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Week in Review: The best Alabama storylines and features

On3 imageby:Andrew Bone•02/12/23•

AndrewJBone

On3 image
Sean Gardner/Getty Images

A look back at the top Alabama football team and recruiting storylines in the last week. It was a busy week for the Crimson Tide on the football, basketball and recruiting front.

Don’t Miss: Alabama ties best start in school history with win against Auburn

Top 20 defensive players in Nick Saban era

Who are the best defensive players in the Nick Saban era at Alabama? The BamaInsider staff (Andrew Bone, Clint Lamb and Jimmy Stein) give their take on the best defenders in the last 15 years.

Team Captains, All-Americans and First Round draft picks. National/SEC Defensive Player of the Year winners, Bednarik, Butkus and Thorpe awards. First Team All Pros and some who might one day find themselves in the Hall of Fame (College/Pro).

Is Will Anderson, Minkah Fitzpatrick or Jonathan Allen the best defensive player of the Saban era?

Who were the snubs?

Is Rueben Foster, Rolando McClain, CJ Mosley or Dont’a Hightower:

Bone’s picks:

20. A’Shawn Robinson

19. Reggie Ragland

18. Daron Payne

17. Eddie Jackson

16. Marlon Humphrey

Top 20 defensive players in Nick Saban era (Nos. 1-10)

Top 20 defensive players in Nick Saban era (Nos. 11-20)

Who is your top 20? Tell us here!

Five more MUST-READ stories via Clint Lamb and Jimmy Stein:

Four Alabama players who benefit from Tommy Rees hire

Alabama RB Breakdown: What we learned in 2022, what future holds

13 former Alabama players land invite to NFL Scouting Combine

Spring Roster Countdown: Part I (Nos. 59-57)

Spring Roster Countdown: Part II (Nos. 56-54)

The top Alabama recruiting stories of the week:

Cam Coleman
Central Phenix City star Cam Coleman.

The breakdown of top Alabama targets within the state borders started with a closer look at the heavily recruited offensive players. The list includes current Alabama commitment Perry Thompson, Top 100 wide receiver from Foley High School. Cam Coleman, four-star wide receiver from Central High School in Phenix City is also one of the Tide’s top in-state recruits.

“I like everything about them,” Coleman said regarding Alabama. “I went to a night game there. The atmosphere was crazy. It was electric. The coaching staff is amazing. I love the way they run their offense. They produce top 10 wide receivers almost every year. There’s a bunch of things I like about them.”

CLICK HERE: Find out who else is on the short list of in-state targets

Three-state recruits add offers from the Crimson Tide

Alabama hasn’t been bashful when it comes to extending offers since January. It seems there are 20+ new offers each week. Many of those are still require further evaluation whether it’s on-or-off the field. Three in-state recruits added offers this week including Cameron Pruitt, a defensive back/linebacker from Theodore High School (interview to post on Monday).

Alabama also offered a pair of elite underclassmen. Micah Debose, 2025 offensive tackle from Vigor High School in Prichard and Anthony Jones, 2026 linebacker from St. Paul’s in Mobile. Debose committed to Georgia last month, but will return to Tuscaloosa for Junior Day on March 4.

“Alabama has always been great, so I do have a high interest level,” DeBose told BamaInsider reporter Joseph Hastings after receiving the offer. “They’ve been great. Their o-line is one of Alabama’s strong points. That’s how I feel like.”

Georgia TE Martavious Collins decommits

The former Alabama commitment re-opened his recruitment on Monday. This has been an expected decision since last month after Collins was a no-show at either of the two Junior Days in Tuscaloosa.

“I would like to thank the whole Alabama staff for what they have done for me since my commitment,” Collins wrote in a tweet. “Truly appreciate everyone on the staff for believing in my talents. I am very grateful for the time and energy invested in me. Much love to the Alabama family and best wishes to all.

“After thoughts and prayers, I am going to focus on doing what’s best for my future and my family,” Collins continued. “With that being said, I believe that it is in my best interest to reopen my recruitment.”

Collins announced his commitment to Alabama in July. Tight end remains a big position of need in the ’24 class. Collins is a tight end, but mainly used as a blocker. Alabama is not expected to continue pursuit of the Peach State product.

BamaInsider Notebook: Alabama recruiting intel from SUP7R 7-on-7 event

Top Texas recruits include Alabama in top group

aeryn-hampton
On3 Consensus top-60 WR Aeryn Hampton (Sam Spiegelman)

Aeryn Hampton, Top 100 wide receiver from Daingerfield High School in Texas, announced his top seven schools: Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas. Hampton named Alabama his leader last month after Junior Day.

“I’d say Bama is the leader right now,” Hampton told BamaInsider. “Just because of the way they can develop me to become a better receiver. Also, Coach Saban and just the way he coaches.

“With other schools, you might get another head coach,” Hampton added. “But with Saban, you know Coach Saban is going to be there the whole four years you’re there until he retires.”

James Peoples, four-star running back from Veterans Memorial High School in San Antonio, included Alabama in his top six. He also included Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and TCU. Peoples has yet to visit with Alabama.

“They have a unique process of (coaching) running backs,” Peoples told On3 Sports regarding his interest in the Tide. “When they explained to me the process of the running backs… and how they really develop the backs, of course, they’ve had a great history of running backs that they’ve produced into the league and are very successful like Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, people like that. It proves that it works.”

Nigel Smith, Top 100 defensive lineman from Melissa High School, cut his list of favorites to 16. Alabama is included in the group. Smith has visited Alabama a few times. He currently does not have plans for a return visit.

Yea Alabama launches as preferred NIL collective of Crimson Tide athletics

Recent offers extended by the Crimson Tide

Underclassmen:

Alabama commitments Jaylen Mbakwe, five-star athlete from Clay-Chalkville High School and Ryan Williams, 2025 wide receiver from Saraland High School in Alabama, received offers from the University of Georgia this week.

Five more ‘can’t miss’ recruiting features:

Top 10 LB from California talks high interest in the Tide (On3+)

Alabama lands in top seven for Texas-based WR (On3+)

Alabama not giving up on UGA DB commit (On3+)

Fast-rising DB calls Alabama ‘heaven for athletes’ (On3+)

2025 running back Byron Louis talks recent offer from Alabama (On3+)

National stories you can’t miss!

Greg Sankey details SEC scheduling, division models with addition of Texas, Oklahoma

Oklahoma and Texas to join SEC in 2024

Lane Kiffin calls for Alabama fans to trust Nick Saban following coordinator hires

Nick Saban delivers powerful message to young coaches, players

Talk of Champions: Jump on the message board now to discuss the latest news on the Crimson Tide and much more!

A look ahead:

Nate Oats and the basketball team travel to No. 6 Tennessee on Wednesday (ESPN2, 6:00 p.m.). The Crimson Tide will also host Georgia on Saturday (SEC Network, 5:00 p.m.).

Alabama baseball begins its season with a home series against Richmond (Fri-Sun).

Many recruiting features throughout the week including the breakdown of top in-state defensive targets! Our breakdown of top targets by position in the ’24 class will also begin.

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