Alabama got its first big commitment on National Signing Day with the commitment of Patrick Surtain Jr.
Surtain, the top uncommitted recruit entering National Signing Day, is the No. 6 overall player in the country and the No. 1 cornerback, according to 247Sports' Composite rankings. He is the Tide's second top-10 player of the class, after weak-side defensive end Eyabi Anoma, the No. 4 overall player in the country.
MORE: National Signing Day tracker
Surtain chose the Tide over Miami and LSU, which was considered a heavy favorite to land the blue-chip talent from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Though the Tigers led throughout his recruitment, he likely started favoring Alabama on Jan. 19, when he visited Tuscaloosa for an official visit. Alabama pitched immediate playing time to Surtain, considering the Tide's mass exodus of talent in the defensive secondary.
When asked by ESPNU reporters why he chose Alabama over his other finalists, Surtain said, "Why Alabama? They win championships."
With Surtain's commitment, Alabama's class now ranks No. 4 nationally and second in the SEC, behind Georgia.
