Alabama Football Recruiting 2011: The Crimson Tide's Top 20 Remaining Targets

Alabama already has one of the top ranked recruiting classes in the country, ranking in at No. 2 in our latest recruiting rankings, but the Crimson Tide aren't done yet. 

While Texas has long been considered a lock to bring in the top 2011 class, Alabama is in the mix for so much talent that it's very possible the Tide leapfrog the Longhorns for the top spot by national signing day. 

Here's a look at Alabama's top 20 remaining targets. 

Alabama's Current 2011 Recruiting Class

5-star commitments: 3

4-star commitments: 7

3-star commitments: 8

Alabama hasn't had a major commitment since 4-star JUCO defensive tackle Jesse Williams joined the fold in early September, but the Crimson Tide already have a ton of talent on board. 

Particularly on the defensive side of the ball, where Alabama has 5-star safety Ha'Sean Clinton Dix and 5-star linebackers Brent Calloway and Trey DePriest.

Add Top 10 recevier Marvin Shinn, the No. 2-ranked center Ryan Kelly and five other 4-star prospects, and Alabama is just a notch behind Texas. All the Tide need now is a commitment from No. 1 overall recruit Jadeveon Clowney, and they'll be good to go.

20. Brandon Fulse, TE

Fulse lines up at both defensive end and tight end for his high school team and many scouts predict he could find a home on either side of the ball, though he rates out better as an offensive talent.

At 6'5" and 245 lbs, he's got great size for the tight end position and is an athletic big man who can make plays in the passing game as well as hold his own in the trenches. 

After a recent trip to Auburn, Fulse appears to be leaning toward the Tigers, but Miami, FSU, Tennessee, Texas Tech, and Alabama are all up for consideration as well. 

19. Cornellius Carradine, DE

One of the top JUCO players in the country, Carradine has a great blend of physical skills and is an elite athlete.

He has the speed to play outside linebacker and the size and strength to play defensive end in a 3-4 or a 4-3. There is very little to not like about his game and the improvements he's made since leaving high school demonstrate just how high his ceiling might be. 

He visited Alabama in November and spoke at length with coach Nick Saban about how the Crimson Tide plan to use him as a "jack" linebacker. Due to one of his team rules though, Carradine is not allowed to discuss anything else related to his recruiting besides commenting about a specific school after a visit. 

18. Phillip Dukes, DT

Dukes has great size for a defensive tackle at 6'3" and 295 lbs, but has the versatility to play both end and tackle.

That's his role at the high school level and he's got a good enough skill set at either position to do the same in college.

Nick Saban recently made a personal visit to Dukes' home to further Alabama's position in the race to land the 4-star defensive tackle. Currently the Crimson Tide are joined in Dukes' top five by Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Clemson.

17. Tobias Singleton, WR

Singleton is a big, physical receiver who can beat pretty much any defender at the line of scrimmage if you play off of him or use his size to ward off defenders who try to jam him.

It makes for a very difficult cover. Singleton has great speed for his size, 6'2" and 195 lbs, and even better body control. He's raw and struggles to run good routes, but has a ton of potential. 

Most observers believe the Mississippi native will make his decision between Ole Miss and Mississippi State, but Georgia, Alabama and Oklahoma are possibilities as well. 

16. Malcolm Mitchell, CB

Mitchell is one of the most intriguing prospects at the position in the 2011 class. He's an elite athlete who moves really well and has ideal size at 6'1" and 190 lbs. 

But Mitchell is still very raw though and and needs a lot of practice reps to get fine tune his skills before he can make an impact. 

Mitchell has been one of Alabama's top targets for some time now and it appears the Crimson Tide are in the lead at the moment. Georgia and Florida are nipping at their heels though and his first official visit will be to Athens. 

15. Xzavier Dickson, DE

Dickson is the type of prospect that just explodes into his opponent with a ton of power and quickness. Once he makes contact, Dickson uses his superior speed and athletic ability to get around his man. 

He needs to get stronger and play more disciplined, but the talent is very intriguing. Dickson's body control and change of direction ability are as good as it gets.

Alabama was the first school to offer Dickson way back in the summer of 2009 and while the in-state Georgia Bulldogs and Auburn are his other top choices, it's been Alabama's recruitment to lose from the beginning. 

14. Dee Hart, RB

He's an electric playmaker who's faster on the field than his 4.5-second 40-time would suggest.

Hart has great balance, vision, change-of-direction ability, and at 5'9" and 190 lbs, a surprising ability to break tackles. He may be undersized, but he's a compact and strong rusher who can really dish out punishment.

Hart originally committed to Michigan and while he remains a soft verbal to the Wolverines, there have been rumblings that Alabama and wedged it's way in-between the two and is being seriously considered right now. 

13. Ishaq Williams, DE

Ishaq Williams is an athletic freak with the potential to be a superb outside linebacker or strong safety on top of his skill along the defensive line. 

He's long and rangy, runs a deceptively fast 4.7-second 40-yard dash and is one of the most intense players you'll ever come across.

At this point Williams claims to have narrowed things down to a five-school pool that includes Alabama, Penn State, Notre Dame, Syracuse and USC.

12. Erique Florence, S

A top five safety in the 2011 class, Florence is a very instinctual player who can really put a licking on a ball-carrier. He's got solid form when tackling and often angles himself for the big hit; which is probably the most noticeable part of his game.

Florence always finds himself around the ball and when it's in the air near him, he's trying to make a play on it every time.

