Alabama Football: 3 Former Top Recruits Who Will Finally Shine in 2015

Alabama has pulled in five straight No. 1 recruiting classes, so just due to the sheer number of top prospects on campus, it can be difficult to spread around playing time and keep everyone happy.

That means a lot of high 4- and 5-star guys end up having to wait their turn while some become instant stars.

It speaks to their patience and work ethic for players to come in who could have gone just about anywhere in the country and started right away to sit for a couple of years at Alabama while they hone their skills.

This year, several of those players should get their chance. Here’s a look at three.

Chris Black

It’s hard to believe looking back, but Amari Cooper wasn’t the highest-rated wide receiver Alabama signed in 2012.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

That designation goes to Chris Black, a 6’0” speedster ranked as the No. 5 wide receiver in the country that year.

But Black suffered a shoulder injury in the fall of 2012 that forced him to sit out that season, and he’s been playing catch-up, buried on the wide receiver depth chart ever since.

Now, it seems his time has come.

The rising redshirt junior is expected to start in the slot, where he can utilize his speed and quickness inside. He played there during spring practice, flanked by the bigger Robert Foster and ArDarius Stewart.

“I’m the vet of the group, probably the guy with the most experience playing here, so it’s time for that,” Black said during the spring. “I feel like I can do a lot of different things for the offense, whether it’s a jet sweep, going out for a pass, being in the slot or going out wide.”

Reuben Foster

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There hasn’t been a more high-profile recruitment for Alabama than Reuben Foster, the 5-star linebacker who couldn’t decide between Alabama and hometown Auburn.

But ever since he’s gotten to campus, his name has mostly disappeared from the headlines. That should change soon.

During the spring, he rotated first-team inside linebacker reps with Shaun Dion Hamilton on a situational basis and will have a major role on the defense in 2015.

Up until now, Foster has been relegated to one-play highlights, such as this hit on Leonard Fournette in the final seconds against LSU that propelled Alabama into overtime:

Foster’s problem has been his tackling technique. He lowers his head trying to make a big hit, which has made him prone to neck stingers and concussions. Saban said that’s not a problem any more.

“He hasn’t had the problems with injuries,” he said. “His consistency has been really, really good.”

Whoever the Quarterback Is

We don’t yet know whom Alabama will trot out under center for the 2015 season, but whoever it is, it’ll likely be a guy who came in with a lot of hype.

Butch Dill/Associated Press

For all of the criticism Saban’s taken about developing quarterbacks, it hasn’t been for lack of recruiting.

Of the five quarterbacks who went through spring ball for Alabama, three—Cooper Bateman, David Cornwell and Blake Barnett—were at least 4-star prospects and in the top five of that year’s class. Alec Morris and Jake Coker were both 3-stars out of high school, but when Coker transferred, he came in with about as much hype as a transfer can get.

Right now, either Coker or Cornwell will likely get the nod. Both of those guys certainly came in with high profiles and will have their chance to shine this season.

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

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.