Saban Sexes it up Again!

Alabama pulls in another #1 recruiting class.

Alabama Recruiting Class 2009
Once again Nick Saban and his assistants have pulled in one of the best recruiting classes in the nation. Coming in at #1 on Rivals.com, and #2 at ESPN and Scout.com, every site had Bama in the top three. Here is a breakdown of all of Bama’s new recruits.

Eddie Lacy (ESPN # 17 RB) ****
A great signing day addition, Lacy is a great power runner who can smash between tackles and shake some guys loose. Lacy had two hats at his podium, Alabama and Tennessee, but chose to play for the Tide.
Trent Richardson (ESPN #1 RB, Under Armor All-Star Game, All American Team) *****
What could I possibly say about this guy? He was the top RB prospect on ESPN and a top ten overall player. He is a speedy extremely tough back who absolutely can burst through defenders and run over smaller secondary defenders. He could immediately make the starting roster. Richardson had a good Under Armor All Star game and has won numerous awards such as a Parade and EA Games All American. Both Lacy and Richardson both need to work on their cut back ability.
Kenny Bell (Scout #36 WR) ****
Bama didn’t get Rueben Randle but they did score this LSU commitment right under Miles’ nose. Bell is shorter than some receivers but has lots of speed and very good hands.
Dre Kirkpatrick (ESPN #1 CB, US Army All Star Game, All American Team) *****
Kirkpatrick was named the top CB prospect in the country. He is fast and tall, great at changing direction and somewhat of a ball hawk according to his coaches. His final decision came down to Bama and Texas, always a legitimate threat to take the ball the other way.
Kendall Kelley (ESPN #7 WR) ****
Joining his fellow Gadsden City graduate Dre Kirkpatrick, Kelley chose Bama over LSU and Tennessee in a very close recruiting chase. Because of injuries Kelley may need to sit out a year before he is ready to play.
Brandon Moore (ESPN #30 DT, Scout #13 OT) ****
Although no one knows which side of the line Moore might play on, he has the size and skill to be dominant on either offense or defense. He was recruited as a defense line player but spent his senior season playing on the o-line and did very well at it. Moore picked Bama over Florida.
Tana Patrick (ESPN # 9 OLB, US Army All Star Game) ****
Another big signing day pick-up for Bama, Patrick has tremendous athleticism and could see the field as early as his freshman year. Patrick picked Bama over Tennessee, Auburn, and USC.
Ed Stinson (ESPN #22 DE) ***
Originally a FSU Seminole recruit Stinson joined other Florida recruits in coming to play for the Tide. Projected as a DE, look for Stinson to play as a LB in college.
Petey Smith (ESPN # 5 ILB, Under Armor All-Star Game) ***
A good LB prospect that is speedy for his size. Smith competed in the Under Armor All Star Game and finished his high school career with over 450 tackles.
Kevin Norwood (ESPN #65 WR) ****
If Kendall Kelley red shirts his first year look for Norwood to start right away. He’s taller at 6’3 then some WR and can make an impact right away.
Jonathan Atchison (ESPN # 14 OLB) ***
Named 1st team all state Atchison was originally committed to Auburn, do later joined the Crimson Tide after Tommy Tuberville left. He’s a very fast defender, but might need to put on some weight before he is ready to start at linebacker.
James Carpenter (Four-Star JUCO OT) ****
Another huge left tackle prospect Carpenter is a JUCO transfer who will challenge for immediate playing time. Already enrolled at Bama look for him to maybe be the new left tackle if he picks up the offense faster than D.J. Fluker. He picked Bama over Texas Tech and Oklahoma.
Chris Bonds (ESPN #10 DT, US Army All Star Game) ****
A large DT tackle prospect that is very injury prone, Bonds has had many medical questions but still has the talent and size to compete for playing time at Alabama. He might play as a DE instead if a DT.
Darrington Sentimore (ESPN #20 DT) ***
Named the 2008 MVP in the Louisiana State Championship, Sentimore is a big DT who is surprisingly quick for his size and could see playing time immediately. He is very good and tackling for losses.
Michael Bowman (Scout #14 WR) ****
Known as a great blocking receiver with a build like Julio Jones, Bowman had over 1075 receiving yards his senior season. Bowman selected the Tide over LSU, Arkansas, Georgia, and Oregon.
Nico Johnson (ESPN #2 ILB, US Army All Star Game) *****
One of the biggest LB recruits in the nation, Johnson had 100 tackles, one fumble recovery, and 11 interceptions in his senior season. I got to see him play in the US Army All Star Game and this player is a born tackler. He zones in on a runner very well and they almost never escape his grasp once he has them.
Anthony Steen (ESPN #39 DT, Scout #25 OG) ***
A strong OG prospect is known as a good run blocker, but will likely need time before he is ready to see action, picked Alabama over Florida State and Miami.
Anthony Orr (Scout # 28 DT) ***
Though likely to be a red shirt freshman Orr has a massive build and is very quick. He picked Alabama over Clemson, Tennessee, and Auburn. I guess he doesn’t like orange.
Rod Woodson (Scout #14 S) ****
One of the most likely players to see freshman playing time, Woodson could be a great replacement for Rashad Johnson. He had three picks as a senior and returned one for a TD.
William Ming (ESPN #19 DE) ****
Ming is known to explode off the line and might also be a good tight end prospect. He is also a big study of the game and might play on either side of the ball.
Mike Marrow (ESPN #2 FB) ***
Marrow kind of came out of nowhere as the #2 FB recruit on ESPN. In his senior year he played defense and running back where he had massive stats on both sides of the ball.
Quinton Dial (ESPN #28 DT) ****
Named 6A lineman of the year Dial is a big solid DT. He could very well end up playing on the offensive side of the ball after a red shirt season. He picked Bama over Florida and Tennessee.
Chance Warmack (ESPN #16 OG) ****
One of the better guard prospects, Warmack will enroll early in the spring and though he played right tackle in high school, he will practice with the guards. He could start next year, and selected Bama over Arkansas and Rutgers.
A.J. McCarron (ESPN #4 QB, US Army All Star Game) ****
A taller QB prospect than Alabama has had, McCarron has a hell of an arm and completed 61% of his passes in leading his team to 5A State Championship. Look for McCarron to redshirt his first year so he can learn the offense and put on some much needed weight.
Darius McKeller (ESPN #29 OT) ****
A great OT or OG prospect who needs to put a little weight on, McKeller is the son of former NFL player Keith McKeller who played 12 years for the Buffalo Bills.
Kellen Williams (Scout #28 OT) ****
Williams will probably hit the weight room hard in Tuscaloosa, and try out at OG and maybe even at C. He was sought after by Boston College, Wake Forest, Florida State, and Maryland.
D.J. Fluker (ESPN #1 OT, US Army All Star Game, All American) *****
Alabama was desperately looking for a replacement of star OL Andre Smith, and they think they have found their guy. Bama’s very first recruit turned out to be their most important. Fluker climbed the ESPN and Rivals rankings to become the #1 OT in the country. His decision to come might have also influenced Trent Richardson to come to Bama. Fluker planned on visiting several other schools when his stock went way up, but decided to cancel those visits and stick with the Tide. Hopefully Fluker and his dancing feet (other recruits say he is a great dancer) will pick up the offense fast and become the mauling left tackle Alabama needs.