Alabama moves up in On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings

Alabama notched a big win on the recruiting trail Monday when Snellville (Ga.) Brookwood four-star quarterback Dylan Lonergan committed to the Crimson Tide. Lonergan’s pledge moved Alabama up to No. 3 in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings. The Crimson Tide’s class is currently No. 1 in the SEC.

The 6-foot-1, 220 pound signal-caller chose Alabama over South Carolina and Stanford. His decision elevated the Crimson Tide three spots from No. 6.

“It’s Alabama. It’s hard to beat,” Lonergan told BamaOn3 in June. “You’re definitely going to win a championship in four years if you’re there. It’s a special program. You can definitely tell it’s a quarterback-oriented system as their last three quarterbacks are starting quarterbacks in the NFL right now.”

Lonergan is the No. 86 overall prospect and No. 9 quarterback in the 2023 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 4 player in Georgia.

Lonergan elevates Alabama’s 2023 class and future quarterback room

Lonergan is the fourth-highest-rated commitment in Alabama’s 2023 class behind Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson five-star safety Tony Mitchell, Florence (Ala.) five-star cornerback Jahlil Hurley and Zachary (La.) four-star quarterback Eli Holstein. He is also the fifth top-100 recruit in the Crimson Tide’s class.

His commitment gives Alabama two signal-callers ranked in the top-90. Lonergan and Holstein will eventually join a quarterback room containing Martin (Tenn.) Westview 2022 five-star Ty Simpson and Katy (Tex.) Tompkins 2021 four-star Jalen Milroe.

“One thing that has really pushed Alabama up Lonergan’s list is the competition,” On3’s Chad Simmons wrote last week. “He got on campus, he went through the meetings, and he left feeling Alabama could be the place that pushes him the most. 

Lonergan is the Crimson Tide’s third commitment of July following Anniston (Ala.) four-star interior offensive lineman Ryqueze McElderry and Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College three-star wide receiver Malik Benson. Last month, Alabama had a successful run on the recruiting trail by landing Mitchell, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Northridge four-star interior offensive lineman Wilkin Formby, Owasso (Okla.) four-star wide receiver Cole Adams and Ocean Springs (Miss.) three-star safety Brayson Hubbard.

The Crimson Tide also landed a commitment from Pearl River Community College linebacker Justin Jefferson.

Crimson Tide in the hunt for five-star prospects

The Crimson Tide still have a chance to rise in the class rankings because they are in contention for multiple five-star recruits. According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, Alabama has a 93.2% chance of landing Lehigh Acres (Fla.) Lehigh Senior five-star running back Richard Young, who is ranked as the No. 25 overall prospect and the No. 1 running back in the On3 Consensus.

The RPM also gives the Crimson Tide a slight lead for Montgomery (Ala.) Carver five-star defensive lineman James Smith over Georgia. Smith, the No. 6 overall prospect and No. 1 defensive lineman in the On3 Consensus, has a 47.2% chance to commit to Alabama.

While Alabama is chasing Montgomery (Ala.) Carver five-star EDGE Qua Russaw, the No. 23 overall recruit and No. 3 EDGE in the On3 Consensus is favored by the RPM to commit to the Bulldogs at 49.8%. Lakeland (Fla.) Five Star Plus+ cornerback Cormani McClain is also considering the Crimson Tide. However, the No. 2 overall recruit in the On3 Consensus is favored by the RPM to land with Florida at 75%.