New Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has been observing the Crimson Tide during recent practices but is recruiting for the Crimson Tide after recruiting the past two years for Georgia.SEC RANKINGS
Where the Southeastern Conference football recruiting classes stand according to 247Sports.com (including national rank):1. LSU (1)2. Georgia (5)3. Florida (6)4. Ole Miss (7)5. Alabama (8)6. Auburn (10)7. Texas A&M (19)8. Arkansas (23)9. Tennessee (24)10. Kentucky (29)11. South Carolina (31)12. Mississippi State (43)13. Vanderbilt (56)14. Missouri (58)
Alabama’s 38-10 win at Georgia in early October was the first regular-season football meeting between the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs since 2008.
The next scheduled encounter isn’t until 2020, but there are multiple recruiting battles between the two programs every winter, and this year is no different. What is different is that Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is now Georgia’s head coach and Jeremy Pruitt left his role as Georgia’s defensive coordinator to replace Smart.
“I kind of liken the Georgia-Alabama rivalry to a Cold War rivalry,” longtime recruiting analyst J.C. Shurburtt said. “They don’t play each other very often, but there is always stuff that’s going on. There are elite prospects in Georgia every year, and Alabama always goes after them and gets its share.
“Now it’s almost like a spy swap has taken place. Seeing the battles between these two schools and where these guys end up is going to be one of the biggest storylines as far as SEC recruiting goes.”