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http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/sports/050203/shula.shtml
With 33 signees, Shula addresses UA's needs
By Gentry Estes DAILY Sports Writer [EMAIL PROTECTED] · 340-2460
TUSCALOOSA — As Alabama head coach Mike Shula sent his new players back into the world, he gave them this advice: "Make up our minds for us."
Across the nation, 33 young men became Crimson Tide football players Wednesday afternoon by signing NCAA letters of intent to play at Alabama.
On paper, it was a good day for Shula. Despite missing out on several in-state, blue-chip targets, Alabama signed prospects from eight different states to compile a class ranked No. 17 nationally by Rivals and 16th by Scout.com.
The Tide addressed needs for a program fresh off NCAA sanctions that drained depth and talent. Shula acknowledged such, but for him, his staff, and coaches across the country like them, the waiting game begins until those players move onto campus.
Given the numbers, the near future could hold tough decisions for Shula and his staff, and it's a long time until August.
"You hope they come in, and they're what we think they are," Shula said. "It's very similar to last year. They all were pretty much what we thought they were. If that's the case with this group, we'll feel pretty good about it."
Now that it's documented, NCAA rules permitted Shula to talk about his new Tiders on Wednesday.
And there were plenty.
Three — like Hoover quarterback John Parker Wilson — joined in December and needed to count in this year's signing class.
Others like Decatur safety Sam Burnthall committed early to make Wednesday simply a formality. Only one — Pinson Valley receiver Desmond Jennings — came in as a surprise on national signing day.
Jennings, a prep quarterback who accounted for 3,035 yards his senior season, is projected as a wide receiver at Alabama. That's assuming Jennings doesn't go the Major League Baseball route.
"The word that sticks out to me is 'competition,' " Shula said. "I think we've created some real good competition when these guys come in here."
Jennings' addition made 33 on a class that must somehow to be trimmed to 25 before anybody takes the field in September.
It's known as "grayshirting." Alabama will ask several signees to enroll in the fall and join the team in 2006, thus counting towards next year's scholarship totals. Wilson fell into this category last season, as did fellow Wednesday signee Drew Davis.
Shula said he wouldn't want more than three to grayshirt. Potential candidates include the Red Raiders' Burnthall, Brooks High offensive lineman Evan Cardwell and Nashville receiver/defensive back Travis Sikes.
"We've got a plan for all 33," Shula said.
Given Alabama's recent lack of scholarships because of the NCAA sanctions, taking certain quantity over uncertain quality by oversigning and grayshirting has been the strategy for Shula's first two classes.
Now that the Tide is back to a full NCAA-allowed 85 on scholarship?
"It's something I think we would consider every year," Shula said. "I'm not sure how many. ... If it's a good fit for the student-athlete and it's a good fit for us, I think it's beneficial."
The nervousness for Shula and company comes in the fact these guys are essentially in the fold, but for many, their immediate impact is up to them. Coaches can't mandate it, but last season, new recruits showed up early in the summer to work with veteran teammates.
At least two of them, receivers Keith Brown and DJ Hall, won starting jobs that way.
Last season, 11 of the 17 true freshmen to make it onto the squad played.
"There's a real good chance we could play close to as many this year," Shula said.
But among Wednesday's standouts, how many can Alabama count upon? How many won't qualify academically? Alabama lost arguably the top two players off its 2004 class that way.
"I hate to say it, but it feels like we're in better shape (this year)," said Shula, who kept going back to last year as his first recruiting class, and thus, lone reference point.
"I don't want to jinx ourselves. That's the thing. You never know. Some guys you think will be in good shape and, all of a sudden, they're struggling."
If there's a strength to the class, Shula was happy about quarterbacks like Wilson, California's Jimmy Barnes and Jimmy Johns, the Mr. Football in Mississippi and a trio running backs led by the class' lone 2004 Parade All-American, Roy Upchurch.
If there's a weakness, Shula pointed to needs for next recruiting season, mentioning the lack of a fullback and additional linebackers this time.
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