It’s been a banner decade for the Alabama Crimson Tide on the gridiron, with six SEC titles, three College Football Playoff championships and 126 wins during that stretch.
The Nick Saban-coached collective has dominated its SEC brethren, both on the field and off it, during that period with six top-ranked recruiting classes (as determined by 247 Sports) to top off the titles the program’s captured under their longtime leader.
With National Signing Day in the rearview mirror, BetAlabama.com wanted to see how Alabama’s recruiting stacks up versus some of their loftiest challengers.
Using 247 Sports’ recruiting ranking from 2014 to 2020, we can see a clear difference between the Crimson Tide and the rest of the nation on the recruiting trail.
Here’s where Alabama’s top 10 recruits (excluding current players) stacked up entering the program and how they fared after enrolling under the tutelage of Saban and his staff.
Unfortunately for Crimson Tide fans, there has been no legal Alabama sports betting to take advantage of this golden age of football at the school.
Alabama Top 10 Recruits Since 2013
Bryce Young (QB, 2020)
- Recruiting ranking: Five stars/.9994 overall
- Years: 2020-22
- Stats: 624-of-949 passing (65.8%), 8,356 yards, 80 TDs, 12 INTs; 139 carries, 162 yards, 7 TDs
- Accolades: Heisman Trophy winner (2021), Consensus All-American (2021), Maxwell Award (2021), Manning Award (2021), Davey O’Brien Award (2021), SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2021), 1st Team All-SEC (2021), 2nd Team All-SEC (2022)
Eyabi Anoma (DE, 2018)
- Recruiting ranking: Five stars/.9987
- Years: 2018-22 (Finished at Michigan)
- Stats: 2018 Alabama: 6 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 2.0 TFL; 2022 UM: 8 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, 6.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks
Najee Harris (RB, 2017)
- Recruiting ranking: Five stars/.9984
- Years: 2017-2020
- Stats: 638 carries, 3,843 yards, 46 TDs; 80 catches, 781 yards, 11 TDs
- Accolades: Doak Walker Award (2020), Unanimous All-American (2020), 1st Team All-SEC (2020), 2nd Team All-SEC (2019)
Alex Leatherwood (OT, 2017)
- Recruiting ranking: Five stars/.9981
- Years: 2017-2020
- Accolades: Consensus All-American (2020), John Outland Trophy (2020)
Cam Robinson (OT, 2014)
- Recruiting ranking: Five stars/.9980
- Years: 2014-2017
- Accolades: Consensus All-American (2016), John Outland Trophy (2016)
Da’Shawn Hand (DE, 2014)
- Recruiting ranking: Five stars/.9979
- Years: 2014-2017
- Stats: 71 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 9.0 sacks, 1 pass deflection, 1 forced fumble
Patrick Surtain II (CB, 2018)
- Recruiting ranking: Five stars/.9973
- Years: 2018-2020
- Stats: 116 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 4 INTs, 24 deflections, 4 forced fumbles, 1 TD
- Accolades: Consensus All-American (2020), SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2020)
Reuben Foster (LB, 2013)
- Recruiting ranking: Five stars/.9961
- Years: 2013-2016
- Stats: 223 tackles, 24.0 TFL, 7.0 sacks, 9 pass deflections
- Accolades: Consensus All-American (2016), Dick Butkus Award (2016)
Ben Davis (ILB, 2016)
- Recruiting ranking: Five stars/.9955
- Years: 2019-2021 (2021 Texas)
- Stats: 23 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 pass deflection, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovered
Tony Brown (CB, 2014)
- Recruiting ranking: Five stars/.9952
- Years: 2014-2017
- Stats: 86 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 3 INTs, 5 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble
How Alabama’s Top Recruits Fared in Tuscaloosa
It’s safe to say the crème de la crème of Alabama football recruits fared well, by and large, once they reached the program.
Between Young, who captured the 2021 Heisman Trophy, and several others on the Crimson Tide’s top 10, there’s no shortage of elite talent.
Najee Harris went on to win a Doak Walker Award during his time at Alabama after entering as a five-star recruit, while linemen Alex Leatherwood and Cam Robinson each captured Outland trophies for their work in the trenches.
Of the 10 players, six would go on to be named consensus All-Americans during their time in Tuscaloosa, while two of the remaining four went on to lead productive collegiate careers under Saban.
The others, in class of 2018 defensive end Eyabi Anoma and class of 2016 linebacker Ben Davis, would transfer out of Alabama — finishing their college careers at Michigan and Texas.
Average Recruiting Class Ranking Since 2014
Where Alabama’s Top 10 Recruits Rank Overall
Unsurprisingly, Alabama’s top recruits have a higher average recruiting ranking than the other four programs surveyed — Georgia (.99615), Ohio State (.99369), Florida (.98765) and Texas (.98641).
Whether that ranking continues to hold its current luster in a few years, whether due to Georgia’s consecutive CFP titles or Saban’s advanced age, remains to be seen.
There’s no doubting the way the seven-time national championship winning coach still has his fastball on the recruiting trail, though, as the Crimson Tide continue to reel in elite classes each spring.
