It is Alabama month and what better way for the recruiting team to help than to discuss recruiting between Alabama and Ohio State.
First of all, I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Holidays. I hope you are enjoying the holidays with family and dear friends or whomever else you celebrate the special day with.
Under Nick Saban, Alabama always does a good job at recruiting talented players. The Crimson Tide perennially bring home one of the best recruiting classes in the country; in fact, they have had the No. 1 recruiting class every year since 2011.
With Urban Meyer's style of recruiting, there have been far more recruiting battles between Alabama and Ohio State than in years past. Meyer has always wanted to bring that so-called “SEC speed” to Columbus, so it is only fitting that he recruits Alabama's stomping grounds in the southeast. That means head-to-head competition with Nick Saban.
Saban may own the South, but Meyer has done a good job of siphoning off southern talent. It goes both ways though: as you will see, Saban has also managed to take players from Ohio. Here, we discuss the three biggest recruiting battles between Ohio State and Alabama over the last two recruiting classes, in which Saban and Meyer each wrangled recruits from enemy territory.
VONN BELL // CLASS OF 2013
Vonn Bell was easily one of the best safeties in the nation for the 2013 class. The Ridgeland High School star (Rossville, Ga.) was the number two ranked safety in the nation, according to 247Sports.com's composite rankings. Meyer had yet to receive a commitment from a prospect in the heartland of the SEC before Bell, which made his commitment to the Buckeyes on Signing Day 2013 so surprising.
Once Meyer took over, he knew he had to recruit the South well to acquire SEC speed. Bell was wanted by every school in the country and many people believed he would stay in SEC country. Bell first received an Ohio State offer in February of 2012. The only official visits he took were to Alabama, Ohio State, and Tennessee.
Bell was set to announce his decision on Signing Day, and it was down to Alabama, Ohio State, and Tennessee: Ohio State or Tennessee because Bell had shown the most interest in those schools, and Alabama because you cannot count out Saban. On February 5, 2013, Bell committed to Ohio State on live television. Although many believed it was down to Ohio State and Tennessee (just ask the legions of spurned Volunteer fans), it was the first time Meyer had really beaten out Saban. Two years later, Vonn Bell is a starting safety and Alabama fans see him as one of their school's biggest recruiting misses.
RAEKWON MCMILLAN // CLASS OF 2014
One of the best recruiting stories for Urban Meyer has been former Liberty County High School (Hinesville, Ga.) linebacker Raekwon McMillan. McMillan was the top-rated linebacker in the 2014 class and wanted by every top school in the country. He was offered by Ohio State in April of 2012, and the Buckeyes stayed near the top of his list for almost two years, along with Alabama.
McMillan's official visits were to Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, and Ohio State. After the official visits he had planned on making a decision on Dec 16. Nobody knew where he was going, but most figured it would come down to the two constants: Alabama and Ohio State.
On Dec. 16, 2013, Rakewon McMillan committed to Ohio State on national television. It was Meyer's second year in a row plucking a top recruit from Georgia and bringing him north to Columbus. The early returns on McMillan have been solid.
DEREK KIEF // CLASS OF 2014
Meyer and Saban are both going to win and lose battles against each other. Meyer won the first two; this battle was one Meyer lost in his own backyard. Derek Kief, LaSalle High School and Cincinnati area star, was one of the top wide receivers for the 2014 class. He was a priority for Ohio State not only because he was an Ohio prospect, but because standing 6-foot-5, he could be a vertical threat in the passing game.
The Buckeyes offered Kief in February 2013. He visited Ohio State in March after the offer and again for the spring game in April. He then took a visit to Alabama on June 8, which went well for Kief. After seeing the schools he wanted to see, Kief decided he was ready to commit. Until a couple of days before the announcement, the majority of observers were confident he would pick Ohio State.
On June 16, Kief picked Alabama over Ohio State. It was a big loss to Ohio State because they were looking for skilled wide receivers who would help with the passing game.
By and large, top coaches can build a fence around their region. Elite recruiters such as Nick Saban and Urban Meyer can bypass that fence, and when they do there are plenty of fireworks.
