2011 Recruiting Class

Bama's 2011 Recruiting class currently ranked #3 trailing FSU (#2) and Texas (#1)

Center Ryan Kelly and QB Phillip Ely are the new commitments for Alabama since the last update, and they're good ones.

Rivals criminally underrates Kelly at three stars—he was one of the most hotly pursued centers in the country, with Michigan and Florida giving chase prior to his commitment. He's a major boost for the interior offensive line, an area of recruiting Bama had only addressed so well over the past few classes.

Ely's pick of Alabama was a shocker. The 4-star Florida QB was rumored to be down to Clemson, LSU, Wake Forest, and Ole Miss, but announced for Alabama in a ceremony at his high school. He's led Plant HS (the alma mater of current D-I QBs Robert Marve and Aaron Murray) to two straight titles and is eying a third as a senior. The latter title he won while going undefeated—Alabama fans, fire up the comparisons to Greg McElroy.

Those commitments keep Alabama in the top five, but I'm hearing they might have lost their chances with 5-star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. ThaRinger's Charles Drake tweeted that Clowney's ties to staying in state are too strong to overcome—this despite Clowney nearly committing to Bama a few times already.

Also, the Tide's rumored tie with Texas for Malcolm Brown looks to have been more conjecture than truth, as the latter verbaled to Texas last week. Their sights now turn to 5-star RB Isaiah Crowell, for whom they will battle Georgia.


Ranking the Top 15 Recruiting Classes of 2011