As the 2021 college football season winds down and the start of the early signing period rapidly approaches, action on the recruiting trail is becoming frantic.
Notable coaching changes have sparked changes among commitments, notably Oklahoma. The news of Lincoln Riley leaving for USC led to several ESPN 300 decommits to the Sooners' class; as a result, they dropped from inside the top five to just outside the top 10. Coaching changes will continue to affect the class rankings over the coming weeks.
The race for the No. 1 class remains tightly contested, with a new contender emerging. Alabama and Georgia remain in the top two spots respectively, but Texas A&M has pushed its way into that mix as well.
The Aggies, shortly after landing No. 1 overall prospect DT Walter Nolen, added five-star No. 2 WR Evan Stewart, a big-play threat with outstanding speed. With their 13th ESPN 300 commit on board, they have jumped up to the No. 3 spot and become a factor in the battle for the top class in the nation.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
ESPN 300 commits: 15 | Previous ranking: 1 
SEC rank: 1 of 14
Top offensive commit: OT Tyler Booker (No. 7)
Top defensive commit: DE Jeremiah Alexander (No. 11)
Alabama is back in contention for the No. 1 overall class. The Tide hold commitments from multiple players who rank among the top two at their position, including No. 1 OT Booker, a big, flexible, high-effort player with all the tools to be one of Alabama's next dominant offensive linemen. They scored big at RB, landing top-rated Emmanuel Henderson, an explosive runner with good vision. ESPN 300 QB-DT Ty Simpson is the son of a college coach who possesses a compact and smooth delivery. Getting five-star Alexander back into the mix after he decommitted during his junior season was big, as the top in-state prospect can be an explosive and quick front-seven defender. Robert Woodyard, a top-10 in-state prospect as well, is another strong pickup on defense.