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

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— Four-star North Mesquite (TX) offensive lineman Jean Delance will make his decision at the Under Armour All-American Game on January 2. Delance wants to make an official visit to USC, but the Trojans are on the outside looking in at this time.

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There is still so much time before National Signing Day but it's never too early to make some predictions on how things will play out in the coming months. Here is a look at five teams who could close really strong down the stretch, many of which have already put together an impressive recruiting class.

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2. Alabama

Current class: Coach Nick Saban's class is ranked fifth overall and third in the SEC behind LSU and Ole Miss. Five-star OL Jonah Williams and nine four-star commits lead the Crimson Tide's class.
Overview: Used to having the top class almost every recruiting cycle recently, the Crimson Tide find themselves off the pace slightly, but the coaching staff could finish huge and Alabama could be catapulted right back near the top.

Five-star linebacker Ben Davis is a near lock since his father played for Alabama, five-star DT Dexter Lawrence, five-star TE Isaac Nauta and five-star ATH Mecole Hardman Jr., among others, are in play, as are top four-star recruits like CB Nigel Knott and DE Jeffery Simmons. Some even think five-star Auburn pledge Marlon Davidson is not out of the question. Other top names are out there as well.

Alabama's class is already strong. It could get a whole lot better leading up to Signing Day.

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With national signing day less than three months away, 16 5-star recruits remain uncommitted.

That means powerhouse programs across the nation will battle it out in the coming weeks for the best of the best in the 2016 cycle.

Only two schools—LSU and Ohio State—have at least two pledges from 5-star prospects. However, a quick glance at the top 10 of the 247Sports class rankings shows a number of schools that have a shot at multiple 5-star prospects still on the board.

Schools such as Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan and Ole Miss are fighting to move up in the rankings by closing with a few elite talents. Meanwhile, Auburn, Notre Dame and Tennessee headline a few schools outside the Top 10 which are hoping to close out with a strong finish to the cycle.

When the dust settles, which program will finish with the most 5-star prospects on signing day?

Let’s take a look at the top five contenders for that distinction.

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Prediction

With so many elite programs and coaches who have found success in recruiting wars over the years, there figures to be a good bit of intrigue in the final weeks leading up to signing day.

By the sheer volume of prospects interested in both Alabama and Georgia, those two programs seem to stand out in terms of which school figures to land the most 5-stars by signing day.

With Georgia having to answer questions about the future and the direction of the program, it's hard to go against Alabama—which seems to have the inside track on finishing with that title.

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While Alabama is no stranger when it comes to attracting elite recruits, the Crimson Tide haven't always landed elite quarterback prospects during the tenure of head coach Nick Saban.

However, the Tide brought in touted passer Blake Barnett in the 2015 class, and Saban may have another gem in 2017 4-star quarterback and current Tide pledge Jake Fromm.

According to BamaOnline's Hank South, Fromm connected on 25 of 35 passes for 406 yards and six touchdowns in leading Houston County (Georgia) High School to a 53-6 win over South Effingham in the first round of the Georgia Class AAAAA playoffs.

Considering his work was done in the first half alone, it makes his performance even more of an eye-opener.

As detailed by Score Atlanta, Fromm threw scoring strikes to three different receivers. It was the type of performance that illustrates why the 6'3", 220-pound junior could be the quarterback of the future in Tuscaloosa.

Fromm, who rates as the nation's No. 9 pro-style quarterback and the No. 158 player overall in the 2017 cycle, possesses a number of traits that should transfer to the next level.

As his high school head coach Von Lassiter told AL.com's Drew Champlin, Fromm is used to performing in the type of pressure-packed environments similar to the ones he will see in the SEC:

"(Alabama is) getting a great kid and a great human being, a person that's a natural-born leader. He's a guy that's extremely intelligent. To top it off, he's a very good player. You can see how quickly he releases the ball. He's got great arm strength and great accuracy.

He can process information faster than anybody I've ever been around. They're just getting an overall good person and a great player."

Champlin also notes that Fromm, who has been the starter at Houston County since his freshman year, threw for 3,629 yards with 31 touchdowns and only five interceptions as a sophomore.

With his size, skill set and intangible qualities, Fromm has all the tools necessary to become a star at the next level.

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4. Alabama

Total Commitments: 18 (one 5-star; nine 4-stars)

Best of the Bunch

As usual, Alabama is handling itself well in the trenches. The Crimson Tide carry commitments from three offensive linemen considered top-10 prospects at their position, headlined by 5-star California tackle Jonah Williams.

Kendell Jones, a 6'5", 375-pound Texan, and Raekwon Davis, a 6'7", 315-pound Mississippi product, bring plenty of beef to the defensive front. Maryland receiver/defensive back Trevon Diggs, the younger brother of breakout Minnesota Vikings rookie Stefon Diggs, provided another big commitment from beyond state borders in early November.

He could join a collection of offensive recruits that includes elite North Carolina running back B.J. Emmons and Texas quarterback Jalen Hurts, a dual threat who tallied 20 total touchdowns in his final three regular-season games this fall. Alabama's in-state recruiting push features pledges from wide receiver T.J. Simmons, linebacker Riley Cole and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

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