TUSCALOOSA — The University of Alabama announced that five student-athletes signed letters of intent to play football with the Crimson Tide on Wednesday, joining 15 players who committed during the December early signing period.
The five players signing came from five states — Alabama (tight end Michael Parker), Florida (defensive back Patrick Surtain Jr.), Louisiana (defensive back Eddie Smith), South Carolina (linebacker Jaylen Moody) and Texas (receiver Jaylen Waddle). Surtain and Waddle were ranked as five-star prospects, joining defensive end Eyabi Anoma as five-stars to ink with the Tide.
After finishing top the 247Sports Composite team recruiting standings for seven straight years, Alabama finally fell from the top spot.
Alabama beat out LSU for cornerback Surtain Jr., who was ranked sixth in the 247Sports Composite and was the nation’s top-rated unsigned prospect. But the No. 1 recruit in the state of Alabama — wide receiver Justyn Ross of Phenix City — signed with Clemson instead. However, the signing of Waddle, considered one of the nation’s most explosive receivers, helped ease the pain somewhat.
Alabama’s 2018 signing class finished ranked No. 6 by ESPN and seventh nationally by 247Sports.
As listed by position, the Crimson Tide added to its roster two defensive backs, one linebacker, one tight end and one wide receiver.
Those five joined other standouts who inked in December, including defensive linemen Jordan Davis, Stephon Wynn and Cameron Latu, junior college defensive back Saivion Smith and receiver Xavier Williams, considered one of the nation’s fastest players.
Alabama 2018 signees
Eyabi Anoma, olb, 6-5, 235, St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Md.
Jalyn Armour-Davis, db, 6-1, 180, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Mobile, Ala.
Christian Barmore, dl, 6-6, 290, Neumann Goretti, Philadelphia, Pa.
Slade Bolden, ath, 5-11, 200, West Monroe, West Monroe, La.
Tommy Brown, ol , 6-6 1/2, 313, Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif.
Jordan Davis, de, 6-5, 238, Southwind, Memphis, Tenn.
Skyler DeLong, p, 6-4, 180, Nation Ford, Fort Mill, S.C.
Emil Ekiyor, ol, 6-2, 322, Cathedral, Indianapolis, Ind.
Jerome Ford, rb, 5-11, 195, Armwood, Seffner, Fla.
Josh Jobe, db, 6-1, 180, Cheshire Academy, Cheshire, Conn.
Cameron Latu, olb, 6-5, 236, Olympus, Salt Lake City, Utah
Jarez Parks, olb, 6-4, 260, River,Sebastian Florida
Saivion Smith, db, 6-1, 175, Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C., Perkinston, Miss.
Patrick Surtain Jr., cb, 6-1 1/4, 199, American Heritage, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Jaylen Waddle, wr, 5-10, 165, Episcopal, Houston
Xavier Williams, wr, 6-0 1/2, 190, Chaminade-Madonna Prep, Hollywood, Fla.
Stephon Wynn, dl, 6-4, 308, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.