Alabama football coach Nick Saban is still looking for two coordinators but continues to have no trouble finding players.
A day after failing to hire Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, Saban finished Wednesday with the No. 1 consensus recruiting class in the nation for the 2022-23 period. Grubb chose to remain at the University of Washington despite serious courtship from Saban.
And the Crimson Tide coach once again finished recruiting at No. 1 after failing to sign a player on Wednesday as the second day of the signing continues to be largely uneventful. That would have been true even if not for Tom Brady’s retirement — again.
Saban signed all 28 during the early signing period December 21-23, including nine of the top five-star prospects.
“Of course we are very happy with the class that we can win,” said Saban on the day of the first signing. “But I think what I liked most about this group is that they seem to have a really good character.”
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Saban did not have a recruiting press conference on Wednesday. He is too busy trying to find two coordinators in the same hiring period for the first time since 2008.
Alabama signed three players who rank in the nation’s top 10. Those were No. 2 edge rusher Keon Keeley of Berkeley Prep in Tampa, No. 6 safety Caleb Downs of Mill Creek High in Hoschton, Georgia, and offensive tackle No. 9 Kadyn Proctor of Southeast Polk High in Des Moines, Iowa.
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ESPN and CBS also named Alabama’s No. 1 class. Saban has nine No. 1 classes as of 2011, according to 247 Sports.
South Carolina adds significant signer
Georgia, winner of the last two national championships on the field, was ranked second in the current 247 Sports rankings. The remainder of the top five consisted of Texas, Oklahoma, and the state of Ohio. LSU ranked #6, followed by Miami, Oregon, Tennessee, and Notre Dame to close out the top 10.
South Carolina finished 16th after a big commitment on Wednesday. The Gamecocks and coach Shane Beamer landed No. 1 athlete Nyckoles Harbor from Carroll High in Washington DC. He chose South Carolina over finalists Maryland, Michigan and Oregon.
Former Florida target Jaden Rashada lands in Arizona state
Arizona State welcomed the other big signing of the day when Pittsburg, Calif., quarterback No. 7 Jaden Rashada picked the Sun Devils in the San Francisco area. Rashada had been on his way to Florida, but a multi-million dollar Name, Image & Likeness package fell through. Arizona State still only ranked 46th in the rankings.
Florida still ranked 14th.