5-Stars Ben Davis, Mack Wilson Will Carry on Alabama's Great LB Tradition

Less than a month after his fourth national championship victory at Alabama, head coach Nick Saban continues to provide Crimson Tide fans with reasons to celebrate.

The program picked up a pair of commitments from two of America's most coveted defenders Wednesday when 5-star linebackers Ben Davis and Lyndell "Mack" Wilson announced intentions to attend college in Tuscaloosa:

Considered Alabama's top two in-state prospects, this duo provides plenty of promise for future defensive dominance.

Davis, rated No. 1 nationally among inside linebackers in composite rankings, is a 6'3", 240-pound Gordo High School standout. Wilson, who stands 6'2", 220 pounds, attends Carver High School and is considered the No. 2 outside linebacker in this 2016 recruiting cycle. 

Both players were nominated as finalists for the Butkus Award, which is annually handed out to the country's premier high school linebacker. They developed a bond early in the recruiting process, routinely hinting at the possibility of lining up alongside each other next season and beyond.

"Mack is my dude. ... He's been talking with me about playing together all the time, but we'll see how it goes," Davis told Bleacher Report during the 2015 season.

The duo took different routes to Tuscaloosa but arrive with similarly immense expectations.

Davis, the son of all-time Alabama tackles leader Wayne Davis, looks to carry a lofty family legacy. Despite strong speculation he was a Crimson Tide lock from the start, official visits at Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Notre Dame proved otherwise.

"My dad will support whatever decision I make 110 percent," Davis told Bleacher Report last year. "He hasn't really pushed me toward one school or another. He just wants to make sure I'm comfortable with the situation wherever I go."

Ultimately, he didn't need to look far for the right fit after exploring several alternative options.

Wilson previously mentioned Florida as a favorite, but Georgia emerged as Alabama's main competition by signing day. Former Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart charged hard in his new role as Bulldogs head coach, though it wasn't quite enough to pry Wilson away from his former mentor.

He and Davis undoubtedly maintained dialogue during the final phases of their respective lengthy decision-making processes. 

"We're like brothers. We really only met two years ago, but it's grown and gotten better. I trust him, and he's just like a close brother to me," Wilson told John Garcia Jr. of Scout.

New Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt previously served in the same position at Georgia, where he pursued both playmakers on behalf of Georgia. He adds to a stockpile of young, elite athletes who will be groomed to eventually replace outgoing Alabama defenders in the coming years and provide supplemental support as they develop.

Wilson totaled 115 tackles—18 for loss—and five sacks in 2015, per MaxPreps. Davis tallied 119 tackles and seven touchdown receptions as a senior, according to Joey Chandler of the Tuscaloosa News, claiming MVP honors at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic.

The list of Saban-era linebackers who reached collegiate stardom and eventual NFL opportunities includes Rolando McClain (Dallas Cowboys), C.J. Mosley (Baltimore Ravens), Courtney Upshaw (Baltimore Ravens), Dont'a Hightower (New England Patriots) and potential 2016 first-round draft pick Reggie Ragland. Those predecessors help establish a certain tone of authority in Saban's defensive attack.

The position is a point of pride in Tuscaloosa that predates Saban's arrival. 

Lee Roy Jordan was a physical leader of the 1961 national championship team and went on to make five NFL Pro Bowls. Derrick Thomas dominated in the late 1980s and is among the most prolific pass-rushers in history, earning induction into both the professional and college football Hall of Fames. 

There's a lot to live up to for this exciting tandem of Crimson Tide newcomers. Given their reputation on the recruiting trail, Alabama fans will closely monitor their emergence moving forward.

Unless otherwise noted, quotes were obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.