National Signing Day is just nine days away. Nick Saban and the Alabama staff are hard at work attempting to finish the recruiting cycle on a strong note. Alabama hosted eight official visitors from the 2018 class this weekend.

Not only did Alabama host 2018 prospects, but the team also had at least seven prospects from the 2019 class, according to 247 Sports, for Alabama’s Junior Day.

Here is the latest on Alabama’s recruiting prospects. All star ratings and rankings come from the 247Sports composite:

  • Five-star cornerback Olaijah Griffin had his official visit to Alabama this past weekend, but he also saw the Crimson Tide visit him at his home in Mission Viejo, Ca. on Tuesday. The third-ranked corner in the 2018 class is expected to commit to the home-state USC Trojans on signing day.

  • Eddie Smith, a three-star cornerback in the 2018 class, was set to be on campus this past weekend. That did not stop Saban from giving the 42nd-ranked cornerback recruit a visit at his home in Slidell, La. The crystal balls at 247 see Smith leaning toward Tennessee at this point in his recruitment.

Saban

  • Alabama is making a late run at Taiyon Palmer, a 2018 four-star recruit from Lawrenceville, Ga. Palmer, a 6-0, 178-pound cornerback, will announce his signing at his high school, Archer, but Alabama did not make his top three, despite its offer last Monday.

  • Javonne Shepherd, a three-star recruit in the 2019 class, received an offer from the Crimson Tide last Monday, after a visit from Saban and special teams coordinator Jeff Banks. The offensive tackle from Houston is the 46th-ranked prospect in the state of Texas.

  • Another Houston native, cornerback Marcus Banks, also received a visit from Saban and Banks last week. Banks, a four-star recruit, was also offered a scholarship from Alabama on the visit. Banks is the No. 30th cornerback in the 2019 class.

  • Looking to bolster depth at tight end, Alabama extended an offer to Jackson Lowe, a three-star recruit in the 2019 class. Lowe has been the recipient of 10 offers since Jan. 11, including offers from Clemson and Tennessee.

  • Myles Murphy, a defensive end in the 2020 class, received an offer from Alabama this past week. Hailing from Powder Spring, Ga., Murphy also received an offer from South Carolina this week.

  • Still needing a quarterback for the 2018 recruiting cycle, Banks also made a home visit for Alabama’s top target at the position, Brock Purdy. Purdy, a three-star recruit from Gilbert, Az., visited Alabama this weekend. The Crimson Tide look like the favorite to land his services at this time.

  • Four-star 2019 recruit Derick Hunter received an Alabama offer on Thursday. The 11th-ranked strong side defensive end currently holds 27 offers, including offers from the home-state Miami Hurricanes and Florida Gators, the two early favorites.

  • Another 2019 recruit, Tyler Johnson, also received an offer from the Crimson Tide on Monday, following a visit from Saban and Banks. The four-star recruit from Texas is the 84th-ranked recruit in the class.

  • Alabama lost a 2019 commit on Friday, though it was one it had been expecting, according to 247s Hank South. Deyavie Hammond, a four-star offensive guard from Bradenton, Fla., had been expected to back off from his commitment earlier in the month. Hammond is the third-ranked OG and the 62nd-ranked prospect in the 2019 class.

  • Byron Young, a four-star recruit, received an offer from Alabama this past week. Young is the 13th-ranked strong side defensive end in the 2019 class. He is from Laurel, Ms., and has offers from both in-state teams and Alabama rivals, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

  • Dazalin Worsham, one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2020 class made a visit to Alabama this weekend and posted a picture of himself with Saban. The wide receiver from Trussville is ranked as the top prospect in Alabama by 247 in 2020.

  • DJ Dale, a 2019 defensive tackle recruit, received an offer from Alabama on Jan. 19 and made his way to Tuscaloosa this weekend. Dale, from Pinson, holds five SEC offers.

  • North Carolina commit Hakeem Beamon received an offer from the Crimson Tide this week. The four-star athlete is ranked as the 32nd-ranked athlete in the 2019 class. He was offered after he attended junior day at Alabama this weekend.

  • Four-star recruit in the 2019 class, Savion Jackson was among the attendees of Alabama’s junior day this weekend. Jackson, from Clayton, NC., is the 35th-ranked prospect and the third-ranked strong-side defensive end in the 2019 class.

  • Four-star cornerback Isaac Taylor-Stuart tweeted that he is a big fan of Saban’s pancakes while on his visit to Alabama this weekend. His tweets suggested that he enjoyed his visit to Tuscaloosa, but will that be enough for him to spurn in-state USC to join the Crimson Tide? The last prediction in the 247 crystal ball is trending Alabama’s way for the 32nd-ranked prospect in the 2018 recruiting cycle.

  • Julius Irvin, a four-star recruit from Anaheim, Ca., has set his decision date for where he’ll play next year. Irvin is the 12th ranked safety in the 2018 class and Alabama is in the list of three schools he’ll decide between on Jan. 31. Irvin visited Tuscaloosa last weekend and hosted Banks earlier this week. Despite the push, in-state USC still looks like the favorites to land Irvin.

  • Despite Alabama hosting wide receiver prospect Jacob Copeland on campus this weekend, the crystal ball for the No. 69 prospect are trending the way of the Florida Gators. Copeland, a four-star recruit from Pensacola, Fla,. decommited from Florida earlier this year and Alabama was poised to flip him before Jeremy Pruitt took the Tennessee job.

  • Jaylen Waddle, another 2018 four-star wide receiver considering the Crimson Tide, announced on Twitter he will decide on national signing day on which college he chooses. Texas A&M looks to be the team to beat for the 39th-ranked prospect from Bellaire, Tx. Waddle received a visit from offensive coordinator Mike Locksley and wide receivers coach Josh Gattis last Tuesday.

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