Bama Central

Alabama Opens Sports Illustrated's Preseason Recruiting Rankings at No. 1

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban may be on a mission in the recruiting class of 2023 as Alabama is again atop the SIAA team rankings.

Christopher Walsh

In this story:

It's familiar territory for Alabama and Nick Saban: No. 1.

Tuesday morning, the initial Sports Illustrated recruiting rankings for the Class of 2023 were revealed and had the Crimson Tide heading the top 25. 

Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas and Georgia rounded out the top five to open the team recruiting rankings, which will be updated every month between now and National Signing Day in February.

As for the Crimson Tide's momentum, Director of Football Recruiting John Garcia, Jr. wrote: "Not only is Alabama keeping considerable talent home, like elite secondary recruits Jalil Hurley and Tony Mitchell, but it has invaded Georgia for three of its top overall prospects in the class with safety Caleb Downs, quarterback Dylan Lonergan and running back Justice Haynes all joining the class in July. UA holds the top national QB class with Eli Holstein and Lonergan, and the top running back group with Haynes and now Richard Young on board over the weekend. The secondary and offensive line units will eventually compete near the top as well."

Alabama has fewer signings than any of the other leading contenders, although that may not impact the Crimson Tide's chances of holding the top spot. SI's rankings focus on premium position prospects (quarterback, offensive tackle, pass rusher, cornerback), general quality at the top of the class and also positional units being constructed together while addressing team needs.

The initial SI99 prospect rankings will be announced later this week. 

As for the Top 25, which had a lot of the usual suspects:

  1. Alabama 
  2. Ohio State
  3. Notre Dame 
  4. Texas
  5. Georgia
  6. Clemson 
  7. Oklahoma
  8. Miami
  9. Tennessee
  10. Penn State
  11. Arkansas
  12. Southern California
  13. Florida
  14. LSU
  15. Cincinnati 
  16. Baylor
  17. Washington
  18. North Carolina
  19. Texas Tech
  20. Oregon 
  21. Louisville
  22. Iowa 
  23. Northwestern
  24. Pitt 
  25. Duke

Honorable mention: Texas A&M, Iowa State, Stanford, TCU, South Carolina

For the full SIAA Preseason Top 25 

Published
Christopher Walsh
CHRISTOPHER WALSH

Christopher Walsh is the founder and publisher of BamaCentral, which first published in 2018. He's covered the Crimson Tide since 2004, and is the author of 26 books including Decade of Dominance, 100 Things Crimson Tide Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Nick Saban vs. College Football, and Bama Dynasty: The Crimson Tide's Road to College Football Immortality. He's an eight-time honoree of Football Writers Association of America awards and three-time winner of the Herby Kirby Memorial Award, the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s highest writing honor for story of the year. In 2022, he was named one of the 50 Legends of the ASWA. Previous beats include the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Originally from Minnesota and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he currently resides in Tuscaloosa.

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