What is the impact of Shawn Murphy commitment have on Alabama?
Shawn Murphy’s Alabama hat had barely situated on his head before the fact of inevitability sat in for the world of college football set in: Alabama was going to make a recruiting charge.
The Crimson Tide was always going to make a run at the charge toward the number one ranked class.
Nick Saban and staff are in the midst of their annual charge to the top of the recruiting charts once again.
Alabama landed elite edge rusher Jeremiah Alexander, a Thompson High School (Alabama) product, back on July 8. Tyler Booker, an elite offensive tackle from IMG Academy, pledged on July 16.
The latest of the elite lures was linebacker Murphy from Unity Reed High School in Virginia.
The Crimson Tide remain in striking distance for some of the best players left on the board in the class of 2022.
Walter Nolen, an elite defensive tackle from Powell High School in Tennessee, has Alabama in his final five schools. Zach Rice, an offensive tackle from Liberty Christian Academy in Virginia, also has the Crimson Tide high on his list.
In-state wide receiver Kobe Prentice decommitted from Maryland on July 13. Coincidentally, Prentice received an offer from the Crimson Tide on July 1.
Alabama could close the month out with yet another addition. The Crimson Tide are in the final group for Georgia offensive tackle Dayne Shor. Shor is considering the Crimson Tide alongside Auburn, Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.
The Denmark High School (Georgia) senior is set to make his commitment public on July 31.
History repeating in class of 2022?
Murphy committed to Alabama on July 25. The position he plays has historically been one well stocked in Tuscaloosa.
Every team that has won a title under Saban has had an inside backer, or two, that have gone on to play at the NFL level.
The 2009 team had three, or four if you count Mark Barron who played linebacker in the NFL after being a safety at Alabama.
Dont’a Hightower, Rolando McClain and Nico Johnson all played key snaps in the Crimson Tide’s championship run before playing on Sundays.
The 2011 championship team featured Johnson and C.J. Mosely. The same combination helped the 2013 team to a championship. The Crimson Tide added Reggie Ragland to the fold as a backup.
You get the point.
Times are changing in Alabama
Murphy could be that type of influence once he reaches Tuscaloosa. He’s one of the top high school linebackers in the country. Murphy is the prototypical inside linebacker in modern day football.
He’s got the size of today’s linebackers. Many of the Crimson Tide’s linebackers were heavier than Murphy is. Hightower, Ragland and McClain all were over 250 pounds.
The college game is about space now, even in the SEC. Alabama has changed their stance on the bulky linebacker after being run sideline-to-sideline by Ohio State in the 2014 National Championship game.
Murphy is the new, happy median. He’s got size. Murphy also possesses the sideline-to-sideline ability to combat the zone read runs of today. Murphy can cover tight ends, running backs and wide receivers in space.
Murphy’s skillset gives him a chance to be a pillar of the Crimson Tide defense in the near future. Saban-led teams have changed a lot offensively in recent years.
Their defense has remained a consistent cog in their success despite the evolution of the offenses in the SEC.
The Crimson Tide allowed 329 yards per game last season. That is nearly double what they allowed in 2009. That championship Alabama team only allowed 166 yards per game. Many things go into that jump. There has been a jump in quick scores earned by the offense. In turn, the SEC as a whole has become more pass-happy.