TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 24: The cheerleaders of the Alabama Crimson Tide lead the team onto the field to face the Tennessee Volunteers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 24, 2009 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The first 2018 Alabama football Champions Cookout is bringing a bevy of 5-Star recruits to Tuscaloosa this weekend.

The array of future college football talent attending the Alabama football Champions Cookout is astounding. Players from the 2019, 2020 and 2021 classes will take part in the elite, invitation-only event.

Actual attendees will not be fully known until they arrive, but the list of who is expected to attend is filled with elite players. A couple of top targets may not arrive until Saturday but the weekend list could end up including 10 5-Star recruits. Another 30 or so 4-Star recruits are also expected.

Including the current 2019 and 2020 verbal commits, Alabama football will have close to 80 recruits in Tuscaloosa this weekend. Obviously, the Crimson Tide will not land every top target, either this weekend or later. That is a given for all teams but Nick Saban has another problem. He will not be able to make room for many top players.

There could be as many as ten 4-Star players who are being told they cannot commit at this time. Not all insider information conveys a complete story. We will pass along one current situation where we believe a top 50, 4-Star recruit was told to wait. The waiting carried no guarantee of a future open slot. The player chose to commit elsewhere.

The player’s name is not included because we do not have direct information on the situation. Not taking an anticipated commit is not uncommon for the Crimson Tide and other top teams. It just does not often happen with a Top 50 player.

We believe there is an unprecedented number of top players in the 2019 class who want to join Alabama football.

With close to 80 players visiting this weekend, let’s focus on the 2019 5-Stars and top 4-Stars. and a few 2020 5-Stars.

Probable and possible 5-Star visitors

Not including many current, 2019 verbal commits who will also attend.

2019 Class

Clay Webb

Faatui Tuitele

Kayvon Thibodeaux

Ishmael Sopsher

Trey Sanders

Nakobe Dean (Saturday only)

2020 Class

Savell Smalls

Zachary Evans

Justin Flowe

Arik Gilbert

Probable 4-Star visitors

2019 Class

Noa Pola-Gates

Kalen DeLoach

Devonta Lee

Jeffery Carter

Jalani Williams

Maninoa Tufono

Jaylen McCullough

Rian Davis

Isaiah Hazel

George Pickens

Jaren Handy

Pickens and Handy are Auburn verbal commits, still being actively recruited by the Crimson Tide.

There are at least another dozen, top 2019 prospects, who could not make it to Tuscaloosa this weekend. Guys like Darnell Wright, Daxton Hill, Nick Cross and others will continue to be top prospects.

It is too early to make specific predictions but the 2019 Alabama football signing class is going to be very special. A few more verbal commits could happen this weekend.