You know, just thinking about this topic, the important question is really avoided here.
Are we supposed to be building to compete with Alabama, or with the rest of CFB. Because if we think we are trying to recruit to beat 2020 Alabama, it's going to bias us in ways that may be counter-productive unless we're incredibly lucky on our evals. They're so talented you have to go for top athletes and hope they can play, while they're getting top athletes who they know can play. (Or enough of them that it works out.)
If you build for Clemson, however, it's a different battle. You need good, smart, tough players. A solid OL, top notch DL, smart LBs and safeties, cover corners. We can much more easily focus on building for Clemson, and then if we break through, worry about whoever replaces Saban/Alabama. It's not just theory in terms of recruiting. It's strategy. IMO.