Alabama Football Recruiting: Defensive Linemen are big priority
By Ronald Evans
Even with tight 2018 numbers, Alabama football looks to add six or seven defensive linemen. Check out the latest on commits and hot prospects.
Unless Da’Ron Payne shocks everyone, Alabama football will need some serious defensive line rebuilding in the 2018 class. With the junior projected to be a NFL first-round pick, Alabama football will need to replace two starters and one key backup in 2018. The seniors who will be lost are Da’Shawn Hand, Josh Frazier and Jamar King.
As always with Nick Saban’s defenses, depth on the defensive line is essential. Saban wants the option of rotating 8-10 players at the defensive tackle and defensive end positions. The unit will start with four proven players in 2018: Isaiah Buggs; Raekwon Davis; Johnny Dwight; and Quinnen Williams. Hopefully, 2017 true freshmen, LaBryan Ray and Phidarian Mathis will make strong contributions in 2018.
Current Defensive Line Commits
Defensive Ends
Stephon Wynn – 4-Star – 6-feet-4, 285 pounds, Anderson, SC, IMG Academy
Wynn is a No. 5 rated defensive end and the No. 113 ranked player overall in the nation. Georgia and Clemson have not given up on Wynn. Additionally, Wynn has offers from close to 20 other big-time programs. He committed to Alabama football in July and has not taken any other school visits since.
Cameron Latu – 4-Star – 6-feet-5, 235 pounds, Salt Lake City, UT
Latu is a No. 7 rated defensive end and No. 145 ranked player overall in the nation. Latu is believed to be solid to Alabama despite still being recruited by USC and Utah. He committed in August.
Jordan Davis – 4-Star – 6-feet-5, 240 pounds, Memphis, TN
Davis is a No. 11 rated defensive end and No. 219 ranked player overall in the nation. He committed in December and is solid to Alabama football. Davis has received nine additional offers since choosing Alabama football but shows no indication of changing his decision.
Current priority targets
Alabama football will likely take another defensive end in the 2018 class in addition to three interior linemen.
Bobby Brown – 4-Star – 6-feet-4, 280 pounds, Arlington Texas
Brown is the No. 14 rated defensive tackle and No. 151 ranked player in the nation. The Alabama football staff rates Brown a top priority for the 2018 class. Brown shot to the top of the Tide’s d-line recruiting board after his summer camp performance in Tuscaloosa. Insiders state Tide coaches rate Brown higher than the national recruiting services.
The Tide’s primary competition is Oklahoma but Texas, TAMU and FSU are working hard to get Brown. He is scheduled to visit Tuscaloosa for the Tennessee game and will announce his decision on November 2nd.
Caleb Tremblay – 4-Star – 6-feet-5, 275 pounds, American River C.C., Sacremento, CA
Tremblay is the No. 5 JUCO defensive tackle and the No. 6 overall JUCO player in the nation. Tremblay, like Brown, highly impressed coaches with his camp performance. Tide coaches are convinced Tremblay can contribute next season.
Georgia also likes Tremblay but the main competition for Alabama football is Washington.
Coynis Miller – 4-Star – 6-feet-2, 300 pounds, Jackson-Olin, Birmingham, AL
Miller is the No. 15 defensive tackle and the No. 162 overall player in the nation.
Miller’s recruitment is interesting in that he is a lifelong Alabama football fan but has never placed the Tide at the top of his recruiting list. There are rumors a high school coach is pushing Miller away from Alabama and toward Auburn. Most recently, Miller has said Florida is his leader.
Miller will visit Alabama for the Ole Miss game and will announce his decision on October 14th. Alabama football has a good chance with Miller, largely because of Karl Dunbar.
A fourth defensive end could be one of a few players. Alabama football is very high on 5-Star, K.J. Henry, 4-Star Eyabi Anoma, along with 3-Star Andres Fox. The Tide continues to recruit 5-Star Micah Parsons but rumors of off-the-field issues may be hurting Parsons status.
Who will be added to the 2018 class defensive line
Our current best guess is Bobby Brown and Caleb Tremblay and either Anoma or Fox. If Alabama football cannot close with Coynis Miller, Jalen Cunningham is a possibility and it is believed he would commit now if the Tide would allow him. Another possibility is JUCO Teair Tart-Spencer but the Tide will not take his commitment at this time. 4-Stars Michael Thompson and Trevor Trout, both from St. Louis, MO are other options.
Next: Check out all the 2018 Commitments
The player rankings in this post are compliments of the 247Sports Composite. We will add a new position group breakdown each week leading up to the December early signing period. All position group posts will be updated as new information becomes available. Next week we take a look at the 2018 secondary prospects.