Alabama Football: Players to Watch in High School All-American Games

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — If there's one thing that University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban doesn't like about the postseason, conference championships included, it's that the teams participating are put in a disadvantage in recruiting.

Of course, having a nice ring or two to show off afterward doesn't hurt, though.

While Alabama is preparing to face Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl on Thursday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), many potential future Crimson Tide players are taking their next big steps as well while participating in all-star games.

Specifically, practices have already started for the Under Armour All-America Game (Saturday, noon, ESPN2), while next week it'll be the U.S. Army All-American Bowl (Jan. 9, noon, NBC).

Although the announcement schedules for both will be fluid, so far it appears things will be pretty quiet for Alabama, with most of its targets opting to wait for national signing day to announce their collegiate destinations.

Nevertheless, here are some of the players Crimson Tide fans need to keep an eye on.

Ben Davis and Mack Wilson, Linebackers, Under Armour All-America Game

Not only are Ben Davis and Lyndell "Mack" Wilson considered the two best prospects in the state of Alabama, but according to 247Sports, they're the top players at their positions nationally. Davis is an interior linebacker, and Wilson plays on the outside.

They could end up playing together in college, but outgoing defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is also trying to take them with him to Georgia. When Jeremy Pruitt was with the Bulldogs, he was recruiting both of them, so they're already familiar with the Crimson Tide's next defensive coordinator.

"We had a conversation about it," Smart said at a Cotton Bowl press conference Monday morning. "We understand the strains and the stresses. Sure, it's tough at times to know that we're recruiting the same kids. But we're also both professionals.

"He's worked in the NFL. That's part of it. We understand that. It's not a negative. It's not a, go bash each other. Ultimately, those kids have to decide what's best for them and to each his own."

Wilson announced a top three of Florida, Alabama and Georgia on Christmas Day, and he'll take official visits before national signing day, with the Gators getting the last shot.

Davis is a legacy, as his father Wayne is Alabama's career tackles leader, and it's no secret he hopes his son ends up with the Crimson Tide.

However, after Smart was named Georgia's head coach, Davis said the Bulldogs had a slight lead to sign him.

Working in Alabama's favor is that Davis, the MVP of this year's Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, has already made his official visit to Athens. His last three visits will be, in order, Notre Dame, Auburn and Alabama.

Ahmmon Richards, Wide Receiver, U.S. Army All-American Bowl

Ahmmon Richards is a 6'5" self-described playmaker who was the first player to decommit from Miami after the program fired Al Golden. Although he hasn't completely ruled out the Hurricanes, Richards is thought to be a heavy Alabama lean.

"I had a really close relationship with Coach Golden and his staff," he recently told USA Today. "When he got fired, I was taken aback. We had built that relationship over two years, and it was someplace I really wanted to go. When he left, I don't know who the new coach will be. I decided to reopen and look at all options one more time."

Richards is expected to announce his choice on national signing day. His final official visits will be, in order, Miami, Alabama and Tennessee.

Nigel Knott, Cornerback, Under Armour All-America Game

The one glaring spot where Alabama hasn't signed a top-notch player yet is cornerback, and there's some obvious concern after it made a late offer to Kristian Fulton (Metairie, La.) on Christmas Eve.

LSU is clearly the team to beat for Fulton, but the Tigers have already landed 5-star prospect Saivion Smith. Fulton doesn't have an official visit to Alabama scheduled yet but is hoping to make a mid-week trip at some point to Tuscaloosa.

The two players it's been long after are Nigel Knott and 4-star Shyheim Carter, who along with Fulton are playing in the Under Armour Game. Alabama appears to be in pretty good position with Knott and appears to be competing with Georgia for Carter but needs to land at least one, if not two, cornerbacks.

Rashan Gary, Defensive Tackle, Under Armour All-America Game

Rashan Gary is a player to watch if for no other reason than he's considered the consensus top recruit in the nation and was recently named USA Today's Defensive Player of the Year.

He had 13.5 sacks and 55 tackles in nine games, forced four fumbles and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown this season at Paramus Catholic in New Jersey. Gary is listed at 6'4", 290 pounds, and he can run the 40-yard dash in 4.74 seconds.

Alabama is in the mix for Gary, but the school to beat is Michigan, where his former coach, Chris Partridge, is the Wolverines' new director of recruiting operations.

Michail Carter and Rashard Lawrence, Defensive Tackles, Under Armour All-America Game

Alabama is looking to retool the defensive line and has already landed three prize defensive tackles in Kendell Jones, Raekwon Davis and Quinnen Williams, but anyone who has seen the Crimson Tide play this season knows the kind of numbers coveted.

Michail Carter is thought to be Georgia bound, but it'll be interesting to see if Pruitt might be able to make him think twice about it.

With Lawrence, Alabama is trying to pull another top recruit out of the state of Louisiana, which is never easy to do, but the Crimson Tide have had recent success.

Both situations will be interesting to watch as national signing day, Feb. 3, approaches.

Under Armour All-America Game
Name	Pos.	Hometown
Alabama Commits
Kendell Jones	DT	Killeen (Texas) Shoemaker
B.J. Emmons	RB	Morganton (N.C.) Freedom
Deonte Brown	OG	Decatur (Ala.) Austin
Chris Owens	OG	Arlington (Texas) Lamar
Alabama Targets
Ben Davis	ILB	Gordo (Ala.)
Mack Wilson	OLB	Montgomery (Ala.) Carver
Rashard Lawrence	DT	Monroe (La.) Neville
Kristian Fulton	CB	Metaire (La.) Archbishop Rummel
Nate Craig-Myers	WR	Tampa (Fla.) Catholic
Shyheim Carter	CB	Kentwood (La.)
Nigel Knott	CB	Madison (Miss.) Germantown
A.J. Brown	WR	Starkville (Miss.)
Terrell Hall	DE	Washington (D.C.) St. John’s College
Dontavious Jackson	ILB	Houston (Texas) Alief Elsik
Keith Gavin	WR	Crawfordville (Fla.) Wakulla
Jauan Williams	OT	Washington (D.C.) Archbishop Carroll
Cavin Ridley	WR	Deerfield Beach (Fla.)
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
Alabama Commits
Raekwon Davis	DL	Meridian (Miss.)
Alabama Targets
Derrick Brown	DL	Buford (Ga.) Lanier
Isaac Nauta	TE	IMG Academy (Fla.)
Mecole Hardman	DB	Elberton (Ga.) Elbert County
Demetris Robertson	WR	Savannah (Ga.), Savannah Christian Prep
Jeffery Simmons	DL	Macon (Miss.) Noxubee
Devin Asiasi	TE	Concord (Calif.) De La Salle
Nigel Warrior	DB	Suwanee (Ga.) Peachtree Ridge
Ahmmon Richards	WR	West Palm Beach (Fla.) Wellington

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.