Recruiting: The Impact of the Cristobal Hiring (AUDIO)

Wednesday Nick Saban made it official.

After reports surfaced Monday, the Alabama head coach released the news that Mario Cristobal would indeed join the football program to fill the vacant offensive line coach position after Jeff Stoutland departed for the Philadelphia Eagles on February 8th.

"We are very pleased to announce the addition of Mario Cristobal to our staff," said Saban in a statement. "He has an outstanding reputation as both a coach and a recruiter. He will be a great fit in our organization and I think our players will respond to his positive attitude and energy."

Cristobal joins the Alabama program after a month as an assistant at the University of Miami, a position he accepted after being let go from Florida International University. ESPN Tide Nation's Greg Ostendorf noted that with the hire, Cristobal will give Alabama a serious presence in South Florida.

While the talent in South Florida will receive plenty of attention, Ostendorf says there are some serious prospects in the state of Alabama for the signing class of 2014.