Recruiting never stops and it didn’t before Alabama added Kevin Steele and Tommy Rees to its coaching staff. As Nick Saban interviewed candidates, the Crimson Tide’s head coach was still landing helicopters on high school fields and schmoozing with coaches and prospects.

Saban is the king of prospect acquisition for a reason, coming off yet another No. 1-ranked class with nine five-star players. Still, the arrival of a new defensive and offensive coordinator will impact the recruiting trail. The addition of Steele and Rees was questioned publically by fans and pundits, but both hires should bring different strengths in talent evaluation.

“It’s new energy. New ideas can come with new people. We love continuity but at the same time, you have to hopefully bring people in who bring a new energy, new ideas and be able to complement the things we do and help our players develop in a more positive way,” Saban said at the Nick Saban Legacy Award show in Birmingham this week.

For Steele, his pedigree within the state should shine ahead of a stacked 2024 grouping. His long tenure across three stints in Tuscaloosa and Auburn led to many bonds formed with high school head coaches. Steele signed Lee Hunter, Auburn’s highest-rated in-state commit in the last four cycles, from Blount in 2021.

Steele’s lone five-star pledge, per 247Sports Composite all-time rankings, was Mountain Brook offensive tackle Tyler Love in 2008. While Love never stayed healthy long enough with the Tide to earn consistent playing time, he was still the No. 23 player in the country when Steele helped Alabama win his signature. In that same class, Tennessee native and guard Barrett Jones, another Steele signee, became a two-time all-American with the Tide.

Steele also played a part in Damien Harris’ Alabama pledge and Arden Key’s growth at LSU. His roots throughout the south, from Florida State to Tennessee, made Steele a well-rounded scout. Rivals.com named Steele national recruiter of the year in 2005 after helping FSU achieve a No. 1 class.

More Tide football: Scarbinsky: Will Nick Saban’s new coordinators send him out a winner?

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The 30-year-old Rees, on the other hand, is a little more unproven compared to his 64-year-old counterpart. Bill O’Brien excelled at signing quarterbacks throughout his time as offensive coordinator with three top-10 throwers: Ty Simpson, who is expected to compete for the starting job, Dylan Lonergan and Eli Holstein. Rees has signed four signal-callers while with Notre Dame, most notably four-star Tyler Buchner — 11th-ranked QB in 2021 — and 2024 top-40 recruit CJ Carr.

Much of the Rees hire seems to be predicated on the upside and as a recruiter, he was having a breakout year for Notre Dame before accepting his new role. Four-star wide reciever Cam Williams and four-star athlete Aneyas Williams (no relation) were already committed, along with Carr.

Carr, a four-star from Michigan ranked 33rd nationally, held an offer from Alabama before he chose the Fighting Irish last June. He could potentially be in the mix for the Tide this year should Alabama take two quarterbacks like it did in 2023. California’s Julian Sayin, a five-star and No. 2 at his position, is already committed.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected]