Alabama Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- President Barack Obama is the most powerful man in the free world. His office is famously known across the country, but does he have a button on his desk that automatically closes the door to the room where he works?

Nick Saban does.

Alabama’s head coach can close the door to his office from the confines of his chair whenever he chooses. The device has proven to be both impressive and intimidating to potential recruits who have walked in.

“I was actually kind of nervous coming into his office,” Alabama signee Maurice Smith said. “When I had walked into his office, he was the only coach who ever had a button -- he pushes the button and the door closes. That was pretty scary.”

ESPN Watch List linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams met with Saban in his office during the Crimson Tide’s first junior day this year. He left with a scholarship offer, but when he first walked in, he was a little unsure.

“It’s very intimidating,” he said. “You come into his office, he presses the button and the door closes behind you, and then it’s right to business, what you want to talk about.”

The infamous automatic door didn’t bother 2014 running back Leonard Fournette. He was more impressed with the next part of Saban’s routine -- showing off his four national championship rings to the recruits.

“I was pretty impressed,” Fournette said. “He asked what was going on with me, personal stuff, how school was going and stuff like that.”

There’s a reason Saban is considered the best recruiter in college football right now, but is he the most powerful man in the sport?

It’s hard to argue for anybody else. The UA head coach has compiled a record of 68-13 during his six seasons with the Tide. He has won three national championships in the past four years. He’s also earned a top-three recruiting class in each of the last six years.

“Three rings in the past four years,” Allen-Williams said. “Who else is doing that? Four rings as a head coach. Who else is doing that? To me, he’s the most powerful man in college football right now.”

As Saban aims for yet another title next season, he’ll take a break on Monday to visit the White House with his team. The most powerful man in college football will meet the most powerful man in the free world.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- By any statistical measurement, Alabama's signing class this year was a success. The number of ESPN 300 members who faxed in their paperwork was staggering. Thirteen signees were ranked in the top 10 nationally at their positions.

The No. 1 class ranking was just a distinction. Simply hauling in top recruits won't get a team too far. UA coach Nick Saban knows this well. As he and his staff were building the class, they had goals in mind. The road map was simple.

"We didn’t change the recruiting strategy," Saban said. "We define the kind of players that we want, and they have critical factors at each position. I think we added fast-twitch, pass-rushing athletic guys to the defensive line category as being a higher priority because of spread offenses, more spread offenses, more athletic quarterbacks -- those types of things, the same things that NFL teams are talking about when they play against RG3 or [Colin] Kaepernick or Russell Wilson from Seattle, who are athletic and run the ball. We have to be able to adapt to that kind of athleticism and that means we have to be more athletic to do that."

In other words, Saban is gearing up for three more years of Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M. The Aggies were the only team to beat Alabama in 2012, and after watching the future Heisman Trophy winner carve up his defense, Saban is ready to react.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama has utilized more and more true freshmen each year, and it should be no different with the 2013 class. The Crimson Tide already have 21 commitments, including 10 ranked in the ESPN 150. It also doesn’t hurt that nine of them have already enrolled and will compete in spring practice.

Instant-impact recruits

RB Derrick Henry: With Eddie Lacy leaving a year early for the NFL, T.J. Yeldon expects to carry the load at running back next year for Alabama. But who will spell him? Both Jalston Fowler and Dee Hart are coming off major knee injuries, and Kenyan Drake will be just a sophomore. After the season Yeldon put together, don’t count out another true freshman making an impact in the backfield next year.

The Tide expect to sign at least three, possibly four ESPN 150 running backs, but the most physical and ready to play is Henry -- who broke the high school career rushing record. The 6-foot-3, 243-pound could see some time at H-back as well, but expect him to start out as a running back.

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