Alabama signed 22 players Wednesday as college football's early signing period started, with the Crimson Tide's class ranked second currently behind Clemson.
Not that Nick Saban is keeping score in the sport's second season.
"We were very pleased with the players that we were able to attract," the Tide coach said in a news conference. "I know all these classes get ranked and rated and all that kind of stuff, but how they get ranked and rated three years from now is really the telling tale of how good this recruiting class really was."
Clemson and Alabama are followed in the 247Sports.com team rankings by Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn and Florida.
(Read more: Get to know the newest Alabama Crimson Tide players)
The Tide's most glaring needs were on defense, where they added some edge rushers and defensive backs. Chris Braswell of Baltimore is the nation's top weakside defensive end and could help Alabama's pass rush after the looming departures of outside linebackers Anfernee Jennings and Terrell Lewis. Jennings is a fifth-year senior and Lewis a redshirt junior who has opted to sit out the Citrus Bowl against Michigan on New Year's Day.
Alabama also signed two safeties and two cornerbacks, including Ronald Williams of Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College. Saban said the program is still recovering from the six departures from the secondary after the 2017 season, when Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Harrison, Anthony Averett, Levi Wallace, Tony Brown and Hootie Jones exited Tuscaloosa.
Saban said receiver was another position of interest given the possibility of current juniors Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith making the Citrus Bowl their final appearance.
Although Alabama and rival Auburn each accumulated highly regarded classes, the Tide swept the state's top three players - Theodore inside linebacker Demouy Kennedy, Birmingham outside linebacker Quandarrius Robinson and Hueytown running back Roydell Williams - and wound up with eight of the state's top 10.
"It's always important to do well in state," Saban said, "and it's always important to do well in a five-hour radius."
Yet the star of Alabama's early signing show was five-star quarterback Bryce Young of Santa Ana, California. The nation's top dual-threat talent threw for 4,528 yards this past season at Mater Dei, completing 72.6% of his passes with 58 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
Young also rushed 73 times for 357 yards and 10 scores, so he accounted for 68 touchdowns in 13 games - or 5.23 touchdowns per game.
"The guy was outstanding as a high school player," Saban said.
Saban said there is room for Alabama's class to grow between now and the traditional signing date in February. After he spoke Wednesday, the school announced the signing of Jase McClellan of Aledo, Texas, the nation's No. 8 running back and No. 43 prospect overall.
McClellan committed and signed with the Tide after having been committed to Oklahoma for nearly two years.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.