re: Class of 2019 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: That's a Wrap Edition

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Alabama finished 7th in the recruiting rankings in the 2018 class, but expect the Crimson Tide to be back on top in 2019. SEC Country’s Chris Kirschner will answer the Recruiting Question of the Day each weekday. You can ask him your questions on  Twitter or Facebook. Find our previous questions and answers  here.

Have you seen/heard much difference from recruits with regards to the new coaching staff? — @micahelmore417

Alabama will have almost a completely new coaching staff this coming season. Other than Nick Saban, the only coach who has the same role as last season is offensive line coach Brent Key.

The Tide promoted Mike Locksley to offensive coordinator and Tosh Lupoi to defensive coordinator, moved Joe Pannunzio from tight ends coach and special teams coordinator to running backs coach, hired Dan Enos to coach quarterbacks, Josh Gattis to coach wide receivers, Pete Golding to coach inside linebackers, Karl Scott to coach defensive backs, Craig Kuligowski to coach defensive line and Jeff Banks as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.

This group should be outstanding on the recruiting trail. Saban hired a bunch of energized coaches who are hungry to be the best they can be in all facets of coaching, including recruiting. There were a few coaches on the previous staff who were not energized when it came to recruiting and it was one of the reasons why Alabama ended up not signing the top class.

We’ve seen that energy on Twitter already. Look at the Twitter pages of Gattis, Banks and Golding. All of those guys actively use Twitter. Recruits take notice of that.

A lot of what I’ve heard from the recruits who have visited Tuscaloosa since the new staff was brought in has focused on the coaches being easy to connect with. A lot of them have mentioned the energy that Banks and Scott bring.

We’ve also had several recruits already name Alabama their leader this early in the process. That wasn’t the case last cycle. A lot of that has to do with these new coaches being younger and easier to talk to.

There’s no doubt in my mind Alabama will have one of the nation’s top recruiting classes this year.

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Alabama reportedly is adding to its recruiting staff.

On Friday, Football Scoop’s Zach Barnett reported that the Crimson Tide will hire Daniel Bush as part of its recruiting staff. Bush has experience in Tuscaloosa and another area of the SEC West. He worked as the director of player personnel and assistant director of recruiting for Arkansas the last three years. In his time in Fayetteville, he took part in prospect identification and evaluation, helped maintain NCAA compliance and managed interns, students and other part-time staff, among other duties. Before then, he was a recruiting specialist at Alabama, per Barnett.

Bush had been working as Colorado State’s director of player personnel since January.

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WHICH COACH WILL STAY LONGER, AUBURN'S GUS MALZAHN OR ALABAMA'S NICK SABAN?

“Saban for sure. He’s not retiring. He wants to keep winning with this dynasty.” – 2020 Athlete Kris Draine

“Saban, I think. I He’s not going anywhere.” -- Three-star quarterback Sheldon Layman

“Saban. He’s not ready to be don yet.” -- Mississippi-based quarterback Kenneth Jefferson

“I’m going to have to go with Saban. I think he could be around at least five more years.” – Three-star defensive back DJ James

“It’s going to be Saban. Everyone always thinks he’s going to retire or something, but he just keeps going.” -- Three-star defensive back Jarrian Jones

“Saban. He’ll stay around as long as he wants.” -- Offensive lineman Tyrique Sellers

“I think Nick Saban. He’s going to make it two more years. I’ll give him that.” -- Three-star offensive lineman Caleb Etenne

“This is a really hard question because it could be close, but I’ll say Coach Malzahn. Saban just signed a contract and I think this is the last contract he’ll have then he’ll retire.” —Four-star quarterback Paul Tyson, grandson of former Alabama coach Bear Bryant

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WHICH SCHOOL HAS BETTER FOOTBALL FACILITIES?

“It’s like … they are both the same.” - Draine

“That’s definitely Alabama. They have all the support they need or want there.” – Layman

“I’ll have to go with Alabama. It’s just very nice there.” – James

“Alabama. I love that weight room and the trophy room there is huge.” – Jones

“I think Alabama. Everything out there, man. It’s all overwhelming.” – Tyson

“Alabama. Everything there just feels ... really intense and really big.” -- Jefferson

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WHICH SCHOOL WILL WIN ANOTHER HEISMAN TROPHY SOONER?

“Alabama. It’s going to be that freshman quarterback – Tua [Tagovailoa]. He can scramble and he can throw the ball. He keeps his eyes down field.” – Draine

“Alabama and it’s going to be Tua. He’s a freak.” – Layman

“Alabama and it’s probably going to be Tua. He’s a real dual-threat quarterback. He can run and also throw really well.” – James

“Alabama. I think Tua. That boy can throw and he’s versatile. He can run. He can do everything.” - Jones 

“Alabama with that quarterback (Tagovailoa).” – Etenne

"Tua Tagovailoa. He’s already showed he can step up in big positions and make something happen.” -- Tyson

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WHICH TEAM WILL WIN MORE GAMES IN 2018?

“Alabama. They are all set up.” – Draine

“Alabama.” – Layman

“Alabama. I think they’ll go undefeated.” – James

“Bama. They have a quarterback that can actually throw the ball now.” – Jones

“Alabama. They might lose one, but they’ll either lose one or go undefeated.” – Etenne

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