Five-star defensive end Da’Shawn Hand (Woodbridge, Va.) committed to Alabama last Thursday, which surprised many who had him penciled in as part of Michigan‘s 2014 class. Anyone who has ever met Hand knows that there would be more to it than him picking the most popular and successful program in the country and there was. The Crimson Tide football program (three of the last four BCS National Championships, three straight top-ranked recruiting classes, etc.) speaks for itself, the University of Alabama itself helped to win Hand with a strong academic sales pitch. A source close to Hand said that the the Tide coaching staff and university personnel convinced the talented prospect that he could graduate from UA with a degree in Civil Engineering. University of Alabama College of Engineering Dean Charles L. “Chuck” Karr will personally serve as Hand’s academic advisor. Those academic factors, combined with the chance to play in the Southeastern Conference, tipped the scales in Alabama’s favor.