Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has spoken with Alabama coach Nick Saban about filling a vacancy on the Crimson Tide coaching staff and was due to be in Tuscaloosa Thursday, two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity, as Saban and Alabama did not release details about their search for a replacement for offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. ESPN first reported on the conversations between Saban and Rees.

O’Brien has spent the last two seasons managing Crimson’s Tide offense and coaching quarterbacks. The former Houston Texans head coach left the team last month to join Patriots coach Bill Belichick in New England as offensive coordinator. O’Brien was a New England assistant before becoming Penn State’s head coach in 2012.

Rees, a former Notre Dame quarterback, has been an assistant at his alma mater since 2017 and the offensive coordinator since 2020. He also spent a year with the San Diego Chargers in 2016 before returning to South Bend, Indiana, as quarterbacks coach.

Rees, 30, was courted by Brian Kelly when he left Notre Dame for LSU and Miami last year but chose to stay and work for freshman Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman. Notre Dame finished last season 9-4.

Notre Dame’s offense has been statistically solid under Rees, ranking 45th (last season), 43rd (2021), and 39th (2020) in yards per game nationally.

Alabama will draft a new starting quarterback next season after Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young declared for the NFL draft.

TideIllustrated – What Nick Saban and Greg Byrne had to say about Alabama’s new NIL company

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{{ timeAgo(‘2023-02-02 10:23:02 -0600’) }}
Soccer
To edit

Tony Tsoukalas •
TidesIllustrated

editor-in-chief

Alabama has launched a new subscription-based entity for names, pictures and likenesses, the university announced Thursday. The organization, dubbed Yea Alabama, will allow fans and sponsors to contribute money that will be paid to Crimson Tide players.

Contributions can be made in three ways. The first option, The Fans, allows monthly subscribers to choose a specific level of support in exchange for exclusive content throughout the year. In the second option, The Legends, individuals make tax-deductible contributions to the non-profit Walk of Champions. Sponsors may also provide players with support opportunities.

Below is what Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne had to say about the company.

Nick Saban

“I’ve always believed that our players should have the opportunity to capitalize on their name, image and likeness. Yea Alabama is an exciting new resource to help Crimson Tide physical education students create value for themselves through a variety of NIL opportunities. The Alabama brand is one of the strongest in sports, and our partnership with Yea Alabama provides our athletes with a presence unmatched in collegiate athletics.”

Greg Byrne

“Yea Alabama’s approach is both modern and sustainable in an ever-changing NIL environment. It’s so beneficial to have a platform that allows supporters, subscribers, and businesses to get involved. This is another way for any ‘Bama fan to stand behind our student-athletes, and we fully support Yea Alabama.”

Certain data from Sportradar and Stats Perform

© 2023 Yahoo. All rights reserved.

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Good morning to everyone, but especially to…

THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

exactly one year ago Texas A&M brought the highest rated recruiting class of all time. Shortly thereafter Nick Saban said the Aggies “bought every player on their team”. Ah, the joys of college football recruiting.

Saban and his Alabama Program wasted little time officially retaking the throne on Wednesday, Finished the top recruiting class of 2023 and the third highest rated class of all timebehind only the 2022 class of the Aggies and the 2021 class of Alabama.

• The class of 2023 in Alabama includes a record nine five-star playersincluding EDGE Keon Keeley (No. 3 overall), offensive lineman Lady Proctor (#5 overall) and safety Caleb Downs (#8 overall)
• Of the 28-player Crimson Tide class, 27 are five- or four-star recruits. The only one who isn’t? Conor Talty, the country’s second-place kicker.
• Behind Alabama lies Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma and State of Ohio. Here is the team ranking for 2023.

Not every five-star recruit has signed with Crimson Tide, even if it sometimes appears so. In fact, another SEC team – South Carolina — signed five star athlete Nyckole’s Harbourand the Gamecocks were one of the big winners of National Signing Daywrites Brandon Huffman.

However, no recruiting battle was more dramatic than Jaden Rashad‘s, and he ended at State of Arizona. I really enjoyed it Dennis Dodd’s story about the new Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham.

recognitions

And not such a good morning for…

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THE CAROLINA PANTHERS AND MATT RHULE

Matt Rhule‘s tenure with the Panthers went badand apparently things are still not smoothed outeven almost four months later his dismissal. Last week, Rhule – who was hired by Nebraska end of November — filed an arbitration claim against the franchise, claims the Panthers are refusing to pay his severance pay.

The terms of the contract indicate that this is the case around 5 million US dollars are disputed, writes our NFL insider Jonathan Jones.

