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National Signing Day 2016: 5-star LB Ben Davis commits to Alabama

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Oct 10, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; A general view of Bryant-Denny Stadium during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Arkansas Razorbacks. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; A general view of Bryant-Denny Stadium during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Arkansas Razorbacks. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2016 Alabama recruiting class got a huge boost on National Signing Day as five-star linebacker Ben Davis committed to sign with the Crimson Tide.

The rich get richer.

Less than a month after winning the College Football Playoff National Championship Game over Clemson, the Alabama Crimson Tide added the crown jewel to a recruiting class that could sneak its way to No. 1 in the nation. Five-star linebacker Ben Davis announced his decision to join the Tide Wednesday live on ESPNU, making him the 18th member of the 2016 Alabama football recruiting class.

As a senior inside linebacker at Gordo High School, Davis recorded 107 total tackles on defense with three sacks and two interceptions. On offense, Davis caught 33 passes for 510 yards. He scored seven total touchdowns.

Ben Davis 2015 Senior Highlights, via HUDL:

With Davis’ commitment, Alabama now has two five-star players, which helped the Crimson Tide jump Ole Miss into second place in the SEC in 247Sports’ rankings. Alabama now has the nation’s No. 3 ranked class, though with a few more additional commitments before the dust settles on National Signing Day, the Tide could jump LSU into the top spot. Such a strong finish would give the program its sixth consecutive recruiting national championship.

A 6-foot-3, 240-pound Alabama legacy, Davis had long been projected to end up in Tuscaloosa, but Georgia, Notre Dame, LSU and Auburn never gave up their pursuit of the nation’s highest rated linebacker. Auburn pursued Davis – who is also the state’s top-ranked player – to the very end and received Davis’ final official visit during the Jan. 29 recruiting weekend.

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Playing time is hard to find for true freshmen in Tuscaloosa, but Davis is talented enough to contribute on special teams and may possibly work his way into the linebacker rotation at some point during the 2016 season.

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