Alabama football ends National Signing Day by landing elite transfer

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 9: Head Coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide answer questions from the media during the College Football Playoff Champions News Conference after winning the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at the Sheraton Hotel Grand Ballroom on January 9, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 26 to 23. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 9: Head Coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide answer questions from the media during the College Football Playoff Champions News Conference after winning the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at the Sheraton Hotel Grand Ballroom on January 9, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alabama defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 26 to 23. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football proved to be a recruiting force again on National Signing Day, but the cherry on top was landing one of the best transfers in the portal.

As has become the expectation for Alabama football fans, Nick Saban and his staff did work on National Signing Day. Sure, he was beaten by Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M in the final recruiting rankings as the Crimson Tide finished with the No. 2-ranked class in the country behind the Aggies. But even then, Saban kept things rolling.

Better than that, though, is the fact that Alabama wasn’t done landing big-time playmakers.

With the letters of intent signed and early signing period classes complete, Saban and the Crimson Tide staff figured why not make a big splash in the transfer portal. So that’s exactly what they did as they earned a commitment from former LSU cornerback and future first-round NFL draft pick, Eli Ricks.

Alabama football: Eli Ricks commits to Crimson Tide from transfer portal

Ricks was the No. 2-ranked transfer in the portal behind Quinn Ewers (who committed to Texas), meaning that the former LSU star was the highest-ranked non-quarterback available in the portal.

Now, we’re back in a familiar place with Alabama football. The Crimson Tide have an embarrassment of riches already and now they’re getting richer. Ricks should be an immediate starter and, frankly, should also be the best cornerback on the roster upon his arrival, which is saying something given the talent in Tuscaloosa.

So a National Signing Day with the second-best class in the country now couples with adding the best non-quarterback in the transfer portal — just another day in Saban’s Alabama dynasty.

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