This explains plenty about the way the 2017 season is shaping up.
Over the past two recruiting cycles, 2016 and ’17, Saban has signed an amazing 41 prospects who were consensus four- or five-star talents. Compare that with the Tide’s SEC West rivals: LSU has signed 32, Auburn 23 and Texas A&M 16. Alabama simply has more top-ranked players than anyone else in the SEC West.
As for Georgia, second-year coach Kirby Smart has signed 32 four- or five-star prospects in the past two classes. Florida has signed 20 and Tennessee 15 in that same time frame.
Over the past four years, Alabama has signed 83 four- or five-star prospects, with LSU at 63, Georgia at 61, Auburn at 57, Tennessee at 47, Texas A&M at 43 and Florida at 33.
There’s a gap between Alabama and everybody. There’s a growing gap between Georgia and its primary rivals in the SEC East.
Sure, it doesn’t explain everything. Auburn imported Stidham to plug a major hole at the quarterback position, an upgrade that is outside those numbers. LSU would appear to be underperforming based on its recruiting results. And in general, it’s reasonable to expect that some of those highly regarded recruits in the last two classes take more time to develop than others.
Bottom line, though, is that in the SEC, those with the most toys generally win.
Get The Picture 
Kirby is closing the gap on bama quickly. I expect to see some sabanesce moves to push 3 star commits away so more 4/5 stars can sign in this class.
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On the ESPN site we’ve got 16 commits. I wonder how many more we could sign before hitting the “85+attrition” number?
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I’ve been watching Toneil Carter at Texas, who was committed to IT A but we pushed away to get Swift (I think). While we complained about it at the time, it sure looks like the right move now. Carter may turn out great, but Swift will be our featured back next year for sure, and would’ve been this year if Chubb and Michel had left.
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ITA. WTF. Stupid new tablet autocorrect. Committed to UGA.
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No. They pulled his offer when Chubb & Michel announced they were returning. Had nothing to do with Swift.
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That’s right. Wasn’t sure of the timing of all that.
Still boils down to a choice between Carter and Swift, though. We could have just as easily pulled Swift’s offer. It’s really nice to have those choices.
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I am still not clear if we actually pulled the scholly offer, or just denied him an EE slot that he wanted, and was qualified for. But it was definitely linked to the Chubb/Michel announcement. An embrrassment of riches for UGA at RB and QB.
Swift’s performance, combined with Zeus’ commitment, may cost us Dalvin Cooks little brother. I think he liked not being a featured back and taking all the hits but the competition may be too deep for another Top 0 RB.
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Carter would have a spot if Chubb and Michel go to NFL…Not sure I understand why you think he was pushed out, Two stud Jr. Running Backs decide to play their SR. year, even Carter has to understand there was no other play
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Whatever happend to “Take his’n and beat your’n, then take your’n and beat his’n”?
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Adam Anderson the nations #2 OLB committed yesterday. Moves us to #1 in the SEC and 6th nationally.
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After we wrap up the ’18 class and compare it with the ’17 class, Bama and UGA will be far ahead of everyone else, with UGA closing the gap further with Bama. We are on a roll with the #6 rated class as of today, with many big name targets still out there who have UGA at or near the top of their list.
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In 2012 we were outnumbered by scholarship football players roughly 83 to 61. The fact that we now have 61 4 & 5 star players makes a world of difference.
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The built in advantages of being the flagship school in Georgia can’t be overstated. Kirby doesn’t need to leave the state very often to keep a pipeline of talent coming in. I’m starting to wonder if saban breaks into a cussing fit when announcements like yesterday’s Anderson decision are made. With a few less GA commits, and with CMR picking up steam in south Florida, and bama drops a bit toward the rest of the pack.
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Alabama recruits nationally now so I’m not sure they’re super concerned about the neighbors. I think Auburn, UT, USCe, and Clemson rely more on Georgia talent than does Bama. That said, it’s always a good thing to beat Saban for a recruit. I’m actually more concerned about Clemson, and the Mich/OSU combo poaching Georgia talent than Alabama.
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Alabama does recruit nationally but from looking at this recruiting class and what appears to be a down year in the state of Alabama, they are going to have a real hard time maintaining their string of #1 ranked classes. They may start going after some of their second choices. It will be interesting to see how they finish.
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I will be very interested to see how they finish. The brain drain on the coaching staff last season really set them back IMO. Of course, they were 8th on NSD last year and finished first, so I expect them to close hard. That said, I think OSU unseats them this year for #1.
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The new early signing date in December is going to be a factor in “late finishes” as the top guys don’t want to get shut out by playing the last minute game. Also, if we can get past Bama in December’s game, or even continue to hold a Top 10 ranking, it gives some of those usual Bama recruits another viable option to play in a top program. Either way, we are closing the gap, and I expect us to do so again.
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I don’t get the Michigan/tOSU appeal at all, and I lived in the north for several years. The attraction of a northern school is an oddity. It’s not as if theres been a steady pipeline of 4 and 5 star players leaving the south over a long period. Sure, you get an ocassional Jarvis Jones heading to USC or Heyward going to tOSU, or Tuitt to ND. But the recent pickup in activity just seems very odd to me.
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I too wonder why the north appeals so much. I think it has to do with the nationalization of the sport and the money that’s flowed in. As a recruit or coach, you have national access to any team and any game and the resources (at the top) to go after people halfway across the country. Plus between Meyer, Harbaugh, and Franklin, there are some fine recruiters running those programs right now.
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With Harbaugh running 3rd and 4th in the Big14, and not winning his Division, that light may be dimming. Long way to go and not be in the conversation, except for your coach’s eccentric behavior. That offense is “Schotty bad”.
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Always amazed to see Bama continue to sign all these players. An amazing art of persuasion. Now let me see, can I get in a Smart or Richt or admin comment and get this one to 100 plus comments. hmm, Smart eats mean tater tots and Right eats mashed taters and is a bed wetter since 2009.. That should do it
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