The Process By Adam Robinson
So far for the class of 2014, Alabama has commitments from 20 players:
• ATH Bo Scarbrough • DB Kalvaraz Bessent • DB Chris Williams • LB Shaun Hamilton • DB Stephen Roberts • LB Zach Whitley • DT O.J. Smith • OL Viane Talamaivo • DT Johnny Dwight • K JK Scott • QB David Cornwell • WR Derek Kief • OL J.C. Hassenauer • OL Dominick Jackson • OL Montel McBride • LB Christian Miller • LB Keith Holcombe • OL Ross Pierschbacher • OL Cameron Robinson • WR Cameron Sims
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TDAL OCT/NOV
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s the days and months get closer and closer to National Signing Day 2014—Wednesday, Feb. 5—recruiting battles are starting to heat up as we are now less than five months away from the annual event. One of the recent biggest news to happen in the last few weeks in the recruiting news for the Alabama Crimson Tide is the announcement from prize recruit Cameron Robinson announced he has committed to play for the Crimson Tide. Robinson’s announcement was carried live on television during a ceremony at his high school of West Monroe in Louisiana. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound offensive tackle is a five-star prospect and chose Alabama over the LSU Tigers—a team in his own home state. “My key factors (for choosing a school) were most importantly where I feel most comfortable and what school I felt like set me up to be the most successful for the next four years,” Robinson said on ESPN before the announcement. “Those were the main two factors.” Many suspected Robinson might choose Alabama and head coach Nick Saban as his college team after a friend of his also chose the Tide. Robinson and fellow West Monroe recruit and childhood friend Cameron Sims both chose the Tide as their college of choice. Robinson is expected to graduate high school in December and play in the 2014 Under Armour All-American Game in January. In other Alabama recruiting news, defensive end Da'Shawn Hand of Woodbridge (Va.) has changed his plans on visiting Tuscaloosa. Hand was said to be visiting Alabama for their Nov. 9 game against LSU, but instead will not be making the trip. Hand, a 6-foot-4, 254-pound prospect, was forced to change his plans in order to take the SAT on Oct. 5, according to a report at Rivals.com. He had planned to visit Florida that day for its game against Arkansas. Instead, he'll go to Florida on Nov. 9 for the Vanderbilt game and visit Tuscaloosa on Oct. 26, when Alabama plays Tennessee. In other news: Opelika's Stephen Roberts, a cornerback recruit for Alabama, said he is “90 percent” on going to Alabama. Since Saban was hired at Alabama, the Crimson Tide has gone 68-13 in Saban’s six seasons in Tuscaloosa. In his first season, Alabama went 7-6 in 2007 followed by a 12-2 record in 2008, a 14-0 record in 2009, a 10-3 record in 2010, a 12-1 record in 2011 and a 13-1 record in 2012. Simple math shows six seasons and three national championships. While the records are good and the championships are better, it all starts with getting the players to Tuscaloosa and that means winning the recruiting battles. Since 2008, Alabama’s recruiting classes have been ranked in the top-three rankings by ESPN. In 2008, Alabama was No. 3 behind Miami and Clemson. In 2009, Alabama moved up a spot to No. 2 behind LSU. In the 2010 rankings, Alabama fell back to No. 3 behind Florida and Texas. The 2011 class pushed Alabama back to the No. 2 spot just behind Florida State. Since then, it has been all Alabama as the Crimson Tide has held the No. 1 spot in 2012 and this past year in 2013. As of right now, the Crimson Tide’s class of 2014 is holding the No. 1 spot ahead of Florida State, Texas, Miami and Georgia.