re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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AL.com has been featuring some early Alabama targets in the 2018 recruiting class. Here, we take a look at defensive linemen.

TOP DEFENSIVE LINE TARGET

Micah Parsons (6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Harrisburg, Pa.)

The nation's No. 4 overall prospect is committed to Penn State, but recently tweeted that Alabama would give him a shot to play running back as well. Parsons is an elite defensive end who may visit Alabama for its Junior Day next weekend.

5 MORE TO WATCH

Xavier Thomas (6-foot-2, 250 pounds, Florence, S.C.)

Thomas is a five-star ranked No. 2 overall. He recently transferred to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He tweeted last fall that South Carolina and Clemson would be his final two, but Alabama won't stop recruiting him. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him take an official visit to Tuscaloosa.

Eyabi Anoma (6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Baltimore, Md.)

Anoma has an Alabama offer and assistant coach Mike Locksley is a key here for the four-star end's recruitment.

Coynis Miller (6-foot-4, 270 pounds, Birmingham, Ala.)

The four-star athletic lineman from Jackson-Olin's stock continues to rise. His teammate T.D. Moultry signed with Auburn and Miller has offers from all over the country, including Georgia.

Jordan Davis (6-foot-6, 240 pounds, Memphis, Tenn.)

The lean three-star end committed to Alabama in December, not long after receiving an offer.

Justin Mascoll (6-foot-4, 237 pounds, Snellville, Ga.)

It will take some work to get the four-star end out of Georgia, but Alabama head coach Nick Saban and his staff won't stop trying.

IN-STATE GLANCE

Three-star Mobile Christian defensive end Andres Fox's recruitment is heating up much like defensive end LaBryan Ray's did last year, with major offers coming daily. USC is the latest, and Alabama offered earlier this month. Look for his stock and star ranking to rise. St. Clair County's Jalen Cunningham, at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds, picked up an Alabama offer on Friday. Other in-state defensive linemen worth watching include Theodore's Timaje Porter, Eufaula's Ka'darian Hill, Stanhope Elmore's K.J. Stokes and Carver-Montgomery's Isaiah Forte.

RETURNING DEFENSIVE LINEMEN FOR 2018

Barring attrition, Johnny Dwight, O.J. Smith and Da'Ron Payne would be seniors in 2018. Raekwon Davis will be a junior and Quinnen Williams a redshirt sophomore.

Signees LaBryan Ray and Phidarian Mathis will be sophomores or redshirt freshmen. Isaiah Buggs will be a senior unless he redshirts and then he would be a junior.

2017 ALABAMA DEFENSIVE LINE SIGNEES

Five-star LaBryan Ray (Madison, Ala.), four-star Isaiah Buggs (Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College), four-star Phidarian Mathis (Monroe, La.)

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