The nation’s No. 1 recruit chose a new home Thursday, and it’s Tuscaloosa.
Woodbridge, Va., defensive end Da’Shawn Hand verbally committed to Alabama during a ceremony at his high school Thursday, going with the Crimson Tide over Florida and Michigan.
Hand said he received 94 total offers, the first of which came from Boston College when he was in ninth grade. During his recruitment, he was promised a meeting with Michael Jackson.
For Alabama, Hand adds to what Rivals ranks as the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class -- and that was before he verbally committed to Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide. He’s the second five-star recruit to commit to Alabama, joining West Monroe, La. offensive lineman Cameron Robinson.
“Why not go where it’s a great possibility that you can win a national championship,"Hand asked rhetorically. In light of that quote, perhaps it’s worth noting Michigan has slipped well out of the top 25 this year while Florida needs a miracle to become bowl eligible.
Hand is the next in an illustrious line of Rivals No. 1 recruits, joining Vince Young, Adrian Peterson, Terrelle Pryor and Jadeveon Clowney, among others.
Here’s Rivals recruiting expert Mike Farrell on how Hand got to this point: