20 greatest recruits in Alabama history
Alabama recently delivered its seventh consecutive recruiting title.
The 2017 class featured six 5-star prospects — which led the nation — and its average player score of 93.61 was the second-highest during Nick Saban’s decade-plus of dominance.
To be sure, it looks like the path to a national championship will continue to run through Tuscaloosa.
As talented as the 2017 class is, were any of the recent additions good enough to crack the list of Alabama’s 20 greatest recruits since since 247Sports.com began tracking them in 2000?
Let’s take a look:
1. Dylan Moses
Position: Outside linebacker
Class: 2017
NFL Draft: N/A
247Sports Rating: 0.9997
Skinny: Moses is the highest-rated player to choose Alabama, according to the 247Sports all-time composite rankings. The Tide is losing star inside linebacker Reuben Foster to graduation, so don’t be surprised to see Moses push for playing time as a true freshman.
2. Cyrus Kouandjio
Position: Offensive Tackle
Class: 2011
NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills — Second round (2014)
247Sports Rating: 0.9993
Skinny: Kouandjio was one of the best offensive tackles to play at Alabama. He was ranked the No. 2 overall player in the 2011 recruiting class — trailing only South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney.
3. Andre Smith
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: 2006
NFL Draft: Cincinnati Bengals — First round, No. 6 overall (2009)
247Sports Rating: 0.9993
Skinny: Smith was a dominant player for the Tide during a time where the team was struggling to find elite players. He started every game at left tackle that he played in over his three year career and was a consensus All-American and Outland Trophy winner in 2008. He has spent his entire NFL career at right tackle for the Bengals and Vikings.
4. Julio Jones
Position: Wide receiver
Class: 2008
NFL Draft: Atlanta Falcons — First round, No. 6 overall (2011)
247Sports Rating: 0.9992
Skinny: Jones has been a fan-favorite for Crimson Tide fans ever since he made his commitment official during an ESPN recruiting segment on signing day in 2008. He lived up to the incredible hype finishing with 179 catches, 2,653 yards receiving and 15 touchdowns and helping the Tide win the 2009 national championship. The Atlanta Falcons made a bold move during the 2011 draft by trading up for Jones in the first-round, and that risk has paid off in a major way. Jones is considered one of the best receivers in the NFL.
Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
5. Brodie Croyle
Position: Quarterback
Class: 2001
NFL Draft: Kansas City Chiefs — Third round (2006)
247Sports Rating: 0.9986
Skinny: Croyle’s major issue at Alabama — and in the NFL — was the lack of ability to stay healthy. He came to Alabama weighing only 185 pounds, and even in the NFL, he never really got over 205-pounds. Still, he is one of the most prolific passers in Alabama history. He remains No. 3 all-time with 6,382 yards.
6. Najee Harris
Position: Running back
Class: 2017
NFL Draft: N/A
247Sports Rating: 0.9983
Skinny: Harris hasn’t even played a down of college football, but he has already been compared to former college greats such Derrick Henry and Adrian Peterson. The 6-3 226-pound specimen from Antioch, Calif., should make an immediate impact for the Crimson Tide. He’s an elite receiver out of the backfield, too, but it’s his ability as a runner that will have opposing defenses worried.
7. Cam Robinson
Position: Offensive tackle
Class: 2014
NFL Draft: N/A
247Sports Rating: 0.9979
Skinny: In 2014, Robinson was the first true freshman to lock down the starting left tackle position at Alabama since Andre Smith in 2006. Over the course of the next three seasons, Robinson became known as an extremely talented player who suffered from mental lapses — resulting in false starts — during crucial times of football games. He is Matt Miller’s (NFL Draft writer for Bleacher Report) second-ranked offensive tackle prospect in this year’s draft class.
8. Da’Shawn Hand
Position: Defensive end
Class: 2014
NFL Draft: N/A
247Sports Rating: 0.9978
Skinny: Hand was a top 5 recruit coming out of high school. So far, he has been limited to being a rotational player. With the losses of Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson to the NFL, Hand is expected to be one of the main players to step up along the defensive line in 2017.
9. Trent Richardson
Position: Running back
Class: 2009
NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns — First round, No.3 overall (2012)
247Sports Rating: 0.9971
Skinny: Richardson is widely considered one of the biggest busts in NFL history. That shouldn’t deter people from recognizing just what type of running back he was during his time at Alabama. Richardson had it all. His compact, muscular physique provided his running style with power, and he had the ability to make defenders miss at an extremely high rate in the open field. He ran for 1,679 yards in 2011, still the second-most in Tide history.
10. Landon Collins
Position: Safety
Class: 2012
NFL Draft: New York Giants — Second round (2015)
247Sports Rating: 0.9970
Skinny: Collins became infamously known after his mother publicly criticized his decision to go to Alabama over his in-state school of LSU. He never wavered on that commitment, and it helped him become one of the best safeties to play for the Crimson Tide. He originally made his presence known as a key special teams contributor. However, during his junior year, he finished with 99 tackles and three interceptions in route to becoming a unanimous All-American.
11. Reuben Foster
Position: Linebacker
Class: 2013
NFL Draft: N/A
247Sports Rating: 0.9958
Skinny: Foster has an Auburn tattoo on his forearm, but his heart will always be crimson.
Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
During a time where Alabama seems to crank out high quality linebackers each and every year, Foster stands out. His ability to close on ball-carriers combined with his hitting ability makes him a lethal weapon for any defense. Several scouts say he is the best linebacker prospect they’ve seen since former Ole Miss standout Patrick Willis.
12. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Position: Safety
Class: 2011
NFL Draft: Green Bay Packers — First round, No. 21 overall (2014)
247Sports Rating: 0.9952
Skinny: Clinton-Dix was a balanced safety who provided the defense with a strong presence against the run and pass. Outside of the five passes that he intercepted his sophomore year in 2012, Clinton-Dix never put up eye-popping statistics. Still, he was a highly regarded prospect who finished as a consensus All-American in 2013.
13. Tony Brown
Position: Cornerback
Class: 2014
NFL Draft: N/A
247Sports Rating: 0.9951
Skinny: Brown being the top ranked cornerback on this list might surprise some Alabama fans. There are two cornerbacks who were taken in the first-round on this list and another one who is projected to be one of the top cornerbacks selected in the upcoming draft. Brown hasn’t turned into the player many thought he would, but he started to show signs of life this past season when Eddie Jackson broke his leg and Minkah Fitzpatrick was moved to safety.
14. Marlon Humphrey
Position: Cornerback
Class: 2014
NFL Draft: N/A
247Sports Rating: 0.9940
Skinny: Humphrey is widely considered one of the top cornerbacks available in the upcoming NFL draft. He shows all the tools of being an elite cornerback except that he struggles with staying in phase and consistently contesting the ball at the catch-point. He only started two years at Alabama and finished with five career interceptions.
15. Dee Milliner
Position: Cornerback
Class: 2010
NFL Draft: New York Jets — First round, No. 9 overall (2013)
247Sports Rating: 0.9930
Skinny: Injuries have taken their toll on the former Alabama standout. Following a solid career, Milliner was drafted by the New York Jets to be All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis’ replacement. Things didn’t work out that way. Injuries and inconsistent play caused him to only make it three years with the team. He is currently a free agent hoping for another opportunity.
16. Derrick Henry
Position: Athlete
Class: 2013
NFL Draft: Tennessee Titans — Second round (2016)
247Sports Rating: 0.9928
Skinny: When Henry arrived in Tuscaloosa, a lot of people wondered where he was going to play. The 6-3 240 pound athlete from Yulee, Fla., ended up at running back, where he became an absolute monster. He is Alabama’s all-time leader in rushing yards for a single season (2,219) and career (3,591) and rushing touchdowns in a single season (28).
17. Calvin Ridley
Position: Wide receiver
Class: 2015
NFL Draft: N/A
247Sports Rating: 0.9928
Skinny: Ridley had one of the most impressive freshman seasons in Alabama history. He finished with the school’s second most receptions (89) and the fourth most receiving yards (1,045) in 2015.
Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
His sophomore numbers dipped, but Ridley should be one of the top wide receivers available for the 2018 NFL Draft.
18. Jonathan Allen
Position: Outside linebacker
Class: 2013
NFL Draft: N/A
247Sports Rating: 0.9920
Skinny: Allen is arguably one of the best overall players in the upcoming draft. Before he was terrorizing SEC quarterbacks, Allen was a 6-3 260-pound 5-star prospect who many thought would end up as an edge defender in Alabama’s defense. He continued to bulk up and ended up playing defensive end in the Crimson Tide’s 3-4 defense. He is tied for the fourth most sacks in a single season (10.5) in Alabama history.
19. Rashaan Evans
Position: Outside linebacker
Class: 2014
NFL Draft: N/A
247Sports Rating: 0.9918
Skinny: Similarly to Reuben Foster, Evans was a linebacker prospect right in Auburn’s backyard. A lot of recruiting experts predicted that Evans would sign with Auburn, but he chose the Tide on signing day. Since arriving in Tuscaloosa, Evans has been used as an inside and outside linebacker. He’s an explosive athlete who will have to step up to replace some of the production being left behind by guys such as Tim Williams, Ryan Anderson and Reuben Foster.
20. Dre Kirkpatrick
Position: Cornerback
Class: 2009
NFL Draft: Cincinnati Bengals — First round, No. 17 overall (2012)
247Sports Rating: 0.9917
Skinny: Kirkpatrick’s transition to the NFL wasn’t easy. He struggled with his backpedal early in his career, but no one ever questioned his physical nature as a cornerback. During his time at Alabama, Kirkpatrick was known as a tall, lanky corner who didn’t mind mixing it up against the run or pass. He played in 38 games in three years at Alabama, but that only resulted in three career interceptions.
