Top 10 recruits in the state of Alabama in 2017

With the reigning national champions and another SEC school dominating the sporting landscape, it’s no surprise that the state of Alabama produces a good annual crop of quality FBS-caliber football players.

It’s also not a shock to see that nine of the top 10 players ranked in the state by 247Sports.com are committed to or projected to sign with Alabama or Auburn.

The top six players in the Class of 2016 signed with one of the two in-state schools, while Florida and Mississippi State each signed two of the remaining top 10.

Jake Bentley, a pro-style quarterback, might not be on this list when his senior season starts. He’s still deciding whether to finish his senior season at Opelika, or to follow his father, Bobby, who is now coaching at South Carolina.

That also explains why the Gamecocks are the frontrunner.

The top rated player on the list, Nico Collins, a 6-foot-5 receiver from Birmingham, already has a boatload of scholarship offers in hand. With wide receiver projecting as a position of need for the Tide in this class, he will be a high priority for them.

Auburn, Georgia and Ole Miss are also very much in the mix, according to SECcountry.com.

The next player on the list, Markail Benton, a linebacker from Phenix City, has both in-state schools in his carefully alphabetized top 10. He’s planning to enroll early, so he’d be a nice get for either school.

Alaric Williams, a running back out of Gadsden, has been committed to the Tigers since July of last year. It’s not clear where he will play on the college level, but he’s not concerned about it.

“I have two more years until I have to worry about that,” Williams told AL.com. “I’m just going to let it all play out. I’m solid. I feel like that’s home and Auburn’s where I want to be.”

Chadarius Townsend, a mobile quarterback from Tanner, projects more as a defensive back in college. He’s been committed to Alabama since last July, and unlike Williams, has some ideas about where he’d like to line up on the next level.

“I’m really looking for offense because I want the ball a lot,” Townsend told AL.com. “I’m looking for running back or receiver. They said when I come down there (to Alabama), they’ll let me choose and play where I want, and then see how it is. Through all my years of football, I’ve always wanted the ball.”

He also plans to enroll early, boosting his chances of early playing time, at whatever position he ends up in.

Here is the top 10 list of players in the state of Alabama, as rated by 247Sports, and where they’re currently projected to sign: