3 Alabama football recruits who will have an immediate impact in 2023

Alabama football secured the No. 1 recruiting class for the 2023 cycle but these three recruits will be vital to the Crimson Tide’s success immediately.

Nick Saban has been known, whether actually or colloquially, to not take slights lightly. So when the Alabama Crimson Tide were left out of the College Football Playoff — rightfully so with two losses, it must be said — and labeled as having a disappointing season, we should’ve expected the storm coming. And it came on the recruiting trail.

Alabama football secured the No. 1 overall class for the 2023 recruiting cycle after National Signing Day, good for the third-best class ever…though it’s only Saban’s second-best in his illustrious career in Tuscaloosa.

All told, though, the Crimson Tide have unreal talent coming into the program, including seven 5-star recruits of the 39 rated as such in the 247 Sports Composite rankings. However, some 5-star recruits require development and others are able to hit the field right away, especially if they come in at a position of need.

There are some of those guys in this class for Saban and the Crimson Tide. Three incoming recruits in particular will have a role to play for Alabama football in the 2023 season.

Alabama football: 3 recruits who will be immediately important for the Crimson Tide

Justice Haynes has the talent to take control of the Alabama RB room

Even if some people graded out the 2022 campaign as disappointing for Bama, you have to wonder what it would’ve looked like if they hadn’t landed Jahmyr Gibbs in the transfer portal.

With the wide receiver room leaving something to be desired, Gibbs was a vital weapon for Bryce Young and the offense as a dual-threat out of the backfield. But now the former Georgia Tech recruit is headed to the NFL Draft. And that’s where Justice Haynes could play into the equation in the Crimson Tide running back room.

Yes, Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams are still on the roster and will get touches as they did behind Gibbs this past season. The truth of the matter, though, is that neither player has looked the part of a true X-factor at running back.

Haynes, however, looks that part. While his pass-catching is unproven at this point, he’s an elite runner who put up 5,900 yards rushing in high school. He possess big-play ability but also the ability to make plays through contact, either by playing through it or making tacklers miss. As Alabama ushers in a new quarterback, Haynes could play a major role on offense right away.