The Saban Effect
By Staff
UA recruiting class expected to finish high
Kim West
Franklin County Times
Even though Alabama played its final game of 2007 Sunday night against Colorado, Crimson Tide fans will have plenty to talk about during the offseason.
Alabama (7-6) finished with a winning record after beating the Buffaloes 30-24, but the Crimson Tide had a disappointing season after a promising start and its sixth straight Iron Bowl loss to archrival Auburn.
But Alabama fans have high hopes for next season as first-year coach Nick Saban and his staff have been busy reeling in a recruiting class that is expected to finish among the best in the country.
The program has received 26 verbal commitments from a bevy of four-star or five-star players and should finish with a Top 10 recruiting class when prospects officially sign Feb. 6.
"Right now recruits have only verbally committed, and that's just a non-binding agreement between two parties," said Glenn Jackson, president and CEO of Southeastern Athletics, Inc. in Russellville.
But that will likely shift by National Signing Day, according to Jackson.
"All those rankings will change, because Notre Dame and Michigan and schools like that will add a lot of players. But I look for Alabama to finish at least in the Top 10."
Alabama Crimson Tide
2008 Commitments
1. Mark Barron
ATH 6-2, 212 (4.5)
St. Paul's HS, Mobile
2. Wesley Neighbors
DB 6-11/2, 197 (4.6)
Huntsville HS, Huntsville
3. Robert Lester
DB 6-2, 202 (4.58)
Foley HS, Foley
4. Robby Green
DB 6-0, 170 (4.55)
John Curtis HS, River Ridge, Louisiana
5. Brandon Lewis
DE 6-3, 267 (4.7)
Pleasant Grove HS, Pleasant Grove
6. Damion Square
DL 6-2, 278 (4.8)
Yates HS, Houston, TX
7. Undra Billingsley
DL 6-3, 263 (4.8)
Woodlawn HS, Birmingham
8. Terrence Cody
DL 6-5, 405 (5.2)
Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, Gulfport, Mississippi
9. Corey Smith
K 6-1, 208
Musselman HS, Inwood, West Virginia
10. Courtney Upshaw
LB 6-3, 223 (4.7)
Eufaula HS, Eufaula
11. Dont'a Hightower
LB/DE 6-3, 248 (4.7)
Marshall County HS, Lewisburg, Tennessee
12. Barrett Jones
OL 6-5, 275 (4.9)
Evangelical Christian HS, Cordova, Tennessee
13. John Michael Boswell
OL 6-6, 303 (5.1)
Tuscaloosa County HS, Tuscaloosa
14. Tyler Love
OL 6-8, 278 (5.1)
Mountain Brook HS, Birmingham
15. Star Jackson
QB 6-3, 190 (4.49)
Lake Worth HS, Lake Worth, Florida
16. Ivan Matchett
RB 5-10, 205 (4.6)
St. Paul's HS, Mobile
17. Jermaine Preyear
RB 5-11, 206 (4.45)
Davidson HS, Mobile
18. Chris Jordan
RB 6-1, 212 (4.6)
Brentwood Academy, Brentwood, Tennessee
19. Brad Smelley
TE 6-3, 220 (4.7)
American Christian Academy, Tuscaloosa
20. Michael Williams
TE/DE 6-6, 265 (4.8)
Pickens County HS, Reform
21. Destin Hood
WR 6-21/2, 190 (4.5)
St. Paul's, Mobile
22. DeVonta Bolton
WR 6-3, 222 (4.5)
Norcross HS, Norcross, Georgia
23. Melvin Ray
WR 6-3, 204 (4.45)
North Florida Christian HS, Tallahassee, Florida
24. Burton Scott
WR 5-11, 195 (4.45)
Vigor HS, Prichard
25. Chris Jackson
WR 6-1, 195 (4.5)
Henry County HS, McDonough, Georgia
26. Kerry Murphy
DL 6-5, 325
Hargrave Military Academy, Chatham, Virginia
2009 Recruiting Class
1. D.J. Fluker
OL/DL 6-7, 327 (5.1)
Biloxi HS, Biloxi, Mississippi
-Southeastern Athletics, Inc., Rivals.com and TiderInsider.com
