With the way Nick Saban stacks elite recruits every year, it’s hard for a freshman to find his way onto the field.

If a freshman doesn’t end up redshirting, he’s often buried behind several older players — players who were just as touted coming out of high school — with years in the program to boost them up the depth chart.

Still, the Crimson Tide have had no problem turning to true freshmen to play immediately when they’re ready. Cam Robinson started all 14 games at left tackle last year and JK Scott emerged as one of the best punters in the nation in his first year on campus, while in 2012 Amari Cooper led the Tide in receiving as a freshman, among several other recent examples.

Several redshirt freshmen — cornerback Marlon Humphrey, left guard Ross Pierschbacher and possibly quarterback David Cornwell — will all be counted on this fall after waiting their turn on the bench for a year.

Alabama already has six freshmen on campus as early enrollees, and the rest of the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class will arrive this summer. Who are the fresh-faced players that could see the field this fall?

Ronnie Harrison, safety — It didn’t take long from the time Harrison set foot on campus for coaches to start mentioning his name after spring practices. While Alabama’s front seven is as solid as it gets, the secondary has plenty of issues to be ironed out. Geno Smith’s status is up in the air after his DUI arrest during the spring, Eddie Jackson may move from cornerback to safety, at least part time, and Jabriel Washington and Hootie Jones are duking it out for playing time. With that muddled depth chart, Harrison made his case to play early in his career this spring, picking up the playbook and impressing teammates and coaches in the process. While he may not start, Harrison will almost certainly be a key rotation player in the defensive backfield.

Lester Cotton and Richie Petitbon, offensive guards — Alabama is undergoing its second major offensive line reconstruction since Mario Cristobal took over in 2013. While the starting five is all but set, the Tide will still need reliable depth up front. Alphonse Taylor provides some of that, as does Brandon Greene, but there’s no such thing as having too many competent linemen. Especially with Grant Hill sidelined with an undisclosed medical issue, Alabama will count on Cotton and Petitbon, both ranked in the top five at their position in the class of 2015, to push the backups and perhaps even take on a reserve role.

Damien Harris, running back — The top running back in the class of 2015 was a pretty safe bet to take a redshirt in his first year at Alabama when he signed back in February. Things have changed quite a bit since then, as the Crimson Tide will be without three of the running backs once expected to be in the backfield rotation this fall. That makes Harris more vital to Alabama’s success than anyone imagined he would be in 2015, and he’ll have to make his case once he arrives on campus. Alabama has a dynamic duo in Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake, but having another powerful back behind Henry will be crucial for the Tide’s offense.

Calvin Ridley, wide receiver — Like Harris, Ridley was the top-rated recruit at his position. Also like Harris, Ridley joins a depleted position group. Alabama is replacing its three leading receivers from last year, including Cooper, a unanimous All-American. While ArDarius Stewart and Robert Foster both looked good in spring ball, sharing A-Day MVP honors, and while Chris Black seems ready to live up to his five-star status, it’s safe to assume that without a transcendent talent like Cooper that Alabama’s passing targets will be more evenly distributed in 2015. With great speed and size, Ridley could be an immediate target for Alabama’s new starting quarterback, and he has potential as a kick returner as well.