• The Panthers plan to argue that Rhule’s contract with Nebraska violates the league’s anti-tampering policy. Rhule signed an eight-year, $74 million deal with the Cornhuskers, up from the seven-year, $60 million deal with Carolina.
• “The argument is that Rhule’s Nebraska contract has an unreasonable increase of more than 20 percent when deferred pay and other benefits are taken into account,” writes Jonathan.
• On Rhule’s side, his contract at Carolina states that he owes $34 million from February 1, 2023 to January 31, 2027. The Nebraska contract pays him $29 million from the November 2022 start date through December 31, 2026. That’s where the $5 million difference comes from.

There should be a conclusion in the coming weeks.

What Tom Brady’s retirement means for Bucs and everyone else

Welcome to your first full day of retirement, Tom Brady! In case you somehow missed it, Brady gives up — this time “forever” he says – after 23 seasons, seven Super Bowl wins and so many ridiculous numbers that if I listed them all we would be here forever. His career is truly unique and will likely remain so forever. Robert Kraft thinks so. The win, the longevity, the records…it’s really mind-blowing.

His retirement sent shockwaves across the NFL – This is how the sports world reactedand here is how two of his closest teammates reacted — and the repercussions of his departure will reach far and wide, especially ahead of what appears to be another frantic quarterback carousel this off-season.

Our Cody Benjamin watched the domino effects of Brady’s departureespecially at a hypothetical destination.

• Benjamin: “The most predicted Brady destination in the event of a move from Tampa is this robber solely because of the sensible Josh McDaniels Connection… With that scenario gone, the Raiders are still ready to part ways with them Derek Carr… Jimmy Garoppolo is possibly the next best thing for McDaniels to share patriots roots, but a Jarret Stidham The return is also a logical alternative in connection with a rookie addition.”

We also have Winners and losers of the decisionand it is important to note that Brady himself is the biggest winner, as our Bryan DeArdo writes. A big loser, however, is the privateerand Bryan has For options for what’s next, head to Downtown in Tampa Bay. Could it be Garoppolo? perhaps, says Tyler Sullivan. I have to give big props to our NFL team covering every single angle:

Breanna Stewart joins Liberty as a super team grows in New York

Getty Images

Breanna Stewart is with their talents to the Big Apple. And, my goodness, what a talented team this is New York freedom will be.

After being voted #1 overall in the 2016 draft, Stewart spent the first seven years of her career with the Stormwhere she filled her trophy box:

• Two-time WNBA champion (2018, 2020)
• MVP (2018)
• Commissioner’s Cup Champion and MVP (2021)
• Two-time Finals MVP
• Top Scorer 2022
• Quadruple All Star
• Five-time All-WNBA
• Four-time all-defensive team
• Rookie of the Year

Stewart becomes MVP in 2021 Jonquel Jonesacquired from the Sun mid-Januaryand 2022 All Star Sabrina Ionescu to form a damn big “Big Three”. Expectations are high nowwrites our Jack Maloney.

• Maloney: “There might be some growing pains as they figure out how to play together, but they’re all selfless players and it’s hard to bet against that kind of talent. … Other surprises aside, The Liberty appears to be on a crash course with the defending champion Las Vegas Aceswho strengthened their roster by agreeing to a deal with candace parker. “

Stewart’s free hand was perhaps the biggest in WNBA historywith Kevin Durant even recruiting them to New York. Now that she’s there, expect her to continue speaking candidly on some important issues – including charter flights – off the pitch while dominating on the pitch. As Jack notes, “The WNBA has officially entered its superteam era.”

Enjoy the ride as LeBron James gets closer to winning the title

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Lebron James is 89 points before breaking Kareem Abdul Jabbars all-time record. It’s not about “if” anymore, it’s about “when” and “when” is probably next week – possibly on February 7th at its current rate.

The gray cloud hanging over it, of course, is that the Lakers are not very good. Only the spores and rockets are worse in the west. If the season ended today, James would miss the playoffs for the second straight year — something that hasn’t happened since his first two years in the league. Injuries, underperformance, bad luck, tension, questionable decisions. You name it, the Lakers dealt with it.

However, let that subside for a few nights and Focus on James breaking a record long held as untouchablewrites our Bill Reiter.

• Equestrian: “Will there be enough freedom from fear – enough joy and positivity – to spark a resurgence in the Lakers and a run between now and the end of the season? Perhaps. Maybe not. … But a reminder of a feeling — of the purple and gold at the heart of the basketball universe, the most talked about team, coming back from downtown LA, the entire NBA casting their often jaded and jealous eyes on the Lakers aiming – will rise again, albeit temporarily.

