With the 2012 football season over and the recruiting period in high gear, it is time to run down just where the teams in the Southeastern Conference are in preparing for the 2013 season.
Here is a thumbnail look at the Alabama Crimson Tide.
2012 REVIEW: The 2012 season was in many ways a replay of the 2011 season. Alabama lost one regular season game but this season the Tide advanced to the SEC Championship Game, where they defeated Georgia in a thriller. Alabama then won its second consecutive national title and third in the past four years with a resounding 42-14 win over Notre Dame.
Several Alabama players won postseason honors, led by center Barrett Jones, who was named All-America for the third season in a row.
SENIOR STARTERS LOST: Center Barrett Jones, left guard Chance Warmack, tight end Michael Williams, tight end Kelly Johnson, nose guard Jesse Williams, defensive end Damion Square, linebacker Nico Johnson, safety Robert Lester, placekicker Jeremy Shelley, snapper Carson Tinker
KEY JUNIORS WHO DECLARED FOR NFL DRAFT: Running back Eddie Lacy, cornerback Dee Milliner, right tackle D.J. Fluker
RECRUITING NEEDS: Offensive lineman are always in demand but after having a stable offensive line that was ranked the best in the country, Alabama has to rebuild three starting positions and depth. T.J. Yeldon moves into the No 1 tailback position but in order to keep the progression of two top-flight backs per game going, a new running back needs to move into the No. 2 spot. And, as always, defense will be a priority as long as Nick Saban is the coach.
COMMITMENTS: According to Rivals.com Alabama is expected to have the second-best recruiting class in the SEC and the third-best in the country. Through last weekend, Alabama had two five-star commitments—defensive end Jonathan Allen and tight end O.J. Howard.
Allen is 6-foot-3, 255-pounder from Ashburn, VA., runs a 4.5 40-yard dash while Howard is 6-6, 220-pounder from Autauga, AL., who also runs a 4.5 40. Howard is an early enrollee starting classes this month.
Alabama had 12 four-star commitments including outstanding running back Altee Tenpenny from North Little Rock, AR., who is one of the top backs in the country. Holding on to his commitment is a priority for the Crimson Tide.
Scout.com doesn’t think as highly of the Alabama class ranking it sixth in the SEC but still ninth in the country.
MaxPreps ranks Alabama with the top class in the country. The Crimson Tide is one of five SEC teams in its Top 10.
COACH SPEAK: Nick Saban: “I think it’s great for our team that we won the (SEC) West. This is a very competitive division with a lot of good teams. I’d certainly like to congratulate all the coaches, everybody who contributes to the organization and program, for doing a great job in every way that they contributed.”