Alabama legacy Ben Davis goes with Crimson Tide on National Signing Day

LB Ben Davis, 6-4, 235 – The Crimson Tide got a ready-made offensive tackle in JUCO transfer Charles Baldwin, and Lyndell Wilson might turn out to be the best linebacker in the class, but Davis was the key.

Alabama has landed the nation’s top signing class each of the last five years according to composite rankings of recruiting websites compiled by 247Sports.

This signing day begins with the nation’s No. 1 recruit uncommitted, LSU in position to be the recruiting champs and Texas trying to finish strong. I.J. Ready is dealing with an ankle injury but is considered probable to play. Each year it goes back and forth.

Best in class: Davis of Gordo, Alabama. Davis’ father, Wayne Davis, is Alabama’s all-time leading tackler. “I had to go with my heart … I’m rolling with the Tide”, said Davis, who donned a houndstooth hat and Alabama gloves. “We’re not interested in perception”, Saban said on Wednesday. Wilson put on a national championship hat after making his announcement. Wilson said he believes Hamilton can help them grow.

Recruiting is a regularly-scheduled part of Nick Saban’s daily routine. Harbaugh is clearly taking the Wolverines program back to the top of college football, and after a successful first season in Ann Arbor many are excited to see what he will produce with his own recruits.

Question: I saw a story where since Texas A&M’s move to the SEC, the Big 12 isn’t getting a lot of these top talents from Texas any more. “We’re excited about them, we’re pleased with them but you can’t make predictions with these kind of things”. The Tigers had three starting defensive backs, including star cornerback Mackensie Alexander, enter the National Football League draft early.

Saban can also show the kids something else. He’s got really good size.

“Coach Burns, he’s been recruiting me throughout the process”, Smith said of the New Orleans native. “It’s everybody’s guesstimate at this point as to what kind of class that we really had”.

Safety Brandon Burton announced his college selection Tuesday night by putting out a video in which he and some friends played a game of paintball that ended with him capturing a flag of UCLA, the school he had chosen. “He’s got great potential, he’s a fast learner, a hard worker, and he’s going to do the things that it takes to be successful”.

“(And) Nigel Knott is a very athletic guy that can play corner or receiver (but) wants to play corner, certainly has the athleticism and the skill to do it”.