re: Class of 2016 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Waiting On Demetris Robertson Edition

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Prospective college football recruits once sent game film in the form of VHS tapes directly to program facilities, leaving the general public to imagine these young players who represented a team's future.

Video is now available for fans and coaches alike, easily accessible across the Internet. Multimedia provides a platform for relative unknowns to become the recruiting trail's fastest-rising commodity.

Several NFL players grew up in this era and can still be seen strapping it up for their high school squads online. Take a look at tomorrow's stars by checking out some of the most impressive highlight films among current recruits.

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5-star TE Isaac Nauta

High School: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)

Size: 6'4", 237 lbs.

Composite Ranking: No. 16 overall; No. 1 tight end in 2016 class

Recruitment Status: Offers include Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan and Texas

Isaac Nauta is about as complete a tight end prospect you'll find at the high school level. The former Florida State commit creates matchup nightmares because of his ability to bock defensive ends, outrace linebackers and bully defensive backs with sheer physicality.

He graded out as the 2016 class' top pass target, regardless of position. Nauta doesn't need a lot of room to pull down passes, effectively claiming space in traffic.

His ability to go above or through opponents is augmented by impeccable route-running skills. Nauta's incredible athleticism shines on both sides of the football, as he would probably still warrant blue-chip status at defensive end.

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5-star (soon to be 4-star) OT Willie Allen

High School: John Curtis (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Size: 6'7.5", 300 lbs.

Composite Ranking: No. 38 overall; No. 6 offensive tackle in 2016 class

Recruitment Status: Offers include Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Ohio State

Willie Allen isn't the best 2016 offensive lineman we've scouted—that label goes to Texas tackle Greg Little—but he might just be the meanest. The monstrous blocker routinely drives his opponent at least 10 yards down the field, exhibiting elite force in the rushing attack.

He competes with an edge that is often visible as he polishes off plays and dumps defenders through the whistle. His greatest growth will occur in pass protection, but Allen already presents the power and attitude to become a plug-and-play contributor at the next level.

Count how high his stack of pancakes grows during junior season film.

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Since the NCAA passed new scholarship rules in January, the cost-of-attendance discussion has simmered.

How would schools adjust? And how much would student athletes end up receiving?

Those answers are slowly coming to the surface and the numbers are shifting. At Alabama, the difference between a traditional athletics scholarship and the new full-cost scholarship went up sharply from last year to the 2015-16 academic year.

The cost-of-attendance gap rose 20.5 percent for in-state athletes and 39.2 percent for out-of-state students. That accounts for the stipends that will pay in-state athletes $4,172 and $5,386 for those from outside the state. Figures are determined by the school's financial aid office.

Previous estimates placed Alabama's cost of attendance at $2,892, but that the actual number for out-of-state athletes is 86 percent higher. The $5,386 out-of-state figure is believed to be the third-highest in the nation behind Tennessee ($5,666) and Auburn ($5,586).

While tuition rose minimally (3.2 percent in-state and 3.9 percent out-of-state), the transportation piece of the pie jumped sharply.Information provided by the University of Alabama points to an increase in tuition, residence halls "as well as increases in the average consumer expenditure numbers and the cost of travel."These stipends pay for the transportation and other miscellaneous costs not covered by traditional scholarships. Previously, athletic scholarships covered room, board, tuition, books and fees. These cost-of-attendance scholarship increases apply to all full scholarships from the university, but this is the first year NCAA has allowed the stipends to include the full coast of attendance.

The calculation for out-of-state athletes jumped 75.4 percent from 2014-15 to 2015-16, according to figures provided by the university. That cost is now $3,020 for out-of-state athletes where it was $1,722 a year ago. For in-state athletes, the number jumped 42 percent (from $1,272 to $1,806).

University spokesperson Deborah Lane explained the reason for the change. She said the school adjusted transportation costs "to more accurately reflect the growth in our out-of-state enrollment and the increased cost of travel for them."

