1:21 p.m.: Alabama has received its 27th and final signee of the 2014 class. Barring any last-minute changes, the Crimson Tide looks to be done for the day.
Bo Scarbrough, 5-star ATH
Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Northridge)
6’2”, 225 lbs.
Analysis: Scarbrough has played running back and wide receiver with much success in high school. He gives Alabama a versatile weapon on the offensive side, who could also switch to linebacker if needed.
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1:14 p.m.: Alabama has received its 26th signee of the 2014 class.
Christian Miller, 4-star OLB
Columbia, SC (Spring Valley)
6’4”, 222 lbs.
Analysis: Miller will be a great fit at outside linebacker in Alabama’s base 3-4 defense. While he could stand to add some weight, his smaller frame will work well against the new trend of faster, hurry-up offenses in the SEC.
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12:09 p.m.: It’s official. Rashaan Evans is Alabama’s 25th signee of the 2014 class.
Rashaan Evans, 5-star OLB
Auburn, Ala. (Auburn)
6’3”, 220 lbs
Analysis: Rashaan Evans is a big catch for Saban and company and should be an instant producer for Alabama’s defense. The Crimson Tide was inconsistent in terms of getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and Evans could improve that.
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11:43 a.m.: Alabama has received its 24th signee of the 2014 class.
Ronnie Clark, 4-star OLB
Calera, Ala. (Calera)
6’2.5”, 215 lbs.
Analysis: Clark is another versatile athlete Alabama has signed, on both sides of the ball. In high school, he was a dual threat quarterback. He can also play linebacker and safety. Because of Alabama’s needs in the secondary, he’s likely to get his first look there.
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10:49 a.m.: 5-star linebacker Rashaan Evans announced that he will sign with Alabama over Auburn. We will let you know as soon as it becomes official. In the meantime, Alabama has received its 23rd signee of the 2014 class.
Marlon Humphrey, 5-star CB
Birmingham, Ala. (Hoover)
6’1”, 175 lbs
Analysis: Humphrey is an elite, in-state corner that was a top priority for Saban and his staff. He will come in and immediately compete for a starting spot at cornerback. Humphrey will also run track at UA.
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10:14 a.m.: Alabama has received its 22nd signee of the 2014 class.
Dominick Jackson, 4-star JUCO OL
San Mateo, Calif. (College of San Mateo)
6’7”, 304 lbs.
Analysis: Of the offensive linemen Alabama signed, Jackson is one of two candidates to see playing time in 2014. As a JUCO who will likely play guard, he should be in the mix at that competition during the offseason.
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9:55 a.m.: Alabama has received its 21st signee of the 2014 class.
O.J. Smith, 3-star DE
Bossier City, La. (Airline)
6’2”, 320 lbs
Analysis: With his academic issues out of the way, Smith is on his way to Tuscaloosa. Saban plucked another player out of Louisiana in Smith and added depth to the Crimson Tide’s defensive line.
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9:44 a.m.: Alabama has received its 20th signee of the 2014 class.
JK Scott, 3-star K/P
Denver, Colo. (J.K. Mullen)
6’4”, 185 lbs.
Analysis: Scott handled both kicking and punting duties in high school and should get a chance to compete at each of those spots at Alabama.
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9:25 a.m.: Alabama signs Jacob Coker as its 19th signee of the 2014 class.
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9:21 a.m.: Alabama has received its 18th signee of the 2014 class.
Josh Frazier, 4-star DT
Springdale, Ark. (Har-Ber)
6’3”, 335 lbs.
Analysis: Frazier fills a need Alabama has at defensive tackle, a critical position in Saban and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart’s 3-4 defense.
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8:54 a.m.: Alabama has received its 17th signee of the 2014 class.
Joshua Casher, 4-star OL
Mobile, Ala. (St. Paul’s Episcopal)
6’1”, 297 lbs.
Analysis: Casher was a big in-state get on the offensive line, coming from the same high school as quarterbacks AJ McCarron and Jacob Coker.
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8:50 a.m.: Alabama has received its 16th signee of the 2014 class.
Ty Flournoy-Smith, 3-star JUCO TE
Moultrie, Ga. (Georgia Military College)
6’3”, 230 lbs
Analysis: Flournoy-Smith is the top-rated junior college tight end in the country and will provide depth at the position for Alabama’s offense. He was a late add, but he provides the Crimson Tide with yet another target in its crowded passing game.
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8:25 a.m.: Alabama has received its 15th signee of the 2014 class.
Da’Shawn Hand, 5-star DE
Woodbridge, Va. (Woodbridge)
6’4”, 265 lbs.
Analysis: Hand was a big get for Alabama away from the likes of Florida and Michigan. The No. 5 player overall and No. 1 defensive end in the country, Hand will have a chance to make an impact right away, much like Jonathan Allen and A’Shawn Robinson did in 2013.
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8:02 a.m.: Alabama has received its 14th signee of the 2014 class.