What we’re watching Thursday

No. 19 FAU at UAB7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
Grizzlies at Cavaliers7:30 p.m. on TNT
No. 8 Maryland at No. 6 Iowa8:30 p.m. on ESPN
Hair clippers at Bucks10 p.m. on TNT

↓ Read on to see this amazing video

While the answer may come as a surprise, the largest forest in Alabama is located just outside of Alabama’s largest city. Alabama is full of mountains due to its proximity to the Appalachian Mountains and offers wet summers, scenic drives and beautiful mountain peaks filled with recreational opportunities. But where exactly is the largest forest in Alabama and what can you do in that place?

In this article, we’ll dive into the history, wildlife, and recreation of Alabama’s largest forest: the Talladega National Forest. From hiking to fishing and everything in between, this large forested area of ​​Alabama has so much to offer the average outdoor enthusiast. Let’s talk about Talladega National Forest including all the animals you might see there!

The largest forest in Alabama: Talladega National Forest

The three ranger districts in Talladega National Forest include Talladega, Oakmulgee, and Shoal Creek Districts.

©iStock.com/Jacqueline Nix

At nearly 400,000 acres, the Talladega National Forest is the largest forest in the state of Alabama. In fact, this forested region consists of multiple state and national forests with 3 different ranger districts and hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. In fact, most of these visitors are local Alabama residents seeking the great outdoors. This is especially possible for the average Alabama resident since these forests are in close proximity to major cities.

The three ranger districts in Talladega National Forest include Talladega, Oakmulgee, and Shoal Creek Districts. These sites manage different parts of the forest themselves, and there’s even a state park located within those 400,000 acres that is managed separately!

Not only can you enjoy countless hikes in Talladega National Forest, but there is also fishing, waterfalls, mountain views and overlooks, and much more. This forested region is unique in that it is located in the East Gulf Coastal Plain region, a stretch of low-lying plains and low mountains found in several states.

Talladega National Forest History

While much of the Talladega National Forest was mined and logged in the 1900s, you can learn a lot about its rich history when you visit today.

©The Roaming Dad/Shutterstock.com

Unlike many national forests in the United States, the Talladega National Forest was established late than average. President Theodore Roosevelt was instrumental in establishing our Forest Service and many of our national forests and parks in the early 1900’s. However, Talladega National Forest was not purchased by the federal government until approximately 1936, under the administration of President Franklin Roosevelt.

Talladega National Forest has a history of timber and timber industries, as well as agriculture. The primary reason this forest was established as a protected region was that much of Talladega had suffered from fallow farmland and cleared old growth forests. In fact, very few old-growth forests remain in Talladega National Forest, with most trees being newly planted in comparison.

Because the history of the Talladega National Forest technically begins long before the 19th century. Occupied by the Muscogee and Creek Nations for thousands of years, this region of Alabama served as an ancestral home for the Native peoples. While much of the Talladega National Forest was mined and logged in the 1900s, you can learn a lot about its rich history when you visit today.

Recreation in Talladega National Forest

With over 30 different mountains in this park, you will never run out of amazing views!

©iStock.com/mel-nik

There are many things to do in Talladega National Forest, which probably accounts for its popularity with locals and visitors alike. While the mountain peaks in this region rival some of the tallest mountains in the United States, the Talladega National Forest still offers visitors the opportunity to climb a mountain and enjoy the view. With over 30 different mountains in this park, you will never run out of amazing views!

The same goes for the lakes and rivers in Talladega National Forest. Lake Chinnabee and Coleman Lake offer fantastic fishing and boating opportunities. Plus, many river hikes take visitors past beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes, giving you plenty of opportunities to cool off among these Appalachian ridges.

Finally, you can hunt, camp and enjoy many information centers in this national forest. Due to the low altitude of the entire region, most outdoor activities and hikes are well suited for the whole family. Plus, with the metropolitan areas so close, you’re never far from your cozy place to stay (especially if you plan on camping)!

Wildlife in the largest forest in Alabama

Talladega National Forest System rangers recommend the Coleman Lake Recreation Area for wildlife viewing, as well as a few other less populated spots.

©iStock.com/Robert Winkler

With hundreds of different species coexisting in the ecosystems of Talladega National Forest, there are plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities should you decide to visit. Talladega National Forest System rangers recommend the Coleman Lake Recreation Area for wildlife viewing, as well as a few other less populated spots.

