It began as the Under Armour All American game, and ended as a nationally televised rally for Alabama football.

The Under Armour game has become a launching pad for future college stars such as Trent Richardson, Julio Jones, Matt Barkley, and A.J. Green. This year, they could have named it the Alabama All American game.

The fireworks began in the first quarter when future Bama star Amari Cooper turned a questionable thirty yard pass into a seventy-five yard touchdown. Cooper out jumped Deion Sanders, Jr. for the pass, and then outran both Sanders and the safety to the end zone.

In the second half, Cooper punctuated the blowout victory by the White team with a spectacular ninety-two yard punt return. The White team’s decisive win was largely a function of the smothering defense led by linebacker Reggie Ragland, safety Eddie Williams, and lineman Dakota Ball, all future Tiders.

Although the game was great, an event off the field stole the national headlines. After Baltimore star Cyrus Jones committed to Alabama, the last remaining player to commit would be Landon Collins from Louisiana. America’s top safety recruit and a New Orleans native, Collins was to choose between his home state LSU Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

To his mom’s obvious dismay, Collins announced that he would play for Alabama. His mother’s reaction made national headlines and a Sportscenter clip; she was openly displeased by his decision.

Collins then donned a pair of Mark Ingram gloves and did the “A” gesture made famous by Ingram in the national championship win over Texas.

Then...it got even better.
The telecast switched to a shot of Cyrus Jones, who made the “A” gesture. The next shot was of Amari Cooper, who made his own “A.” It could not have been planned any better.

Until that moment, Alabama’s recruiting class had been ranked by ESPN as third in the nation behind Texas and Florida State. When Jones and Collins committed, the Tide jumped to the top.

The Jones and Collins commitments also vaulted the Tide to the top of the Rivals rankings. 247 Sports already had Alabama as the number one class before the last two commitments.

As great as this class has become, it could even better. Eddie Goldman, ranked as the number two player in the nation, has listed the Tide as one of his favorites. The defensive lineman from Washington, D.C. has become fast friends with new commit Cyrus Jones of nearby Baltimore. Jones has publicly stated that playing with Goldman in college was a goal, and Bama fans are hoping that Cyrus will get his wish.

For those following star linebacker Kwon Alexander of Oxford, the LSU message boards are filled with speculation that Kwon is headed to Baton Rouge. There are conflicting reports on whether Alabama is still recruiting him, but LSU fans are increasingly confident.

Roll Tide!

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