The class features offensive tackle Gregory Little and quarterback Shea Patterson, two of the nation's top four overall prospects according to the 247Sports Composite.

This signing day begins with the nation's No. 1 recruit uncommitted, LSU in position to be the recruiting champs and Texas trying to finish strong.

So, no, this isn't anything new, except maybe in style. "It's an honor to do all these things and play in a national championship game, but it certainly pushed our coaches to do the great job that they did to try to put together a really solid recruiting class. I'm really pleased with the hard work that they did".

Coach Nick Saban should be able to show the kids, however, that not starting at Alabama isn't the same as not playing.

Still, the Tide came into the week clearing space for an epic close, and made exactly that happen, sweeping away all challengers to their throne. He made it official early Wednesday morning when he signed a letter of intent with his hometown Big 12 team.

Alabama's class the way it is now constituted breaks down into two five-star recruits, eight four stars and eight three stars.

Safety Brandon Burton got signing day started when he announced for UCLA live on ESPN's "SportsCenter" at midnight ET Wednesday.

Smith, the son of former New Orleans Saints and Notre Dame tight end Irv Smith, signed with Alabama on National Signing Day. So even as Alabama was accumulating five-star talent on Wednesday, players like Wilson and Davis and Terrell Hall out of Washington, D.C., there wasn't that explosive commitment that would allow a fan to wield power in water-cooler conversation.

The run of form is something no other school can touch.

Alabama shot a blistering 15-of-29 (51.7 percent) in the first half; however, the Tide committed a total of 10 turnovers.

What isn't typical anymore, thank goodness, is national signing day in the editorial department of this newspaper.

COMMITMENT TRACKER: Florida and Florida State typically butt heads for top in-state recruits.

Ultimate Highlights - Carver (AL)Lyndell Wilson, a 5-star linebacker from Carver (Montgomery, Ala.), picked Alabama as his college choice a short time ago. Harris, of course, entered high school after Alabama's first national title this century, but before the second and third came in consecutive years. You have to think it was a conscious decision by Clay Helton to handle things this way, and as long as he keeps bringing in top 10 classes, I doubt anybody at USC will mind.