Who won the state of Alabama in 2017 recruiting?
The 2017 recruiting cycle has come and gone, but analysis of how the recruiting year played out is ongoing. Today, we examine which programs successfully pursued prospects from the state of Alabama - and which struggled.
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STATE CHAMPION: ALABAMA
The Tide landed seven four-stars from the state, including the top two players, LaBryan Ray and Bryan Robinson. While Alabama recruits nationally, the Tide roster has always been built on landing elite in-state talent.
HONORABLE MENTION: AUBURN
The Tigers landed six four-star prospects in state, including the top two linebackers, Tadarian Moultry and K.J. Britt. Auburn and Alabama are always battling for the best in-state prospects, and this year was nearly a draw between the two programs.
SURPRISINGLY WEAK: FLORIDA
Last year the Gators went into Alabama and landed three of the state’s top 25 players, including four-star running back Lamical Perine. This year things didn’t go as well for the Gators, who missed on Ray and nabbed just one three-star prospect, Kadarius Toney, the No. 28 player in the state. The Gators haven’t historically recruited Alabama, but the staff’s ties to the state and the effort spent on players such as Ray make this year a disappointment.
OUT-OF-REGION THREAT: MICHIGAN
The Wolverines have made the Southeast a priority and continue to work hard in Alabama. This year Michigan landed two prospects, four-star wide receiver Nico Collins and three-star defensive back J’Marick Woods. Auburn and Alabama fans may argue that their schools didn’t recruit either prospect heavily, but Michigan has now signed four prospects from the state over the past two classes.
