At least every five years, beloved stars, respected role players and former prospects who didn’t pan out rotate through the system, replaced by signing classes full of 18-year-olds all confident that they’ll be the next big things in town. For the coaches who recruit and later instruct these players, the summer offseason is the primary evaluation period for rising prospects – although, to the chagrin of many, the process really begins much earlier than that.

Here is a first look at Alabama’s recruiting needs and a projection for how many the Crimson Tide will sign as 2013 progresses.