Alabama jumps to No. 3 in On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings

One day after flipping Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco four-star safety Peyton Woodyard from Georgia, Nick Saban and Alabama have flipped another defensive back. This time, Phenix City (Ala.) Central three-star safety Red Morgan flipped his commitment from Florida State to the Crimson Tide.

The addition of the in-state safety has pushed Alabama up one spot to No. 3 in the On3 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings, overtaking the Florida Gators. Morgan is Bama’s 17th commit overall and fourth DB pledge.

Morgan took an unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa for the Champions Cook-Out at the end of July. It was that last trip that put the Crimson Tide over the Seminoles.

“I’ve been having thoughts about this for a while,” Morgan told On3’s Chad Simmons. “When I visited on July 29, I locked in on it…. I left knowing I was going to Alabama.”

The opportunity to play for Saban, defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson and the rest of the Alabama staff became something that Morgan was no longer able to pass up. Just over one month removed from his commitment to Florida State, Morgan has decided to stay home.

“I love the history. The DB history,” Morgan said. “Working with Coach Saban will be great. He and that staff produce guys every year. Working with T-Rob and Saban will make me the best I can be.”

Alabama’s recruiting class now No. 2 in the SEC

Jumping Florida means the Crimson Tide are now behind only Georgia and Ohio State. Alabama also has the third-best average recruit rating at 91.84 and a blue-chip percentage of 71%.

Carlsbad (Calif.) Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Julian Sayin remains the top commit in the class, as the signal-caller is the No. 4 overall prospect and No. 2 QB in the cycle. Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville athlete Jaylen Mbakwe also owns a five-star rating as the No. 15 player and No. 2 recruit from Alabama.

Nine of Bama’s commits have come since the start of July, including Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei four-star cornerback Zabien Brown, Carrollton (Ga.) four-star tight end Caleb Odom and Lindale (Texas) four-star interior offensive lineman Casey Poe. Morgan is already the Tide’s third pledge in August, joining Woodyard and Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor four-star wide receiver Amari Jefferson.