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Alabama also persuaded four-star wide receiver Kenny Bell, from Rayville, La., to make a signing day switch and abandon his verbal commitment to LSU.
The Tigers got bad news on Bell, but good news on Rueben Randle, Rivals' No. 1 receiver prospect in the country. Randle, from Bastrop, La., hadn't made a verbal commitment and had Alabama among his final choices. He's headed to Baton Rouge, along with most of the best players in Louisiana.
Miles also reached into Texas for a couple of stars. Safety Craig Loston from Aldine and dual-threat quarterback Russell Shepard from Houston were rated among the best in the country at their positions.
"Potentially, this is the style of class that competes for championships year after year," Miles said.
Of course both Alabama and LSU will have to contend with Florida just to win an SEC championship in the coming years.
The Gators handed out 16 scholarships and lost out on some players late. But Florida's class includes receiver Andre Debose of Sanford, Fla., Rivals' No. 2 receiver in the country, and Jelani Jenkins, a top-rated linebacker from Olney, Md., who made up his mind Wednesday morning.
Meyer said Debose could replace Percy Harvin, the talented and multidimensional receiver who is entering the NFL draft as a junior.
"Watching (Debose) on film, for what we do, our style of offense, for what we need right now with the departure of Percy Harvin, that's a critical element because we're not going to change our offense," Meyer said.
It was another successful signing day for Pete Carroll and USC. The Trojans' latest heralded recruiting class features the consensus No. 1 quarterback in the country. Matt Barkley is from Mater Dei High School, the same southern California school that produced Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart.
[Associated Press;
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