ESPN has always been the most innovative entity at marketing the random. Spanning channel after channel, they have unearthed ratings through a multitude of sporting outlets. The general public visits ESPN. The leftovers visit ESPN2 for their specified, offbeat interests. Those who need a quick sports fix or just love an unsalted SportsCenter flip to ESPNews. Fans searching to relive “better times” or failed ESPN originals find ESPN Classic. Hell, who doesn’t enjoy a good re-run of “Stump the Schwab” at two in the morning? Those suffering from dementia enjoy ESPN’s variety of alternate channels, which play more soul-draining background music than sporting events. Usually, 17 students at Dartmouth are intently watching their men’s squash team on ESPNU.
However, ESPNU’s ratings rose dramatically this Wednesday thanks to the development of a relatively new market. The center of attention in the sporting world had deserted February basketball for the sport of hat selection with a side of awkward banter.
That could only mean that National Signing Day had come. For hours, the general public, including myself, was glued to televisions, anxious to see where the next big recruit would go, his potential on the college field and his selection antics.
At times during the day, it seemed like Spike TV, Soap Net and Animal Planet all conglomerated onto ESPN. It was manly, drama-filled Darwinism at its best. The athletes were physical beasts. Some of them, including Cyrus Kouandjio, were involved in plot twists that would leave “LOST” writers scratching their heads. Then, there was Isaiah Crowell, who brought out a miniature bulldog in some sort of Snuggie after he chose Georgia over Alabama. The awkward conversation that followed may have been the most unbearable of the day.
Speaking of Alabama, how did they fair in signing day? ESPN ranks the Tide as the number two recruiting class in the nation following Florida State. The tricky aspect of their ranking is the added weight that they attach to ESPNU 150 recruits, of which Florida State had 12 and Alabama had 10. Rivals, which I believe to be a more legitimate recruiting source, has Alabama as the top ranked recruiting class based on the average talent of the players acquired to this point.
As dominant as the state of Alabama has been in football recently, the same can be said for Alabama and Auburn on the recruiting trail. Both teams finished in the top five in recruiting, but Alabama was by far more impressive. Think about it. Alabama has a young, experienced team. Auburn has a young, inexperienced team. For Alabama to out-recruit the defending national champions is one thing, but for Alabama to out-recruit the defending national champions when they can offer playing time is another thing. While it may take Auburn two or three years to rebuild, Alabama will constantly be near the top thanks to consistent recruiting.
Great recruits always have the hype, but which ones will show the potential their first year on campus? Looking at Alabama’s committed class of players, I see three athletes who have the ability to be stand out when they arrive on campus. If Jadeveon Clowney (who will break someone’s heart with his decision on February 14th) and Kouandjio commit to Alabama, it would be easy to say that they would be early impact players, but you can’t count your unsigned emotional teenagers before they sign.
Xzavier Dickson (4-star recruit, DE) is the player I predict will have the most impact on the team. In an Alabama defense with a wealth of experience and talent, the defensive line is possibly the weakest area. It will be interesting to see, due to his size, whether he will add bulk to play the line in a three-four defense or focus on speed to play both linebacker and down lineman where Dont’a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw excel.
Trey DePriest (5-star recruit, MLB) has received much hype this offseason as the number one middle linebacker in the nation. He is the typical Alabama linebacker due to his strength and quickness. However, Alabama is extremely deep at the linebacker position. It will be interesting to see how Nick Saban and company use him in the defensive rotation.
This may come to many as a surprise, but the third player who can have an immediate impact is Marvin Shinn (4 star recruit, WR). With the exit of Julio Jones, Alabama’s receiving core will mostly consist of faster, quick-strike receivers. Shinn, 6-foot-4 180 lbs, has the opportunity to add weight during the offseason and become the possession receiver in a group of explosive receivers. It would also be an added benefit for an inexperienced AJ McCarron to have a possession receiver reminiscent of Jones.
The team that benefitted most from this recruiting season is the Georgia Bulldogs. They finished in the top ten of the standings, largely based upon the wealth of talent that the state of Georgia delivered this year. Honestly, I predicted them to be a top 10 team next year, which I admit is far-fetched. However, they have a strong, young quarterback in Aaron Murray and an excellent coach in Mark Richt to lay the foundation of this team. I expect Georgia will re-enter the national spotlight within the next few years.
This year’s signing day has come and gone, but the media fiasco, hype and excitement of that day will live on as these young players make the transition to the football field. Those athletes who prevail will forever bask in the glory, and those who bust will forever be the butt ends of jokes. Just remember–it all spawned from the selection of a single hat.
Tyler Rigdon is a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering.
