Is Alabama's Slow 2016 Recruiting Start a Cause for Concern?

Anytime fans glance at the recruiting rankings and see a team other than Alabama occupying the No. 1 spot, it’s a bit of an unfamiliar feeling.

Never mind that the dust just recently settled on the 2015 class—which marked the Tide’s fifth top-rated class in a row—earlier this month. 

In the early stages of the 2016 cycle, the Tide have gotten out of the gates slowly. 

They earned their most recent pledge on Thursday, when 3-star in-state receiver T.J. Simmons gave Nick Saban and his staff their fourth commitment in a class that currently checks in at No. 16 in the 247Sports 2016 team rankings.

Should the Tide's start to the 2016 class become cause for concern among Alabama faithful?

Absolutely not.

Getting early commitments has become a trend, one that works for a lot of schools around the country.

Miami currently has the nation's No. 1 class with 18 commitments, but it remains to be seen whether the 'Canes can keep their class together over the next 11 months. 

However, Alabama is one of very few programs—perhaps the only one—that can afford to be more selective in its recruiting process.

During the Tide’s Junior Day last month, a bevy of top prospects made their way to Tuscaloosa. From a recruit’s perspective, Saban’s program has all of its bases covered, and in an impressive way.

Four-star receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe described his Junior Day experience to Shane Youngblood of BamaOnLine:

"

Their facilities are so nice. This place has very little flaws and they have everything for their players. I can’t think of a negative thing you could say about Alabama. If you buy into their program, then your goals are going to be actualized and they will bring out the best in you and that is something that is really important to me.

"

The Tide appear to be focusing on quality over quantity in their early recruiting efforts for the 2016 cycle.

Two of the Tide’s current commitments—5-star corner Shyheim Carter and 4-star athlete Demetris Robertson—rate among the nation’s top 40 overall prospects in the 2016 cycle.

Additionally, Alabama is in the hunt for several big-name talents and 5-star prospects, such as in-state linebackers Lyndell Wilson and Ben Davis, defensive end Marlon Davidson, defensive tackle Derrick Brown and offensive lineman Willie Allen.

The recruiting process is more of a marathon than a sprint. Given the Tide’s clout with recruits and the group of top-shelf talent interested in heading to Tuscaloosa, expect Alabama’s time outside of the top 5 in the rankings to be short-lived.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a national recruiting analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.