A new football season is dawning in Tuscaloosa. The cycle has reset.

The symbolic turning of the page comes Tuesday when the Crimson Tide opens spring practice and the 2017 campaign.

With as many as 10 or 11 players from last year's team hoping to be drafted, this will be the opportunity of a career for the names you followed as prized recruits. Behind closed doors for 14 spring afternoons, they'll make their case before the April 22 A-Day game in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

ArDarius Stewart, one of the three juniors who left school early for the NFL, isn't worried about what he left behind.

"Coach Saban does a great job in getting guys in, filling shoes, so I don't think it's going to be a problem filling positions," Stewart said. "He's a very smart guy and has done this a long time; there's nothing he hasn't seen so he's going to do the same thing, bring kids in to replace guys, and it's going to be the same thing. That's coach Saban. He's a perfectionist and he's going to make the right decisions."

Stewart was one of a handful of players who spoke to AL.com over the past few months as we sought insight into the young players who impressed on the practice field -- those who were in position to become household names in 2017.

All told, 13 names were listed. A few came up more than once.

For Stewart, receiver T.J. Simmons, receiver/defensive back Trevon Diggs, receiver Derek Kief, receiver Cam Sims and receiver Xavian Marks were guys to watch. Diggs already made an impact as a punt returner and Sims has been in the rotation for a few seasons.

In a separate interview, Stewart talked up running back B.J. Emmons. A former five-star recruit, Emmons' freshman season ended early with a foot injury. He was returning kickoffs as the fourth option off the bench at running back. Carries totaled 35 with 173 yards and a touchdown before being shut down in early November.

"B.J. is a dangerous running back," Stewart said. "When he gets the ball in his hands, he can make anything happen. He's a Kenyan Drake/Derrick (Henry) type. He's a little bit shorter than Derrick but he's very strong. In the open field, he's hard to tackle."

Cam Sims also listed a few running backs on his watch list.

"People probably already know about Diggs, but Diggs is one of them," Sims said. "B.J. (Emmons) and people probably already know about Josh (Jacobs). There's a couple more. I like B.J. because he's shifty and fast."

Linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton was another of Diggs' supporters.

"I mean, he's a guy who could literally help us on either side of the ball," Hamilton said. "You can be on the lookout for him next year. He's going to contribute a lot for us next year."

Diggs spent time in Alabama's secondary as well as catching passes as a receiver. Freshman-year totals included 11 receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown while returning a team-high 13 punts for an average of 10.0 yards a try with a long of 47.

"T.J. Simmons. He's going to be great," Stewart continued. "Trevon Diggs, he's just a young guy and Calvin, I know he's going to take over the receivers' room and keep the B-0-B going."

On defense, Stewart said to watch Anfernee Jennings at linebacker.

Another marquee name from the recruiting days: Ben Davis. The nation's top middle linebacker in the 2016 signing class redshirted last season.

"He's a big guy -- a big linebacker that can really play," said safety Hootie Jones. "They just need to get him out there so he can showcase his skills."

Also on Jones' list was Mekhi Brown -- a redshirt sophomore linebacker who saw action in three games last fall.

The most commonly listed young player was defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. Jonathan Allen gave him the seal of approval in December, saying the Birmingham product's game was similar to his.

"He's just a real athletic dude," graduated offensive lineman Korren Kirven said. "He gets after it on the scout team. He shows a good look and I think he's going to be a good player next year."

Williams, like Davis, redshirted last fall. So his progress was only visible on the practice field.

Tight end Miller Forristall didn't hesitate when asked which young player impressed him behind the scenes.

"Quinnen Williams," the rising sophomore said quickly. "He plays on the scout team right now but he's really strong and really athletic and he's smart. He's going to do big things."

Safety Ronnie Harrison named a few players who stood out to him.

"I'm looking at Aaron Robinson, Mack Wilson, Terrell Hall -- guys like that who came in played and contributed early. I'm looking for those guys to have a big year."

Wilson was another five-star linebacker who saw backup duty on defense while making the special teams tackle of the year in the Texas A&M win. Hall also showed promise coming off the bench as an edge pass-rusher -- a position of need with Ryan Anderson and Tim Williams both graduating.

Robinson was a three-star cornerback recruit who worked his way up to the second team early in his time in Tuscaloosa. Starting cornerback Anthony Averett also listed Robinson because "I like how he plays," he said.

Robinson said he learned in Year 1 he needs to spend more time in the film room while "learning that playbook inside and out."

"The biggest lesson I learned is if I mess up, forget about it," Robinson said in Tampa before the CFP national championship game. "Really just work on your craft."

Averett also included Jared Mayden, a rising sophomore defensive back who could play both cornerback and safety.

"They came in and this defense is hard to grasp and I didn't grasp it when I first came in," Averett said. "To see them grasp it and understand, that shows a lot."