The Alabama native has shown interest in several teams over the last few months, but the in-state schools have consistently been his top two choices. At the moment it appears as though Alabama and Auburn are deadlocked for his services. 

11. Gabe Wright, DT

Wright's technique is raw, but he's very athletic and quick at the point of attack. He hits his man hard and drives, but doesn't stay low and has poor hand movement. 

If he can polish up his skills and learn to disengage blockers better, Wright could be one of the best defensive tackles in the class. 

Auburn has been in the driver's seat for Wright's services for awhile now, but Tennessee is a serious contender as well. Alabama, Clemson, FSU and Georgia are in the mix as well. 

10. Damian Swann, CB

Swann is a very athletic defender who plays receiver and safety, with some time at cornerback as well, but he projects as a defensive player at the next level.

His athleticism is off the charts, and there is potential for him to develop into a truly special talent, but he needs to work on his technique to be successful; his footwork and coverage reads are still very raw.

While other schools are in the mix as well, Swann has been all about Alabama and Georgia right from the beginning and when it comes down to his decision, we fully expect him to pick between these two schools. 

9. Jermauria Rasco, DE

Rasco has improved tremendously every year and that's something to take note of when looking at a prospect. He's an elite defensive end with a very high ceiling and he's only getting better as he ages.

He's got great instincts and discipline, but his technique and movements are still on the raw side. If he can learn to add some weapons to his arsenal and get off the ball quicker, he could end up being the best defensive end in the class.

Rasco has been quiet on his recruitment, but most observers give in-state LSU the slight advantage over a field that includes Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Texas, UCLA and Cal. 

8. Nick O'Leary, TE

O'Leary might be the best tight end in the 2011 class. He's a receiver and lineman mixed into one body.

He has the all-around skills to be an immediate force on the football field. O'Leary is an elite blocker, has a great set of hands, moves downfield well, and runs crisp routes.

FSU and Miami remain the top two choices in this one, with the Seminoles holding the slight advantage. But O'Leary has made trips to Alabama, North Carolina and Georgia and maintains interest in all three programs as well. 

7. Jeoffrey Pagan, DE

Pagan didn't even start playing the position until this past season, and immediately he looked like a natural out there who'd been doing it his whole life.

He's strong and athletic and gets into the backfield in a hurry. He's still very raw and needs to be polished, which means a redshirt year might be in his best interest, but the potential is there.

Pagan originally committed to Florida, but decommitted in November and now is looking at a number of schools including Georgia, Clemson, Alabama, LSU, North Carolina, NC State, Tennessee, and Florida. 

6. Jay Rome, TE

An extremely athletic tight end with NFL potential, Rome has all the intangibles to be very successful wherever he ends up playing.

He has tremendous blocking skills and can line up at receiver or tight end. If Rome can improve his strength, he'll has the potential to be one of the biggest impact freshman in the country in 2011.

Rome might be a legacy at Clemson, but his top two choices are Alabama and Georgia and if you were a betting man, your money would be on one of those two schools. 

5. Isaiah Crowell, RB

He has great breakaway speed, is very elusive, has top of the line instincts, makes lightning-fast cuts, doesn't hesitate, and can break tackles with the best of them.

Crowell has played with a talented stable of rushers his entire high school career behind a very good offensive line. He's never carried the load himself and there are serious questions about his ability to ever be able to.

Crowell is one of the top remaining prospects on the market and has long been a highly coveted target for Alabama. While it's not official, Crowell is pretty much down to the Crimson Tide and Georgia, but will be waiting until close to national signing day to make his decision. 

4. Tim Jernigan, DT

At 6'2", 275 lbs, Jernigan is an athletic big man who moves extremely well for his size and can get into the backfield in a hurry.

He has all the tools to become an elite college defensive lineman. He's strong, stays low to the ground, drives with his legs, and has a relentless motor.

Jernigan has been considered a Florida lean for a long time and while Gainesville will probably be his landing spot, FSU, Alabama, LSU and Michigan all have staked their claim as well. 

3. Tony Steward, LB

At 6'2" and 225 lbs, Steward is one of the most physically imposing prospects in the country and a player that has instant impact freshman written all over him.

The kid is built like a body builder, with hardly an ounce of fat. He's incredibly strong and is one of the most athletic prospects in the country at any position, let alone linebacker.

While FSU and Clemson have remained Steward's top two choices for months, he'll be making official visits to UCLA, Alabama and Florida as well over the next couple of months. 

2. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT

Kouandjio is one of the most athletic big men in the country. He has a huge wingspan and, at times, appears to move as swiftly as someone half his size.

When it comes to natural ability as a blocker, Kouandjio has top-end balance and moves his feet as swiftly as any high school player I've ever seen. He goes a great job staying low to the ground and using his tree trunk-like arms to manhandle defenders.

Kouandjio has been quiet on the recruitment front, but Alabama, Cal, Clemson, Iowa, Pitt, Penn State and Maryland appear to be the schools he's narrowed it down to. His brother was one of the top recruits from Alabama's 2010 class. 

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE

At 6'5", 225 lbs, Clowney is an athletic freak and a playmaker in every sense of the word. He gets into the backfield in a hurry, has great natural pass-rushing instincts, and can chase down ball-carriers with his tremendous speed.

No matter where the ball goes, or where Clowney lines up, he can make something happen. There's game film of him chasing down wide receivers 20 yards down the field.

The South Carolina native is leaning toward signing with the Gamecocks, but Alabama is the second of his top choices. Ohio State, LSU and FSU all have a fighter's shot in this one as well.