In the coming weeks, SEC football media coverage will be dominated by the start of spring practice around the conference and the 2017 NFL Draft. In Alabama’s case, both of these will serve as reminders that the Crimson Tide have to replace a number of key contributors from last year’s SEC Championship team.

Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports decided to ask those who know the team well, such as former players and assistants from 2016 squad, who they think will be the next wave of stars in Tuscaloosa. Feldman’s contacts came back with seven names:

  • LB Terrell Hall
  • DL Quinnen Williams
  • OL Scott Lashley
  • LB Anfernee Jennings
  • TE Miller Forristall
  • LB Mack Wilson
  • DB Nigel Knott

Considering that Nick Saban has a seven-year streak of signing the nationally ranked No. 1 recruiting class on the 247Sports Composite, one might expect the list to include some veteran backups who have patiently waited their turn for a starting spot. In fact, all but one of the names provided (Jennings) is from the class of 2016, which has the lowest average composite score (0.9285) of the five classes on campus (2013-17). That’s not to say these players were necessarily diamonds in the rough.

Of the six 2016 signees, all of them were ranked in the top-20 or higher at their respective positions. Five of the signees were considered blue-chip recruits (4- or 5-star prospects), with only Forristall missing a fourth star. The former quarterback turned tight end may have only been a 3-star recruit, but he received high praise from his former position coach, Mario Cristobal.

“Keep an eye on Miller Forristall,” Cristobal told Feldman. “He’s a former quarterback and he knows the game inside and out. He’s tough, has really good hands and he can run (the 40-yard dash) in the high 4.6s.”

To see what Cristobal, Billy Napier, Gehrig Dieter and Dalvin Tomlinson had to say about the other sophomores and Jennings, Feldman’s full article can be viewed here.