garymullins

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ETA: I think Kelly and Shepard are the bigger question marks. I don't know about the rest of the Alabama posters, but in my mind, Arie is more than capable.

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I think Kelly is the most solid to start of the three. The coaches clearly feel good about him and so do the other players.

I would put Shepard next as he has significant playing time and reportedly Brown is a better athlete but is very raw.

I would put Arie last for two reasons. He has had significant injuries to both knees, so much so there were questions at one point if he could continue to play. The second reason is LG seems to be where the most competition is. Steen is a pretty solid lock at RG, barring injury, so that means Luatua, Lindsay, Taylor will push for the starting job at LG. And as much as Bama likes to put the best 5 on the field if at all possible Brandon Greene could be in the mix as well even though he is more of a left tackle.

In the end I think it will be Cyrus, Arie, Kelly, Steen and Shepard as the starters with Greene, Taylor, Lindsay, Luatua and Brown behind each respectively. But the rotation is not likely to be solid for a few games into the season as Bama looks to find the right mix of best talent and best chemistry.

Regardless it should be a very respectable line corp even though they have to replace 3 starters. It will arguable have more physical talent than last year, but missing the experience and football intelligence that experience brings.

Mario Cristobal looks like a pretty darn good OL coach as well, replacing Stoutland. Like most I am still scratching my head about FIU firing him.

That is how I see it IMHO, for what is it worth

Rankings are based on potential. It does not matter when the recruit arrives because it is all about his potential ability.

Once he is on campus it is about coaching him up. If he arrives early then coaches get the opportunity to work with him and maybe develop him sooner, but that evaluation of potential remains the same.

If ratings would change based on something other than the kids ability and potential then it be something more like WHERE he goes and who is coaching him. If a position coach at school A has a reputation for developing players better than coach at school B, then is ranking would improve with his commitment to school A.

There is a common perception that recruits ranking do go up when certain schools show interest, but I think that is more about people looking at that staffs ability to evaluate, and of course a bit of political maneuvering.

Bama is still ranked #3 in the BCS, ahead of Stanford and Boise State. It is not out of the realm of possibility.