Recruiting seems to come easily and naturally down in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama, and despite suffering a loss in the college football semifinal the recruiting juggernaut of the Crimson Tide has not slowed down one bit. Alabama has become a mainstay at the top of overall recruiting rankings since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa and he flexed his recruiting muscles by scooping up two top recruits from the Under Amour All American game in Houston defensive back Kendall Sheffield and Birmingham defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne.
Five-star cornerback Kendall Sheffield committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide during the fourth quarter of the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game on Friday at Tropicana Field.
Sheffield, the No. 8-ranked player in the nation, selected Alabama over Texas A&M, LSU and Florida State.
The prospect from Missouri City, Texas, took an official visit to Alabama on Dec. 5, and that proved to be enough to push the Crimson Tide to the top of his list for good.
Sheffield selected the Crimson Tide in large part due to his relationship with Alabama coach Nick Saban.
“My relationship with Coach Saban is really good,” Sheffield said. “I’ve stayed in contact with him, and we’ve built a great relationship. I can get a good education at Alabama and I just have a really good relationship with Saban.”
“Sheffield is an athletic and versatile defender at the corner position,” his scouting report reads. “Demonstrates both shut-down and big-play ability. Should be an early contributor at the next level.”
Alabama gets a tall, long and very athletic corner in Kendall Sheffield, and a player who will be a two sport star at Alabama, as he excels in track as well. Sheffield has the physical tools and measurables that every coach desires, he could find his way onto the field early.
Alabama got more good news when they landed stud defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne from Birmingham, Alabama over instate rival Auburn.
Sheffield wasn’t the only All-American to commit to the Tide. In the second quarter of Friday’s game, another defensive tackle — Birmingham native Da’Ron Payne — gave his pledge to Alabama.
The four-star Payne chose Alabama over in-state rival Auburn and Mississippi State.
Payne, a 6-3, 348-pound run-stopper, will give the Crimson Tide a big body in the middle and has potential to create havoc in the backfield.
With Sheffield and Payne, Alabama now has 24 commitments, including an impressive 19 ranked in the ESPN 300. Barring a drastic change, Alabama is on pace for its fourth consecutive No. 1-ranked recruiting class.
Not only did Alabama get another stud on the back end, it got another big body in the trenches and those two correlate when it comes to success on defense.
Alabama wasn’t the only school that got good news at the Under Armour All American game. USC received a big commitment from running back Ronald Jones out of Texas, Virginia Tech received good news from big time defensive tackle Tim Settle, LSU landed wide receiver Tyron Johnson and Texas landed linebacker Anthony Wheeler out of Dallas.
Recruiting is the lifeline of all college athletic programs, so it is always good when you receive commitments from recruits taking part in college all star games and have been tabbed as All Americans and blue chippers of their recruiting class.