Alabama lands top lineman to round out group

TUSCALOOSA, ALAVBAMA - Alabama coach Mike Shula picked up his two biggest recruits late Wednesday morning: Andre Smith and Ryan Lucy Shula.

Shula and the Crimson Tide capped their recruiting efforts with those two happy additions on national signing day, landing their most coveted player in Smith not long after welcoming a smaller newcomer.

The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Huffman star, rated the nation's top offensive line prospect, pulled out his houndstooth hat a la Bear Bryant in announcing his plans to play in Tuscaloosa.

The 6-pound, 15-ounce Ryan Lucy joined the Alabama family a few minutes earlier. Shula's wife, Shari, gave birth to their third daughter at 10:46 a.m.

But, with all respect to the proud parents, Smith was the day's headliner. He rounded out a 26-player class featuring six offensive linemen and a whopping nine defensive backs filling the Tide's biggest needs.

``I think anytime you get the No. 1 player in the South, it makes a big difference, especially at a position of need like Alabama has on the offensive line,'' said Scott Kennedy, a recruiting analyst for Scout.com.

``This was going to be a major upgrade on the offensive line even without Andre. That's just the big cherry on top.''

The offensive line class already included Homewood's David Ross, the state's Class 5A lineman of the year and Virginia's top line prospect, Alex Stadler.

Smith likely endeared himself to Alabama fans by donning the houndstooth hat after lining up caps representing the other three finalists for his services before him.

``We didn't know what he was going to do until he pulled that Coach Bryant hat out and put it on,'' said Randy Ross, the Tide's director of football operations. ``We just felt like that he meshed with what we want to do at Alabama and we felt like he really liked Coach Shula a whole bunch and wanted to come play for him.

``We felt good but I don't think we knew for sure what he was going to do until he made the announcement today.''

The Tide's offensive line struggled last season, giving up 11 sacks to Auburn in the regular season finale. Alabama must replace three starters in the secondary.

The major recruiting services had mixed reviews of Shula's third recruiting class. Rivals.com ranked Alabama 11th nationally while Scout.com put the Tide at 18th.

But the coaches' focus was clearly on filling pressing needs.

The Tide signed two high-profile players at both running back and receiver.

Mike Ford re-upped with the Tide after spending last season at Hargrave Military Academy. He set the Florida state record with 2,837 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns as a prep senior, racking up seven consecutive 200-yard games.

For the second straight year, Alabama signed Mississippi's Mr. Football. Terry Grant of Lumberton, Miss., committed to the Tide on Tuesday after running for 2,720 yards and 35 TDs.

Receiver Nikita Stover originally signed with the Tide in 2004, but spent the past two seasons at Itawamba Junior College and is now re-signed. Tide coaches also signed playmakers Michael McCoy at receiver and Florida defensive back/return man Javier Arenas.

``We all know it starts up front but we also felt like we needed some kids that could run,'' Randy Ross said.

Alabama only signed one defensive lineman, end Milton Talbert of Hattiesburg, Miss., and three linebackers despite losing two starters at both spots.

Quarterbacks Greg McElroy (Texas) and Earl Alexander (Phenix City) also signed with the Tide.

Then there's Shula's other new recruit.

``He called me this morning and he said that we had one extra commitment today that nobody knew anything about,'' Ross said. ``I thought he was being serious at first.''

Defensive coordinator Joe Kines said Shari Shula was still helping with the recruiting efforts through the weekend.

``His wife's going to get an extra star in heaven, to be involved in recruiting like she was right up until (Tuesday) and meeting with parents and having people into her home on Sunday,'' Kines said.

``I was afraid at one point she was going to have that baby right there with a prospect.''