Fansided

Alabama football recruiting: 5 must-have 2016 recruits for the Crimson Tide

By John Buhler

Jan 23, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Southeastern conference commissioner Greg Sankey holds the College Football Playoff trophy with Alabama running back Derrick Henry (2) and head coach Nick Saban during a presentation to celebrate the victory in the CFP National Championship game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Southeastern conference commissioner Greg Sankey holds the College Football Playoff trophy with Alabama running back Derrick Henry (2) and head coach Nick Saban during a presentation to celebrate the victory in the CFP National Championship game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; View of an Alabama Crimson Tide championship flag after the game against the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Alabama won 45-40. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; View of an Alabama Crimson Tide championship flag after the game against the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Alabama won 45-40. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

When a football program has four of the last seven national titles, the program doesn’t have to actively promote its brand to the best athletes across the country. Under head coach Nick Saban, the Alabama Crimson Tide football program is able to sell itself very well outside of the Southeastern United States.

One such player that seems to have a ton of interest for playing for the Crimson Tide that doesn’t live in an SEC state is the No. 1 athlete of the 2016 recruiting class, five-star Jack Jones of Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California.

Jones has equal interest between Alabama, SEC West rival Texas A&M, and the USC Trojans. Jones could stay in Southern California and play for new USC head coach Clay Helton or venture to the SEC and play for either Kevin Sumlin in College Station or suit up for Saban in Tuscaloosa.

At 5’11, 175 pounds, Jones could play both defensive back or wide receiver for the Crimson Tide in college. He runs a 4.55 40-yard dash and is the type of player either offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin would love for his quarterback to throw passes to or for defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt to develop into a rock star secondary player.

It will be hard to pry Jones away from his native Southern California, but if there is a team in the SEC that can convince a high school player to play college football on the other side of the country, it is Alabama.

Next: 3. Ben Davis

Home/College Football