Alabama Football Recruiting 2012: 5 Recruits Destined for Crimson Tide Stardom

We're introducing a new series into the B/R College Football Recruiting content family, as we're going to be looking back at some of the big-name programs' 2012 recruiting classes.

No, were not ranking them or anything like that. This series will be geared toward selecting various players in the program's 2012 class that we feel are destined to be stars before they leave college.

Today, we begin with who else but the national champs and the program with the best recruiting class for 2012: Alabama.

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WR Chris Black

Black is a 6'0", 175-pound WR with great speed, RAC ability and athleticism.

LB Dillon Lee

Lee's a head, 6'4", 235-pound LB that plays with toughness and production.

CB Geno Smith

At 6'0", 170 pounds, Smith has great hips to develop as a cover corner.

DT Korren Kirven

Kirven was a late addition to the Tide class but the 6'4", 280-pound DL should fit in nicely on the Tide's front.

5. Cyrus Jones, WR

Jones is a 5'10" and 185-pound WR with excellent speed, quickness and RAC ability. He can also double as a RB or CB.

WR is not a position of strength inside the Alabama program, as many big-time WR recruits shy away from catching balls in Tuscaloosa. But Jones, should he play WR for 'Bama, should be able to help out soon.

With his speed, elusiveness in the open field, high ceiling and development as a route-runner, at worst Jones should have a Marquis Maze-type of career for Alabama. 

4. T.J. Yeldon, RB

I became an even bigger fan of Yeldon's after the Army Game, as the one-time Auburn commit should become a top back for Alabama before he leaves.

At 6'1", 215 pounds, Yeldon is a home run-hitter that has tacked on some girth over the past year. He's a long and lean-bodied athlete, with easy and fluid movement, a great burst to and through holes, and natural run instincts.

Look for Yeldon to become the next in line in good RBs in Tuscaloosa.

3. Reggie Ragland, LB

Ragland is another player that I was high on throughout the complete 2012 cycle. He pledged to 'Bama as a junior and never looked back.

He's a big 6'4", 245-pound LB that I feel fits best as an ILB in Kirby Smart's defensive scheme. Think along the lines of Rolando McClain and Dont'a Hightower-sized ILB with Ragland.

Yet he also shows above-average movement in space, great ball location skills, strength to stack blocks at the point of attack, speed to get to the edges and thumping ability as a tackler. 

He should be an upper-echelon defensive player one day.

2. Eddie Williams, ATH/DB

Now, Williams can play an array of position with ease. It's not out of the question to see him line up at either DB, WR or even OLB.

At 6'4", 205 pounds, I feel Williams projects best as a rangy center fielder-type of FS. I say let his length, gliding speed, range, hands, instincts and playmaking ability pick off passes in the deep middle in Tuscaloosa.

But wherever Williams lines up for the Tide, expect him to leave school with some high honors attached to his name.

1. Landon Collins, DB/SS

Collins has the football IQ to get some time early at 'Bama. The scheme is a bit complex, especially on the back end, but he's very smart, instinctive and shoots his cannons any chance he gets.

Those are traits that will get you noticed by the coaching staff. Doesn't hurt that he's a 6'0", 210-pound, heat-seeking missile with great speed, range, instincts, hitting ability and change-of-direction skills.

Before he leaves the Crimson Tide, I expect Collins to be an All-SEC defensive player and maybe even more than that.