Recruiting: 'Bama makes late push for elite prospects

As the 2014 edition of national signing day draws closer by the hour, many programs are searching for the final piece(s) of the puzzle in order to solidify an impressive signing class.

In respect to the Alabama Crimson Tide, Nick Saban and company currently have 24 verbal commitments, but who are the remaining targets as the "midnight hour" approaches?

With limited spots available, here are several prospects Alabama will be vying for in order to cement yet another elite signing class.

*List is subject to change
*Click name for Rivals page

-Primary Targets-

Name: Malachi Dupre
Rating: 5-star prospect - No. 1 wide receiver in the nation (Rivals)
School/City: John Curtis High School - River Ridge, Louisiana
Position: Wide Receiver
Status: Undecided
List: Alabama, Florida State, LSU, UCLA

Name: Matt Elam
Rating: 3-star prospect (Rivals)
School/City: John Hardin High School - Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Position: Defensive Tackle
Status: Undecided
List: Alabama, Kentucky

Name: Rashaan Evans
Rating: 5-star prospect (Rivals)
School/City: Auburn High School - Auburn, Alabama
Position: Linebacker
Status: Undecided
List: Alabama, Auburn, UCLA

Name: Marlon Humphrey
Rating: 5-star prospect - No. 1 prospect in the state of Alabama (Rivals)
School/City: Hoover High School - Hoover, Alabama
Position: Defensive Back
Status: Undecided
List: Alabama, Florida State, Mississippi State

-High Investment-

Per the embedded tweet courtesy of Tide recruiting expert Andrew Bone, Alabama is pursuing the trio listed below in order to fulfill needs at the defensive back position.

Treon Harris - Verbal to Florida State as a quarterback - 4* Prospect
Tavon Ross - Verbal to Missouri - 2* Prospect
Dominick Sanders - Verbal to Central Florida - 3* Prospect

Alabama still looking at Tavon Ross who is committed to Missouri, Dominick Sanders of GA, and Treon Harris of Miami as defensive backs.
— Baron&Bone (@Baron_andBone) January 21, 2014

Name: Elisha Shaw
Rating: 3-star prospect (Rivals)
School/City: Tucker High School - Tucker/Atlanta, Georgia
Position: Defensive Tackle
Status: Undecided
List: Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss

Name: Chad Thomas
Rating: 5-star prospect - No. 1 weakside defensive end in the nation (Rivals)
School/City: Booker T. Washington High School - Miami, Florida
Position: Defensive End
Status: Verbal to Miami
List: Alabama, Florida State, Louisville, Miami

'Bama DB Tony Brown arrested at off-campus party

While the glow of the NFL likely kept a large percentage of Alabama fans glued to CBS and FOX during the bulk of Sunday, news hit the wire during the evening that one of Alabama's newest talents had been arrested.

Tony Brown, a five-star defensive back from Beaumont, Texas encountered legal issues Saturday night at a party.

Originally reported by TideSports.com, Brown, an early enrollee, was arrested on charges of failure to obey police as well as resisting arrest.

Sunday night, the Tuscaloosa Police Department released a statement describing the incident as well as Brown's role in the ordeal.

Per the general story, also embedded in the link above, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has been informed of the situation in question.

Greg Brown out at 'Bama, Smart and Steele promoted

The roller coaster that is the Alabama staff shakedown has entered yet another phase.

Per ESPN, secondary coach Greg Brown, who joined the Alabama staff after the 2012 season, has stepped down.

Sources: Alabama DB coach to step down http://t.co/Ndwyguv5AL
— ESPN Alabama (@ESPNAlabama) January 15, 2014

In the vacancy left by Brown, defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will relinquish his role of coaching the Crimson Tide linebackers and will now turn his attention to the secondary.

Filling the gap as the new linebackers coach will be Kevin Steele. Having served as the director of player personnel, Steele will now take an on-field position. Before returning to UA in 2013, Steele served as the defensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide during Nick Saban's first season at Alabama in 2007.

As for current staff member Lance Thompson, who rejoined the Alabama staff in 2012, Thompson will continue his duties working with the outside linebackers. In 2007 and 2008, Thompson held the same position on the Alabama staff before accepting a job at the University of Tennessee.

As for the big picture, the most recent changes to the Alabama staff are just the latest "transformations" Nick Saban has made in advance of the 2014 season. Within the last week Saban also hired Lane Kiffin as the Tide's new offensive coordinator as well as Bo Davis, Alabama's defensive line coach from 2007-2010.

Luke Del Rio leaves the Alabama football program

The race to replace AJ McCarron is officially down one man.

Walk-on Luke Del Rio, who was redshirted during the 2013 season, has officially left the Alabama football program.

Using Twitter as his platform to break the news, Del Rio, while not making his future plans clear, expressed sincere thanks for the opportunity he was given at Alabama while also praising the fans of the Crimson Tide program.

I had an incredible year at Bama, it's sad to say that it will be my last, I'm excited for the next chapter of my life and what it will bring
— Luke Del Rio (@Ldelrio12) January 15, 2014

But I will always admit that Bama has the BEST fans in the nation, so much love and support through thick and thin #RollTide4Life
— Luke Del Rio (@Ldelrio12) January 15, 2014

To many, Del Rio's departure will rightfully come as a shock. Considered by many fans and "inside experts" to be the early favorite to replace AJ McCarron, Del Rio's decision to leave is arguably as significant as the recent arrival of new offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.

While the truth behind Del Rio's decision is obviously his personal business and does not have to be shared in a public forum, the human nature aspect, for Tide fans, is to begin the speculation game.

Prior to arriving at Alabama, Del Rio gave his verbal commitment to Oklahoma State. However, once offensive coordinator Todd Monken left the program to become the head coach at Southern Mississippi, Del Rio decommitted and reopened his recruitment. Upon review, Del Rio decided to accept a walk-on role at Alabama.

Could the removal of Doug Nussmeier and the introduction of Lane Kiffin have played a role in Del Rio's recent decision? Once again, while Del Rio's decision is personal and requires no explanation, the speculation on whether or not the OC change was the deciding factor is certainly a warranted discussion.

As for the future of the 'Bama program, if the 2014 quarterback questions weren't "heavy" before, they certainly are now.