Alabama tops On3 2021 rankings with eight five-star signees
Alabama’s football signees dominated On3’s five-star rankings, landing eight on the final list for the 2021 cycle.
Led by No. 6-ranked JC Latham, Alabama’s 2021 class features 27 traditional signees and an additional four transfers from the portal.
Behind Alabama in five-star pickups are Ohio State with six and Georgia with three. Trailing, Oklahoma, LSU, UNC, Southern Cal and Notre Dame finished with two apiece. Oregon, Miami, Texas A&M, Texas and Wisconsin round out the group of 13 programs that split the 32 five-stars.
Here’s a closer look at the eight Alabama five-star signees.
OT JC Latham, No. 6
Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy offensive tackle JC Latham is Alabama’s highest ranked 2021 signee. In fact, he’s already confirmed the experts’ takes by working in some first team reps at right tackle in Tuscaloosa this spring. You’ll definitely want to watch out for the Old Creek, Wisconsin native in the No. 65 jersey and, at 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, he’s hard to miss. Latham has a 7-foot wingspan and a background in basketball.
WR Agiye Hall, No. 10
A two-way athlete at Valrico Bloomingdale high (Fla.), 6-foot-3 Agiye Hall is a guy Tide fans need to know immediately. Notably, he caught four balls for 72 yards in the spring game and he clocks a 4.5 40-yard dash. It doesn’t matter if the opponent knows Hall is the intended target or not, he will get it.
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, No. 12
Both a football and basketball prospect, five-star GaQuincey “Kool-Aid” McKinstry enrolled early at the University of Alabama. There’s no doubt he’s one of the best defensive backs to come out of Alabama in a while. As a state title winner for Pinson Valley and the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game MVP, the 6-foot cornerback is expected to see the field early in 2021.
OT Tommy Brockermeyer, No. 14
The Crimson Tide got a two-fer with five-star signee Tommy and his twin James Brockermeyer. Moreover, Brockermeyer has a first-round draft pick pedigree at 6-foot-6 and 283 pounds. He has elite athleticism, running a 5.1 40-yard dash at the Opening. An early grad at All Saints Episcopal in Fort Worth, Texas, he stepped up on the first team at left tackle after starter Evan Neal exited the spring game.
DE Keanu Koht, No. 15
Vero Beach (Fla.) standout Keanu Koht comes in at No. 15 in On3’s final 2021 rankings. Admittedly, he’s slim now at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, but if his older brother Lars (former Broncos defensive tackle) is any indicator, he won’t have any trouble bulking up. The Tide got Koht to flip his LSU commitment on early signing day, so that was step one of what they’re hoping is an explosive and surprising career.
LB Deontae Lawson, No. 20
No. 2 in the state of Alabama behind McKinstry, Deontae Lawson is everything the Tide looks for in a linebacker. Lawson’s got size and length at 6-foot-3, 217 pounds. He was very productive for Mobile Christian with over 100 tackles at inside linebacker, not to mention 11 touchdowns at quarterback, in 2020, and he’s super smooth in pursuit. Though Lawson may not contribute as fast as some other Alabama football signees, he’s got future first-rounder written all over him.
DE Dallas Turner, No. 23
All of Alabama’s football signees are impressive, but defensive end Dallas Turner is a specimen at 6-foot-4, 245 pounds. Skill-wise, he’s an elite pass rusher aided by his hard-to-escape 7-foot wingspan. Unsurprisingly, professional sports run in the family and he’s already a proven winner, helping Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) to multiple state championships.
S Terrion Arnold, No. 29
Lastly, Tallahassee five-star safety Terrion Arnold comes in at No. 29 in the On3 rankings. Not only did Arnold play both ways on the gridiron, but he was also an explosive basketball player, averaging 17.2 points per game, which was why he couldn’t enroll early at the University of Alabama. The Florida Gators would’ve loved to keep this John Paul II Catholic star in-state, but Arnold opted to play for Nate Oats and Nick Saban.
