Alabama Crimson Tide further strengthened its No. 1-rated 2019 class Monday with the addition of ESPN 300 prospect Justin Eboigbe. Read below to see how he fits the mold of the classic, versatile defensive lineman from the Nick Saban era:
What he brings: Eboigbe has the tools to be a tough and, at times, disruptive presence in the trenches. He possesses nice size with his blend of height, length and bulk. He is a powerful player who can be stout against the run with his ability to anchor as well as quickly shed. He is also capable of quickly disrupting with an explosive first step. The four star can also use his blend of quickness and power to create problems as a pass-rusher and, with his frame, can be a player that can slide inside to exploit matchups.
How he fits: Alabama adds another talented defensive line prospect to its 2019 class with Eboigbe being in the mold of another ESPN 300 commit Antonio Alfano. While the latter possesses better range and agility, Eboigbe brings a nice blend of size, power and quickness that can allow him to be an excellent fit for the Crimson Tide, with ideal measurables for a five-technique. He can also be a versatile contributor to the D-line unit with the tools to defend the edge or reduce inside when Alabama utilizes four-man fronts. With prospects potentially leaving early for the draft and/or injuries, you can never have enough talent and depth within the defensive front. The Crimson Tide now add another top big man who, with continued development, can be a versatile and strong contributor capable of keeping that unit among the best in the nation
Reminds us of: We see some similarity between Eboigbe and a former ESPN 300 prospect also out of Georgia. Like current Georgia Bulldogs' DL Jonathan Ledbetter, Eboigbe brings a nice blend of size, power and initial quickness to develop into a productive 34 DE.
How the class is shaping up: Alabama's decade-long streak of top-three finishes might have ended this past class, but the Tide have quickly made a return to the top of the rankings, adding to their No. 1 class with a 14th ESPN 300 commit. With Jonah Williams heading into his junior season at Alabama, the Tide have landed a comparable prospect to potentially help fill his shoes in five-star OT Pierce Quick, a strong, agile and tenacious blocker. QB Paul Tyson, the great grandson of Bear Bryant, is more than just a legacy. He's a talented and accurate four-star signal-caller. More recently, the Tide added ESPN 300 prospect Taulia Tagovailoa, the brother of current Crimson Tide QB Tua Tagovailoa. The younger Tagovailoa has a live arm and plays bigger than his measurables. Nice additions out of Georgia are edge pass-rusher Kevin Harris, DT Rashad Cheney, a player who is quick off the ball and active with his hands, and now DE Eboigbe. A pair of top-10 corners is included in the class, Brandon Turnage and Christian Williams. Alabama continues to have success in Maryland, this time landing top-rated ILB Shane Lee, a thickly built and powerful downhill run-stuffer. A second ESPN 300 prospect from Maryland on the commit list is DeMarcco Hellams, who could play safety or receiver for the Crimson Tide.