With Alabama drawing the Rivals.com No.1-ranked signing class in the nation last February, anticipation runs high among fans waiting to see how an especially gifted group of newcomers melds with a group of veterans with some obvious depth concerns. BamaOnLine.com presents a daily countdown of 10 signees - published in ascending order - who could have the most impact on the 2009 season. The listing is influenced by the Crimson Tide's depth at the positions the signees are expected to play, not just their prep credentials. Note: Because they had not yet qualified at the time this series launched, signees Eddie Lacy and Darrington Sentimore were not considered.

Position: Linebacker.

Size: 6-3, 226 pounds.

High school: Andalusia (Ala).

Rivals.com rating:

The film room: Without predicting similar success on the field, but rather just as a style comparison, Johnson's play reminds me of former UA standout Demeco Ryans in several respects. Like Ryans, he never seems to get caught out of position, doesn't overrun plays, and maneuvers around blocks with ease. Johnson fills gaps and operates very well inside the tackle box, and if the play breaks outside, he shows the speed of an outside linebacker when necessary.

The money clip: We couldn't settle on just one, so we'll bring you two. Start with a leaping, one-handed interception as a sophomore - see this play at the 0:10 mark. And follow that with a look at this incredible hustle play in which Johnson makes up about a five-yard deficit to prevent a touchdown - see this play at the 0:13 mark.

Other Rivals.com video: Click here for all seven Rivals.com highlight reels of Johnson.

Who is in front of him: Weakside linebacker Don'ta Hightower and middle linebacker Rolando McClain return as starters on the inside with depth in the form of promising young star Chris Jordan.

Climbing the depth chart: Assuming Johnson practices on the inside, which is widely expected, his opportunity to crack the two-deep depth chart coming out of fall camp should be fairly strong relative to the incoming freshmen at other positions. Hightower is well-entrenched as the weakside starter after an outstanding freshman season, but there is no significant game experience behind him. If Johnson gets a practice look at the Mike (middle) position, he will have a standout veteran (Rolando McClain) playing ahead of an inexperienced reserve (Chris Jordan). Hightower could switch to the Jack position, a move that is backed by much more than speculation now that he has played there (Sugar Bowl), practiced there (spring drills), and has an opening there with Brandon Fanney no longer on the team. If Hightower makes the move, Johnson's opportunity to play as a freshman takes a major leap forward.

What will make it tough: If Hightower stays at the Will position, Johnson's ascent up the depth chart could get no higher than second team if he indeed practices at the Will himself. As noted in BOL's impact signee installment on Tana Patrick, learning the weakside position in Nick Saban's scheme is tougher than learning OLB positions, so Johnson will have a bit more playbook thrown at him than the incomers at the outside spots.

Shane Youngblood's take: "Thanks to a poor senior season by Andalusia and some nagging injuries on his part, Johnson had a somewhat disappointing end to his high school career - until he arrived in San Antonio for the Army All-American practices. Against the top high school competition in the United States, Johnson was simply dominating and showed out in the game before a national television audience.

"Of all of the Tide's defensive signees, Johnson is the most physically-ready to contribute right away. The comparison has probably been overdone to death but that doesn't mean it isn't accurate - Johnson is very much like former Tide star Demeco Ryans in both style of play and physical stature. He is extremely strong and his closing speed is top notch as evidenced by his three tackles for a loss in the all-star game. If Johnson is ready to assume a starting role this fall, the Tide's defense suddenly becomes a lot more flexible."

Miss a previously published installment of BOL's Impact Signee Series?

Link to any of them below:

#3 - Nico Johnson

#2 - Coming soon

#1 - Coming soon