Alabama football: 3 recruits who will have an immediate impact in 2023
For the 2023 recruiting cycle, Alabama football has the top-ranked class, but these three newcomers will already be crucial to the Crimson Tide's success.
After National Signing Day, Alabama football locked up the top overall class for the 2023 recruiting cycle, making it the third-best class ever. Nevertheless it's only Saban's second-best performance in Tuscaloosa in his historic career.
All things considered, the Crimson Tide are bringing in a ton of quality, with seven of the 39 recruits classified as 5-stars in the 247 Sports Composite rankings. Yet, some 5-star recruits need further development while others are ready to play right away, particularly if they are brought in at a time of necessity.
Some of those players for Saban and the Crimson Tide are in this class. The 2023 football season for Alabama will feature three new recruits in particular.
#3. Justice Haynes, Running Back
Justice Haynes possesses the ability to seize control of the Alabama running backs' room. Even if some people gave Bama's 2022 season a low grade, you have to wonder how things may have turned out if they hadn't acquired Jahmyr Gibbs through the transfer portal.
Gibbs was an essential weapon for Bryce Young and the offense as a dual-threat out of the backfield because the wide receiver room was lacking. The former Georgia Tech recruit, though, is now en route to the NFL Draft. And that's where Justice Haynes, the Crimson Tide's running back room, might come into the picture.
As they did behind Gibbs last season, Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams, who are still on the roster, will receive touches. Yet in actuality, neither player has displayed the traits of a true X-factor at running back.
Yet, Haynes appears the part. Although his pass-catching ability hasn't been tested yet, he's a talented runner who racked up 5,900 yards in high school. In addition to having the ability to produce big plays, he can also score after making contact by either playing through the hit or deceiving the tackler. Haynes might immediately play a significant role on offense as Alabama welcomes a new quarterback.
#2. Caleb Downs, Safety, Mill Creek (Hoschton, GA)
Caleb Downs must start right away in the secondary for Alabama. With Nick Saban's track record, the team never really struggles finding defensive back talent. With that said, the 2023 season for Alabama will be an interesting one because they will not only have a new defensive coordinator, but also lose all three of their starting safeties.
The 5-star safety Caleb Downs, who was ranked among the Top 10 players in the 2023 recruiting class, is a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide's recruiting class, which is wonderful news because he should be ready to provide the club with quality snaps right away.
At under six feet, Downs is a little tiny, but his adaptability emerges because of his excellent safety sense. He can hang in coverage as a centerfield high safety or cover on the line versus tight ends and slot receivers. He is a willing, instinctive, and sure tackler. Although he might not be a starter right away, he possesses the skills to play early and see his role grow as the season progresses.
#1. Kadyn Proctor, Offensive Tackle, Southeast Polk (Des Moines, IA)
The offensive line's performance is something you may believe Alabama football will never have to worry about, but that wasn't necessarily the case last season. Tyler Steen joined the Tide through the transfer portal, and while he was fine overall, he did experience some difficult times. And to make matters worse, there isn't a clear successor on the returning roster for him now.
Hence, it's fortunate that Saban and his staff were able to sign offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, a 5-star prospect from Iowa, on a transfer. As a result, Proctor appears to be the front-runner to start opposite J.C. Latham at left tackle in 2023.
Physically, Kadyn Proctor checks all the boxes to start at offensive tackle for Alabama right away. He has the potential to be a real force for Haynes and the rest of the rushing attack. With his size, he also moves well, but he might still use some technical improvement. Even so, he's unquestionably the finest tackle option the program has to cover the void on the right side, so anticipate him to perhaps become a mainstay for this attack over the course of the following three years beginning in 2023.