Some of the most popular wildlife species to see in Talladega National Forest are:

Next:

Posted: Feb 1, 2023 11:23am CST

Updated February 1, 2023 10:00 PM CST

from
Alabama News Network contributor

Montgomery police are investigating a shooting that seriously injured a man.

Officers were called to a local hospital around 9:30 a.m. after receiving a report that one person had been shot.

Investigators determined that the shooting took place in the 100 block of Bonaparte Boulevard near Baptist South.

The victim is said to have suffered life-threatening injuries.

MPD has charged 23-year-old Shaquille Hill with first-degree assault in connection with that shooting.

He was identified as a suspect and arrested at the scene.

He is being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center.

Details of the shooting are still under investigation.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Gas prices are on the up again, with AAA Alabama reporting that the state average is $3.29 a gallon but slightly higher in our area.

With the state average up 2 cents from a week ago and 35 cents from a month ago, AAA said our spring spike came early.

“It all comes down to supply and demand,” said Clay Ingram, spokesman for AAA Alabama.

Alabama’s lowest gas prices this year seem to be in our rearview mirrors.

Experts said gas prices trended lower in late December and early January as the holiday travel season ended, but AAA said demand for gas is picking up again.

“Anytime we have an increase in demand, or even an expected increase in demand, it causes crude oil prices to increase,” Ingram said.

Petroleum analysts were expecting a spring boost in late February or March, but the surge came early, sending Alabama gas prices well past the $3 mark.

But, Ingram said, the global market is affecting gas prices everywhere.

“There have been several countries including China that have re-imposed some of their COVID restrictions and people started staying at home more so some of these countries have eased some of these restrictions so global demand is increasing. US demand is expected to increase in the coming weeks,” explained Ingram.

You can also expect gas prices to start rising again before the summer when refiners start producing summer grade gasoline blends.

Ingram said it’s not out of the question that we could be flirting with gas prices near $4 a gallon by Memorial Day.

“In mid-June, we hit an all-time record high of $4.63 a gallon in Alabama, so hopefully we won’t get there this time,” he said. “There’s a good chance that by the start of the summer our prices will be higher than they are now.”

Ingram added that the best way to deal with rising gas prices is to look around for the best prices.

He said it doesn’t take much time to do that, but just going to stations with lower prices could force other stations to lower their prices.

Get news alerts on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.

Copyright 2023 WBRC. All rights reserved.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Some of Alabama’s prison inmates are no longer behind bars and are enjoying life outside. A total of about 400 inmates are to be released early. The process started this week with 80 releases so far. The prisoner’s release stems from a prison reform bill passed by the state legislature in 2021.

The Alabama Sheriffs Association is responding to the release of the inmates. The association says it had no say in the decision.

“It’s very concerning,” said Jimmy Lambert, executive director of the Alabama Sheriffs Association.

According to Jimmy Lambert, one of the big concerns about the mass release of inmates was the lack of communication.

“Our sheriffs haven’t had an opportunity to comment, and neither have the prosecutors, to my knowledge,” Lambert said.

Lambert is also concerned about what he fears could increase crime with the release of so many inmates at once.

“I just got off the phone a few minutes ago with one of us, yours, who was looking at the list and one of the people who were released who I understand was an unrelated killer, back on the list to stand street,” Lambert said.

“We, as administrators who have to enforce the laws, have been told to enforce them,” said Cam Ward, director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.

Cam Ward, director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, says inmates are released with an electronic surveillance device.

This mandatory supervised release applies to inmates whose sentence is less than one year. And the state says it allows parole officers to monitor offenders who would otherwise leave prison unsupervised.

“We’ll take care of you after you’re released. We’re going to follow what the judge told us to do,” Ward said.

Lambert worries that law enforcement will soon be confronted with these criminals again. He calls it failure when law enforcement arrests the same perpetrators over and over again.

“We see it all over again, you let them out early, and they commit the crimes all over again. And we’ll attack again within a few weeks,” Lambert said.

According to Lambert, sheriffs and prosecutors across the state are hoping to work with lawmakers to update the law that led to the inmates’ release.

Not reading this story on the WSFA News app? Get Message Notifications FASTER and FREE on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store!

Copyright 2023 WSFA. All rights reserved.

After a year of financial turmoil related to COVID-19, Alabama’s athletics financial report is back on solid ground.

The school reported record first-year sales of $214.4 million after the major impact of the global pandemic rocked the collegiate athletics world. Expenditure also rose above pre-pandemic levels, but the athletics division still ended the fiscal year with a profit of $18.5 million, according to the financial report filed with the NCAA and obtained by AL.com through a request was obtained according to public records.

That surplus is earmarked to fund existing debt for completed construction projects, an Alabama spokesman said.

The $214.4 million in revenue would have been the third-highest nationwide in the last year before COVID-19, according to the USA Today database.

Alabama revenue increased more than $34 million for fiscal 2022, which spanned July 2021 through June 2022. The return to full-capacity stadiums and arenas fueled that upswing as ticket receipts soared from $7.4 million in 2021 to $44.2 million a year later. That figure of $44.2 million is almost $5 million more than revenue from last season, before the pandemic limited capacity to 20% at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Looking purely at football, Alabama’s revenue hit a record $130.9 million (up from $110 million before the pandemic) with a $52.3 million profit used to fund the rest of the department contributed.

A few other SEC schools recently submitted their financial reports. Arkansas’ revenue was $152.5 million, while LSU brought in $199.3 million (compared to Alabama’s $214.4 million). Arkansas earnings were $8.2 million, while LSU earnings were $6.5 million (compared to Alabama’s $18.5 million).

Alabama’s 2022 recovery also came without the help of the SEC, which kept 2021 profitable. Each school received $23 million from the league, leaving Alabama in the black. Without them, Alabama’s athletics department would have lost $13.4 million in 2021.

Aside from ticket revenue, a few other items saw increases in 2022. Contributions rose $17.5 million to a record $52.3 million, while media rights saw a more modest increase of $2.9 million to $53.6 million.

When it comes to spending, the biggest increases have been directly related to the pandemic. Guarantees for non-conference games decreased from $306,433 excluding non-SEC football games for the 2020 season to $4.9 million for the 2021 season (fiscal year 2022). Recruitment travel was banned at the height of the pandemic, bringing those costs down to $734,399 before dropping back to $3.9 million as coaches and recruits were able to travel again.

The past three years of Alabama’s financials show a recovery

At MudBugs Pub & Club in Gulf Shores, locals go for karaoke, pool and darts.

It has operated for over 20 years in the heart of the Gulf Shores Parkway and in an area populated with restaurants and amenities near the beaches that are marketed more for the area’s record-breaking tourism.

But the bar’s fate is now in flux, and Gulf Shores City Council will serve as judge and jury Thursday during a special hearing on whether MudBugs’ business license should be renewed.

It will be the second special public hearing in the past week as Gulf Shores leaders weigh whether to extend business licenses to bars with questionable histories.

MudBugs will not be present.

The facility’s attorney, Mark Ryan, told AL.com on Tuesday that he would not be there and is advising the bar’s owner, Janley Woerner Miarka, not to show up for the 3pm special session either.

Ryan claims the Gulf Shores hearing is a “violation of due process” and calls the hearing “illegal” because he claims it was not established by city ordinance through a prior vote of the Gulf Shores City Council. The Gulf Shores ordinance contains language that allows a hearing so long as an applicant is given 10 days’ notice.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in my 30 years of practice,” said Ryan, an Orange Beach attorney. “It is disturbing that in a city the size of Gulf Shores, with the resources that they have, these (hearings) are taking place. These are unlawful practices.”

The City of Gulf Shores declined to comment.

MudBugs issues

The hearing is expected to include testimony from the Gulf Shores Police Department, which is chronicling public safety issues at the late-night bar. Recent incidents that drew local media attention included an alleged sexual assault and brawl on August 28 and a shooting on February 27, 2021, which took place after an angry patron exited the bar and fired his gun at it would have.

Ryan argues that no official complaint has been filed with him, although he confirms he has met with Gulf Shores Police Commissioner Ed Delmore and Deputy Police Commissioner Dan Netemyer in recent days to discuss the concerns.

He said the meetings with the police were “outstanding and professional and sensible” and resulted in some agreements including confirmation that the bar had agreed to extend its closing time from 3am to 1am and Buy a scanner for ID cards.

Delmore declined to comment before Thursday’s hearing.

“The problem we’re running into is that this whole procedure that the city is following is not a valid procedure,” he said.

The past of the cigar bar

The MudBugs hearing comes after another Gulf Shores bar, also with a troubling past, came before the council during a special session Monday.

Cohiba Dunes, originally opened as a “cigar bar” in 2008, had its business license renewed for 90 days after the venue’s new owner asked the council for an opportunity to prove himself.