"UA determined that the Department of Education allowed transportation costs to and from the student's permanent residence and the campus, rather than just to and from their local residence to class," Lane told AL.com.

Out-of-state students accounted for 60 percent of the freshman class in 2013 ? up from 33 percent in 2007."Using averages, UA adjusted our transportation costs to more accurately reflect the growth in our out-of-state enrollment and the increased cost of travel for them," she told AL.com.

Lane provided the formula used to calculate the transportation component of the stipend: "For in-state students, costs are calculated based on the assumption that most students live within 5 miles of campus: 50 miles per week (multiplied by) 34 weeks (an academic year) multiplied by 57 cents per mile and an average of two round trips home per semester. For out-of-state students, transportation is based on a weighted average of mileage based on an 8-hour travel radius and an average of two round trips home per semester."

Miscellaneous costs, the other factor in the stipend, rose 8 percent for in-state athletes and 10.2 percent for those from out of state.

These new scholarship changes created a new marketplace in the cut-throat world of recruiting. Schools with higher stipends could use that as a marketing tool. The SEC proposed an amendment to the January rule change that would require schools to report variances in the cost-of-attendance figures, but it was voted down.

Alabama coach Nick Saban addressed the cost-of-attendance scholarship impact on recruiting at SEC Media Days.

"This has not changed our recruiting, and there's not been a lot of questions asked about it," he said. "Now, maybe it will have an impact in the future. I don't think that's the intention of cost of attendance. I think it's to improve the quality of the student-athlete's life, not to be used as a recruiting tool."

Saban has been a proponent of doing more for athletes financially, but was concerned in May with how the cost of attendance scholarships would work.

"To do it the way we did it is going to be a nightmare," Saban said before a Crimson Caravan stop in Atlanta in May. "We've spent 100 years in the NCAA trying to make everything equal — so no extra benefits, nobody could get something that somebody else couldn't get. Alright. Now you leave it up to the institution, and I think some people have manipulated their numbers because they've significantly changed from last year to this year, and that's not the spirit of the rule.

"Everybody has historically from an academic standpoint tried to keep the cost of attendance down. It's a benefit to the students. It's a benefit to their scholarships. Now all of a sudden it's going to be different, and I don't think that's good."

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Speaking of his home state schools, both have continued to make Davidson a top priority. Thursday, he visited Alabama for the first time this summer. It allowed Davidson an opportunity to catch up with Crimson Tide linebacker Shaun Hamilton, his old teammate Carver High School in Montgomery, Ala.

“I hadn’t seen him in a long time,” Davidson said, “and it was just a great feeling to get back at Bama.”

The visit was also a long time coming for Crimson Tide’s coaching staf..

“(Defensive coordinator) Coach Kirby (Smart) actually teases me a lot. He’s like, ‘When are you going to get up here?’” Davidson said. “And then I’ve got (defensive line) Coach Bo (Davis), ‘When are you going to get up here?’ So we just make sure to stay in contact with each other.”

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Alabama WR Calvin Ridley

While the quarterback situation at Alabama will continue to dominate attention during fall camp, the winner of that major position battle will have some new faces to throw to this season. The Crimson Tide are replacing their top three receivers from last season, including Heisman finalist Amari Cooper.

But Alabama potentially has another Cooper on its hands with the arrival of 5-star wideout Calvin Ridley. Like Cooper, Ridley hails from South Florida, and he also has a chance to become a big-time playmaker as a true freshman—much like Cooper did in 2012 for the SEC champion Tide.

According to Matt Zenitz of AL.com, Ridley already turned the heads of coaches and teammates during summer workouts. One of his first big plays was a diving, one-handed catch during a seven-on-seven session.

"Every time I talk to him, he talks about how he's getting the playbook, how he's learning the plays and how he's going to be able to contribute from Week One," Calvin Davis, Ridley's high school coach, told Zenitz. "He's getting it — the formations. He's a fast learner, so he feels he'll be ready to play."

