Latest Alabama Early Signing Day updates: Rumors, commits, flips and more [UPDATED]

The latest Alabama football updates on Early National Signing Day for the Crimson Tide with rumors, commitments and more from the No. 1-ranked class.

Apparently not making the College Football Playoff has Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide coaching staff working like bats out of hell on the recruiting trail. They came into Early Signing Day as the No. 1 recruiting class for the 2023 cycle and with the potential to put together a literally historic class, one that rivals last year’s Texas A&M haul as the highest-rated class ever.

With some big flips and having already landed two Top 10 overall prospects, No. 1 safety Caleb Downs and No. 1 EDGE Keon Keeley, the Crimson Tide were putting together an unreal assortment of talent to help get them back to the top of the SEC and into the Playoff.

But when it comes to Early Signing Day in the newfound NIL era, the job is never done and Alabama still had plenty left to do with their 2023 recruiting class. And we have all of the updates, commits and more for the Crimson Tide here for you.

Note: All recruiting rankings are via the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Alabama Early Signing Day rumors: Targets, potential commits on Dec. 21

If Nick Saban and his staff simply sat on their hands on Early Signing Day, the Crimson Tide would likely still have the No. 1-ranked class in the 2023 recruiting cycle. However, they aren’t done there as they have the potential to add as many as three additional 5-star commitments on Wednesday.

5-star DL James Smith (No. 18 overall), 5-star EDGE Qua Russaw (No. 22 overall) and 5-star CB Desmond Ricks (No. 23 overall) are all down to Alabama as one of their top choices as they are set to make their respective decisions on Wednesday or Thursday.

The Crimson Tide are also in the mix for two more Top 200 recruits in the 247Sports Composite with 4-star DL Jordan Hall (No. 73 overall) and 4-star CB Damari Brown (No. 185 overall).

Wednesday, Dec. 21 (2:07 p.m. ET) – Alabama inks 5-star teammates James Smith and Qua Russaw

Bama was favored for both DL James Smith and EDGE Qua Russaw, teammates at Carver High in Montgomery. That didn’t waver coming into Wednesday afternoon as the duo gave the Crimson Tide another pair of 5-stars, giving them a wild total of six for this recruiting class.

Wednesday, Dec. 21 – Crimson Tide hold off Auburn, A&M for 4-star S Tony Mitchell

Tony Mitchell had been committed to Alabama for some time but recently took visits at Auburn and Texas A&M, leading to rumors of a potential flip. The Crimson Tide prevented that from happening as Mitchell signed his letter of intent on Wednesday.

Tuesday, Dec. 20 – Alabama flips 5-star OT Kadyn Proctor from Iowa

There were rumors leading up to Early Signing Day that the already No. 1-ranked class could make a big splash with a huge flip as they were in heavily on the No. 2-ranked offensive tackle in the class and No. 12 overall player, Kadyn Proctor out of Iowa. On Tuesday, they pulled it off as Proctor confirmed he was flipping his commitment to the Crimson Tide.

Updated Alabama football 2023 recruiting class

• Caleb Downs, S (Hoschton, GA – 5-star, No. 6 overall) – Signed LOI
• Keon Keeley, EDGE (Tampa, FL – 5-star, No. 10 overall) – Signed LOI
• Kadyn Proctor, OT (Des Moines, IA – 5-star, No. 12 overall) – Signed LOI
• James Smith, DL (Montgomery, AL – 5-star, No. 18 overall) – Signed LOI
• Qua Russaw, EDGE (Montgomery, AL – 5-star, No. 22 overall) – Signed LOI
• Justice Haynes, RB (Buford, GA – 5-star, No. 25 overall) – Signed LOI
• Jahlil Hurley, CB (Florence, AL – 4-star, No. 38 overall) – Signed LOI
• Jalen Hale, WR (Longview, TX – 4-star, No. 40 overall) – Signed LOI
• Richard Young, RB (Lehigh Acres, FL – 4-star, No. 48 overall) – Signed LOI
• Tony Mitchell, S (Alabaster, AL – 4-star, No. 54 overall) – Signed LOI
• Yhonzae Pierre, EDGE (Eufaula, AL – 4-star, No. 59 overall) – Signed LOI
• Jordan Renaud, DL (Tyler, TX – 4-star, No. 62 overall) – Signed LOI
• Eli Holstein, QB (Zachary, AL – 4-star, No. 74 overall) – Signed LOI
• Wilkin Formby, OL (Tuscaloosa, AL – 4-star, No. 77 overall) – Signed LOI
• Dylan Lonergan, QB (Snellville, GA – 4-star, No. 140 overall) – Signed LOI
• Hunter Osborne, DL (Trussville, AL – 4-star, No. 144 overall) – Signed LOI
• Edric Hill, DL (Kansas City, MO – 4-star, No. 180 overall) – Signed LOI
• Olaus Alinen, OT (Windsor, CT – 4-star, No. 189 overall) – Signed LOI
• Miles McVay, OT (East Saint Louis, IL – 4-star, No. 200 overall) – Signed LOI
• Ty Lockwood, TE (Thompson’s Station, TN – 4-star, No. 235 overall) – Signed LOI
• Jaren Hamilton, WR (Gainesville, FL – 4-star, No. 285 overall) – Signed LOI
• Cole Adams, WR (Owasso, OK – 4-star, No. 300 overall) – Signed LOI
• Brayson Hubbard, ATH (Pascagoula, MS – 4-star, No. 334 overall) – Signed LOI
• RyQueze McElderry, IOL (Anniston, AL – 4-star, No. 375 overall) – Signed LOI
• Conor Talty, K (Chicago, IL – 3-star, No. 3 kicker) – Signed LOI
• Malik Benson, WR (Hutchinson C.C. – 4-star, No. 1 JUCO transfer) – Signed LOI
• Justin Jefferson, LB (Pearl River C.C. – 4-star, No. 2 JUCO transfer) – Signed LOI

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