To say the rich got richer on 2021 National Signing Day would be an understatement. Defending college football national champion Alabama hit the mother lode on Wednesday.
Led by seven five-star recruits and 16 four-star high school football standouts, the Crimson Tide's 2021 recruiting class recorded the highest composite team ranking in the history of 247Sports' scoring system with 327.91 points, surpassing the total of 324.67 set by the University of Florida in 2010.
Yes, Alabama lost the likes of Heisman Trophy (top overall player) winner
Devonta Smith, Davey O'Brien Award (top quarterback) winner
Mac Jones and Doak Walker Award (top running back) winner
Najee Harris to the NFL after leading Alabama to its 18th National Championship.
Replacing that outgoing talent are blue chippers like offensive linemen
JC Latham of
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.),
Tommy Brockermeyer of
All Saints (Fort Worth, Texas) and defensive end
Dallas Turner of
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) — each Top 10 recruits.
Other five-star recruits Alabama corralled were
Ga'Quincy McKinstry, a cornerback from
Pinson Valley (Pinson, Ala.), wide receiver
Jacorey Brooks, also from IMG Academy, defensive tackle
David Payne of
Bellevue (Mich.) and running back
Camar Wheaton of
Lakeview Centennial (Garland, Texas).
Jacorey Brooks, of IMG Academy, is a five-star recruit ranked the No. 26 player overall by 247Sports.
File photo by Mike Janes
To replace Jones, the Tide secured another Texas native in dual-threat standout
Jalen Milroe of
Tompkins (Katy, Texas).
In all, 16 Alabama recruits ranked among the top 100 in the country to earn its ninth No. 1 recruiting class in the last 11 seasons.
All that quality depth at all positions helped the Crimson Tide edge a strong showing from Ohio State, the team it beat in the national title game. The Buckeyes secured five players with a five-star ranking and 13 four stars to score an impressive 309.49. Rounding out the top five 2021 recruiting classes were Georgia (294.55), LSU (291.37) and Clemson (291.20).
Alabama overtook the 2010 Florida team, which landed five five-star players, including a three who eventually earned first-round NFL draft selections: Defensive linemen Dominique Easley (New England), Sharrif Floyd (Vikings) and safety Matt Elam (Ravens).
