Bama Signees with Best Chance of Playing

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — With 2015 national signing day in the books, the question for Alabama fans now becomes: So who’s going to play?

There’s a lot that goes into playing right away as a freshman.

First, you have to have the skill and talent obviously. But the roster needs to shake out such that there is an opening for you to squeeze into and contribute. If you are the best inside linebacker in the class and your team is returning two All-Americans at that position, it’ll be hard to see the field right away.

So with all of that in mind, let’s look at some 2015 signees with the best chance to get playing time immediately.

Ronnie Harrison

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Harrison will benefit from all of the aforementioned scenarios in a near-perfect storm.

Alabama lost its top three safeties to the NFL and graduation. It has one, maybe two, players returning who can be counted on to fill those roles. Otherwise, it’s a wide-open race.

Harrison is already on campus and seeing the effects. He told reporters on signing day that he is up to 218 pounds. After coming in at 206, his work is paying off.

At 6’3”, now 218 pounds and growing, Harrison should be able to fill the mold of a near-the-line-of-scrimmage safety that Alabama looks for at Star. Defensive playing time isn’t out of the realm of possibility in the slightest.

Adonis Thomas

Credit: 247Sports

The Crimson Tide’s other thin position on defense is at middle linebacker, where Thomas may be able to crack the rotation.

Alabama returns Reggie Ragland but otherwise has inexperience around him. Reuben Foster can’t seem to stay healthy, while Shaun Dion Hamilton will look to build off of a promising freshman season.

Middle linebacker could be arguably the hardest position to see the field, especially on defense. Players at that position are responsible for making calls and checks pre-snap in addition to handling their own assignments.

Still, if Thomas comes in and can get the basics down, he might be able to get on the field, at least in second-team duties.

Blake Barnett

USA TODAY Sports

Barnett is the hardest one to pin down of Alabama’s 2015 class.

On one hand, he’s a freshman quarterback, which is usually the most obvious candidate for a redshirt year, like every other quarterback has under Nick Saban.

On the other hand, Barnett isn’t every other quarterback, and Alabama is in a unique position at the quarterback position.

There is no sure-thing on campus right now for a quarterback. Jake Coker is presumably the favorite, but he didn’t exactly inspire tons of confidence in limited action last year.

It’s not at all out of the realm of possibility that Barnett gets handed the reins as a true freshman.

Jonathan Taylor

Credit: 247Sports

In Taylor, Saban hopes he has found an immediate-impact nose tackle who will stay out of trouble off the field after being on already thin ice.

Taylor was the only JUCO signee of Alabama’s 2015 class, and he seemingly fills a need on the defensive line that is missing on the current roster.

The 6’4”, 335-pound Taylor is a run-stuffer who should be able to play in the middle of the Crimson Tide’s 3-4 defense. Brandon Ivory, who graduated after the 2014 season, held that role this season.

But Taylor may also be the most scrutinized signee. He was kicked off the Georgia football team after allegedly choking and striking his girlfriend with a closed fist.

Saban said on signing day that Taylor will be closely monitored and have a set of stipulations to meet. If he can do the right things off the field, he should have a good opportunity to play a lot on it.

Damien Harris

USA TODAY Sports

Alabama’s running back depth is suddenly looking thinner and thinner.

First, running back Altee Tenpenny transferred. Then, Saban announced that Tyren Jones was “suspended indefinitely for conduct not to the standard of the Alabama football program.”

That means Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake, who is recovering from a broken leg suffered earlier in the season, are the only two non-suspended scholarship running backs with in-game carries for Alabama.

Harris won’t have the luxury of going through spring practice like fellow running back signee Desherrius Flowers will. But he was the higher-rated of the pair.

Saban has had plenty of success with freshman running backs. Harris could get some first-team carries in 2015 with the way the roster is shaping up.

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.