Alabama football recruited 2023 prospects with an emphasis on improving its defensive front, and Nick Saban feels the Crimson Tide accomplished that with its signees on the front seven.
The Tide signed multiple defensive linemen with commitments from James Smith, Edric Hill, Jordan Renaud and Hunter Osborne. Saban and company also have elite edge rushers coming in Keon Keeley and Yhonzae Pierre. Alabama’s front seven recruiting class is rounded out by JUCO linebacker, Justin Jefferson, and five-star linebacker, Qua Russaw.
Saban said he feels members of this group will help Alabama in the near future.
“I think one of the things that was a real focus for us is to improve upfront,” Saban said. “I think we recruited some guys that can certainly help us do that. I don’t like to single out players, create expectations for them or anything like that. I think the media does a really good job of that. That is something that we really try to get the guys not to sort of focus on, the expectations but actually focus on what they have to do to create value for their future and develop as players. That is what we are going to focus on with these guys. But I do think those guys that we were able to recruit. There are certainly going to be guys that can help us in the front seven in the very near future.”
Russaw, Smith, Renaud, Hill, Osborne and Jefferson are expected to enroll early at Alabama.
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Justin Smith is a Scouting/Recruiting analyst for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via @Jdsmith31Smith
