Behind in the very early 2016 recruiting rankings, Alabama secured a big name Friday night.

Four-star defensive tackle Kendall Jones gave a verbal pledge to the Tide following his spring game in Killeen, Texas.

The 6-foot-4, 360-pound run-stuffer became Alabama’s ninth commitment of the year. Jones chose Bama ahead of fellow SEC West schools LSU and Texas A&M, as well as large home-state Big 12 programs in Texas and Baylor.

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Nicknamed “The Hulk,” Jones is the 11th-ranked defensive tackle of the ’16 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings. He joins consensus three-star defensive tackle Raekwon Davis of Meridian, Miss.

Alabama has one of the deepest defensive lines in the country this season, but could lose A’Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen, Jarran Reed, D.J. Pettway, Darren Lake, Stephen Hodge and Bernel Jones, depending on whether those first two names enter the NFL draft early.

Sophomore Da’Shawn Hand and incoming ’15 freshman Daron Payne should be the big names for the Tide defensive line in 2016, but it’s nice to know there are reinforcements on the way.

Five of Alabama’s top six commitments in the ’16 class play along the offensive or defensive line.

With the commitment from Jones, the Crimson Tide moved up four spots in the 247Sports rankings to No. 10 overall