Alabama closed the 2010 recruiting class with a spectacular flourish. They not only got the quarterback that they wanted, Phillip Sims, but landed one of the best defensive backs in the country, a superlativee gigantic offensive linemen, one of the best middle linebackers in Alabama, a standout offensive guard from Georgia and hard-nosed defensive tackle from Harvest Sparkman. In all, a terrific harvest that should have Tide fans glowing for weeks to come.

Phillip Sims is a PrepStar Drem Team All-American level quarterback from Chesapeake Oscart F. Smith, in Virginia. Sims, the best quarterback in the area, also considered Clemson, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The key here is that he only visited, officially at least, Alabama, on October 24th.

Sims is 6-2, weighs 215 pounds and has been timed at 4.7 seconds in the forty-yard dash. He is very sound as a decision-maker, an exceptionally accurate passer, and, as revealed by videotape, feels the pocket well. He needs to work on his running ability and speed, although fans should remember that he already has the first step down pat, a feel for what is going on around the pocket.

A prolific passer, he threw for 1,700 yards and sixteen toudown as a freshman, 2,400 yards and thirty-two touchdowns as a sophomore and 3,100 yards and thirty-three touchdowns as a junior. He, reportedly, did as well as a senior, the numbers should be available later today.

Phillips, no relation to the television commentator, is regarded by many as the best quarterback recruited by anyone in the area this year.

PrepStar All-American offensie lineman Arie Kouandjio, from Hyattsville DeMatha, in Maryland, was, literally, a huge catch at the end. Arie, who considered everyone in the sourh, plus Southern Cal, measures up at 6-6, 320 pounds and has been timed at 5.2 seconds in the forty-yard dash. A powerhouse in the weight room, he bench-presses 330 pounds, squats over six hundred pounds and has a 28-inch vertical jump. He has exceptional feet, quickness and field awareness. Extremely strong, some feel that he should get even stronger. Just what the SEC needs to hear!

Dequan Menzie is a junior college trnafer from Copiah-Lincoln, in Wesson Misissippi. The entire area recruited and offered him. He took three visits, Alabama, the most important, on January 21st. He is 6-0 and weighs a little more than 180 pounds. He, reportedly, had forty-five tackles as s sophomore, with six interceptions, and made over fifty tackles and knocked down nineteen passes as sophomore, with two interceptions.

Petey Smith, Darius McKellar and Athony Orr were the other three late signees. Smith is a standout middle linebacker from Seffner Armwood, Darius McKeller, an offensive guard from Jonesboro, Georgia, and Arthur Orr, a defensive tackle from Harvest Sparkman, in Alabama.

By the way, they also landed Brandon Ivory, a massive defensive tackle from Memphis East on January 28th.

This may be Alabama's best class, ever. Many feel that this year's finish is 'Bama's best ever. Just what the powers on the Tide's schedule needed to hear!