For the longest time, five-star wide receiver/defensive back Keenan Allen was considered a mortal lock to be a member of Alabama’s 2010 recruiting class.
Then, 13 days ago, quarterback Zach Maynard abruptly decided to transfer from Buffalo. While the movement of a player at a MAC school would normally have no impact on a national powerhouse, this one did as Maynard and Allen are half-brothers.
At the point where it became public knowledge Maynard was transferring, rumors began surfacing that the siblings would go somewhere as a package deal. The talk -- which later proved to be correct -- began that the Tide’s class was full and there would be no room for Maynard.
Armed with that knowledge and subsequent confirmation, Allen told head coach Nick Saban Monday night that he was no longer a Tide commitment, thus continuing yet another round of recruiting that ultimately ended with both players headed for Cal.
Saban confirmed this evening that the lack of a scholarship for Allen’s brother led the blue-chip recruit to look elsewhere.
“Keenan Allen is a fine young man and a great player,” Saban said according to the Mobile Press-Register. “We recruited him for a long time. We have a lot of respect for the family.
“I think that somewhere along the line - 10 days ago - the circumstances changed relative to his brother Zach getting a release and transferring and the two of them wanting to go to school (together). Then it becomes a matter as to whether we can take both guys or not. I think the people that could obviously had a big advantage. We were not in a position to do that because we were full.”
You know how you can tell when you have a program loaded for bear, and I don’t mean Bryant? You can allow a five-star recruit to walk away because you don’t have room for his QB brother, a player who’s started at the Div. 1-A level.
So, yeah, the Tide isn’t fading away from the national scene anytime soon.