Alabama Football Recruiting Update

Alabama football recruiting update as of January 2, 2017 finds the Tide picking up another commit over the holiday weekend.

The rich continue to get richer.

Alabama went into the weekend boasting the country’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class in the 2017 cycle. And, on Sunday, it added to its list of highly-touted pledges.

Four-star safety Xavier McKinney committed to the Crimson Tide over Clemson at the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game. That was a huge pick up for Nick Saban’s staff, as McKinney was previously committed to Alabama but later decommited.

Getting McKinney to re-join the class helped numb the loss of 5-star athlete DeAngelo Gibbs, who chose Georgia over the Tide. And Alabama could be adding some more blue-chip recruits to its class soon.

The Tide are still in play for 5-star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon, 5-star wide receiver Devonta Smith, 4-star defensive end LaBryan Ray and others.

However, the key name to watch out for this week is Najee Harris. The nation’s No. 1 overall player has been committed to Alabama since April of 2015. But the Michigan Wolverines are trying to flip him, and Harris will make his final decision known on Saturday following the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

At this point, Harris is undecided on whether he’ll head to Ann Arbor or Tuscaloosa.

Note: Scout rankings and ratings used in this article.

Complete Class

No. 1 Overall Class
Total Commits: 26
5-Star Commits: 5
4-Star Commits: 17
3-Star Commits: 3
2-Star Commits: 1

Najee Harris: 5-Star, No. 1 RB, No. 1 Overall
Dylan Moses: 5-Star, No. 1 OLB, No. 6 Overall
VanDarius Cowan: 5-Star, No. 3 OLB, No. 27 Overall
Alex Leatherwood: 5-Star, No. 3 OT, No. 18 Overall
Isaiah Buggs: 5-Star JUCO DE
Xavier McKinney: 4-Star, No. 17 S, No. 180 Overall
Kendall Randolph: 4-Star, No. 17 OT, No. 153 Overall
Jedrick Wills: 4-Star, No. 10 OT, No. 63 Overall
Chris Allen: 4-Star, No. 5 OLB, No. 81 Overall
Tua Tagovailoa: 4-Star, No. 3 QB, No. 34 Overall
Chadarius Townsend: 4-Star, No. 8 ATH, No. 131 Overall
Daniel Wright: 4-Star, No. 15 S, No. 158 Overall
Markail Benton: 4-Star, No. 6 ILB, No. 113 Overall
Major Tennison: 4-Star, No. 11 TE, Unranked Overall
Tyrell Shavers: 4-Star, No. 16 WR, No. 109 Overall
Jerry Jeudy: 4-Star, No. 11 WR, No. 100 Overall
Akial Byers: 4-Star, No. 10 DT, No. 158 Overall
Mac Jones: 4-Star, No. 21 QB, Unranked Overall
Brian Robinson: 4-Star, No. 16 RB, No. 181 Overall
Elliot Baker: 4-Star JUCO OT
Kedrick James: 4-Star, No. 15 TE, Unranked Overall
Kyriq McDonald: 3-Star, No. 40 CB, Unranked Overall
Jhavonte Dean: 3-Star JUCO CB
Hunter Brannon: 3-Star, No. 73 OG, Unranked Overall
Brandon Ruiz: 3-Star Unranked K
Thomas Fletcher: 2-Star Unranked LS

Tide Targets

Devonta Smith: 5-Star, No. 2 WR, No. 24 Overall
Marvin Wilson: 5-Star, No. 1 DT, No. 11 Overall
Aubrey Solomon: 5-Star, No. 2 DT, No. 20 Overall
Jarez Parks: 4-Star, No. 4 DE, No. 48 Overall
LaBryan Ray: 4-Star, No. 9 DE, No. 86 Overall

Roll Twitter, Roll

#RTR ????????@UAFootball #UAALLAMERICA pic.twitter.com/lLUPiNWCCl

— X® (@mckinney_xavier) January 1, 2017

Four-star safety Xavier McKinney surprised everyone when he picked Alabama over Clemson.

MORE: Alabama Commit Alex Leatherwood In Awe Over Georgia’s Recruiting Class