Alabama Football Recruiting: Looking Ahead to 2016 Class

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama had a relatively drama-free 2015 national signing day due in large part to the work put in a year or two years ahead of time.

So you would be running behind the eight ball if you said it’s time for Nick Saban and his staff to look ahead to 2016. They’re one step ahead of you.

The Crimson Tide already have three commitments for the 2016 class and are hot after many of the top prospects of next year’s group.

What can Alabama fans expect over the next 12 months in the march toward 2016 signing day?

Current Commits

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Shyheim Carter: 5-star cornerback from Kentwood, Louisiana

Alabama is starting out strong in Louisiana, an area of the country that’s been favorable to it under Saban, nabbing Carter from the state. That could be important, as 247Sports’ Sonny Ship notes that Louisiana’s 2016 crop of talent could be the state’s best ever. Carter told 247Sports’ Shane Youngblood that he was solid to Alabama but still wants to hear from other schools.

Demetris Robertson: 4-star athlete from Savannah, Georgia

While Robertson is committed to Alabama, like most at this stage, his recruitment is anything but over. Despite committing over the summer, he is still hearing from Georgia coach Mark Richt and commenting on the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator hire. Richt and Georgia will hang around for Robertson’s signature.

Raekwon Davis: 3-star defensive tackle from Meridian, Mississippi

Davis will fly under the radar in this class. He’s not as highly ranked as a lot of Alabama’s 2016 targets and just generally seems to be a guy who doesn’t seek the spotlight. He committed to Nick Saban two weeks before making it public, per AL.com’s Drew Champlin. But if the 6’7”, 315-pound Davis can continue to develop, he could be an effective player in Alabama’s defense.

Areas of Need

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Offensive tackle

Alabama had another big offensive line class in 2015 but was lacking an elite tackle, something that wasn’t lost on Saban. He and his staff will surely be after a top tackle this year to shore up the outsides of the Crimson Tide’s offensive line.

The top uncommitted 2016 prospect is Willie Allen, a 5-star from New Orleans Alabama is pursuing. It had luck with a tackle from Louisiana last year, grabbing Cam Robinson, who ended up starting every game in 2014, and could look to Louisiana again.

Defensive line

The Crimson Tide loaded up on linebackers and defensive backs in this class, without as much emphasis on the defensive line, per Saban. They’ll be looking to reload there in 2016, when they could potentially lose their top four guys up front.

Rashan Gary is an athletic defensive tackle who could work well in Alabama’s 3-4. Shavar Manuel and Marlon Davidson, both 5-stars, should also be among the top of the group of defensive linemen Alabama pursues in this cycle.

The Next QB?

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Alabama has signed at least one quarterback in every recruiting class under Saban. There’s no reason to believe that’s a trend that won’t continue.

“You're always trying to plan for the circumstances and what will happen at a particular position,” Saban said about that strategy. “If we can add quality to a position, we're always going to do it. I think probably a tougher question is why wouldn't you recruit more than one guy at that position? I think if you're short in numbers, that's something you would consider doing as well.”

So where will Alabama look for 2016 quarterbacks? AL.com’s Drew Champlin looked at four whom the Crimson Tide could be after.

The most interesting of that bunch is 4-star Jawon Pass from Columbus, Georgia. He’s the No. 2 mobile quarterback in the class from the same high school that Alabama pulled Mekhi Brown from in the 2015 cycle.

Saban and Alabama saw what a mobile quarterback could do with Blake Sims under center. They signed a mobile guy in Blake Barnett this year. If they want to continue that trend, Pass should be at the top of their list.

In-State Talent

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As Alabama continues to recruit on a national level, it still hasn’t forgotten about the in-state talent around Tuscaloosa.

“We really think it's an important part of building our program,” Saban said. “It's the best way to keep continuity with a recruiting base. The relationships that we have with coaches. Having players in the program here help get the next player.”

There’s no shortage of talent in Alabama this year.

The top player in the state is Lyndell Wilson, a 5-star linebacker from Montgomery, whom Alabama has already offered. His high school coach told AL.com’s Ben Thomas that Wilson is the best athlete to come through Carver High School, a group that includes Auburn’s Jeremy Johnson and Alabama’s Shaun Dion Hamilton.

Ben Davis is another 5-star whose father, Wayne, is Alabama’s all-time leading tackler. Davis is just 30 minutes west of Tuscaloosa in Gordo and seems to be a slam-dunk get.

Other Top Targets

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Deontay Anderson

Here are some other names to keep an eye on in the 2015 class for Alabama: 

• Deontay Anderson, 5-star safety from Manvel, Texas
• Rashard Lawrence, 4-star defensive tackle from Monroe, Louisiana
• Ed Oliver, 5-star defensive tackle from Houston, Texas
• Shea Patterson, 5-star pro-style quarterback from Shreveport, Louisiana
• Kaden Smith, 4-star tight end from Flower Mound, Texas
• Steven Smothers, 4-star wide receiver from Reisterstown, Maryland
• Tre Nixon, 3-star wide receiver from Melbourne, Florida

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes and reporting were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information comes from 247Sports.

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.