Assessing Alabama's 2016 recruiting class with Signing Day on the horizon

With only a few days to go before National Signing Day, Alabama still has some work to do for its recruiting class of 2016.

As of right now, the recruiting focus appears to be mostly along the front lines. Alabama’s highest-rated commitments — or, in the case of Jonah Williams and Charles Baldwin, early enrollees — are offensive tackles or defensive tackles. Additionally, the prizes Nick Saban and his staff are still chasing are largely either defensive tackles or linebackers.

It is that duo along the defensive front — Rashan Gary and Derrick Brown, from Paramus, N.J., and Buford, Ga., respectively — that could turn this class from so-so into great (at least in the pantheon of great Alabama classes). In addition, UA is also in the mix for DE Brian Burns (who might be leaning towards Florida schools), and DT Michail Carter (who probably is more interested in UGA), as well as linebackers like Mique Juarez (California), Lyndell Wilson (Montgomery) and safety Nigel Warrior (Suwanee, Ga.).

One potentially fun subplot will be the state of Georgia, if only because new head coach Kirby Smart was hamstrung in recruiting season by his previous employer’s run to the national championship game. Alabama and UGA are head-to-head for multiple prospects within the Peach State, so look for that particular thread to be a theme on Tuesday.

Saban’s recruiting abilities have been remarkable and well-documented during his tenure at Alabama. 2016 may be something of an “off year,” but it still means a top-10 class and a pretty big haul for the future.

ASSESSING ALABAMA’S 2016 CLASS

Current commits or enrollees: 17
Remaining primary targets: DT Rashan Gary, DT Derrick Brown, ILB Ben Davis, OLB Lyndell Wilson, ATH Mecole Hardman Jr.
National/SEC rank: 7/4

NOTABLE COMMITS

*Junior college transfer