Alabama remains in pursuit of multiple RB targets

To no surprise, Nick Saban and Alabama are once again putting together a stellar recruiting class in Tuscaloosa.

The Crimson Tide’s 2024 class ranks No. 5 in the nation, per the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking. The pledge list consists of 20 recruits, seven of whom are top-100 prospects in the cycle. Nearly every position is featured in the class — except running back.

That could be about to change, however. With the Early Signing Period just six weeks away, Bama is in the mix for multiple backs down the stretch, including the top-ranked uncommitted prospect at the position.

Daniel Hill

Alabama’s pursuit of Meridian (Miss.) four-star RB Daniel Hill has been well-documented. His amount of visits to T-Town is well into the double-digits and he’s also kept the Tide high on his list. On Oct. 11, Bama made Hill’s final three, alongside Tennessee and South Carolina.

Hill was expected at Bryant-Denny Stadium over the weekend, but did not make the trip. Given his frequent track record, that’s nothing for the Crimson Tide faithful to worry about, according to Alabama recruiting insider Joseph Hastings.

“It’s not necessarily too much of a concern when he doesn’t visit Alabama just because of how many times he’s been on campus. You said 15, honestly it could be twice as much, just because he’s been on campus so many times, he’s lost track himself,” Hastings said on The Inside Scoop. “There’s a lot of history there between him and the Crimson Tide. We know South Carolina’s firmly in the mix, we know Tennessee’s also in the mix as well.”

Hill was set to commit in August, but instead opted to push back his decision and is yet to announce a new official date. South Carolina has been Alabama’s main challenger for the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder and still has the lead in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

Hill is the No. 168 overall prospect and No. 12 RB in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 4 player in Mississippi.

“They’ve had a pretty strong history of producing running backs and putting running backs in the NFL,” Hill told Hastings after an October visit. “As a recruit, that’s something that you’ve really got to take in, especially with the position I’m going to college to play.”

Kewan Lacy

Alabama is one of the many programs that’s trying to work quick on Lancaster (Texas) four-star RB Kewan Lacy following his decommitment from Nebraska on Oct. 26. The Tide offered and got him on campus over the weekend.

“They’ve been coming pretty hard … I hear from them every day,” Lacy told On3’s Sam Spiegelman. “If you go there, produce, in three years, you’re out, if you go play ball, put your head down and focus. That would be a great opportunity.”

Lacy, who stands 5-foot-11 and checks in at 195 pounds, is the No. 26 burner in the On3 Industry Ranking and the No. 13 RB in the updated On300. He’s now planning a December official visit with Alabama, as well as Ole Miss, SMU and Florida.

Lacy would be just the second Lone Star State product to join the fold for the Tide, alongside Lindale four-star interior offensive lineman Casey Poe, the top-ranked IOL in the cycle. Time will tell if striking while the iron is hot pays off for Saban and Co. down the stretch.

Jadan Baugh — Arkansas commit

Alabama extended an offer to Decatur (Ga.) Columbia three-star Arkansas commit Jadan Baugh at the beginning of the month. RBs coach Robert Gillespie visited Baugh’s school a week prior to the offer, establishing the Crimson Tide on his radar.

“In terms of where things stand with him, he’s potentially looking at a visit to Alabama for their final home game of the season — Nov. 18 against Chattanooga. We’ll see if that gets locked in and if potentially an official visit will come after that,” Hastings told On3’s Josh Newberg. “Alabama’s early on in the pursuit with him, they visited his school about a week before they extended an offer to him.”

Baugh committed to Arkansas on May 19. Since then, Florida officially offered and are also pushing for a flip. Georgia Tech has also been a fixture in his recruitment.

The Razorbacks recently lost the commitment of Pine Bluff (Ark.) four-star wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield, while Pine Bluff (Ark.) Wilbur D. Mills four-star defensive lineman commit Charleston Collins recently visited Ole Miss. If Arkansas’ class continues to lose steam, Baugh could be another major flip target.