Assessing Alabama’s 2016 recruiting class entering January

Alabama is in position to compete with LSU and Ole Miss for the top recruiting class in the SEC as well as the country.

If the Crimson Tide can bring in Derrick Brown, it will give Bama three of the country’s Top 20 players based on the current 247Sports composite rankings. (All three would be from out-of-state; two would be offensive linemen, the other a defensive lineman. In fact, none of the Tide’s top six recruits is from Alabama).

Pulling in four-star running back B.J. Emmons, rated as the third-best player at the position in the country, certainly helped. Emmons, a 5-10, 232-pounder from Morganton, N.C., decommitted from Georgia in June.

#Alabama RB commit BJ Emmons taking handoff from #Miami QB commit @Jackof2016 … #UAAllAmerica practice 1 pic.twitter.com/ra3us2KxUa

— Gerry Hamilton (@GHamiltonOTF) December 29, 2015

#Alabama commit BJ Emmons @LiltrillPhenom pic.twitter.com/G76I6AJ0gL

— InsideBamaRecruiting Alabama Football (@RTRnews) December 26, 2015

The Crimson Tide still needs to add some help at defensive line, as current defensive linemen Johnathan Allen, A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed could all be NFL first-round draft picks in the spring.

But Bama is loading up on both sides of the line with some huge, talented, players. Plus, bringing in DT Rashan Gary from Paramus, N.J., the nation’s No. 1 recruit, would be quite a score. With Alabama capturing the SEC Championship — or more — this season, the Tide could also win its sixth straight national recruiting title, according to 247Sports.

ASSESSING ALABAMA’S 2016 CLASS

Current commits or enrollees: 17 (avg. star 3.7; last year: 4.1)
Current big-name targets: DT Rashan Gary, DT Derrick Brown, TE Isaac Nauta, LB Ben Davis
Biggest positions of need: RB, DL, LB
National/SEC rank: 4/2

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Stan Chrapowicki

Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.