Alabama Football Recruiting 2022: Top Commitments Landed, Recruit Predictions

Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide won't win a national championship in 2022, but the SEC powerhouse has a familiar spot in recruiting rankings for the 2023 cycle.

Alabama is, once again, at No. 1.

The current haul is loaded with premier talent, including three 5-star prospects and eight more top-100 players. Most of the class is expected to make their commitments official during the early signing period.

But the Tide might not be finished, either. Several high-priority targets will make a decision soon, too.

As the early window nears, we're looking at the current class and previewing the major storylines to come.

Caleb Downs, S

Alabama slid into Georgia for Caleb Downs, the state's top-ranked prospect in 2023. The safety took multiple trips to UGA and has considered Ohio State, but the Tide landed his commitment in July.

Keon Keeley, Edge

Although it took longer than expected, Keon Keeley ended up with the Crimson Tide. The edge-rusher backed off a pledge to Notre Dame in mid-August, and Alabama immediately emerged as the favorite. He took an official visit to Tuscaloosa in October, an unofficial trip in November and committed to the Tide in December.

Justice Haynes, RB

Perhaps the next in a long line of standout backs is Justice Haynes. As with Downs, the Tide plucked the 5-star runner out of the Peach State—which has just thrilled UGA coach and former Alabama assistant Kirby Smart. Haynes piled up 1,934 scrimmage yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior in high school.

While the Tide already have a terrific class, they still hold the potential to add more 5-star prospects.

Offensive tackle and Iowa commit Kadyn Proctor recently made an unofficial trip to Tuscaloosa. The week before he arrived, Bama hosted a trio of 5-stars, with defensive tackle James Smith, linebacker Qua Russaw and cornerback Desmond Ricks all in town.

Smith and Russaw stand out as the likeliest options, given the in-state teammates have visited Alabama multiple times. Auburn is working hard to pull a shocker, though.

Alabama is chasing 4-star defensive tackle Jordan Hall, cornerback Damari Brown and tight end Luke Hasz, as well.

The dream scenario, obviously, is that Alabama flips Proctor and secures commitments from Smith, Russaw and Ricks. Anything that happens beyond that quartet would be icing on the metaphorical cake.

We're not projecting that. But the early signing window should still be kind to the Crimson Tide.

Smith and Russaw pick the Tide, who steal Proctor from Iowa. Alabama also swipes Hasz from Arkansas, though the remaining trio—Ricks, Hall and Brown—all sign elsewhere.

If that happens as projected, there is little doubt Alabama will remain atop the class rankings when the early window concludes.