Standing at 6'1" and now weighing at 188 pounds, according to Zenitz, Ridley has the frame and the game to contribute in a big way this fall. The nation's No. 1 receiver has a knack for attacking the ball, which makes him a dream target for a new starting quarterback.

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Richard Mullaney, Alabama WR

Alabama can't replace the production of All-American wide receiver and Heisman Trophy nominee Amari Cooper with just one player.

But the Crimson Tide have plenty of talented young receivers with bright futures. In June, they added a veteran who should be able to contribute right away.

Richard Mullaney transferred from Oregon State to the Capstone after a productive career with the Beavers. As a redshirt sophomore in 2013, he shared the receiver position with future first-round NFL pick Brandin Cooks and finished with 52 catches for 788 yards and three touchdowns.

Though he missed much of last year with an elbow injury, he'll be able to step right in and play for coach Nick Saban, adding valuable depth to a position of need. He could start for the Tide, which lost their top three receivers from a season ago.

"That's a guy that has production," Saban said at SEC media days, according to AL.com's Matt Zenitz. "He's kind of a possession-type guy, but really instinctive and has great hands and I think adds experience to that group."

Nobody is asking Mullaney to be a superstar. That's the status that should be reserved for talents such as Robert Foster, ArDarius Stewart or others.

But if Mullaney can be a veteran possession receiver, whoever wins UA's quarterback derby will have a quality safety valve.

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Jeffery Simmons

Noxubee County | Defensive end

Stat breakdown: 107 tackles (59 solo), 14.5 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, 8 forced fumbles and 5 fumble recoveries as a junior.

Rankings: Four-star prospect by 247Sports and Scout, a three-star prospect by Rivals and the No. 3 player in The Clarion-Ledger's Targeted 22

What makes him Dandy: It's not hard to figure out why Simmons is considered the top defensive line prospect in Mississippi. At 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, the senior possesses a rare combination of size and speed that make him a dominant edge rusher. Before taking a snap as a senior in high school, Simmons already possesses a frame deemed college ready. Once Simmons establishes his first step and fires low off the ball, many left tackles he faces aren't able to limit his ability to get to the quarterback. What's scary is that Simmons isn't done growing. He could easily put on 10 or 20 pounds by the time his freshman season of college football comes around and shift to play inside. Ideally that would mean transitioning to a 3-technique defensive tackle, but Simmons' pure athleticism and physicality make him a strong candidate to continue on as a rushing defensive end at the next level. The way he's able to maintain his frame and speed comes from hours in the weight room and participation in track and powerlifting. Noxubee County also relies on Simmons to switch over to tight end in the jumbo package/formation on offense.

Where he's going: Simmons has visits scheduled to LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Auburn in July, but don't expect the mega defensive lineman to rush into a decision anytime soon. Alabama has also been in heavy pursuit of Simmons as of late and will likely make a top 5 list he plans to release in the middle of the season. Due to all the attention he's receiving and new schools constantly showing interest, Simmons says he could see himself waiting until National Signing Day before announcing where he's headed.

Best time to catch him this fall: Aug. 21 vs. Starkville.With Simmons' goal to break Mississippi high school football's record for sacks in a season, the defensive end wants to make a statement in his first opportunity. The Yellowjackets were one of Noxubee County's two losses last season and Simmons says he looks forward to facing elite two-way lineman Kobe Jones and wide receiver A.J. Brown.

What he said: "Coming off the edge and just getting to the football, that's what I grew up on," Simmons said. "It's like going for gold, and the gold is the quarterback. Don't stop until you get to the top."

Worth noting: Simmons is the fourth player in Noxubee County history selected to the Dandy Dozen, joining former Mississippi State quarterback/receiver Omarr Conner (2002) and Ole Miss wide receivers Patrick Patterson (2008) and Vince Sanders (2009).

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Practically every regular-season game in the SEC is pivotal in the divisional races -- like the Ole Miss victory over Alabama that spawned this celebration last fall -- but here are 12 that should be particularly important in 2015.

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