Alabama Football: Recruits Tide Must Land After Missing on Eldridge Massington

4-star wide receiver and former USC commitment Eldridge Massington has committed to UCLA, according to Sean Ceglinsky of 247Sports.

This is a gigantic recruiting win for the Bruins, especially considering that he was formally committed to their rival, USC.

Massington took to Twitter to announce his decision:

I wanna thank God for guiding me through this process but Go Bruins!!!!

— eldridge massington (@OH_GOTTAMAN) December 19, 2012

For as big of a win as it is for UCLA though, Massington's decision will undoubtedly go down as a rare recruiting loss for Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Alabama was in Massington's final two, so it's the program that lost out on the 4-star receiver.

Here are three recruits Alabama must land after losing out on Massington's commitment.

 

Robert Foster, 5-star WR, Central Valley High School (PA)

Foster is the No. 3 wide receiver in the 2013 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, so landing him would more than make up for not getting Massington's commitment.

He's 6'2'' and 185 pounds, so he has good size coming out of high school, and 247Sports has him running the 40 at a very fast 4.49. He's big and quick enough to be a deep threat for Alabama, and the good thing is that the Crimson Tide are in his top two, along with Pittsburgh (247Sports).

Normally, out-recruiting Pittsburgh wouldn't be a problem for Saban and his program, but the Panthers have some serious "home-state advantage" with Foster. That said, from a football standpoint, Alabama can offer a lot more to the 5-star receiver, so he's a recruit it can't miss out on—especially now.

Note: Foster will announce his decision on December, 21st.

 

Taj Williams, 4-star WR, Lincoln High School (FL)

Williams would be a great "second option" for Alabama at wide receiver, especially if Foster ends up staying close to home. Williams is 6'3.5'' and 166 pounds and runs the 40 at 4.40, according to 247Sports. So he has great size and speed—much like Foster.

Williams currently has Louisville listed as his favorite (247Sports), but Alabama is in a group of "warm interests" behind the Cardinals along with Florida State, South Carolina and Washington State.

If 'Bama picks up its recruiting process with Williams, it should have a good shot to move up that list and at least contend with Louisville for his commitment.

 

Montravius Adams, 5-star DT, Dooley County High School (GA)

Montravius Adams is in no way a wide receiver, but I can think of no better way to get over the sting of missing out on Massington than landing Adams' commitment.

He could end up being the most dominant defensive lineman in college football soon enough. At the very least, he has the intangibles to do so.

Adams checks in at 6'4'' and 310 pounds (247Sports) and has a great blend of athleticism, strength and technique. He'll be an effective edge-rusher at the college level, but he's also strong and disciplined enough to play in the interior of the line as well.

Simply put, Adams has the potential to be a superstar.

Alabama is listed as a "warm interest" according to his 247Sports interest list, along with Auburn, Clemson, Florida and Georgia.

The Crimson Tide would really like to use Adams much like they did Marcell Dareus, and the 5-star defender has what it takes to duplicate Dareus' success.

Landing Adams' commitment would be huge for Alabama, and it would more than make up for losing out on Massington.