National Signing Day 2016: Alabama football gets No. 1 recruiting class

The Alabama Crimson Tide has welcomed a new crop of talented players, announcing the 2016 Alabama football recruiting class on National Signing Day.

Alabama’s reign as the annual recruiting national champion appeared to be over. The Crimson Tide brought home the top-rated recruiting class in the country every year from 2011-15, but the 2016 class went from No. 9 to No. 5 to No. 1 on National Signing Day.

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Alabama football fans just had to be a little patient this year to get all the top recruits to come to Tuscaloosa.

Alabama has already welcomed early enrollees Jonah Williams, Charles Baldwin, Jalen Hurts, Chris Owens, Miller Forristall, T.J. Simmons and Shawn Jennings to campus. Williams – a five-star offensive tackle from Folsom, California – and Baldwin – the nation’s top-rated junior college offensive lineman – may have the best chance for immediate playing time as the Crimson Tide must replace two starters on the offensive line.

Another player expected to contribute in his first seasons on campus is running back B.J. Emmons, a 5-foot-11, 220-pound North Carolina native ranked as the No. 2 running back in the country in the 247 Sports Composite, and ranked as the nation’s best at his position by ESPN.

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Emmons isn’t likely to beat out Bo Scarbrough or Damien Harris to start in the backfield for the Crimson Tide in 2016, but the running back depth chart is the shallowest on the Alabama football roster following the departure of Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry.

On signing day, Alabama got Shyheim Carter, Jared Mayden, Joshua Jacobs, Ben Davis, Mack Wilson and Terrell Hall to clinch the top recruiting class and another recruiting title for the Tide.

Complete 2016 Alabama Football Recruiting Class:

Note: All rankings mentioned come from 247Sports unless otherwise noted.