T’was the night before the early signing period and social media buzzed.

Instead of Santa delivering presents, the football gods were handing out some more good news for Nick Saban and Alabama football. Social media was triggered when the Crimson Tide was reportedly projected to add even more blue-chip talent to a top-three class. A day later, their warnings weren’t too far off. Alabama compiled the second-best group overall. Saban once again flipped multiple recruits from his former assistants. During his press conference, he told everyone more was coming.

One reporter asked Saban about how he’s adapted to maintain recruiting success in a social media age, referencing a story Kirby Smart told about Saban texting him back for the first time ever earlier this year.

“Uh, I can’t,” Saban said, pausing for a beat. “I don’t know. You’re asking the wrong person,”

But then Saban explained his general pitch to prospects, revealing why Alabama’s presence on signing day, and the college football world at large, has been so dominant.

“I mean, we try to be honest. We try to be upfront. We try to sell people on the fact that they can create value in their brand that we’re gonna make a great investment in them here, personally, academically and athletically. There’s a lot of guys that still buy into that. I think name, image and likeness has maybe spread where guys go out because some guys are interested in how much money they can make and that’s OK. We’re trying to invest in the players in their future so they could create more value for their future. There (are) a lot of players that still buy into that.”

Every few seasons between his six national titles with Alabama, there are claims of the dynasty dying. It happened this fall. Yet, from a recruiting angle, there hasn’t been a drop-off. In 247Sports composite top 10 classes in modern history, Alabama owns six spots. Just consider the run of elite quarterback additions that continued with the nation’s best this year, Julian Sayin. While opposing coaches plea to recruits that Alabama’s system stifles playing time, UA produces freshman standouts each year (Caleb Downs and Kadyn Proctor in 2023).

Alabama embraced NIL once the state legislature overturned an aggressive law limiting schools from engaging with players. The University has boasted ‘The Authentic at Bryant-Denny Stadium’ a shop that sells player merchandise on gameday. Saban has even slightly tweaked his coaching philosophy, reveling in the LANK-attitude of his current roster. But at the core of it, Saban’s selling points have been consistent since he arrived to applause off the plane in Tuscaloosa in 2007.

“A lot of the stuff I was able to see made it click in my head that Alabama could develop me to a good player and a man. … I feel like playing at ‘Bama, they can develop you in a lot of different ways to be successful.” Kevin Riley, a Tuscaloosa County running back who switched his commitment from Miami to Alabama on Wednesday, told Brett Greenberg of 247Sports.

In 2023, the dynasty became generational. Saban was asked about his first legacy recruit with the Tide, defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. whose father who two BCS titles with Alabama. Saban noted how both Kirkpatricks knew what they wanted and were competitive. Fourteen years apart, they both bought in.

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