National Analyst Says Saban Takes Backseat

Mike Farrel, the National Recruiting Director for Rivals.com and known as "The Godfather of Recruiting" joined Ryan Fowler to talk about the Alabama recruiting class so far, Bryce Young and who the best recruiter he's ever seen.

You can hear the full interview on Soundcloud or on the Tide 100.9 YouTube account.

Farrell called Nick Saban the second best recruiter he's ever seen.

"Urban Meyer is the best, and the reason for that is Urban Meyer was able to recruit nationally and Urban Meyer was able to sell stories to kids that nobody on earth should ever believe. He was able to go up north at Ohio State and recruit the Southeast as if it was his own and win a national championship up there," said Farrell.

He compared the two coaches recruiting style by saying Meyer would charm the recruits more and Saban uses a more direct style explaining the practicality of his program for top-level recruits.

Farrell complimented Saban's ability to read prospects early and said he usually nails a player's personality and character early and that's why he has such a high success rate.

The Rivals Recruiting Director spoke highly of incoming freshman quarterback, Bryce Young by comparing him to Kyler Murray. Farrell said that he would play a lot this fall because Coach Saban does not want to deal with a potential Jake Fromm and Justin Fields situation that went on at Georgia. He went so far to say that Young would start for the Crimson Tide as early as week 3 this year.

Farrell said Young's ability to improvise and make plays on the move will help him win the job fro Mac Jones. He went on to say the threat of Young entering the transfer portal will force Saban into playing him early.

Farrell said that Young, in high school migh have been better than Matt Barekly, Matt Leinart and Tod Marinovich all having come from the storied Mater Dei.

Make sure you check out the entire interview on SoundCloud or Youtube. You can listen to The Game with Ryan Fowler each weekday from 2-6 p.m. on Tide 100.9 FM or stream it on the free Tide1009app.