Which Class is Better: Alabama’s or Georgia’s?

by Chris Paschal

For the third straight year, Alabama and Georgia have finished with the top two recruiting classes according to most recruiting. In 2017, according to 247 Sports, Alabama came away with the top class. In 2018, according to 247 Sports, Georgia came out on top. This year, following the early signing period, Georgia and Alabama are neck and neck. So I posed the question, which is better?

My answer… both. Both of these classes are built with top-end talent along both the offensive and defensive line. Both classes have elite linebacker and defensive back prospects signed. Both classes have added a dynamic playmaker – Georgia signed five star wide receiver Dominick Blaylock and Alabama signed five star running back Trey Sanders.

Best Prospect

Yes, Trey Sanders is considered the best running back prospect in the entire country, but I have to go with Georgia’s Nolan Smith. When you watch his tape, he already looks like a SEC pass rusher. After watching extensive highlights, I am in love with this prospect.

First, he has great football speed. It’s going to be tough to run outside sweeps and outside zone plays against Smith, because he is fast enough to beat offensive tackles and skill position players to the sideline, while maintaining gap discipline. Second, he already has an excellent inside pass rushing move. He is able to set offensive tackles up by beating them with his raw speed, and then coming back with an inside rip or spin move. He’s also able to overextend undisciplined offensive tackles. First thing you are taught in high school football as an offensive tackle is not to lean out over your feet and engage a pass rusher, because the great pass rushers will get you off balanced and beat you. Smith does an excellent job of being opportunistic and beating off balanced offensive tackles.

Last observation I made was the fact that Smith is masterful at using his hands. Yes, Smith is a strong kid, but he isn’t a 6-5, 280 pound end like Zacch Pickens is for example. Smith makes sure that larger, bigger offensive linemen are unable to get into his body by keeping their hands off of him. Overall, this is one of the better defensive prospects in this year’s recruiting cycle. (On a side note, when watching the 2018 Opening Finals, there was one tackle that owned Smith, and that was Tennessee Signee Wanya Morris. Going to be a great matchup for years to come.)

Most Underrated Prospect

Everyone is talking about Nakobe Dean, the five star linebacker out of Mississippi and Georgia signee, but I think the best linebacker in the entire country belongs to Alabama in Shane Lee out of Maryland. I literally got too fired up to watch his highlights in one sitting. I had to stand up and walk around the house a couple of times before finishing. I also was hopped up on caffeine. This prospect is big at 245 pounds, but he has unbelievable pass coverage instincts. Not only that, but he moves extremely well for being a big backer. He constantly beats blocks and meets running backs in the backfield. He is a downhill running linebacker with great speed. Watch his play against Bingham High School, one of the better high school football programs nationally. He was flying to the football in that game. There were times he was beating the running back to the numbers. I think this will be another All-SEC Alabama linebacker when it is all said and done. I think more people need to be talking about Shane Lee.

Who Finishes Better

There are more prospects left on the board for Alabama. Per usual Nick Saban practice, the Crimson Tide will probably over sign and have to either part ways with some of their “still committed but not yet signed” prospects or grayshirt some of these kids. But I think Georgia might finish stronger than Alabama. Don’t confuse what I am saying. I am not saying Georgia will surpass Alabama and have a “better class.” I am saying the Dawgs will finish with more of a boom on the second signing period. This is all based on one prospect – Tyrique Stevenson. With DJ Daniel, one of the best JUCO defensive backs in the country, already signed and enrolling early at Georgia, if the Dawgs are able to sign one of the top ranked cornerback prospects in the entire country, I think this class rounds out very nicely. In the SEC you want fast defensive linemen and physical cornerbacks. Stevenson and Daniel bring the latter to Athens. Further, by snagging Stevenson, Georgia will have signed one of the best prospects out of the Miami area.