University of Alabama Football - Top 2012 Recruits

The 2011 college football season is still a fair few months down the road, but fortunately for college football's diehard fans, recruiting never takes a break. Here is a preview of three of the University of Alabama's top out-of-state prospects who are hoping to have a big impact for the Crimson Tide in 2012.

Kenyan Drake - Athlete - Powder Springs, GA
Kenyan Drake is an all-around great prep football player who pairs his talent on the gridiron with a desire to perform in the classroom. Drake will likely play either running back or slot receiver in Tuscaloosa, but there has also been talk of possibly placing him at DB depending on which recruits end up signing by the end of the process. Listed at 6'1" and 195 pounds by Rivals.com, Drake seems to have the unique combination of size, speed and quickness necessary to succeed in the SEC. His ability to change directions and really utilize his blockers in the open field will only help him adapt to the faster college game. He has no trouble bouncing to the outside if the initial gap closes, but seems to make this decision more often than he should. While adept at both catching the football out of the backfield as well as out of the slot, he may be lacking a little in the pass blocking department. This has always been a high priority in Alabama's offense at both the running back and wide receiver position. Regardless of his flaws, Drake will surely develop into a versatile addition to the Crimson Tide's offense.

Eddie Williams - Defensive Back - Panama City, FL
This Florida product has put out some particularly impressive junior year tape and has many fans extremely excited about his future at Alabama. Williams is listed at 6'4" and 197 pounds by Rivals.com, although various other reputable publications list him as slightly heavier. This prep star always seems to take good angles into the tackle and is not shy about putting his face through a ball carrier's chest when the opportunity presents itself. He tackles well and only seems to go for the big hit when its reasonable. There is talk about Williams potentially packing on a few extra pounds and lining up at linebacker; however, this seems unlikely considering the instincts he has demonstrated at safety. It would be hard for the Alabama coaching staff to justify moving him closer to the line of scrimmage.

Dillon Lee - Linebacker - Buford, GA
A big peach state product in terms of both talent and size, Dillon Lee has shown exceptional ability as an all-around linebacker. He seems particularly adept at shedding blockers and interrupting action in the backfield, but seems equally comfortable dropping into coverage and playing the pass. It appears as though his tall frame could easily hold a few more pounds without sacrificing speed and quickness. If he does continue to develop and pack on the pounds, Lee could find himself playing at any of the linebacker spots at various points in his college career at the University of Alabama.

In-state prospects to watch:

Kwon Alexander - Linebacker - Oxford, AL
T.J. Yeldon - Running Back - Daphne, AL