It can be hard to get a grasp on which of Alabama’s signees from Wednesday will contribute right away. Many of them were heralded recruits, but now they’re players, and they are joining a roster full of talent.

Some may be talented enough – and mature enough – to find a home in the lineup quickly. For some, it will help if Alabama has a need – or like in the case of Calvin Ridley last year, where an injury creates a need. There are also some positions on the field where Nick Saban and his staff feel more comfortable giving minutes to younger players.

The name you will hear a bunch this summer and fall is B.J. Emmons, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound running back who chose Alabama over Georgia and Tennessee on Wednesday. Aside from his size, Emmons comes to Tuscaloosa at the perfect time because the Tide needs to fill a void created by the departures of Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake.

Neither of the two backs who also carried the football in 2015 – Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough – saw the field much outside of garbage time. Assuming Emmons’ academic affairs are in order — as of this writing, his ACT score is still lacking — he could see the football as early as September. Another running back to watch is Joshua Jacobs, the Oklahoma native who also signed on Wednesday.

Many of Bama’s signees on the defensive side of the ball have the chance to contribute in a meaningful way at some point in 2016, if only because Nick Saban has shown a penchant for rotating bodies on defense and throwing his kids into the fire once they’ve made it clear they understand the craft. Expect Ben Davis and Mack Wilson to get looks at the linebacker position. Talented defensive backs like Shy Carter, Nigel Knott and Aaron Robinson should get some run in fall camp as well.

Alabama’s focus early in the recruiting process was up front, and with good reason. The Tide is losing some massive bodies along its defensive front with the departures of A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed. To that end, defensive tackle signees Raekwon Davis, Kendell Jones and Quinnen Williams all will add depth up front.

While we’re on the subject, don’t sleep on offensive tackles Jonah Williams (a five-star recruit) and Charles Baldwin (four-star). Both enrolled early, so they’ll be going through spring practice, and both likely will get looks as early as this year.