I will start off by saying I think it's unlikely that Alabama repeats as recruiting champions in 2018. I think certainly a top 10, if not five class, is much more within reason at the moment.
With that being said, Alabama recruits better than most, so to say the chances of going on a major run from where the program is now to where it will be in February 2018, wouldn't be an unwarranted statement.
The Tide currently sits at No. 63 right behind Western Michigan, Toledo, and Houston. With Nick Saban announcing Alabama will sign 22 in the class, plus the three from 2017 -- Jarez Parks, Joseph Bulovas, and Hunter Brannon -- we take a look at a realistic list of 22 names that could get the Tide in contention for No. 1. Keep in mind for some of the names on the list, momentum would have to change with where their recruitments sit now -- something the Tide has shown it's capable of doing, especially in the summer months. Also, it would be easy to throw Trevor Lawrence or Xavier Thomas in and predict the top class once again. As the title suggests, however, this is a realistic breakdown.
This projection scores a 306.39. Alabama's last three top-ranked classes have averaged a total 311. Of course rankings are always adjusted, and not every recruit currently committed will stay committed, making it more difficult to project what another program's score, like Ohio State's, will look like down the road.
Keep in mind this is more for fun than anything.