the Tide’s starting job with the graduation of veteran A.J. McCarron. Scarbrough, Clark and Sims will provide depth to an already dynamic receiving corps that includes superstar junior Amari Cooper and senior DeAndrew White.
The Tide has also reloaded on defense, a unit that has consistently been among the two or three best in the country. If the Tide’s new stars live up to their billing, there is no reason to think Saban’s defense will ever stray from the top of everyone’s list of most dynamic defenses. The Tide received commitments from the second best defensive tackle, Da’Shawn Hand, a six-foot, four-inch, 262-pound pass rusher that is as good as anyone in the 2014 class at getting after the quarterback. Also in the Tide’s class is the second-ranked cornerback, Tony Brown, a favorite for one of the corner positions next season; the third ranked safety, Laurence Jones, and three of the top linebackers in the country – the top two outside linebackers and the sixth ranked inside linebacker.
The Tide isn’t the only Southeastern Conference team which should be excited about its future. On ESPN.com, eight SEC schools finished the day ranked in the top nine classes, and another three are ranked in the Top 20. Rivals.com, meanwhile, has seven SEC schools ranked in the top nine and also has three more in the Top 20. With that amount of talent being plugged into rosters already full of elite playmakers, the SEC will undoubtedly stay on top and contend for national championships every year for the foreseeable future.
That doesn’t mean the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Florida State University, the reigning national champions, or the Big Ten Conference’s Ohio State University can’t compete with the Tide or Louisiana State University, because they absolutely can.
But as long as Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M University and the University of Florida, as well as others, are able to attract the country’s best talent year after year, the SEC will be difficult to permanently dethrone.