re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition

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Byars is out, grades are crap. 

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Merry Christmas to those Alabama fans who celebrate the holiday.

Dec. 25 marks the unofficial start to the fourth quarter of the recruiting cycle, and for Alabama, that means it’s time to lock up some of the nation’s top recruits.

For the past six years, Alabama has had the nation’s best recruiting class. This year looks no different, but the Tide are going to have to work to keep one of their longtime recruits committed.

So, what’s the best recruiting present for Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide in 2017?

Best Christmas present for Alabama

You can make the argument that keeping the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit, Najee Harris, committed in Alabama’s Class of 2017 would be the best present Saban could get on Christmas, but that would be too easy of an answer.

Instead, how about finding 5-star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon wrapped up under the Christmas tree? Getting quality defensive linemen in this year’s class is arguably the biggest priority as starters Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson will not return next season. You could make the case that Solomon is the best high school defensive lineman in 2017. He’s been nominated for the U.S. Army All-American Defensive Player of the Year after racking up 77 tackles, 12 sacks, 16 tackles for losses and had 18 quarterback hurries for Lee County High School (Leesburg, Ga.).

Multiple sources close to Alabama have told SEC Country that they believe they are in good position to land the nation’s No. 2 defensive tackle. His recruitment should be viewed as a race between Alabama and Georgia, with Michigan on the outside looking in.

Solomon has told SEC Country before that Alabama was lacking in a critical area in his recruitment, but it’s believed that the Tide have made up ground. His mother, Sabrina Caldwell, plays an important role in Solomon’s recruitment. When asked in October if he felt Alabama was treating her like a priority, he didn’t believe that to be the case.

“Not necessarily. They have in a way, but not how Georgia does,” Solomon said at the time. “They put my family first and then they come to me. That’s what I like — my family first, then me.”

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound prospect said Alabama sees him as a successor to Jonathan Allen, who is almost assuredly going to be a top 5 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

“They’ll show me film of Allen, who’s just doing it all,” Solomon said. “They see me playing that type of position and being that type of player.”

If Solomon goes to Alabama and is anything close to the player Allen is for the Tide, how could there be a better Christmas present for the staff than getting the commitment of one of the country’s best recruits?

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