Keith Holcombe, 4-star LB
Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Hillcrest)
6’4”, 210 lbs.
Analysis: Holcombe is a hometown prospect who could make an immediate impact on special teams, like linebackers C.J. Mosley and Trey Depriest did before him.
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7:51 a.m.: Alabama has received its 13th signee of the 2014 class.
Montel McBride, 3-star OL
Plant City, Fla. (Plant City)
6’4”, 329 lbs.
Analysis: McBride is a project on the offensive line and will most likely redshirt, but could eventually find himself in a starting role later on down the road.
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7:37 a.m.: Alabama has received its 11th and 12th signees of the 2014 class.
Ross Pierschbacher, 4-star OL
Cedar Falls, Iowa (Cedar Falls)
6’4”, 290 lbs.
Analysis: A quick glance at Alabama’s class shows the emphasis Saban put on the offensive line. Most offensive linemen at Alabama redshirt their first year, and Pierschbacher is likely in that category.
JC Hassenauer, 4-star OL
St. Paul, Minn. (East Ridge)
6’2.5”, 292 lbs.
Analysis: Hassenauer is likely headed for a redshirt, like most offensive linemen at Alabama, but could be a solid contributor down the road.
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7:26 a.m.: Alabama has received its first and second letters of the day. 4-star wide receiver Derek Kief and 3-star defensive lineman Johnny Dwight are Alabama’s ninth and 10th signees.
Derek Kief, 4-star WR
Cincinnati, Ohio (LaSalle)
6’5”, 197 lbs.
Analysis: Kief joins the fray in a group of wide receivers who will be looking for playing time with the departures of Kevin Norwood and Kenny Bell. There will be an even bigger opening for 2015, when Christion Jones, DeAndrew White, and most likely Amari Cooper leave as well.
Johnny Dwight, 3-star DL
Rochelle, Ga. (Wilcox County)
6’2.5”, 303 lbs.
Analysis: Alabama’s defensive line likes to go pretty deep in its rotation, so Dwight should have at least a fighting chance to contribute in 2014. More than likely, though, his success will come after a few years in the system.
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Original post: Alabama is set to sign a No. 1 recruiting class for the fourth consecutive year as 2014 National Signing Day gets underway Wednesday morning.
The Crimson White will update this post throughout the day as committed prospects fax in their national letters of intent and uncommitted targets make their decisions.
Be sure to also follow @CWSports for more information and analysis throughout the day.
To get started, here are the eight early enrollees already on campus:
Cameron Robinson, 5-star OL
West Monroe, La. (West Monroe)
6’7”, 335 lbs
Analysis: Robinson is the top offensive tackle in this year’s class and the jewel of Alabama’s impressive offensive line group. With Cyrus Kouandjio leaving for the NFL Draft, Robinson could step in right away at left tackle.
Tony Brown, 5-star CB
Beaumont, Texas (Ozen)
6’0”, 188 lbs
Analysis: Brown is one of two five-star cornerbacks in this class, showing Nick Saban and his staff placed an emphasis on improving the secondary. With shaky play at cornerback a season ago, Brown could be an immediate impact player this fall.
Laurence “Hootie” Jones, 4-star S
Monroe, La. (Neville)
6’2”, 220 lbs
Analysis: With the loss of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Vinnie Sunseri, Jones will have a good shot at seeing the field at safety. He is on campus and will be in competition with players like Nick Perry to start at free safety.
David Cornwell, 4-star QB
Norman, Okla. (Norman North)
6’5”, 241 lbs
Analysis: Cornwell is a pro-style quarterback that sustained an ACL injury his senior year. However, he is on campus already and will look to compete this spring and fall to replace AJ McCarron as Alabama’s starting quarterback.
Cameron Sims, 4-star WR
Monroe, La. (Ouachita Parish)
6’4”, 199 lbs
Analysis: Sims is a tall target for any quarterback, but he enters an offense at one of its deepest position at wide receiver. With so many players in front of him, it will be hard for Sims to see reps at receiver this fall.
Shaun Dion Hamilton, 4-star ILB
Montgomery, Ala. (Carver)
6’0”, 240 lbs
Analysis: Hamilton was ranked as one of the top inside linebackers and enters a defense that will look to replace its top inside linebacker in C.J. Mosley. Hamilton was an early enrollee and will compete for a spot in the Crimson Tide’s defense.
Jarran Reed, 4-star DT
Chatham, Va. (East Mississippi Community College)
6’4”, 310 lbs
Analysis: Reed faced a long road to Tuscaloosa, but his mammoth size with be a perfect run stopper along Alabama’s defensive line.
D.J. Pettway, 4-star DE
Pensacola, Fla. (East Mississippi Community College)
6’3”, 250 lbs
Analysis: This is Pettway’s second stint with the Crimson Tide, after a year in junior college. He has the potential to be an impact player along the defensive front right away.