Alabama Football: Saban Uses A-Day Game to Pull in Top Recruits for a Visit

Nick Saban uses every opportunity he can to continue his relentless pursuit of the top talent in America's high schools and the A Day Game was no exception.

In attendance was an offensive lineman that is high on Nick Saban's list to land: D. J. Humphries, a 6'6", 270-pound offensive tackle, down from Charlotte.

He is important not only because he is one of the best linemen in the country, but because the 2012 class is thin on linemen.

And Humphries liked what he saw.

The Rivals.com five-star said he considers Alabama to be among his top four schools, along with Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. But clearly he and his father, who came down with him, was impressed with what he saw.

They had the opportunity to walk the campus, enjoy seeing the tailgaters and even meeting some of the former stars before kickoff. He was blown away with everything he saw and thought it was really something that 90,000+ showed up for a spring practice game.

Dalvin Tomlinson, a McDonough, Ga. defensive lineman at 6'3" and 270-pounds could play either defensive tackle or end, was also blown away with the crowd on hand.

According to Tomlinson, the recruits were allowed to walk out on the sidelines before the game during warm ups and see and feel the crowd and what is about as close to a game day experience as they will get.

Tomlinson however does not have any teams in his "favorites" at this point and said that he is really just beginning his search, but he did want to come back and take another look at Alabama later on.

Also in attendance was someone who Saban would like to have ink his name on a Crimson Tide commitment letter: Beniquez Brown, a talented athlete who some schools want as a running back and Saban sees as a killer safety.

He is 6'2", 205-pounds and hails from up the road in Florence, Ala. He has been to Tuscaloosa many times before and while the other recruits were touring the campus and facilities, Brown simply wanted to be a fan and enjoy the atmosphere of the statue unveiling, the tailgating, walking the stadium, enjoying the crowd, but most of all, like any fan, getting to meet the former stars of the Crimson Tide.

Brown made the trip down with his mom, his best friend and a cousin and said everyone in the group came away impressed with all that they saw, but nothing compared to Brown getting to meet and talk to Mark Ingram, who Brown said was very friendly and cool.

But it wasn't just fishing for future footballers that was going on; the Tide also lured down a top basketball prospect, Trevor Lacey, the 6'3'' 200 pound guard from Butler High School in Huntsville, Ala., was also part of the A Day recruiting day and he had to admit that he had a great time.

He took a campus tour, visited both classrooms and the freshman dorm before going to the game and sitting with Trevor Releford and Ben Eblen and a few other recruits.

He said it was "crazy" that this many people showed up for a practice game and it just underscores the love and enthusiasm the fans have for their school.

He is one of the top catches in the upcoming basketball signing class and while he is considering Alabama, he is also considering strongly Kentucky and has said that a lot of his decision may hinge on what players left early for the NBA.

There were other recruits on hand and this was just some of the bigger names at this point, but one thing is for certain: Nick Saban leaves no stone unturned when it comes to recruiting.

Maybe that is why he's had the highest overall recruiting ranking in America in his time at Alabama.