Monday’s hearing lasted over an hour and was highlighted by the testimony of Gulf Shores Deputy Police Chief Dan Netemeyer. He chronicled past troubles at the bar, including biker gang activity, graffiti, and a 45-minute encounter with an impaired and violent customer in a parking lot connected to a multiplex theater, among others.

“I don’t come before you often except to transfer a public safety matter that is urgent in Gulf Shores,” Netemeyer told the council, before listing the past issues at Cohiba Dunes since 2017 but before the new owner took over. “These are not the activities that Gulf Shores citizens expect. These are not the activities that guests expect at Gulf Shores.”

He added, “I don’t think anyone who goes to the Cobb Theater or a late night action thriller would want to walk into a parking lot and experience it in real life, which is what happens in the parking lot at the Cohiba Dunes in the US happened is past.”

The cigar bar, Netemeyer argued, had not operated as an actual cigar bar for years. He said a commercial humidor room – where people gather to smoke cigars – was used for storage.

Netemeyer said Cohiba Dunes has had a total of 181 calls for police duty since 2017, more than double the number at other Gulf Shores facilities that operate similar night hours.

Netemeyer said there have been no criminal issues over the past month and during the period that new management has taken over.

Cigar bar or late night

Turner Adcock, the facility’s new manager, told the council that Cohiba Dunes will have happy hour and cater to a business audience. New security measures have been put in place to prevent criminal activity in the bar or in the nearby car parks.

“We believe that we can completely innovate Cohiba,” said Adcock. “We are making progress to get the humidor working and there will be a good range of cigars to choose from.”

However, Adcock asked for the bar to stay open until 3am

“I’m hearing two business plans,” Gulf Shores City Councilman Jason Dyken said. “Renovate and rebuild the cigar bar that was (once) successful and hasn’t had the problems recently documented by the bar, also staying open until 3am”

He added, “For me, the night people aren’t the cigar bar lovers.”

Adcock said the cigar bar “lures” visitors to the Cohiba Dunes, but the bar needs to “attract more business throughout the day.”

The Gulf Shores City Council ordered the bar to add more security cameras, use the bar’s back door for staff entry only, establish private security on site, and install “no firearms” on the premises.

For the tenth time since 2011, Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide ranked #1 in the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings for the Class of 2023. Alabama finished its second best class ever with a score of 327.68. For historical comparison, Bama’s 2023 group ranks 3rd all-time behind Texas A&M in 2022 and itself in 2021.

Leading UA’s impressive haul is a record nine (!) 247Sports Composite Five-Star recruits:

And all but two of the five-star signatories (Keeley and Pierre) are enrolled early and progressing through spring training with the program.

Other notable additions to the 2023 Tide class include two Top247 quarterbacks in Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan — both also enrolled early. The Tide replaces Bryce Young this offseason, so the competition at center is all the better when it comes to the upcoming quarterback fight.

– The Tide went international (sort of) to land four-star offensive tackle Olaus Alinen, a native of Finland who ended his prep career in Connecticut.

– Alabama signed the nation’s top two junior college prospects in wide receiver Malik Benson and inside linebacker Justin Jefferson. Both could see the field in Tuscaloosa immediately.

– Though they’re not considered high school signers, Alabama added two prospects in the Georgia transfer portal, linebacker Trezmen Marshall and Maryland tight end CJ Dippre.

— 26 (including transfer portal) players signed up early with Alabama. The only 2023 signers who didn’t sign up early are Keon Keeley, Yhonzae Pierre, Richard Young and Conor Talty.

Following the early signing phase, Nick Saban shared his thoughts on UA’s recruitment efforts in 2023.

“Well today obviously was signing day and we’re obviously very happy with the class that we can put on, we have a good group of players but I think what I liked most about that group is that it seems like they have really good character. We’re still trying to get guys involved in developing and creating value for their future based on an education, a good person and the best football player they can be. So I feel like the kind of guys we’ve been able to attract are the right kind of guys and we’re looking forward to the course.

“I think the coaching team did a fantastic job. This is a long-term process. The guys worked really hard on it, not only in the evaluation process but also in the recruitment process. And the university community is really helping us in many ways, helping us to have very positive official visits from Dr. Bell to Greg Byrne to the university community, the professors who help us with recruitment to our entire recruitment staff and everyone involved in the organization.

“That’s why relationships are really important. To have a lot of good people in the organization who will be able to help guys develop responsibility for their own self-determination by taking personal, academic and sporting responsibility and having the right people to do it, that’s I think something that really helps us with recruitment so I want to reiterate that too.”